Patents by Inventor Robert D. Roley

Robert D. Roley 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: 6822347
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling a plurality of machine systems of a work machine. A service control box is provided on the work machine at a position accessible to a service technician. The service control box includes a battery disconnect switch and at least one service mode control switch. The service control switch is adapted to enable at least one machine system for the purpose of performing a service procedure on that machine system. A keypad may be used as a service control switch and be adapted to enable or disable a plurality of various machine systems. The service control switch may be adapted to be used from locations on the work machine that are remote from the service control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Publication number: 20040050677
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively enabling or disabling a plurality of machine systems of a work machine. A service control box is provided on the work machine at a position accessible to a service technician. The service control box includes a battery disconnect switch and at least one service mode control switch. The service control switch is adapted to enable at least one machine system for the purpose of performing a service procedure on that machine system. A keypad may be used as a service control switch and be adapted to enable or disable a plurality of various machine systems. The service control switch may be adapted to be used from locations on the work machine that are remote from the service control box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 6536419
    Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for preheating combustion (intake) air of an internal combustion engine during extreme cold ambient temperatures. A valve arrangement is provided to alter the flow of coolant through a radiator and aftercooler. During conditions where intake air temperature is below a predetermined temperature a fluid control valve causes coolant to first flow through a jacket water portion of the engine and next through the aftercooler where the intake air is preheated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Publication number: 20020162543
    Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus for preheating combustion (intake) air of an internal combustion engine during extreme cold ambient temperatures. A valve arrangement is provided to alter the flow of coolant through a radiator and aftercooler. During conditions where intake air temperature is below a predetermined temperature a fluid control valve causes coolant to first flow through a jacket water portion of the engine and next through the aftercooler where the intake air is preheated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4392657
    Abstract: Sealing structure (10,110) for a sealing a first joint member (11,111) to a second joint member (12,112) across a variable space therebetween. The sealing structure includes a frustoconical Belleville spring (17,117) and an annular support spring (18,118) defining an arcuate cross section having one end (19,119) connected to the Belleville spring, and an opposite end (20,120) sealingly mounted to the first joint member (11,111). A seal element (21,121) is fixed to the Belleville spring and has a lip portion (22,122) projecting into dynamic sealing engagement with the second joint member (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4262914
    Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/01036 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 3, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date. Dec. 3, 1979 PCT FiledAn end face seal assembly (10) has a seal ring (36), a support ring (42), and a resilient load ring (44) having individual preselected properties. The load ring (44) and the support ring (42) have improved cross-sectional configurations and have a precise geometrical relationship to each other and to the joint (12) in which they are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4257621
    Abstract: A hitch and drawbar assembly (10) arranged so that bolts (38) securing the hitch (17) to the drawbar (18) have substantially only tension forces applied thereto in transmitting a pulling force from the vehicle (11) to the hitch. The drawbar of the assembly is pivotally mounted to the frame (12) of the vehicle by suitable pins (15,16) and a support (21) is provided for retaining the drawbar in a desired, generally horizontal, slightly downwardly rearwardly inclined disposition. The support is arranged to permit slight movement of the drawbar longitudinally while maintaining the drawbar against pivotal movement so as to assure the transmission of pulling forces from the vehicle frame to the drawbar substantially solely through the pins. The drawbar may be thusly supported to a casing portion (20) of the vehicle as such mounting assures the prevention of transmission of pulling forces on the casing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Carl P. Adams, Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4195852
    Abstract: An end face seal assembly has a seal ring of a first material, a support ring of a second material and a load ring of a third material serially connected together. The first material has a higher durometer scale hardness than the third material, and the second material is different and has greater rigidity than the first and third materials. The seal assembly has a preselected geometric relationship in use in a severe service environment rotary joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Robert D. Roley, James R. Sturges
  • Patent number: 4191431
    Abstract: An undercarriage for track type vehicles including a guide bar. Recoil apparatus is connected to the guide bar. An endless track of track shoes is guided along the guide bar by a plurality of raised flanges on the track extending between parallel support members on the guide bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Robert D. Roley, Roy L. Maguire
  • Patent number: 4185391
    Abstract: Apparatus for gauging the wear of a toothed sprocket includes a flat body defining a plurality of peaks about the periphery thereof. A pair of such peaks are brought into contact with adjacent flanks of adjacent teeth of the sprocket, and another peak, intermediate the pair of peaks, is brought adjacent the root area of the sprocket between such adjacent flanks, so that wear of a sprocket in such area can be observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4140015
    Abstract: A bearing joint has a body defining an internal chamber, an opening for supplying an electrically conducting fluid to the chamber, and an electrically nonconducting plug in the opening. An electrical conductor extends through the plug so that the electrical resistance can be measured through the fluid between the conductor and the body of the bearing joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4120537
    Abstract: A track link assembly including a plurality of track links having track pin receiving apertures therein, a plurality of track pins extending through associated ones of the apertures and pivotally interconnecting adjacent ones of the links, a plurality of roller bushings rotatably mounted on the ends of the pins, and a plurality of track shoes secured to respective ones of the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Robert D. Roley, Glenn M. Haslett, Dennis L. Blunier
  • Patent number: 4099795
    Abstract: A track-type vehicle undercarriage has a segmented track support rail including slidably interconnected segments in operable connection with a recoil member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert D. Roley
  • Patent number: 4089531
    Abstract: An endless track assembly comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected links with each pair of adjacent links having an annular seal assembly mounted therebetween. The seal assembly comprises an elastomeric crescent-shaped seal having a lip disposed in sealing contact with a sealing surface defined in the track assembly. An annular elastomeric load ring is disposed within the seal to urge the lip into such sealing contact. A metallic reinforcing ring, disposed between the lip and the load ring, is preferably bonded only to the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Robert D. Roley, James R. Sturges