Patents by Inventor Kevin Lee Steiner
Kevin Lee Steiner 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).
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Publication number: 20230202592Abstract: A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Eric Bernard Weisbruch, Kevin Lee Steiner, Jianjun Wang
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Patent number: 11618518Abstract: A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Eric Bernard Weisbruch, Kevin Lee Steiner, Jianjun Wang
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Publication number: 20220185400Abstract: An articulated chain assembly includes standard links, a master link, and pins pivotably coupling together the standard links and master link. The master link includes a first half link and a second half link, and bolt holes extending through the first half link and the second half link. A first bolt is within a first one of the bolt holes and has a necked-down bolt shank defining a lesser necked-down axial length. A second bolt is within a second one of the bolt holes and includes a necked-down bolt shank defining a greater necked-down axial length. The first bolt and second bolt may have unequal full axial lengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric B. Weisbruch, Jeffrey Paul Nash, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Kevin Lee Steiner
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Publication number: 20210394840Abstract: A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2020Publication date: December 23, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Eric Bernard Weisbruch, Kevin Lee Steiner, Jianjun Wang
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Patent number: 10633040Abstract: A thrust ring comprises a body including a cylindrical outer surface, a cylindrical inner surface, defining a central axis, an axial direction, a circumferential direction, a first axial end, a second axial end, and at least one recess on the first axial end, and at least one protrusion extending from the cylindrical inner surface toward the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin Lee Steiner, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua
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Publication number: 20180154955Abstract: A thrust ring comprises a body including a cylindrical outer surface, a cylindrical inner surface, defining a central axis, an axial direction, a circumferential direction, a first axial end, a second axial end, and at least one recess on the first axial end, and at least one protrusion extending from the cylindrical inner surface toward the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin Lee Steiner, JR., Timothy Arthur Thorson, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua
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Patent number: 9623920Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include an inner bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, and at least partially within the second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include an outer bushing positioned coaxially around the inner bushing. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned between the first link and the second link to form a hermetic seal between the first link and the second link.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Robert Lee Meyer
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Patent number: 9604681Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
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Patent number: 9505453Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore including first and second portions. The first and second portions may have different diameters. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in and contacting the first portion of the second bore. The bushing may also include an axial end-adjacent portion disposed in and contacting the second portion of the second bore. An outer diameter of the end-adjacent portion may be larger than an outer diameter of the end portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
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Patent number: 9434425Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a second link having a second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing. The bushing may include a first axial end portion disposed in the first bore. In addition, the bushing may include a second axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned at an axial end of the first axial end portion. The seal assembly may contact the first link at a seal-link interface.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier
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Patent number: 9290217Abstract: A track link for a ground-engaging track includes an elongate link body having a lower hardness material forming a lower mounting surface for mounting a track shoe, and a sacrificial higher hardness material forming an upper rail surface for contacting rotatable track engaging elements. The lower hardness and higher hardness materials transition at a material interface within the elongate link body, and the material interface is longitudinally non-uniform, such that the sacrificial higher hardness material has a varying depth from the upper rail surface to retard scalloping.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin Lee Steiner, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory J. Kaufmann, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua
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Publication number: 20150061372Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a second link having a second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing. The bushing may include a first axial end portion disposed in the first bore. In addition, the bushing may include a second axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned at an axial end of the first axial end portion. The seal assembly may contact the first link at a seal-link interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier
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Publication number: 20150061370Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include an inner bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, and at least partially within the second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include an outer bushing positioned coaxially around the inner bushing. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned between the first link and the second link to form a hermetic seal between the first link and the second link.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Robert Lee Meyer
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Publication number: 20150061373Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a joint bushing for a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the joint bushing may include a generally cylindrical outer surface. The joint bushing may also include a generally cylindrical inner bearing surface defining a bore. The inner bearing surface may include a plurality of valley-shaped recesses.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kevin Lee Steiner, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua
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Publication number: 20150061374Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
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Publication number: 20150061369Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a thrust ring for a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the thrust ring may include a generally cylindrical outer surface. The thrust ring may also include a generally cylindrical inner surface including at least one protrusion extending toward a central axis of the thrust ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier
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Publication number: 20150061371Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore including first and second portions. The first and second portions may have different diameters. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in and contacting the first portion of the second bore. The bushing may also include an axial end-adjacent portion disposed in and contacting the second portion of the second bore. An outer diameter of the end-adjacent portion may be larger than an outer diameter of the end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
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Publication number: 20150008730Abstract: A track link for a ground-engaging track includes an elongate link body having a lower hardness material forming a lower mounting surface for mounting a track shoe, and a sacrificial higher hardness material forming an upper rail surface for contacting rotatable track engaging elements. The lower hardness and higher hardness materials transition at a material interface within the elongate link body, and the material interface is longitudinally non-uniform, such that the sacrificial higher hardness material has a varying depth from the upper rail surface to retard scalloping.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: January 8, 2015Inventors: Kevin Lee Steiner, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory J. Kaufmann, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua
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Patent number: 7959239Abstract: A track assembly for a track-type machine is disclosed. The track assembly includes inner and outer track links. A rotatable bushing is positioned about a track pin and a sleeve bearing is positioned about the track pin. A first seal member is disposed between an inner track link and the rotatable bushing and a second seal member is disposed between inner and outer track links. A first thrust ring is engaged with the rotatable bushing and a second thrust ring is engaged with the sleeve bearing. A first contact member is engaged with the first seal member and a second contact member is engaged with the second seal member. The first and second contact members are configured to inhibit wear of the first and second seal members.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers, Eric James Johannsen, Richard Edward Livesay, Kevin Lee Steiner
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Patent number: 7877977Abstract: A master link for a chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body member with a first side, a second side positioned opposite the first side, a shoe surface configured to receive a track shoe, and a rail surface positioned opposite the shoe surface. The master link also includes first and second apertures extending through the body member from the first side to the second side and third and fourth apertures located between the first and second apertures. The master link also includes a strut member dividing the third and fourth apertures. The master link also includes a first gap located in the body member and extending from the first aperture to the third aperture and a second gap located in the body member and extending from the fourth aperture to the second aperture. The master link further includes a third gap located in the strut member and extending from the third aperture to the fourth aperture.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric James Johannsen, Kevin Lee Steiner, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Jeffrey Paul Nash, Jennifer Ann Brooks, Roger L. Recker