Patents by Inventor Mircea Balan

Mircea Balan 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: 11788260
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 11649614
    Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Serrurier, Mihai Mircea Balan, Scott Anthony Schick, Eric Thomas Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Arun Venugopal, Kadirvel Muthusamy
  • Patent number: 11613874
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement has an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip also has a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined between the converging top and bottom outer surfaces of the ground engaging tip, for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity includes a wear indicator extending from an inner surface of the nose cavity, into the ground engaging tip, toward the bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Publication number: 20230062218
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Patent number: 11519159
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Publication number: 20220243429
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 11306461
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 11143313
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes an annular ball valve seat including an annular spring, which biases the annular ball valve seat axially. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the annular ball valve seat includes a main body section, a lip section extending from the main body section, and a seat groove between the main body section and the lip section, wherein the first annular spring is disposed within the seat groove. A first leg of the annular spring biases the lip section in a first axial direction and a second leg of the annular spring biases the main body section in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction. The annular ball valve seat is configured to be disposed within a ball valve, on either side of a ball of the ball valve. The particular design of the annular ball valve seat enables pressure within a body cavity of the ball valve to be self-relieving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 10794496
    Abstract: A ball valve positioned between a first line and a second line includes a housing and a ball disposed a ball disposed within the housing. The ball includes a bore and is configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The ball valve also includes an annular seat disposed between the housing and the ball. The annular seat includes a first annular sealing ring extending circumferentially about a radially-outer surface of the annular seat and an axially-extending passageway extending through the annular seat to enable fluid flow from a valve cavity to an annular space between the annular seat and the housing. The first annular sealing ring, the axially-extending passageway, and the annular space facilitate movement of the annular seat away from the ball as the ball rotates from the closed position toward the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald J. Manson, Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 10724212
    Abstract: A shroud configured to be attached to a work implement comprises a ground engaging surface with a convex acruate portion, a first concave arcuate portion on one side of the convex arcuate portion, and a second concave arcuate portion on the other side of the convex arcuate portion, or an upper outside loading surface extending from the ground engaging surface including a first concave arcuate loading portion, a first convex arcuate loading portion, and a second convex arcuate loading portion, or a slot the defines a front clearance face with a first rearward facing pad therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas C. Serrurier
  • Publication number: 20200131742
    Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Doug SERRURIER, Mihai Mircea BALAN, Scott Anthony SCHICK, Eric Thomas SINN, Jason Grant JURA, Arun VENUGOPAL, Kadirvel MUTHUSAMY
  • Publication number: 20200048873
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Publication number: 20200048872
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement has an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip also has a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined between the converging top and bottom outer surfaces of the ground engaging tip, for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity includes a wear indicator extending from an inner surface of the nose cavity, into the ground engaging tip, toward the bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Publication number: 20200048874
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 10544568
    Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Doug Serrurier, Mihai Mircea Balan, Scott Anthony Schick, Eric Thomas Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Arun Venugopal, Kadirvel Muthusamy
  • Patent number: 10539242
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for retaining a seat insert of a ball valve in place within a seat ring of the ball valve. In particular, the seat insert is an annular ring having a tapered section on an outer wall of the annular ring. The tapered section of the seat insert is configured to mate with a shoulder in an outer surface of a profiled groove of the seat ring. The seat insert snaps into the profiled groove with the shoulder, thereby preventing axial movement of the seat insert with respect to the profiled groove of the seat ring. In addition, a locking ring also fits within the profiled groove of the seat ring to prevent axial and radial movement of the seat insert with respect to the profiled groove of the seat ring. More specifically, once the seat insert has been snapped into place within the profiled groove of the seat ring, the locking ring is also inserted into the profiled groove of the seat ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Mircea Balan, Steven Burrows
  • Patent number: 10494793
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Patent number: 10480162
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
  • Patent number: 10480161
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement has an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip also has a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined between the converging top and bottom outer surfaces of the ground engaging tip, for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity includes a wear indicator extending from an inner surface of the nose cavity, into the ground engaging tip, toward the bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
  • Patent number: D858584
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas Serrurier