Patents Examined by Jason R. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 11235822
    Abstract: A track roller includes a roller shell, a first retainer, a second retainer, a first holding ring, and a second holding ring. The first retainer is press-fitted to the outer periphery of a shaft and abuts on a first end face of the roller shell. The second retainer is press-fitted to the outer periphery of the shaft and abuts on a second end face of the roller shell. The first holding ring is attached to the outer periphery of the shaft on the outside of the first retainer and fixes the first retainer. The second holding ring is attached to the outer periphery of the shaft and fixes the second retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Takeya Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 11230334
    Abstract: A master link for a track chain is disclosed. The master link may include a first portion that abuts a first face of the link, a second portion that abuts a second face of the link, a first bore located on a first end of the link, a second bore located on a second end of the link, and a material located between the first portion and the second portion and extending between the first bore and the second bore. The material may create a separation between the first portion and the second portion to facilitate placement of the first bore and the second bore around outer diameters of corresponding mating members of a track chain. The material may be removable to remove the separation from between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Longanbach
  • Patent number: 11225105
    Abstract: A spoke wheel includes a rim for supporting a tire having rim guards, a hub located radially inwardly with respect to the rim, and a plurality of spokes integrally connected with the rim and the hub at outer and inner ends, respectively, and extending radially with respect to the hub; a laterally outer surface of the outer end of each spoke and a laterally outer peripheral edge of the rim are located laterally inwardly with respect to a tip of a laterally outer rim guard; outer ends of main spokes among the spokes are provided with convex portions projecting laterally outwardly and extending in the radial direction, and a lateral position of a laterally outer tip of each convex portion lies in the range between a lateral position of the laterally outer peripheral edge of the rim and a lateral position of the tip of the laterally outer rim guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Aoi Kodama
  • Patent number: 11220132
    Abstract: Aerodynamic wheel covers may include a hub assembly coupled with a hub of a large vehicle, such as a truck. A base assembly may be coupled to the hub assembly, and a disk assembly may be coupled with the base assembly such that removal and installation of the disk assembly may be accomplished without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FLOWBELOW AERO, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Butler, Kyle Walker
  • Patent number: 11214094
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an inner-C-forging assembly, an integral front axle assembly, and modification method thereof. The inner-C-forging assembly includes an inner-C-forging and a connection structure. The inner-C-forging is configured for connecting with a kingpin knuckle. The connection structure is configured for connecting with an axle tube. The inner-C-forging is detachably fixed to the connection structure, and the inner-C-forging has different mounting states relative to the connection structure. At different mounting states, a kingpin installation portion of the inner-C-forging has different positions relative to the connection structure. In the present disclosure, vehicle's caster angles on both sides and the pinion to driveshaft angle can be conveniently and independently adjusted while ensuring the support strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI YINSHUN TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dehui Du, Jia Fu
  • Patent number: 11214319
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a track unit for a vehicle, such as an agricultural harvesting combine. The track unit according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises one or more bogies arranged between front and rear guide wheels. The bogies are provided with wheel pairs that are rotatably arranged about a longitudinal axis of the bogie itself, and are thereby capable of adapting individually to transversal oscillations caused by the terrain. Preferably, the bogies are furthermore equipped to adapt to longitudinal oscillations as well, by the longitudinal portion of the bogie being rotatable about a transversal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Piens, Jean-Pierre Vandendriessche, Carlos J. A. Verheye
  • Patent number: 11214093
    Abstract: An omnidirectional wheel includes a plurality of first and second rollers, a plurality of roller support parts, a wheel hub, and a fixing member. The wheel hub has a shaft portion and an extension. The fixing member and an elastic body are disposed to surround the shaft portion. Spaces are provided between the elastic body and the shaft portion, or between the elastic body and the roller support parts. A plurality of first pins and second pins are formed to protrude from the extension and the fixing member, respectively. The elastic body has a plurality of first holes and second holes. The first holes and the second holes are shifted from each other in a circumferential direction of the elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Makoto Murai
  • Patent number: 11208163
    Abstract: A final drive seal guard for a track-type tractor including a base component adapted to be stationarily fixed to the tractor and to surround a portion of a spindle housing of the final drive, a sprocket component adapted to be carried on and surround a portion of a sprocket hub of the final drive that rotates about an axis, and an intermediate component adapted to be bolted over the exterior of one of said base and sprocket components and surround portions of both of said base and sprocket components, the intermediate component and another of said base or sprocket components being mutually arranged to form a radially extending sealing gap at a potential path of debris into the guard at a location free of a relatively long axial gap upstream in said potential path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Ernie Freeman
  • Patent number: 11208164
    Abstract: A track link rail surface and roller interface includes a first roller including a cylindrical configuration defining a radial direction, a longitudinal axis, a circumferential direction, and a plane containing the radial direction and the longitudinal axis. The first roller includes a first track link rail engaging surface including a first concave arcuate surface defining a first concave radius of curvature. The interface includes a first track link including a first track link rail surface including a first convex arcuate surface defining a first convex radius of curvature that is less or equal to the first concave radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew William Trone, Jianjun Wang
  • Patent number: 11203229
    Abstract: An assembled wheel includes a spoke, a T nut, a screw, a fixing ring, a rim, a brake drum. In use, the T nut is installed in the outermost T groove of the spoke; a second boss on a connecting ring fits with the groove on the back of the spoke; the spoke, the connecting ring and the fixing ring are connected together by the first screw; grooves on the outer side of the brake drum fit with a first boss in the right circumferential direction of the fixing ring; and the second screw axially fixes the brake drum in the fixing ring through a spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: CITIC DICASTAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zuo Xu, Bowen Xue, Chuanqun Li, Weidong Liu, Jiandong Guo
  • Patent number: 11203231
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an integral front axle assembly which includes an axle housing configured for connecting with a driveshaft; two axle tubes respectively connected with two opposite sides of the axle housing; two inner-C-forgings disposed at ends of the axle tubes and each being configured for connecting with a kingpin knuckle; and at least one connection structure, for detachably fixing at least one of the inner-C-forgings to a corresponding axle tube. The inner-C-forging has different mounting positions on the axle tube, correspondingly, the caster to pinion angle is different at inner-C-forging's different mounting positions. The caster angles on both sides and the pinion to driveshaft angle can be conveniently and independently adjusted while ensuring the support strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI YINSHUN TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dehui Du, Jia Fu
  • Patent number: 11203227
    Abstract: A wheel includes a rim that is at least partially made from a fiber reinforced plastic. The rim has an inner side extending to the hub region of the wheel and an outer side extending centrifugally away from the hub region of the wheel whereby the outer side includes a well which is interconnected with an outer shoulder by a transition area. A wheel center is interconnected with the inner side of the rim by at least one fastener wherein the at least one fastener penetrates the rim via at least one opening that extends from the inner side of the rim to the outer side of the rim. An annular cover is arranged at the outer side of the rim in a circumferential direction around the wheel and thereby covers the at least one fastener and/or the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: MUBEA CARBO TECH GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Renner
  • Patent number: 11198321
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a wheel, drive wheel and wheel chair. The wheel includes an annular rim and a disk covering the rim on one side in an axial direction of the rim. The disk of the wheel includes a skin and a cushion member. The skin is formed of a fiber-reinforced material. The cushion member includes a cushion part and a shape retaining part. The cushion part is formed of a shock absorbing material and is disposed adjacent to the skin. The shape retaining part is formed of a fiber-reinforced material and is disposed adjacent to the cushion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Koshido, Kazuma Yoshii, Wakato Yamamoto, Junji Takado
  • Patent number: 11192401
    Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that includes an axle with a keyway. A spindle sleeve is present that has a spindle sleeve inner surface axis coaxial with the axis of the axle. A spindle sleeve outer surface axis is not coaxial with the axis of the axle, and the spindle sleeve has a sleeve washer that has a keyway tab. A retaining nut is in selective rotating communication with the sleeve washer such that rotation of the retaining nut is communicated to the sleeve washer to cause the spindle sleeve to rotate relative to the axle when the retaining nut is in rotating communication with the sleeve washer. Rotation of the retaining nut is not communicated to the sleeve washer to cause the spindle sleeve to rotate relative to the axle when the retaining nut is not in rotating communication with the sleeve washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Zachary Alexander Merrill
  • Patent number: 11186128
    Abstract: A plurality of disposable single fabricated piece tire grips with friction contact surfaces and cable ties ratchet mounted on wheel contact surfaces of tires mounted on wheels with openings allowing the grips to secure there through for easy application and fits all tires regardless of size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: G. R. Parker
  • Patent number: 11179979
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a valve stem system (1) for tubeless wheels. The valve stem system (1) includes a valve stem body (2) with a first end (3) and a second end (4), wherein the second end (4) is located in a tire/rim-volume when mounted at the wheel. A first valve (5) is arranged at the second end (4) of the valve stem body (2). The first valve (5) is a self-sealing one-way valve. A second valve (10) is removably mountable at the first end (3) and is, when mounted, at least partially housed in the valve stem body (2). The second valve (10) comprises a valve stem core inserted in the valve stem body (2) and can be added or removed from the valve stem body (2) while pressure is maintained within the tire by the first valve (5). The invention further concerns a probe (30) for a valve stem system, a method to test the amount of sealant in a wheel and a refilling assembly (80) for a wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SPORT COMPONENTS AG
    Inventors: Pius Kobler, Dominik Eggert
  • Patent number: 11179980
    Abstract: A tire valve for controlled filling and emptying of a tire, having a valve body and a filling conduit, which is routed in the valve body from a valve inlet to a valve outlet and in which a filling valve is provided. In order to be able to perform an emptying of the tire, an emptying conduit, which is separated from the filling conduit in a pressure-tight manner, is formed in the valve body and includes an emptying valve, and from this emptying conduit an emptying opening leads through the valve body to the outside, wherein a shut-off element of the emptying valve is coupled to an element, which is movable by pressure medium loading, in such a way that a movement of the movable element, which is brought about by the pressure medium loading in the filling conduit, moves the shut-off element of the emptying valve into an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., KT PROJEKTENTWICKLUNGS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin P. Spindler, Konstantinos Tsiberidis
  • Patent number: 11179969
    Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, or other off-road vehicle) or other device, in which the wheel includes a non-pneumatic tire that may be designed to enhance its use and performance, including to be able to be used longer and/or in more challenging conditions, such as by being more resistant to cracking or other damage which could lead to premature failure (e.g., due to manufacturing artifacts and/or rocks and other hazards that can cut, chip, or tear during use). The non-pneumatic tire includes an annular beam configured to deflect at a contact patch of the non-pneumatic tire and an annular support extending radially inwardly from the annular beam and configured to support loading by tension. An elastomeric material of at least one of the annular beam and the annular support may have selected properties, including greater crack propagation resistance when subject to tensile stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: CAMSO INC.
    Inventor: Ronald H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11173972
    Abstract: A crawler bar of a crawler track of a crawler vehicle is provided, including a linear bar base body and a cutting element. The cutting element contains a plurality of cutting element portions, each including a cutter-connecting member and a cutter. When installed, the crawler bar engages on a driving surface of the vehicle. The cutter-connecting member protrudes from and extends on the bar base body in a longitudinal extension of the bar base body. A main face of a first cutter-connecting member of a first cutting element portion lies in a plane (H1), a main face of a further cutter-connecting member of a further cutting element portion lies in a plane (H2), and the two planes (H1) and (H2) have a single intersection line (S)with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hans Hall GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Hall
  • Patent number: 11173742
    Abstract: A vehicle including at least one wheel and at least one hub assembly associated with the at least one wheel. The at least one hub assembly includes a hubcap. The hubcap has a transparent body configured for housing a lubricant, a fill port, and at least one continuous indication feature such that a lubricant volume is indicated in any orientation of the hubcap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jason Weyer, Nathan J. Carlson, Brian D. Vik, Jason K. Novacek, Daniel J. Klein, Thomas M. Curley, Anna J. Reisenauer