Patents by Inventor MIHAI M. BALAN
MIHAI M. BALAN 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: 11371220Abstract: A ground engaging tool assembly includes a ground engaging tip, an adapter, and a wear cap. The ground engaging tip has a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion including an interior surface defining a coupler pocket with an adapter opening and first and second lug openings. The adapter includes a mounting nose with first and second retention lugs extending from sides of the mounting nose along oblique taper angles. The mounting nose is disposed within the coupler pocket of the ground engaging tip with the first and second retention lugs extending into the first and second lug openings, respectively. The base includes a shoulder surface and a retention surface that define a mounting groove therebetween. The wear cap includes a mounting rail that is disposed within the mounting groove of the adapter to mount the wear cap thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brandon H. McCaffrey, Mihai M. Balan
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Patent number: 11371221Abstract: A ground engaging tool assembly includes a ground engaging tip, an adapter, and a wear cap. The ground engaging tip has a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion including an interior surface defining a coupler pocket with an adapter opening and first and second lug openings. The adapter includes a mounting nose with first and second retention lugs extending from sides of the mounting nose along oblique taper angles. The mounting nose is disposed within the coupler pocket of the ground engaging tip with the first and second retention lugs extending into the first and second lug openings, respectively. The base includes a shoulder surface and a retention surface that define a mounting groove therebetween. The wear cap includes a mounting rail that is disposed within the mounting groove of the adapter to mount the wear cap thereto.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brandon H. McCaffrey, Mihai M. Balan
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Publication number: 20200340216Abstract: A ground engaging tool assembly includes a ground engaging tip, an adapter, and a wear cap. The ground engaging tip has a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion including an interior surface defining a coupler pocket with an adapter opening and first and second lug openings. The adapter includes a mounting nose with first and second retention lugs extending from sides of the mounting nose along oblique taper angles. The mounting nose is disposed within the coupler pocket of the ground engaging tip with the first and second retention lugs extending into the first and second lug openings, respectively. The base includes a shoulder surface and a retention surface that define a mounting groove therebetween. The wear cap includes a mounting rail that is disposed within the mounting groove of the adapter to mount the wear cap thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2019Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brandon H. McCaffrey, Mihai M. Balan
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Publication number: 20200340217Abstract: A ground engaging tool assembly includes a ground engaging tip, an adapter, and a wear cap. The ground engaging tip has a ground engaging portion and a coupling portion including an interior surface defining a coupler pocket with an adapter opening and first and second lug openings. The adapter includes a mounting nose with first and second retention lugs extending from sides of the mounting nose along oblique taper angles. The mounting nose is disposed within the coupler pocket of the ground engaging tip with the first and second retention lugs extending into the first and second lug openings, respectively. The base includes a shoulder surface and a retention surface that define a mounting groove therebetween. The wear cap includes a mounting rail that is disposed within the mounting groove of the adapter to mount the wear cap thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2019Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Brandon H. McCaffrey, Mihai M. Balan
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Patent number: 9644348Abstract: A ground engaging tip may include a rear edge including upper and lower rear edges. The ground engaging tip may also include a front edge opposite the rear edge. The ground engaging tip may further include a top outer surface extending from the upper rear edge toward the front edge, and a bottom outer surface extending from the lower rear edge toward the front edge. The bottom outer surface may include a bottom surface front portion extending from the front edge toward the lower rear edge and terminating at a bottom surface transition portion, and a bottom surface rear portion extending from the transition portion toward the lower rear edge. The bottom surface front portion and rear portions may include respective front and rear portion surfaces extending in respective first and second directions defining an angle, such that the bottom surface rear portion extends toward the top outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai M. Balan, Douglas Serrurier
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Patent number: 9644347Abstract: A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip may include a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline may lie in a base plane. The base outline may include a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge. The retention lobe may also include a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may include a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may further include a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely relative to the front lobe outer surface, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers relative to the front lobe outer surface toward the base plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai M. Balan, Douglas Serrurier
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Publication number: 20170044743Abstract: A ground engaging tip may include a rear edge including upper and lower rear edges. The ground engaging tip may also include a front edge opposite the rear edge. The ground engaging tip may further include a top outer surface extending from the upper rear edge toward the front edge, and a bottom outer surface extending from the lower rear edge toward the front edge. The bottom outer surface may include a bottom surface front portion extending from the front edge toward the lower rear edge and terminating at a bottom surface transition portion, and a bottom surface rear portion extending from the transition portion toward the lower rear edge. The bottom surface front portion and rear portions may include respective front and rear portion surfaces extending in respective first and second directions defining an angle, such that the bottom surface rear portion extends toward the top outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: MIHAI M. BALAN, DOUGLAS SERRURIER
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Publication number: 20170044740Abstract: A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip may include a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline may lie in a base plane. The base outline may include a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge. The retention lobe may also include a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may include a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may further include a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely relative to the front lobe outer surface, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers relative to the front lobe outer surface toward the base plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: MIHAI M. BALAN, DOUGLAS SERRURIER