Patents by Inventor Elmer S. Zanoria

Elmer S. Zanoria 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: 11852240
    Abstract: A rotational seal assembly is associated with a rotating component. The rotational seal includes an outer casing, an inner casing, a rotational seal connected to the outer casing and the inner casing, and a followability enhancer. A section of the rotational seal includes a heel portion and a toe portion. The rotational seal is configured to contact, via a first surface of the section of the rotational seal and during operation of the rotating component, the rotating component. The followability enhancer is configured to contact, during the operation of the rotating component, a first region of a second surface of the section of the rotational seal that is associated with the toe portion. The followability enhancer is configured to not contact, during the operation of the rotating component, a second region of the second surface of the section of the rotational seal that is associated with the heel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Elmer S Zanoria, Hong Lian, Keith Harmeyer, Daniel Joshua Smith
  • Patent number: 11796063
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotatable shaft assembly includes a seal housing and each of a main seal and a dust seal extending circumferentially around a seal housing center axis. The dust seal includes a radially inward dust seal lip, and is formed by a sealing layer having a plurality of ventilation openings formed therein, and a debris-blocking filter layer attached to the sealing layer and positioned across the ventilation openings. The main seal and dust seal assist in maintaining lubricating oil within a seal cavity. The dust seal prevents entry of debris whilst ventilating the seal cavity to limit carbonization of oil on seal assembly components. In an implementation the seal assembly is part of a rotatable crankshaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Joseph Harmeyer, Elmer S. Zanoria, Daniel Joshua Smith
  • Publication number: 20230265925
    Abstract: A rotational seal assembly is associated with a rotating component. The rotational seal includes an outer casing, an inner casing, a rotational seal connected to the outer casing and the inner casing, and a followability enhancer. A section of the rotational seal includes a heel portion and a toe portion. The rotational seal is configured to contact, via a first surface of the section of the rotational seal and during operation of the rotating component, the rotating component. The followability enhancer is configured to contact, during the operation of the rotating component, a first region of a second surface of the section of the rotational seal that is associated with the toe portion. The followability enhancer is configured to not contact, during the operation of the rotating component, a second region of the second surface of the section of the rotational seal that is associated with the heel portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Elmer S. ZANORIA, Hong LIAN, Keith HARMEYER, Daniel Joshua SMITH
  • Publication number: 20220381347
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotatable shaft assembly includes a seal housing and each of a main seal and a dust seal extending circumferentially around a seal housing center axis. The dust seal includes a radially inward dust seal lip, and is formed by a sealing layer having a plurality of ventilation openings formed therein, and a debris-blocking filter layer attached to the sealing layer and positioned across the ventilation openings. The main seal and dust seal assist in maintaining lubricating oil within a seal cavity. The dust seal prevents entry of debris whilst ventilating the seal cavity to limit carbonization of oil on seal assembly components. In an implementation the seal assembly is part of a rotatable crankshaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Joseph Harmeyer, Elmer S. Zanoria, Daniel Joshua Smith
  • Publication number: 20180224216
    Abstract: An air-to-air aftercooler (ATAAC) configured to cool compressed air from an air compressor is disclosed. The ATAAC may comprise a first header. The first header may include a plurality of slots each having a recessed groove. The ATAAC may further comprise a plurality of core tubes each including a first end inserted in a respective one of the slots of the first header. The ATAAC may further comprise a plurality of mechanical joints each connecting the first end of one of the core tubes to the first header. Each of the mechanical joints may include a C-ring inserted in the recessed groove of one of the slots, and a clamp clamping the core tube to the first header. The C-ring and the clamp may both be formed from a metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Kennedy, Nirag Sheth, James McCoy Voelker, Elmer S. Zanoria, Christian Earl Sabotta, Neil Terry