Patents by Inventor Dale C. Messmore

Dale C. Messmore 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).

  • Drive axle housing system for reducing oil churning
    Patent number: 8961348
    Abstract: A drive axle housing system may minimize churning of splash and spray oil within a drive axle housing. The drive axle housing system includes apparatus for incorporation into the axle, the apparatus including an oil churning reduction member that may be affixed to the interior walls of the axle housing. The oil churning reduction member includes interior surfaces adapted to closely align with interior moving gear components of the axle to minimize efficiency losses due to oil movement. The system may also incorporate an annular element, affixed to the axle housing and closely aligned with the backside of a ring gear component of the differential axle. The combined use of the member and the element may substantially reduce torque losses attributable to excessive churning of oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Weber, Dale C. Messmore, John B. Salomon, Benjamin T. Nelson
  • Drive Axle Housing System for Reducing Oil Churning
    Publication number: 20120316024
    Abstract: A drive axle housing system may minimize churning of splash and spray oil within a drive axle housing. The drive axle housing system includes apparatus for incorporation into the axle, the apparatus including an oil churning reduction member that may be affixed to the interior walls of the axle housing. The oil churning reduction member includes interior surfaces adapted to closely align with interior moving gear components of the axle to minimize efficiency losses due to oil movement. The system may also incorporate an annular element, affixed to the axle housing and closely aligned with the backside of a ring gear component of the differential axle. The combined use of the member and the element may substantially reduce torque losses attributable to excessive churning of oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Weber, Dale C. Messmore, John B. Salomon, Benjamin T. Nelson