Patents by Inventor Steven M. Cross

Steven M. Cross 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).

  • Carrier for a planetary gear train
    Patent number: 11353104
    Abstract: A carrier for a planetary gear train includes a hub disposed about an axis of rotation, the hub having an external cylindrical surface including a plurality of splines extending along a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being parallel to the axis of rotation; and a deck extending away from the hub along a radial direction, the radial direction being transverse to the longitudinal direction. The deck defining a plurality of holes therethrough, each hole of the plurality of holes being configured to receive an axle of a planet gear of the plurality of planet gears, the hub being disposed between the plurality of holes and the axis of rotation along the radial direction. The splines have a value of a parameter (P) that is not less than 2.5 and not greater than 6.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Jenkins, Matthew E. Giannis, Steven M. Cross, Keith A. Kabrick, Kurt W. Riggenbach
  • CARRIER FOR A PLANETARY GEAR TRAIN
    Publication number: 20220145984
    Abstract: A carrier for a planetary gear train includes a hub disposed about an axis of rotation, the hub having an external cylindrical surface including a plurality of splines extending along a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being parallel to the axis of rotation; and a deck extending away from the hub along a radial direction, the radial direction being transverse to the longitudinal direction. The deck defining a plurality of holes therethrough, each hole of the plurality of holes being configured to receive an axle of a planet gear of the plurality of planet gears, the hub being disposed between the plurality of holes and the axis of rotation along the radial direction. The splines have a value of a parameter (P) that is not less than 2.5 and not greater than 6.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Jenkins, Matthew E. Giannis, Steven M. Cross, Keith A. Kabrick, Kurt W. Riggenbach
  • Carbide method and article for hard finishing resulting in improved wear resistance
    Patent number: 7169238
    Abstract: An article and method for forming an article having a hard-finished surface including a predetermined density of carbides to improve pitting and wear resistance and to significantly increase the overall life of the article. This method comprises selecting a carburizing grade material to form an article, carburizing the article to form a microstructure on at least one portion of the article having a predetermined density of carbides dispersed in the microstructure to a predetermined depth, quenching the article to form a hardened matrix dispersed with carbides and hard finishing the article to form the surface, the surface having at least approximately 20% by volume fraction carbides dispersed in the hardened matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: John B. Walenta, Charles F. Berndt, Thomas E. Clements, Steven M. Cross, Timothy M. Hoefft, Gary D. Keil