Patents by Inventor Douglas Trent

Douglas Trent 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: 11572114
    Abstract: A bushing for a track assembly includes a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface. The outer surface includes at least one flat portion. The bushing also includes at least one white iron member. The at least one white iron member includes a flat inner surface, and the flat inner surface of the at least one white iron member is fixed to the flat portion of the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Trent Weaver, Mark D. Veliz, Roger L. Recker
  • Patent number: 11560190
    Abstract: A steel track chain component, such as a track bushing, may be formed with a carburized portion, a hardface portion, and a core portion. The core portion may be softer than the carburized portion, which in turn, may be softer than the hardface portion. This configuration of the various portions of the component may allow for relatively high wear resistance of the component, as well as toughness. The core portion may be mostly ferrite crystal structure, while the carburized portion and the hardface portions may include martensitic and/or austenitic crystal structure. The carburized portion may be formed by carburizing the track chain component in a heated and carbon rich environment. The hardface portion may be formed by welding a hardface alloy over at least a portion of the carburized portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrasen Rameshlal Rathod, Roger Lee Recker, Robert Jason Pickerill, Scott E. Keele, Douglas Trent Weaver, Daniel Joseph Sordelet
  • Patent number: 11148736
    Abstract: A bushing assembly for a track assembly includes a first end element, a second end element, and a central element positioned between the first end element and the second end element. The central element may be interference fit or positioned between the first end element and the second end element, and the central element may include a greater hardness than the first and second end elements. The first end element, the second end element, and the central element form a bushing with a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally through the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Johannsen, Chandrasen R. Rathod, Scott Keele, Jason L. Sebright, Roger L. Recker, Arthur Bland, Douglas Trent Weaver, Thomas J. Yaniak
  • Publication number: 20210284259
    Abstract: A bushing for a track assembly includes a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface. The outer surface includes at least one flat portion. The bushing also includes at least one white iron member. The at least one white iron member includes a flat inner surface, and the flat inner surface of the at least one white iron member is fixed to the flat portion of the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Trent WEAVER, Mark D. VELIZ, Roger L. RECKER
  • Publication number: 20210101651
    Abstract: A steel track chain component, such as a track bushing, may be formed with a carburized portion, a hardface portion, and a core portion. The core portion may be softer than the carburized portion, which in turn, may be softer than the hardface portion. This configuration of the various portions of the component may allow for relatively high wear resistance of the component, as well as toughness. The core portion may be mostly ferrite crystal structure, while the carburized portion and the hardface portions may include martensitic and/or austenitic crystal structure. The carburized portion may be formed by carburizing the track chain component in a heated and carbon rich environment. The hardface portion may be formed by welding a hardface alloy over at least a portion of the carburized portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrasen Rameshlal Rathod, Roger Lee Recker, Robert Jason Pickerill, Scott E. Keele, Douglas Trent Weaver, Daniel Joseph Sordelet
  • Publication number: 20200070908
    Abstract: A bushing assembly for a track assembly includes a first end element, a second end element, and a central element positioned between the first end element and the second end element. The central element may be interference fit or positioned between the first end element and the second end element, and the central element may include a greater hardness than the first and second end elements. The first end element, the second end element, and the central element form a bushing with a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally through the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. JOHANNSEN, Chandrasen R. RATHOD, Scott KEELE, Jason L. SEBRIGHT, Roger L. RECKER, Arthur BLAND, Douglas Trent WEAVER, Thomas J. YANIAK
  • Publication number: 20190330729
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component is provided. The method includes providing one or more notches on a surface of the component. Further, depositing a coating on the surface to provide a thickness of the coating on the surface, is performed. The method also includes removing, at least partially, the coating from the surface such that the thickness of the coating over the notches is different from the thickness of the coating on the surface adjacent to the notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Steinmetz, Douglas Trent Weaver, Roger Lee Recker
  • Patent number: 10458012
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component is provided. The method includes providing one or more notches on a surface of the component. Further, depositing a coating on the surface to provide a thickness of the coating on the surface, is performed. The method also includes removing, at least partially, the coating from the surface such that the thickness of the coating over the notches is different from the thickness of the coating on the surface adjacent to the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Steinmetz, Douglas Trent Weaver, Roger Lee Recker
  • Publication number: 20170321315
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a component is provided. The method includes providing one or more notches on a surface of the component. Further, depositing a coating on the surface to provide a thickness of the coating on the surface, is performed. The method also includes removing, at least partially, the coating from the surface such that the thickness of the coating over the notches is different from the thickness of the coating on the surface adjacent to the notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Steinmetz, Douglas Trent Weaver, Roger Lee Recker
  • Publication number: 20160194039
    Abstract: A link assembly for a track comprises a first side plate, and a second side plate coupled with the first side plate such that proximal surfaces of the first and second side plates are disposed in abutment with one another. The link assembly further includes a wear plate assembly that is coupled to a top face of the first side plate and a top face of the second side plate. The wear plate assembly is formed from a material having a wear resistance greater than a wear resistance of the first and second side plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Patrick Fitzgibbons, JR., Timothy Arthur Thorson, Cedric Hervé Tabone, Jeff Alan Jensen, Douglas Trent Weaver
  • Patent number: 9228609
    Abstract: A fabrication method is provided for use in making a component. The fabrication method may include generating a laser beam at a first orientation relative to a wear surface of the component to produce a first laser beam spot having a first characteristic, and feeding a cladding material into the first laser beam spot to produce a cladding layer on the wear surface. The fabrication method may also include generating a laser beam at a second orientation relative to the wear surface of the component to produce a second laser beam spot having a second characteristic, and moving the second laser beam spot along the cladding layer to substantially flatten the cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas Steinmetz, Daniel Joseph Sordelet, Douglas Trent Weaver, Thierry A. Marchione
  • Publication number: 20150197295
    Abstract: An undercarriage track joint assembly includes a first link having a first bore at a first end and a second bore at a second, opposite end, and a second link having a first bore at a first end and a second bore at a second, opposite end. A pin may extend between the first and second links, positioned at least partially within the first bores of the first and second links, or partially within the second bores of the first and second links. A bushing may extend between the first and second links, a central axial bore being defined through the bushing. The pin may extend through the central axial bore through the bushing, the pin being coated with a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating over at least a portion of an outer diameter surface of the pin, the coating providing a contact layer between the outer diameter surface of the pin and an inner diameter surface of the central axial bore through the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Bao FENG, Mark Steven DIEKEVERS, Steven Charles TAYLOR, Joseph Ryan SULLIVAN, Douglas Trent WEAVER
  • Publication number: 20150047201
    Abstract: A fabrication method is provided for use in making a component. The fabrication method may include generating a laser beam at a first orientation relative to a wear surface of the component to produce a first laser beam spot having a first characteristic, and feeding a cladding material into the first laser beam spot to produce a cladding layer on the wear surface. The fabrication method may also include generating a laser beam at a second orientation relative to the wear surface of the component to produce a second laser beam spot having a second characteristic, and moving the second laser beam spot along the cladding layer to substantially flatten the cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Douglas STEINMETZ, Daniel Joseph SORDELET, Douglas Trent WEAVER, Thierry A. MARCHIONE
  • Publication number: 20070171060
    Abstract: A process and security container that enable local protection and remote transportation of items found with the environment of a contemporary office, while generating a log of users who have gained access to the container. The container may be constructed with one or more sidewalls bearing a removable lid. The container may have a closed interior while the lid is in complete engagement with the sidewalls, and have an open interior able to removably receive items within the interior while the lid is dislodged from its complete engagement. A port is exposed through one of said sidewalls to receive data signals and a control stage with a non-volatile a memory, is mounted within the container and operationally coupled to a host computer to provide communication with the interior of the container via the port. A microprocessor based host computer sited externally to the container, has a keyboard initiating formation of the data signals and a monitor driven by the host computer to visually display video images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Douglas Trent, Richard Hyatt, Hermann Sterzinger
  • Publication number: 20050144050
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and process for determining solutions with maximum payoff in a negotiation are provided. The invention includes calculating a sum of weighted option preference values for each option set of each issue across all parties. The sum of weighted option preferences is calculated from negotiation parameters determined by the negotiation parties. A maximum sum of weighted option preferences for each issue is calculated. The maximum of the sum of weighted option preferences for each issue forms an option set solution with the maximum negotiation payoff. The combined utility of the maximum negotiation payoff is equal to the sum of the maximum of the sum of the weighted option preferences. The convexity or degree of utility surplus in the negotiation is equal to the difference of the sum of the maximum of the sum of the weighted option preferences and one hundred percent divided by the number of parties minus one. The negotiation solution is determined with reduced computational resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventor: Douglas Trent
  • Patent number: 6720718
    Abstract: An efficient and safe lamp with a tungsten halogen capsule may be formed by using a two stage pyrophoric fuse as part of the electrical path to the capsule. The thin walled lamp with tungsten halogen capsule and two stage pyrophoric fuse yields a more efficient, less expensive and yet still safe tungsten halogen lamp. The thin walled lamp with tungsten halogen capsule and pyrophoric fuse provides a safe, thin walled outer envelope tungsten halogen lamp, provide a lamp with an oxygen sensitive fuse operable in low wattage lamps, provides a method manufacturing a pyrophoric fuse sensitive to moderate temperatures, provides an inexpensive and practical, low wattage, thin walled tungsten halogen lamp with a pyrophoric fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Douglas Trent, Jeffrey Paul Buschmann, Michael R. Kling
  • Publication number: 20030076026
    Abstract: An efficient and safe lamp with a tungsten halogen capsule may be formed by using a two stage pyrophoric fuse as part of the electrical path to the capsule. The thin walled lamp with tungsten halogen capsule and two stage pyrophoric fuse yields a more efficient, less expensive and yet still safe tungsten halogen lamp. The thin walled lamp with tungsten halogen capsule and pyrophoric fuse provides a safe, thin walled outer envelope tungsten halogen lamp, provide a lamp with an oxygen sensitive fuse operable in low wattage lamps, provides a method manufacturing a pyrophoric fuse sensitive to moderate temperatures, provides an inexpensive and practical, low wattage, thin walled tungsten halogen lamp with a pyrophoric fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Carl Douglas Trent, Jeffrey Paul Buschmann, Michael R. Kling
  • Patent number: 6005487
    Abstract: An electronic security system includes an electronic lock mechanism and an electronic key, each of which is provided with a microprocessor controller and a memory storing data including an ID code and encryption key codes. The lock microprocessor may either change ID codes stored in its memory or encrypt a seed number to be used for determining access to the lock. The key can only be used to access the lock either once or for a limited number of successive times, and must thereafter be reprogrammed by a host computer to be loaded with either the proper ID code or the appropriate encryption key code for that lock. The electronic lock operates a solenoid which retracts a bolt-blocking mechanism that prevents the unlocking of the bolt even when a key having the correct mechanical key cuts is inserted into the lock. Power for operating the electronic lock as well as the solenoid is provided by a power supply within the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Medeco Security Locks, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Hyatt, Jr., Charles E. Hall, Douglas Trent
  • Patent number: 5745044
    Abstract: An electronic security system includes an electronic lock mechanism and an electronic key, each of which is provided with a microprocessor controller and a memory storing data including an ID code and encryption key codes. The lock microprocessor may either change ID codes stored in its memory or encrypt a seed number to be used for determining access to the lock. The key can only be used to access the lock either once or for a limited number of successive times, and must thereafter be reprogrammed by a host computer to be loaded with either the proper ID code or the appropriate encryption key code for that lock. The electronic lock operates a solenoid which retracts a bolt-blocking mechanism that prevents the unlocking of the bolt even when a key having the correct mechanical key cuts is inserted into the lock. Power for operating the electronic lock as well as the solenoid is provided by a power supply within the key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Medeco Security Locks, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Hyatt, Jr., Douglas Trent, Charles Hall