Patents Assigned to CAT Corporation
  • Patent number: 8672424
    Abstract: In some implementations, a flexible track for a tracked vehicle comprises a flexible belt with an inner surface and a ground-engaging surface, the ground-engaging surface comprising outwardly projecting lugs spaced apart along the track, wherein at least one of the lugs comprises a vertical section having a curved leading edge. In some implementations, the flexible track comprises a flexible belt with an inner belt surface, an opposite outer belt surface and at least one track bar attached to the outer surface and extending approximately perpendicular to a direction of the track's travel, the track bar having an outer surface with multiple projecting lugs and an inner surface with at least one holding element, and wherein when the track bar is tightened against the outer belt surface, the holding element engages the outer belt surface, thereby reducing slipping between the flexible belt and the track bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventors: Jasper J. Tucker, Jr., Benjamin J. Vandagrift
  • Publication number: 20090123892
    Abstract: There is provided a human body information extraction device for extracting human body information including position information from a reference position, from 3D information on the human body elements obtained from a CT information or the like in which the position information from the reference position with respect to a human body element is unknown. In the human body information extraction device, a reference plane for positioning is detected by detecting information on a common positioning member contained in both of the 3D human body information from the CT information and a 3D model information from a human body model. The both reference planes are matched on the display so that the 3D human body information is positioned on the reference plane. Furthermore, only human information corresponding to the 3D model information is extracted from the CT information. By using this device, it is possible to obtain 3D human body information positioned on the reference plane from which a noise is excluded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: CAT Corporation
    Inventors: Motofumi SOGO, Yoshihisa SOMEKAWA, Ryusuke NAKAI
  • Patent number: 7370918
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an improved wheel assembly for a drive track unit of an all-terrain vehicle that inhibits the accumulation of snow, ice and/or other matter between the track and the wheel assembly. In one implementation, an improved guide wheel assembly for a track unit has a rotatable hub and at least two axially spaced apart guide wheels mounted to the hub that engage the inner surface of an endless track. A flexible and/or deformable sleeve covering the outer surface of the hub is capable of deforming under external pressure applied to the sleeve through contact with snow and/or ice as the vehicle traverses the ground. The deformation of the sleeve is effective to inhibit snow and/or ice from adhering to the sleeve outer surface. Hence, disengagement of the track from the guide wheels caused by accumulated ice and/or snow can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventor: Jasper J. Tucker
  • Patent number: 7201242
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle is supported and driven by endless track units. Each track unit includes a drive belt with rows of interior drive lugs driven by cogs on multiple sprocket wheels of a common drive wheel assembly having an integrated, one-piece drum and hub. Multiple guide wheel assemblies engaging the lower run of the drive belt distribute the vehicle load across substantially the full width of the belt. Each guide wheel assembly includes a pair of guide wheel units mounted on opposite end portions of a common spindle and on opposite sides of a carrier beam of the track unit. Each guide wheel unit has a wide belt-engaging surface extending to, or close to, an edge portion of the belt and interrupted by an annular groove permitting passage of a row of the belt drive lugs while maintaining alignment of the belt and drive wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventor: Jasper J. Tucker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6983812
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle is supported and driven by endless track units. Each track unit includes a drive belt with rows of interior drive lugs driven by cogs on multiple sprocket wheels of a common drive wheel assembly having an integrated, one-piece drum and hub. Multiple guide wheel assemblies engaging the lower run of the drive belt distribute the vehicle load across substantially the full width of the belt. Each guide wheel assembly includes a pair of guide wheel units mounted on opposite end portions of a common spindle and on opposite sides of a carrier beam of the track unit. Each guide wheel unit has a wide belt-engaging surface extending to, or close to, an edge portion of the belt and interrupted by an annular groove permitting passage of a row of the belt drive lugs while maintaining alignment of the belt and drive wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventor: Jasper James Tucker
  • Patent number: 6968914
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle is supported and driven by endless track units. Each track unit includes a drive belt with rows of interior drive lugs driven by cogs on multiple sprocket wheels of a common drive wheel assembly having an integrated, one-piece drum and hub. Multiple guide wheel assemblies engaging the lower run of the drive belt distribute the vehicle load across substantially the full width of the belt. Each guide wheel assembly includes a pair of guide wheel units mounted on opposite end portions of a common spindle and on opposite sides of a carrier beam of the track unit. Each guide wheel unit has a wide belt-engaging surface extending to, or close to, an edge portion of the belt and interrupted by an annular groove permitting passage of a row of the belt drive lugs while maintaining alignment of the belt and drive wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventor: Jasper James Tucker
  • Patent number: 6129426
    Abstract: An endless track unit for a tracked vehicle has guide wheel assemblies which support the track. A guide wheel assembly includes a hub adapted to be rotatably mounted on an axle, the hub having axially-spaced outer flanges of an outer diameter no greater than a first diameter. A central flange on the hub extends radially outwardly beyond the first diameter. A pair of outer axially-spaced wheels are mounted on the outer flanges and a central ring-like wheel having an inner diameter greater than the first diameter is secured to the central flange. The hub is generally an integral, or unitary, element adapted to be mounted on an axle and supports all three wheels. The wheels are substantially rigid rings, and each has an elastomeric covering formed about its periphery for cushioned engagement with the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventor: Jasper James Tucker
  • Patent number: 6007166
    Abstract: An improved system in an endless track unit of an all-terrain vehicle. A track is driven with a drive wheel that has sprocket disks drivingly engaging the track with more than two teeth from those disks drivingly engaging the track at any given time. The track is trained around the drive wheel and a plurality of undriven guide wheels. A damper wheel may sit downstream of the drive wheel between the drive wheel and the first guide wheel and supports the underside of the track. A preferred embodiment has a sprocket disk with thirteen cogs that have a generally tear-shaped cross section forming teeth of the sprocket, more than two of which drivingly engage a stretch-resistant track at any given time. The track a continuous belt formed of molded rubber with stretch-resistant chords imbedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Tucker Sno-Cat Corporation
    Inventors: Emmitt M. Tucker, Jasper J. Tucker, Jr., Maralee V. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5267531
    Abstract: A litter composition is disclosed and includes a particulate liquid absorbent material and a particulate odor control agent that is dry blended with the absorbent material. The odor control agent comprises a mixture of a fragrance oil that has been spray dried onto a starch carrier and a sodium bisulfite complex having volatile fragrance components. The odor control agent is present in an amount ranging between 0.025% to 0.1% by weight of the total litter composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Golden Cat Corporation (GCC)
    Inventors: Norman J. Appel, Art D. Cotton, Raymond J. Heinz, John S. Josephitis, Vern R. Murawski, Gerald L. Neuser, Marvin L. Raymond, Phillip B. Greene
  • Patent number: 5183010
    Abstract: A litter composition including a particulate liquid absorbent material and a particulate polymer having a hydroxyl group content sufficient to enable the litter composition to agglomerate into a mass upon contact with liquid waste to facilitate removal of the liquid waste from a container containing the litter composition. The litter composition further includes a boron compound to accelerate hardening of the mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Golden Cat Corporation
    Inventors: Marvin L. Raymond, Dana G. Barrett, Phillip B. Greene