Patents by Inventor Paul LIGHTFOOT

Paul LIGHTFOOT 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: 11041511
    Abstract: A head end seal assembly for a hydraulic cylinder may include a cylinder seal carrier having a seal carrier bore with a main seal groove and a coating ring groove adjacent the main seal groove. A main seal disposed within the main seal groove is fabricated from a resilient material and engages a rod outer surface of a rod to substantially prevent leakage of pressurized fluid from the hydraulic cylinder. A coating ring disposed within the coating ring groove is fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer such as Teflon and engages the rod outer surface such that portions of the thermoplastic polymer are deposited into indentations on the rod outer surface as the rod slides past the coating ring to smooth the surface and reduce abrasion between the rod and the main seal. A second coating ring on the opposite side of the main seal may coat the rod as it moves in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Brian Sybrandy, Paul Lightfoot
  • Publication number: 20190309773
    Abstract: A head end seal assembly for a hydraulic cylinder may include a cylinder seal carrier having a seal carrier bore with a main seal groove and a coating ring groove adjacent the main seal groove. A main seal disposed within the main seal groove is fabricated from a resilient material and engages a rod outer surface of a rod to substantially prevent leakage of pressurized fluid from the hydraulic cylinder. A coating ring disposed within the coating ring groove is fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer such as Teflon and engages the rod outer surface such that portions of the thermoplastic polymer are deposited into indentations on the rod outer surface as the rod slides past the coating ring to smooth the surface and reduce abrasion between the rod and the main seal. A second coating ring on the opposite side of the main seal may coat the rod as it moves in the opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Brian Sybrandy, Paul Lightfoot
  • Publication number: 20180313485
    Abstract: An air hose connection device is characterized by a hollow cylinder having a raised concentric ring at its midpoint, the two halves of the cylinder being roughly identical. The hollow cylinder also has a series of concentric smaller rings, each of which consists of a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a groove located approximately in the concentric smaller ring's center. In some embodiments, the proximal portion is configured to make contact with an air hose's interior, leaving a gap between the air hose's interior and the distal portion and the groove. In some embodiments, this gap may be filled with weld-fast or other such glue. Once each side of the present invention has been secured into two air hose ends, and a sufficient connection has been made between the proximal portions of the present invention and the air hose pieces' interiors, a secure airtight portal may be created between the two air hose pieces, allowing the air hoses to function as a contiguous air hose line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Paul Lightfoot
  • Patent number: 9631739
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a housing, a plunger configured to reciprocate along an axis within the housing, and an internal fluid chamber disposed in the housing. A valve, having a valve base and a deformable seal, can also be included in the apparatus. The apparatus can further include a seat having an aperture therein. The valve is configured to move into and out of contact with the seat when the plunger reciprocates within the housing, based upon a fluid pressure in the internal flow chamber. In addition, an outer diameter of the deformable seal of the valve is less than an outer diameter of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK HORSE LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Belshan, Justin McCoy, Paul Lightfoot
  • Publication number: 20160215588
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a housing, a plunger configured to reciprocate along an axis within the housing, and an internal fluid chamber disposed in the housing. A valve, having a valve base and a deformable seal, can also be included in the apparatus. The apparatus can further include a seat having an aperture therein. The valve is configured to move into and out of contact with the seat when the plunger reciprocates within the housing, based upon a fluid pressure in the internal flow chamber. In addition, an outer diameter of the deformable seal of the valve is less than an outer diameter of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Daryl BELSHAN, Justin MCCOY, Paul LIGHTFOOT