Patents by Inventor Gregory Jerome Kaufmann

Gregory Jerome Kaufmann 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: 10040495
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an undercarriage track joint assembly includes forming at least a first portion of a seal assembly by laser brazing an annular, metal sealing washer to a first track link of the undercarriage track joint assembly. The method may also include performing the laser brazing to form at least one of an annular fillet of braze material between the first track link and at least a portion of an inner diameter surface of the washer and an annular fillet of braze material between the first track link and at least a portion of an outer diameter surface of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Andre Marchione, Brent David Widder, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann
  • Publication number: 20170158269
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an undercarriage track joint assembly includes forming at least a first portion of a seal assembly by laser brazing an annular, metal sealing washer to a first track link of the undercarriage track joint assembly. The method may also include performing the laser brazing to form at least one of an annular fillet of braze material between the first track link and at least a portion of an inner diameter surface of the washer and an annular fillet of braze material between the first track link and at least a portion of an outer diameter surface of the washer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Andre MARCHIONE, Brent David WIDDER, Timothy Arthur THORSON, Gregory Jerome KAUFMANN
  • Patent number: 9623920
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include an inner bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, and at least partially within the second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include an outer bushing positioned coaxially around the inner bushing. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned between the first link and the second link to form a hermetic seal between the first link and the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Patent number: 9604681
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Publication number: 20170021879
    Abstract: A track link assembly is disclosed for a machine. The track link assembly may include a first track link having a first thru hole and a second track link having a second thru hole aligned with the first thru hole. The track link assembly may further include a track pin disposed within the first and second thru holes. The track pin may have an end protruding from the first and second track links. The track link assembly may also include a ring-shaped flange integrally formed from the end of the track pin after insertion of the track pin into the first and second track links. The ring-shaped flange may have an outer diameter larger than a diameter of the first and second thru holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Arthur THORSON, Robert Lee MEYER, Mark Steven DIEKEVERS, Gregory Jerome KAUFMANN
  • Patent number: 9505453
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore including first and second portions. The first and second portions may have different diameters. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in and contacting the first portion of the second bore. The bushing may also include an axial end-adjacent portion disposed in and contacting the second portion of the second bore. An outer diameter of the end-adjacent portion may be larger than an outer diameter of the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Patent number: 9434425
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a second link having a second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing. The bushing may include a first axial end portion disposed in the first bore. In addition, the bushing may include a second axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned at an axial end of the first axial end portion. The seal assembly may contact the first link at a seal-link interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier
  • Patent number: 9004619
    Abstract: A mobile machine track shoe includes a ground engaging surface including a first grouser bar and a second grouser bar substantially parallel to the first grouser bar. The track shoe further includes a base opposite the ground engaging surface. The base includes a first relief disposed opposite the first grouser bar, and a second relief disposed opposite the second grouser bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Meyer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, William Jay Ulrich, IV
  • Publication number: 20150061372
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a second link having a second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing. The bushing may include a first axial end portion disposed in the first bore. In addition, the bushing may include a second axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned at an axial end of the first axial end portion. The seal assembly may contact the first link at a seal-link interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Caroline Marie Brewer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Martin Tagore Joseph Xavier
  • Publication number: 20150061374
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in the second bore. The second link may include a sealing portion surrounding an axial end of the axial end portion. The sealing portion may include material having a different wear resistance than material of another portion of the second link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Publication number: 20150061371
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore including first and second portions. The first and second portions may have different diameters. In addition, the track joint assembly may include a solid pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint may also include a bushing positioned coaxially around the pin. The bushing may include an axial end portion disposed in and contacting the first portion of the second bore. The bushing may also include an axial end-adjacent portion disposed in and contacting the second portion of the second bore. An outer diameter of the end-adjacent portion may be larger than an outer diameter of the end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Mark Steven Diekevers, Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Publication number: 20150061370
    Abstract: Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of a track joint assembly. In one exemplary embodiment, the track joint assembly may include a first link having a first bore. The track joint assembly may also include a second link having a second bore. Additionally, the track joint assembly may include a pin positioned at least partially within the first bore. The track joint assembly may also include an inner bushing positioned coaxially around the pin, and at least partially within the second bore. In addition, the track joint assembly may include an outer bushing positioned coaxially around the inner bushing. The track joint assembly may also include a seal assembly positioned between the first link and the second link to form a hermetic seal between the first link and the second link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Temitope Olayemi Akinlua, Mark Steven Diekevers, Caroline Marie Brewer, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, Timothy Arthur Thorson, Kevin Lee Steiner, Robert Lee Meyer
  • Patent number: 8876227
    Abstract: A mobile machine track shoe includes a ground engaging surface including a first grouser bar and a second grouser bar substantially parallel to the first grouser bar. The track shoe further includes a base opposite the ground engaging surface. The base includes a first relief disposed opposite the first grouser bar, and a second relief disposed opposite the second grouser bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Meyer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, William Jay Ulrich, IV
  • Publication number: 20140225427
    Abstract: A mobile machine track shoe includes a ground engaging surface including a first grouser bar and a second grouser bar substantially parallel to the first grouser bar. The track shoe further includes a base opposite the ground engaging surface. The base includes a first relief disposed opposite the first grouser bar, and a second relief disposed opposite the second grouser bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Meyer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, William Jay Ulrich, IV
  • Publication number: 20130002009
    Abstract: A mobile machine track shoe includes a ground engaging surface including a first grouser bar and a second grouser bar substantially parallel to the first grouser bar. The track shoe further includes a base opposite the ground engaging surface. The base includes a first relief disposed opposite the first grouser bar, and a second relief disposed opposite the second grouser bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Lee Meyer, Mark Steven Diekevers, Gregory Jerome Kaufmann, William Jay Ulrich, IV