Patents by Inventor Brian C. Buchanan

Brian C. Buchanan 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).

  • Patent number: 5924496
    Abstract: Top link assemblies for a construction machine are typically used to adjust the pitch angle of a cutting edge of a blade. The present top link assembly has an elongated member and a block member connected to the blade and a frame, respectively, of the machine. The elongated member has upper and lower surfaces defined on a body portion and a pair of spaced openings therethrough. The block member has a lower surface substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the elongated member and a pair of spaced threaded openings therein substantially coaxial with the pair of openings in the elongated member. A pair of spacers having notched end portions are disposed in a stacked relationship on the upper surface of the elongated member. A pair of threaded bolts extend through the notched end portions of the spacers and the openings in the elongated member for threading into the block member, to secure the top link assembly at a first predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Buchanan, Paul J. Staebler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5853051
    Abstract: Top link assemblies for a construction machine are typically used to adjust the pitch angle of a cutting edge of a blade. The present top link assembly has substantially co-planar first and second adjustment plates with each including a pair of slots therein. Joint upper and lower surfaces are defined between the first and second adjustment plates. Upper and lower spacer plates are disposed on the joint upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and each include a pair of openings coaxially aligned with the slots within the first and second adjustment plates. A threaded portion of a bolt extends through the upper spacer plate, first and second adjustment plates and lower spacer plate through the co-axially aligned openings and slots. A nut is tightened on the threaded portion at any one of a plurality of positions along the pair of slots and the desired pitch angle of the cutting edge may be adjusted by loosening the nuts and repositioning at any one of the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Buchanan, John M. Dickerson, James E. Johnston, Francis G. Snekhaus