Patents by Inventor Benjamin J. Kovalick

Benjamin J. Kovalick 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: 10851509
    Abstract: A wear pad assembly for an implement of a machine is disclosed. The implement includes a forward face configured to engage and cast material sideways during a forward movement of the machine over a work surface, and a rearward face opposite the forward face. The wear pad assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a wear pad, and a biasing member. The first bracket is configured to be fixedly coupled to the rearward face of the implement. The second bracket is pivotably coupled to the first bracket. The wear pad is coupled to the second bracket and is configured to contact the work surface. Further, the biasing member is engaged with the second bracket and is configured to bias the wear pad in abutment with the work surface during use of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin J Kovalick
  • Patent number: 10774503
    Abstract: A motor grader including a frame and a scarifier system coupled to the frame. The scarifier system includes a first pin member and second pin member both coupled to the frame and interconnected to one another. The scarifier system also includes a first and second arcuate drawbar arms in spaced relation and coupled to the first pin member and a carriage. An actuator is coupled to the first arcuate drawbar arm and the second pin member to rotate the carriage about a pivot axis of the first pin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kovalick, David L. Cox, Bruce R. Vahling
  • Publication number: 20200263387
    Abstract: A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade supported by a circle, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, and a circle drive system. The circle drive system includes a circle drive motor and a gear box. The gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis. The circle drive motor includes an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the circle axis, and the gear box includes an axis of rotation that is parallel to the circle axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel K. HARSHMAN, David L. COX, Benjamin J. KOVALICK, Bruce R. VAHLING
  • Patent number: 10458081
    Abstract: A work attachment for a motor grader includes a moldboard and a trip edge assembly coupled to the moldboard. The moldboard defines a plurality of first apertures. The trip edge assembly includes a trip edge structure. The trip edge assembly also includes a pivoting mechanism for pivoting a portion of the trip edge assembly in a first direction with respect to the moldboard when the trip edge assembly encounters an object in a drive path of the motor grader. The trip edge assembly further includes a mounting structure defining a plurality of second apertures. The plurality of second apertures are aligned with the plurality of first apertures to receive mechanical fasteners for removably coupling the trip edge assembly with the moldboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Michael Hayes, Benjamin J. Kovalick, David L. Cox, Nathaniel K. Harshman
  • Publication number: 20190323203
    Abstract: A motor grader including a frame and a scarifier system coupled to the frame. The scarifier system includes a first pin member and second pin member both coupled to the frame and interconnected to one another. The scarifier system also includes a first and second arcuate drawbar arms in spaced relation and coupled to the first pin member and a carriage. An actuator is coupled to the first arcuate drawbar arm and the second pin member to rotate the carriage about a pivot axis of the first pin member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kovalick, David L. Cox, Bruce R. Vahling
  • Publication number: 20190234034
    Abstract: A wear pad assembly for an implement of a machine is disclosed. The implement includes a forward face configured to engage and cast material sideways during a forward movement of the machine over a work surface, and a rearward face opposite the forward face. The wear pad assembly includes a first bracket, a second bracket, a wear pad, and a biasing member. The first bracket is configured to be fixedly coupled to the rearward face of the implement. The second bracket is pivotably coupled to the first bracket. The wear pad is coupled to the second bracket and is configured to contact the work surface. Further, the biasing member is engaged with the second bracket and is configured to bias the wear pad in abutment with the work surface during use of the implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin J. Kovalick
  • Publication number: 20190177949
    Abstract: A retention assembly, to slidably retain a blade to a support bracket of a grader machine, includes a yoke, a bearing arrangement, and one or more pins. The yoke is adapted to be coupled to the support bracket, and includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a cavity defined therebetween. The first sidewall defines a first thickness and one or more first bores. The second sidewall defines a second thickness and one or more second bores. The second bores are correspondingly co-axial to the first bores. The bearing arrangement is received within the cavity and is adapted to support the blade for a sliding movement of the blade relative to the bearing arrangement. Further, the pins extend correspondingly through at least one of the first bores or the second bores, and into the cavity to engage and retain the bearing arrangement within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Keith Harshman, James David Costner, III, David L. Cox, Benjamin J. Kovalick, Tanner Cade Koehne
  • Publication number: 20190063021
    Abstract: A work attachment for a motor grader includes a moldboard and a trip edge assembly coupled to the moldboard. The moldboard defines a plurality of first apertures. The trip edge assembly includes a trip edge structure. The trip edge assembly also includes a pivoting mechanism for pivoting a portion of the trip edge assembly in a first direction with respect to the moldboard when the trip edge assembly encounters an object in a drive path of the motor grader. The trip edge assembly further includes a mounting structure defining a plurality of second apertures. The plurality of second apertures are aligned with the plurality of first apertures to receive mechanical fasteners for removably coupling the trip edge assembly with the moldboard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Michael Hayes, Benjamin J. Kovalick, David L. Cox, Nathaniel K. Harshman