Patents Examined by Kip T Kotter
  • Patent number: 11535053
    Abstract: This non-pneumatic tire is provided with a tread ring, a wheel which is arranged radially inside of the tread ring, and spokes which are interposed between the tread ring and the wheel. Further, the wheel has a disc part to which the vehicle shaft is linked, and a rim part which is connected on the inner peripheral side to the disc part and is joined on the outer peripheral side to the spokes. In this configuration, the average thickness (T1) of the disc part is set to be greater than the average thickness (T2) of the rim part. In other words, the relation T1>T2 holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Kashiwai, Nobuo Kambara, Atsushi Hirano
  • Patent number: 11535056
    Abstract: A wheel hub having an axis of symmetry and including a flange transverse to the axis of symmetry and provided with a plurality of fixing holes for attaching a wheel, a tubular body extending axially from the flange for supporting a rolling bearing, and a centering device arranged on a side of the flange opposite to that of the tubular body and in a position concentric with the axis of symmetry of the wheel hub, for retaining a wheel rim or a brake disc. The centering device being provided with a given number of flattened areas extending circumferentially and axially on a respective continuous tubular body projecting axially from the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Marco Romanetto, Luca Donetti, Dario Ricci, Antonio Ruiu
  • Patent number: 11529831
    Abstract: A central tire inflation system configured to monitor and maintain an air pressure on the tires of a vehicle includes a housing, a central processing unit, a controller, and a valve. The housing has a plurality of walls and a bottom forming an interior volume. The central processing unit has the necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data. The controller has a plurality of modes of operation wherein the modes of operation include default parameters for air pressure within the tires of the vehicle. The valve is configured to direct air flow as required into or out of the tires, the valve being operably coupled to the controller. The central tire inflation system is configured to monitor air pressure of the tires and provide inflation or deflation thereof based the mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Airdown, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott McCauley, Alfred Robert Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 11528838
    Abstract: A depth gauge wheel for a row planter. The depth gauge wheel sets the planting depth for the seeds planted by the row planter. The depth gauge wheel sets planting depth by setting the cutting depth of the disk opener of the row planter. The depth gauge wheel also scrapes mud from the disk blade of the disk opener. The depth gauge wheel includes a rim, a tire attached to the rim and a ring attached to the rim. The tire contacts the surface of the ground to set the cutting depth of the disk opener and the ring scrapes mud from the disk blade of the disk opener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Jung Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan F. Jung
  • Patent number: 11524731
    Abstract: A carriage assembly includes a primary frame, a first idler wheel mounted to the primary frame, and a secondary frame pivotably mounted to the primary frame. The carriage assembly further includes an idler wheel assembly coupled to the secondary frame and movable with respect to the secondary frame along a longitudinal axis of the idler wheel assembly. The idler wheel assembly includes at least one second idler wheel and at least one third idler wheel mounted to the idler wheel assembly such that the second idler wheel is located between the first idler wheel and the third idler wheel. The first idler wheel is configured to pivot with the primary frame relative to the secondary frame, and the second idler wheel and the third idler wheel are configured to move with the idler wheel assembly relative to the secondary frame along the longitudinal axis of the idler wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Barreto Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Lewis
  • Patent number: 11524733
    Abstract: A bushing for a track assembly, according to one or more embodiments, includes: a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface; and at least one white iron member fixed to the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrasen R. Rathod, Roger L. Recker, Robert J. Pickerill, Susan M. Graham, Scott Keele, Thomas J. Yaniak
  • Patent number: 11518188
    Abstract: This non-pneumatic tire is provided with a tread ring, a wheel which is arranged radially inside of the tread ring, and spokes which are interposed between the tread ring and the wheel. Further, the wheel has a disc part to which the vehicle shaft is linked, and a rim part which is connected on the inner peripheral side to the disc part and is joined on the outer peripheral side to the spokes. In this configuration, the average thickness (T1) of the disc part is set to be less than the average thickness (T2) of the rim part. In other words, the relation T1<T2 holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mikio Kashiwai, Nobuo Kambara, Atsushi Hirano
  • Patent number: 11518457
    Abstract: An endless track for a tracked vehicle includes a track body and a plurality of cores at least partially embedded the track body, each core having at least one roller surface configured to contact an outer flange of a track roller when the track roller is engaged with an inner surface of the track body, and at least one protrusion configured to contact an inner flange of the track roller when the track roller is engaged with the inner surface of the track body. The track roller is configured to simultaneously contact a first core and an adjacent second core. A distance between the first core and the second core is selected such that about 0.2% of a flange diameter of the track roller extends perpendicular to an axis between a first contact point on the first core and a second contact point on the second core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SRI, Inc.
    Inventor: Woo Young Jee
  • Patent number: 11505003
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire (10) comprising a tread band having a ground engaging surface, a first reinforcement layer (250) comprised of at least one reinforcement (251) oriented in the tire's circumferential direction, a second reinforcement layer (254), located radially outward from said first reinforcement layer (250), said second reinforcement layer (254) comprised of a plurality of reinforcements oriented at an angle in a first direction to said tire's circumferential direction, a third reinforcement layer (258), located radially outward from said second reinforcement layer (254), said third reinforcement layer (258) comprised of a plurality of reinforcements oriented at an angle in a second direction to said tire's circumferential direction and a fourth reinforcement layer (262), located radially outward from said third reinforcement layer (258), comprised of at least one reinforcement oriented in the tire's circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Steven M Cron, Brian Narowski, Timothy Brett Rhyne
  • Patent number: 11505004
    Abstract: A flexible wheel may include a flexible tire section which is deformable in a radial direction from a circumference thereof, and an anti-bending guide section coupled with the flexible tire section. The anti-bending guide section is connected to a driving shaft, and the flexible tire section and the anti-bending guide section are concentric. The flexible tire section includes a ring-shaped outer layer, one or more inner layers, and a plurality of spokes. In addition, the anti-bending guide section includes a plurality of plates, a hub, and a plurality of guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sun-Myoung Jo, Jung-Woo Lee, Hoon Chung, Jin Choi
  • Patent number: 11491817
    Abstract: A plug for a hubcap includes a base configured to fit into and obstruct a port of a hubcap. The base at least partially defines a cavity therein. The plug also includes a cap extending radially outward from the base. The cap defines an opening therein, the opening extending at least partially radially, and a passage extending axially between the opening and the cavity. The opening is in fluid communication with the cavity via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Dave B Templin, Kacy Denton
  • Patent number: 11492056
    Abstract: A track link for a machine track includes an elongate link body having an upper rail surface with an inboard peripheral edge and an outboard peripheral edge each formed upon a first link strap, a second link strap, and a middle section. The upper rail surface defines a longitudinal midline and at least one of the inboard peripheral edge or the outboard peripheral edge upon the first link strap and the second link strap is canted, in an inboard-outboard direction, to a longitudinal midline of the upper rail surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Steiner
  • Patent number: 11485448
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy transfer system, in particular in the form of an energy efficient wheel for use with a vehicle such as a bicycle, which energy transfer system is operable to convert potential energy in the form of the load applied by the weight of the person on the vehicle into kinetic energy in the form of driving torque applied to the wheel, the system including an inner hub and an outer hub eccentrically coupled to the inner hub, in addition to a rim connected to the outer hub via an array of spokes, wherein an actuator comprising a pair of flanges extends radially outwardly from the inner hub and an array of lever arms are hingedly mounted to the outer hub and engaged by the actuator such as to be hingedly displaceable by the actuator in response to relative movement between the inner and outer hubs, and a spring captured between each lever arm and one of the spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Super Wheel System Ltd.
    Inventor: Kam Sing Chan
  • Patent number: 11485175
    Abstract: Wheel hub arrangement for a drive with rotated drum that has a stationary shaft (13); a hollow drum (19, 20) arranged by bearings around it, a wheel drum (32) that includes a hub of the driven wheel, and freewheels, inner sleeve (21, 22) which are arranged around the stationary shaft (13) by bearings, and placed partially in the cavity of the drum (19, 20). The wheel hub arrangement for a drive with rotated drum for bicycles, street stepper vehicles, wheelchairs and tricycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Róbert Kohlhéb
  • Patent number: 11479310
    Abstract: A method of servicing a track chain assembly includes loosening a fastener to reduce a clamping force of a track link body on a track bushing. With the clamping force reduced, the method includes rotating the track bushing from a first position wherein a worn side of the track bushing faces a drive sprocket to a second position wherein an unworn side of the track bushing faces the drive sprocket. Once the track bushing in the second position, the method includes tightening the fastener to increase the clamping force on the track bushing. The method can be performed while leaving the track chain in place on a track machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Temitope O. Akinlua, David J. Hakes, Michael D. Hasselbusch
  • Patent number: 11472227
    Abstract: An improved snap-on automotive wheel cover overlay with extended surround having hook-shaped members for the purpose of securing the wheel cover overlay of the present invention to a damaged manufacturer's wheel cover. The wheel cover overlay of the present invention is further secured by inserting a tension rotation device from the reversed position of a tire into a manufactured in wheel cover overlay tension tabs assembly, and having an extended surround covering the entire rim of a vehicle when installed there on. During manufacturing of the present invention, a three dimensional (3D) scanned imaging of the individual embodiment component parts is generated, after rigorous testing, and is transferred to an injection molding computer to generate the injection molding designed precisely corresponding to each individual component parts of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Neo Design, LLC
    Inventor: Naje Fattouche
  • Patent number: 11465443
    Abstract: A wheel includes a hub and a rim portion surrounding the hub. An outer surface of the rim portion defines a circumference of the wheel. The outer surface of the rim portion has a plurality of bead locks that are spaced from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Sharon E. Reinhardt, Dennis W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11458760
    Abstract: A wheel assembly may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle, and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. Gas springs may be operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and permitting relative movement therebetween. The wheel assembly may also include a sensor configured to sense the relative movement between the inner and outer rims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GACW INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Zoltan Kemeny
  • Patent number: 11458759
    Abstract: A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the inner rim. The wheel assembly may include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim and tread assemblies carried by the outer rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GACW INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zoltan Kemeny, Tom Neppl
  • Patent number: 11453236
    Abstract: An improved snap-on automotive wheel cover overlay with extended surround having hook-shaped members for the purpose of securing the wheel cover overlay of the present invention to a damaged manufacturer's wheel cover. The wheel cover overlay of the present invention is further secured by inserting a tension rotation device from the reversed position of a tire into a manufactured in wheel cover overlay tension tabs assembly, and having an extended surround covering the entire rim of a vehicle when installed there on. During manufacturing of the present invention, a three dimensional (3D) scanned imaging of the individual embodiment component parts is generated, after rigorous testing, and is transferred to an injection molding computer to generate the injection molding designed precisely corresponding to each individual component parts of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Neo Design, LLC
    Inventor: Naje Fattouche