Patents by Inventor Peter W. Offutt

Peter W. Offutt 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).

  • Process for determining whether used friction elements may be returned to service
    Patent number: 7795555
    Abstract: A sorting process for used friction elements such as friction discs is provided, including determining whether the friction elements are heat compromised based at least in part on a wave scattering property of at least one frictionally interactive face of each of the used friction elements. Suitable friction elements may be sorted into an acceptable category, and unsuitable friction elements sorted into a scrap category. A method of assembling a machine system such as a transmission includes determining suitability of a friction element for service therein by measuring a wave scattering property such as reflectivity of at least one frictionally interactive face of the friction element, and coupling the friction element with the same or a different machine system for returning to service therein based at least in part on the determination of suitability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Eric W. Benz, Peter W. Offutt, Thomas R. Foster, Josh Bero
  • PROCESS FOR DETERMINING WHETHER USED FRICTION ELEMENTS MAY BE RETURNED TO SERVICE
    Publication number: 20100187163
    Abstract: A sorting process for used friction elements such as friction discs is provided, including determining whether the friction elements are heat compromised based at least in part on a wave scattering property of at least one frictionally interactive face of each of the used friction elements. Suitable friction elements may be sorted into an acceptable category, and unsuitable friction elements sorted into a scrap category. A method of assembling a machine system such as a transmission includes determining suitability of a friction element for service therein by measuring a wave scattering property such as reflectivity of at least one frictionally interactive face of the friction element, and coupling the friction element with the same or a different machine system for returning to service therein based at least in part on the determination of suitability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Eric W. Benz, Peter W. Offutt, Thomas R. Foster, Josh Bero
  • Process for determining whether used friction elements may be returned to service
    Publication number: 20080302705
    Abstract: A sorting process for used friction elements such as friction discs is provided, including determining whether the friction elements are heat compromised based at least in part on a wave scattering property of at least one frictionally interactive face of each of the used friction elements. Suitable friction elements may be sorted into an acceptable category, and unsuitable friction elements sorted into a scrap category. A method of assembling a machine system such as a transmission includes determining suitability of a friction element for service therein by measuring a wave scattering property such as reflectivity of at least one frictionally interactive face of the friction element, and coupling the friction element with the same or a different machine system for returning to service therein based at least in part on the determination of suitability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Eric W. Benz, Peter W. Offutt, Thomas R. Foster, Josh Bero