Patents by Inventor BLAKE A. METZ

BLAKE A. METZ 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).

  • Seal installation guide sleeve
    Patent number: 9636810
    Abstract: A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric T. Lammers, Allan N. Schott, Blake A. Metz
  • Seal Installation Guide Sleeve
    Publication number: 20170043461
    Abstract: A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: ERIC T. LAMMERS, ALLAN N. SCHOTT, BLAKE A. METZ
  • Seal installation guide sleeve
    Patent number: 9511486
    Abstract: A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric T. Lammers, Allan N. Schott, Blake A. Metz
  • SEAL INSTALLATION GUIDE SLEEVE
    Publication number: 20150267815
    Abstract: A seal installation guide sleeve for installing a radial lip seal onto a shaft. The radial lip seal includes a flexible sealing lip. The guide sleeve includes a cylindrical lip engaging surface, and includes an annular flange portion extending from the cylindrical lip engaging surface. The guide sleeve also includes a plurality of tabs extending from the annular flange portion. The guide sleeve is pre-installed in the radial lip seal such that the flexible sealing lip engages the cylindrical lip engaging surface, thereby protecting the flexible sealing lip from damage as the radial lip seal is installed onto the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: ERIC T. LAMMERS, ALLAN N. SCHOTT, BLAKE A. METZ