Patents by Inventor Alan D. Nickel

Alan D. Nickel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10843519
    Abstract: An independent front axle suspension preferably includes a front drive axle, an upper suspension frame, a lower suspension frame, a pair of hydraulic cylinders and a pair of pivot plates. A front pivot plate is attached to a front and middle of the front drive axle and a rear pivot plate is attached to a rear and middle of the front drive axle. A rear of the upper suspension frame is pivotally engaged with a rear of the lower suspension frame. A front and rear of the front drive axle is pivotally retained in the lower suspension frame with the pair of pivot plates. One end of the pair of hydraulic cylinders are preferably spherically retained on opposing sides of the upper suspension frame. An opposing end of the pair of hydraulic cylinders are preferably spherically retained on opposing ends of the front drive axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: ZOOMLION HEAVY INDSUTRY NA, INC., ZOOMLION HEAVY INDUSTRY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO, LTD.
    Inventors: Edgar N. Calago, Gregory M. Downs, Alan D. Nickel
  • Publication number: 20200307334
    Abstract: An independent front axle suspension preferably includes a front drive axle, an upper suspension frame, a lower suspension frame, a pair of hydraulic cylinders and a pair of pivot plates. A front pivot plate is attached to a front and middle of the front drive axle and a rear pivot plate is attached to a rear and middle of the front drive axle. A rear of the upper suspension frame is pivotally engaged with a rear of the lower suspension frame. A front and rear of the front drive axle is pivotally retained in the lower suspension frame with the pair of pivot plates. One end of the pair of hydraulic cylinders are preferably spherically retained on opposing sides of the upper suspension frame. An opposing end of the pair of hydraulic cylinders are preferably spherically retained on opposing ends of the front drive axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Edgar N. Calago, Gregory M. Downs, Alan D. Nickel
  • Patent number: 8979139
    Abstract: A hydraulic tube assembly for connecting two hydraulic components in a hydraulic system is provided. The hydraulic tube assembly may include a first hydraulic component, a second hydraulic component, a tube subassembly, and at least one port connection subassembly. The tube subassembly may include a tube having two ends, a first packing box, and a second packing box. The port connection subassembly may have two ends, with a first end coupled to the tube subassembly and a second end coupled to a hydraulic component. The port connection subassembly may include a packing box flange, at least one tension rod, at least one fluid seal, and a connecting cylinder flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Catepillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Andrew F. Lawson, Alan D. Nickel, Robert D. Weber
  • Publication number: 20140077493
    Abstract: A hydraulic tube assembly for connecting two hydraulic components in a hydraulic system is provided. The hydraulic tube assembly may include a first hydraulic component, a second hydraulic component, a tube subassembly, and at least one port connection subassembly. The tube subassembly may include a tube having two ends, a first packing box, and a second packing box. The port connection subassembly may have two ends, with a first end coupled to the tube subassembly and a second end coupled to a hydraulic component. The port connection subassembly may include a packing box flange, at least one tension rod, at least one fluid seal, and a connecting cylinder flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Andrew F. Lawson, Alan D. Nickel, Robert D. Weber