Patents by Inventor Galen C. Thomas
Galen C. Thomas 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).
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Patent number: 10919587Abstract: A suspension system supports a chassis relative to a crawler mechanism including a continuous track. A link is rotatable about an axis extending transversely through a first portion. The first portion includes a projections extending radially inwardly, and peripheral openings defined by spaces between the projections. An axle member secured to the crawler mechanism includes peripheral shafts extending radially outward from the axis and positioned in an associated peripheral opening. Each resilient member is positioned within an associated peripheral opening and engages an associated peripheral shaft, damping movement of the peripheral shaft relative to the link. An auxiliary roller assembly includes a yoke and a plurality of auxiliary rollers coupled to the yoke. The yoke is rotatable relative to the crawler frame about a yoke axis. The auxiliary rollers are aligned along a direction of travel of the track and are configured to engage an inner surface of the track.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Galen C. Thomas, Steven R. Whiteman, Trent A. Luoma
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Publication number: 20190283817Abstract: A suspension system supports a chassis relative to a crawler mechanism including a continuous track. A link is rotatable about an axis extending transversely through a first portion. The first portion includes a projections extending radially inwardly, and peripheral openings defined by spaces between the projections. An axle member secured to the crawler mechanism includes peripheral shafts extending radially outward from the axis and positioned in an associated peripheral opening. Each resilient member is positioned within an associated peripheral opening and engages an associated peripheral shaft, damping movement of the peripheral shaft relative to the link. An auxiliary roller assembly includes a yoke and a plurality of auxiliary rollers coupled to the yoke. The yoke is rotatable relative to the crawler frame about a yoke axis. The auxiliary rollers are aligned along a direction of travel of the track and are configured to engage an inner surface of the track.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Galen C. Thomas, Steven R. Whiteman, Trent A. Luoma
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Patent number: 10370048Abstract: A suspension system supports a chassis relative to a crawler mechanism that includes a continuous track. A link is rotatable about an axis extending transversely through a first portion. The first portion includes a projections extending radially inwardly, and peripheral openings defined by spaces between the projections. An axle member secured to the crawler mechanism includes peripheral shafts extending radially outward from the axis and positioned in an associated peripheral opening. Each resilient member is positioned within an associated peripheral opening and engages an associated peripheral shaft, damping movement of the peripheral shaft relative to the link. The suspension system further includes an auxiliary roller assembly including a yoke and a plurality of auxiliary rollers coupled to the yoke. The yoke is rotatable relative to the crawler frame about a yoke axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Galen C. Thomas, Steven R. Whiteman, Trent A. Luoma
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Publication number: 20180251171Abstract: A suspension system supports a chassis relative to a crawler mechanism that includes a continuous track. A link is rotatable about an axis extending transversely through a first portion. The first portion includes a projections extending radially inwardly, and peripheral openings defined by spaces between the projections. An axle member secured to the crawler mechanism includes peripheral shafts extending radially outward from the axis and positioned in an associated peripheral opening. Each resilient member is positioned within an associated peripheral opening and engages an associated peripheral shaft, damping movement of the peripheral shaft relative to the link. The suspension system further includes an auxiliary roller assembly including a yoke and a plurality of auxiliary rollers coupled to the yoke. The yoke is rotatable relative to the crawler frame about a yoke axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2017Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Galen C. Thomas, Steven R. Whiteman, Trent A. Luoma
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Patent number: 9694861Abstract: A suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction. The work machine includes a frame, an undercarriage supporting the frame and at least one ground-engaging track. The suspension assembly includes a torsion assembly having an axle, a torsion bar adapted to be fixedly coupled to the frame, and an axle arm coupled at one end to the axle and at an opposite end thereof to the torsion bar. A locking arm has a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the axle arm. A hydraulic actuator is coupled to the second end of the locking arm. The hydraulic actuator is operably controlled between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. In the unlocked configuration, the axle arm is pivotable relative to the frame, and in the locked configuration the axle arm is restricted from pivoting relative to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Galen C. Thomas, Steven R. Whiteman, Steve G. Fleischmann, Justin C. Gross, James Wentzloff
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Publication number: 20170101143Abstract: A suspension assembly of a work machine being movable in a forward direction. The work machine includes a frame, an undercarriage supporting the frame and at least one ground-engaging track. The suspension assembly includes a torsion assembly having an axle, a torsion bar adapted to be fixedly coupled to the frame, and an axle arm coupled at one end to the axle and at an opposite end thereof to the torsion bar. A locking arm has a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the axle arm. A hydraulic actuator is coupled to the second end of the locking arm. The hydraulic actuator is operably controlled between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. In the unlocked configuration, the axle arm is pivotable relative to the frame, and in the locked configuration the axle arm is restricted from pivoting relative to the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2015Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: Galen C. THOMAS, Steven R. Whiteman, Steve G. Fleischmann, Justin C. Gross, James Wentzloff
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Patent number: 9605626Abstract: A particulate and siloxane filtration system may include a housing and a filter media assembly. The filter media assembly may be disposed within the housing and positioned to filter intake gases to an internal combustion engine. The filter media assembly may include a particulate media configured to remove particulates from the intake gases and a siloxane media configured to remove siloxanes from the intake gases.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Thomas M. Harris, Galen C. Thomas, Teryl M. Oftedal
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Publication number: 20160258392Abstract: A particulate and siloxane filtration system may include a housing and a filter media assembly. The filter media assembly may be disposed within the housing and positioned to filter intake gases to an internal combustion engine. The filter media assembly may include a particulate media configured to remove particulates from the intake gases and a siloxane media configured to remove siloxanes from the intake gases.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Thomas M. Harris, Galen C. Thomas, Teryl M. Oftedal