Patents by Inventor Donovan Stuart Clarke

Donovan Stuart Clarke 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: 11820447
    Abstract: A shroud for a track shoe grouser protector includes an elongate shroud body having weld holes formed in a first shroud leg and a second shroud leg attached to a base in the elongate shroud body. The shroud may have a fore to aft profile having the form of a flat-crowned arch with the shroud legs flared outward to form a grouser opening for positioning the shroud upon a track shoe grouser in a ground-engaging track system. An inventory of shrouds includes long shrouds and short shrouds positionable in a plurality of different assembly combinations to shield grousers in track shoes having a range of sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Donovan Stuart Clarke, Paul Prest
  • Publication number: 20230202592
    Abstract: A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Eric Bernard Weisbruch, Kevin Lee Steiner, Jianjun Wang
  • Patent number: 11618518
    Abstract: A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Eric Bernard Weisbruch, Kevin Lee Steiner, Jianjun Wang
  • Publication number: 20220242504
    Abstract: A shroud for a track shoe grouser protector includes an elongate shroud body having weld holes formed in a first shroud leg and a second shroud leg attached to a base in the elongate shroud body. The shroud may have a fore to aft profile having the form of a flat-crowned arch with the shroud legs flared outward to form a grouser opening for positioning the shroud upon a track shoe grouser in a ground-engaging track system. An inventory of shrouds includes long shrouds and short shrouds positionable in a plurality of different assembly combinations to shield grousers in track shoes having a range of sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Donovan Stuart Clarke, Paul Prest
  • Publication number: 20220194495
    Abstract: An idler assembly includes a cylindrical hub defining an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. A stepped circumferential surface of the cylindrical hub has a first radially inner face, and a radially outer cylindrical face. Mounting holes extend radially into the radially outer cylindrical face. A first idler segment is attached to the cylindrical hub, and includes an at least partially flat body having a first planar chain link contacting surface. The cylindrical hub has a first set of metallurgical properties that is different than the second set of metallurgical properties of the first idler segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Steiner, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Robert Donald Bierman, Eric B. Weisbruch, Jason L. Sebright, Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier, Daniel I. Knobloch, Philip Steffen Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20220185400
    Abstract: An articulated chain assembly includes standard links, a master link, and pins pivotably coupling together the standard links and master link. The master link includes a first half link and a second half link, and bolt holes extending through the first half link and the second half link. A first bolt is within a first one of the bolt holes and has a necked-down bolt shank defining a lesser necked-down axial length. A second bolt is within a second one of the bolt holes and includes a necked-down bolt shank defining a greater necked-down axial length. The first bolt and second bolt may have unequal full axial lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric B. Weisbruch, Jeffrey Paul Nash, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Kevin Lee Steiner
  • Publication number: 20210394840
    Abstract: A ground-engaging track includes a track chain formed of standard links and at least one master link. The master link include a first half link and a second half link, clamped together by way of a forward bolt and a rearward bolt. Clamping surfaces of the first half link and the second half link form a first tooth set and a second tooth set, respectively, which may include a total of 2 or 3 full teeth and tooth roots, confined in distribution between a forward bolt hole and a rearward bolt hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Eric Bernard Weisbruch, Kevin Lee Steiner, Jianjun Wang
  • Patent number: 7877977
    Abstract: A master link for a chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body member with a first side, a second side positioned opposite the first side, a shoe surface configured to receive a track shoe, and a rail surface positioned opposite the shoe surface. The master link also includes first and second apertures extending through the body member from the first side to the second side and third and fourth apertures located between the first and second apertures. The master link also includes a strut member dividing the third and fourth apertures. The master link also includes a first gap located in the body member and extending from the first aperture to the third aperture and a second gap located in the body member and extending from the fourth aperture to the second aperture. The master link further includes a third gap located in the strut member and extending from the third aperture to the fourth aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Johannsen, Kevin Lee Steiner, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Jeffrey Paul Nash, Jennifer Ann Brooks, Roger L. Recker
  • Publication number: 20100146925
    Abstract: A master link for a chain assembly is provided. The master link includes a body member with a first side, a second side positioned opposite the first side, a shoe surface configured to receive a track shoe, and a rail surface positioned opposite the shoe surface. The master link also includes first and second apertures extending through the body member from the first side to the second side and third and fourth apertures located between the first and second apertures. The master link also includes a strut member dividing the third and fourth apertures. The master link also includes a first gap located in the body member and extending from the first aperture to the third aperture and a second gap located in the body member and extending from the fourth aperture to the second aperture. The master link further includes a third gap located in the strut member and extending from the third aperture to the fourth aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Eric James Johannsen, Kevin Lee Steiner, Donovan Stuart Clarke, Jeffrey Paul Nash, Jennifer Ann Brooks, Roger L. Recker