Patents by Inventor Mihai Mircea Balan
Mihai Mircea 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: 11788260Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
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Patent number: 11649614Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Doug Serrurier, Mihai Mircea Balan, Scott Anthony Schick, Eric Thomas Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Arun Venugopal, Kadirvel Muthusamy
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Patent number: 11613874Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement has an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip also has a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined between the converging top and bottom outer surfaces of the ground engaging tip, for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity includes a wear indicator extending from an inner surface of the nose cavity, into the ground engaging tip, toward the bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Publication number: 20230062218Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Patent number: 11519159Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Publication number: 20220243429Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
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Patent number: 11306461Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
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Patent number: 10724212Abstract: A shroud configured to be attached to a work implement comprises a ground engaging surface with a convex acruate portion, a first concave arcuate portion on one side of the convex arcuate portion, and a second concave arcuate portion on the other side of the convex arcuate portion, or an upper outside loading surface extending from the ground engaging surface including a first concave arcuate loading portion, a first convex arcuate loading portion, and a second convex arcuate loading portion, or a slot the defines a front clearance face with a first rearward facing pad therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas C. Serrurier
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Publication number: 20200131742Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Doug SERRURIER, Mihai Mircea BALAN, Scott Anthony SCHICK, Eric Thomas SINN, Jason Grant JURA, Arun VENUGOPAL, Kadirvel MUTHUSAMY
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Publication number: 20200048873Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Publication number: 20200048872Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement has an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip also has a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined between the converging top and bottom outer surfaces of the ground engaging tip, for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity includes a wear indicator extending from an inner surface of the nose cavity, into the ground engaging tip, toward the bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Publication number: 20200048874Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
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Patent number: 10544568Abstract: A retainer sleeve configured for use in a retainer system for a ground engaging tool includes a plurality of plate-like sections, each section being flexibly joined with an adjacent section along either a radially inner edge or a portion of a radially outer edge. The radially inner edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented inner surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a locking member of the retainer system. The inner surface extends partially around a central axis of the retainer sleeve to form a substantially C-shaped retainer sleeve having opposite circumferential ends that are spaced from each other. The radially outer edges of the plurality of sections form part of a segmented, frustoconical outer surface configured for engagement in an internal lock cavity of a ground engaging tool tip.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Doug Serrurier, Mihai Mircea Balan, Scott Anthony Schick, Eric Thomas Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Arun Venugopal, Kadirvel Muthusamy
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Patent number: 10494793Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of the implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The tip has first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip to the front edge. The tip has a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The tip has a support rib on at least one of the first or second side outer surfaces, the support rib being positioned at the rear edge and extending lengthwise from the bottom outer surface toward the top outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Patent number: 10480161Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a tip assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement has an adapter configured for attachment to the base edge of implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The ground engaging tip has a rear edge, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface. The top outer surface and the bottom outer surface extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip also has a nose cavity, within the ground engaging tip and defined between the converging top and bottom outer surfaces of the ground engaging tip, for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity includes a wear indicator extending from an inner surface of the nose cavity, into the ground engaging tip, toward the bottom outer surface of the ground engaging tip.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Mihai Mircea Balan, Jason Jura
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Patent number: 10480162Abstract: A ground engaging tip of a ground engaging tip assembly includes an adapter that attaches to the base edge and having a forwardly extending adapter nose, and a ground engaging tip. The tip has a rear edge and a top and bottom outer surfaces. The top and bottom outer surfaces extend forward from the rear edge of the ground engaging tip and converge at a front edge of the tip. The tip includes first and second side outer surfaces extending forward from the rear edge to the front edge. Tip includes a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose therein. The nose cavity has first and second side inner surfaces opposite the first and second side outer surfaces, respectively. The nose cavity has an aperture and a retention channel on at least one of the first and second side inner surfaces. The retention channel extends from the rear edge to the aperture and guides a lug of the adapter into the aperture during installation of the ground engaging tip on the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas Serrurier, Eric Sinn, Jason Jura, Mihai Mircea Balan
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Publication number: 20190242095Abstract: A shroud configured to be attached to a work implement comprises a ground engaging surface with a convex acruate portion, a first concave arcuate portion on one side of the convex arcuate portion, and a second concave arcuate portion on the other side of the convex arcuate portion, or an upper outside loading surface extending from the ground engaging surface including a first concave arcuate loading portion, a first convex arcuate loading portion, and a second convex arcuate loading portion, or a slot the defines a front clearance face with a first rearward facing pad therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas C. Serrurier
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Patent number: 10323391Abstract: A shroud configured to be attached to a work implement comprises a ground engaging surface with a convex arcuate portion, a first concave arcuate portion on one side of the convex arcuate portion, and a second concave arcuate portion on the other side of the convex arcuate portion, or an upper outside loading surface extending from the ground engaging surface including a first concave arcuate loading portion, a first convex arcuate loading portion, and a second convex arcuate loading portion, or a slot the defines a front clearance face with a first rearward facing pad therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas C. Serrurier
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Patent number: D857761Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas Serrurier, David M. Worth
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Patent number: D858584Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Mihai Mircea Balan, Douglas Serrurier