Patents by Inventor Rand D. Smith

Rand D. Smith 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).

  • Endplay measurement tool and method
    Patent number: 7428779
    Abstract: A tool (10) and method for measuring endplay between an axle shaft (36) and an axle hub (34) of an axle assembly. A mounting plate (22) is fastened to the hub, and one end of a through-rod (16) whose ends protrude from opposite ends of a housing (14) of a fluid-operated device (12) is fastened to the axle shaft by applying an external force to the other end of the through-rod while fluid is not operating the fluid-operated device. With the mounting adapter and the through-rod secured as described, fluid is delivered to the fluid-operated device to move the through-rod relative to the housing, and the resulting relative movement between the through-rod and the housing is measured by a measuring device (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Rand D. Smith, Thomas Reynolds, Sylvester Sample