Patents by Inventor Rick T. Lasko

Rick T. Lasko 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).

  • Apparatus and method for lubricating a gear
    Patent number: 8366578
    Abstract: A gear train assembly includes a first reduction planetary gear set having a rotating carrier and a second reduction planetary gear set having a non-rotating carrier. A plurality of vanes are attached to the carrier to direct oil from an oil bath towards the non-rotating carrier as the rotating carrier rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Zeirke, Keith A. Kabrick, Christopher P. Braet, Daniel J. Reed, Timothy F. Nusz, Rick T. Lasko
  • Sheath assembly for a planetary gear
    Patent number: 8128524
    Abstract: A gear train assembly includes a planetary gear set partially submerged in an oil bath and having a plurality of planetary gears mounted on a rotatable carrier. A plurality of sheaths having a hydrodynamic profile are mounted on the carrier to reduce the churning and turbulence created by the planetary gears as they enter the oil bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rick T. Lasko, Daniel J. Reed, Timothy F. Nusz, Christopher P. Braet, Keith A. Kabrick, John D. Zeirke
  • SHEATH ASSEMBLY FOR A PLANETARY GEAR
    Publication number: 20100113205
    Abstract: A gear train assembly includes a planetary gear set partially submerged in an oil bath and having a plurality of planetary gears mounted on a rotatable carrier. A plurality of sheaths having a hydrodynamic profile are mounted on the carrier to reduce the churning and turbulence created by the planetary gears as they enter the oil bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Rick T. Lasko, Daniel J. Reed, Timothy F. Nusz, Christopher P. Braet, Keith A. Kabrick, John D. Zeirke
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LUBRICATING A GEAR
    Publication number: 20100113204
    Abstract: A gear train assembly includes a first reduction planetary gear set having a rotating carrier and a second reduction planetary gear set having a non-rotating carrier. A plurality of vanes are attached to the carrier to direct oil from an oil bath towards the non-rotating carrier as the rotating carrier rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: John D. Zeirke, Keith A. Kabrick, Christopher P. Braet, Daniel J. Reed, Timothy F. Nusz, Rick T. Lasko
  • Drive hub having an oil check hole
    Patent number: 6485110
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the amount of lubricant within a housing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shaft driving the housing about an axis, a number of interior components positioned within the housing, and an opening defined in the housing and centered on the axis. The distance between the a lower edge of the opening and the lowest portion of the housing is proportional to the amount of lubricant displaced by the components. The level of the lubricant within the housing determined relative to the lower edge. A work machine and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpiller Inc
    Inventors: Rick T. Lasko, Frank Moeller