Patents by Inventor Robert E. Sharp
Robert E. Sharp 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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Publication number: 20230143692Abstract: A fitting has a first housing including a first body and a second body. The first body defines a first channel and a second channel, and second body defines a third channel that is co-planar with the first channel and a fourth channel that is co-planar with the first channel. First bearings are disposed within the first channel and the third channel, where the first bearings rotatably coupled the first housing to the second housing. Additionally, second bearings are disposed within the second channel and the fourth channel, the second bearings rotatably coupling the first housing to the second housing. A plug couples to the first housing, a gasket is disposed between the plug and the first housing, and a passage is defined at least in part by the first housing, the second housing, and the plug.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Christopher Anthony Kinney, Robert E. Sharp, Ryan Dean Macy
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Patent number: 10471554Abstract: A method for remanufacturing or repairing a cylinder head having a bore configured to receive a fuel injector comprises machining a portion of a surface forming the bore to remove imperfections, inserting a repair component into the bore proximate the machined portion of the bore, and spraying material into the bore proximate the machined portion and the repair component, thereby holding the component into place.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Robert E. Sharp, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Robert Louis Brockman
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Publication number: 20190061072Abstract: A method for remanufacturing or repairing a cylinder head having a bore configured to receive a fuel injector comprises machining a portion of a surface forming the bore to remove imperfections, inserting a repair component into the bore proximate the machined portion of the bore, and spraying material into the bore proximate the machined portion and the repair component, thereby holding the component into place.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis John Graham, Robert E. Sharp, Daniel Thomas Cavanaugh, Robert Louis Brockman
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Publication number: 20170057023Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a piston includes machining an exterior surface of a body of the piston to define a reference surface. The reference surface is inwardly offset relative to a portion of the exterior surface adjacent the reference surface. The body is made from a body material comprising a metal. A layer of a cold spray powder is applied to the reference surface via cold spraying to define a piston blank surface. The piston blank surface is outwardly offset relative to the portion of the exterior surface adjacent the reference surface. The cold spray powder is made from a powder material comprising the metal. The piston blank surface is machined to define a piston finish surface. The piston finish surface has a dimension which is within a predetermined range.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Robert E. Sharp, Bradley T. Bonds
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Publication number: 20160369657Abstract: An insert for a turbocharger support housing is provided. The insert includes a main body having a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces define a thickness of the main body therebetween. The main body is configured to mate with a wear prone surface of the turbocharger support housing. The insert also includes a plurality of projections extending from the second surface. Each of the plurality of projections has an opening communicating with the first surface and a bottom end of the projection, such that each of the plurality of projections is configured to correspond with a mounting bore on the wear prone surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Sharp, Jacob P. Fabrizius, Jeremiah Keltner, Timothy S. Graham, Bharat K. Meduru
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Patent number: 9404843Abstract: A method of determining wear of a worn surface of a machine component includes providing a scanning device at a distance from the worn surface. The method also includes moving at least one of the scanning device and the worn surface relative to the other and generating a set of data points via the scanning device. Each data point of the set of data points is indicative of a depth of a corresponding point on the worn surface relative to a reference plane. The method further includes determining a maximum depth of the worn surface based on the set of data points and comparing the maximum depth to a reference value to determine a next step in a remanufacturing process of the machine component.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jacob P. Fabrizius, Trent A. Simpson, Robert E. Sharp, Benjamin J. Rasmussen, Jarrod D. Moss
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Patent number: 9353702Abstract: A method of manufacturing an engine block is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an engine block including a cylinder bore and a top deck with a head face including a predetermined surface roughness. The method also includes masking the cylinder bore with a masking plug, the masking plug being located at a predetermined insertion distance measured from a masking plug outer surface to the head face. The method further includes applying a corrosion resistant coating to the top deck over the head face and machine finishing the engine block including the coating to the engine block specifications.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Sharp, Adam William Ostein, Curtis John Graham, Jarrod David Moss, Bharat Kumar Meduru
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Publication number: 20160103050Abstract: A method of determining wear of a worn surface of a machine component includes providing a scanning device at a distance from the worn surface. The method also includes moving at least one of the scanning device and the worn surface relative to the other and generating a set of data points via the scanning device. Each data point of the set of data points is indicative of a depth of a corresponding point on the worn surface relative to a reference plane. The method further includes determining a maximum depth of the worn surface based on the set of data points and comparing the maximum depth to a reference value to determine a next step in a remanufacturing process of the machine component.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jacob P. Fabrizius, Trent A. Simpson, Robert E. Sharp, Benjamin J. Rasmussen, Jarrod D. Moss
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Publication number: 20160061143Abstract: A method of manufacturing an engine block is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an engine block including a cylinder bore and a top deck with a head face including a predetermined surface roughness. The method also includes masking the cylinder bore with a masking plug, the masking plug being located at a predetermined insertion distance measured from a masking plug outer surface to the head face. The method further includes applying a corrosion resistant coating to the top deck over the head face and machine finishing the engine block including the coating to the engine block specifications.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Robert E. Sharp, Adam William Ostein, Curtis John Graham, Jarrod David Moss, Bharat Kumar Meduru
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Publication number: 20150217414Abstract: A method of remanufacturing a component having a heat treated hardened layer over a substrate material is disclosed. The method includes removing at least the heat treated hardened layer of the component to expose the substrate material. The method also includes providing a cladding material on the substrate material. The method further includes melting the cladding material via a laser beam to form a single layered coating with hardness greater than or substantially equal to hardness of the heat treated hardened layer, on the substrate material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kegan Luick, Benjamin C. Thomas, Curtis J. Graham, Adam Ostein, Jarrod D. Moss, Patrick W. Savage, Jr., Waylon Walker, Kristin A. Schipull, Robert E. Sharp
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Patent number: 8833330Abstract: A method for manufacturing an engine block includes removing material from the top deck of the engine block surrounding a first opening to create a first recessed area, placing a first seal within the first recessed area, positioning a first insert within the first recessed area and against the first seal. The method may also include removing material from the top deck of the engine block surrounding a second opening to create a second recessed area that at least partially overlaps the first recessed area, placing a second seal in the second recessed area and positioning a second insert within the second recessed area and against the second seal.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis J. Graham, Adam W. Ostein, Christian E. Sabotta, Robert E. Sharp, Trent A. Simpson
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Publication number: 20140165955Abstract: A method for manufacturing an engine block includes removing material from the top deck of the engine block surrounding a first opening to create a first recessed area, placing a first seal within the first recessed area, positioning a first insert within the first recessed area and against the first seal. The method may also include removing material from the top deck of the engine block surrounding a second opening to create a second recessed area that at least partially overlaps the first recessed area, placing a second seal in the second recessed area and positioning a second insert within the second recessed area and against the second seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Curtis J. Graham, Adam W. Ostein, Christian E. Sabotta, Robert E. Sharp, Trent A. Simpson
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Patent number: 8636124Abstract: A power rail includes an aluminum body and a wear coating including stainless steel. The power rail may also include a break-in coating having a lower hardness than the wear coating.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: M. Brad Beardsley, Daniel Herbert Gerke, Robert E. Sharp, Mike Bridges
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Publication number: 20120073923Abstract: A power rail includes an aluminum body and a wear coating including stainless steel. The power rail may also include a break-in coating having a lower hardness than the wear coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: M. Brad Beardsley, Daniel Herbert Gerke, Robert E. Sharp, Mike Bridges
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Publication number: 20090216550Abstract: A business method for preserving the value of business assets, and more particularly, the value of assets that are subject to associated license agreements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventor: Robert E. Sharp
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Patent number: 7047612Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for repairing a casting, and more specifically to a method of repairing a casting by pouring melted filler material into a damaged portion of the original casting. Damaged cast metal components, such as a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine are repaired by preheating the component to a first preheat temperature. The damaged area of the casting is then heated to a higher temperature using a torch and melted filler material is poured into the casting. The torch is used to maintain the temperature of the melted material for thirty seconds to two minutes. The temperature of the filler material is then cooled using compressed air.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Michael D. Bridges, Leonid Chuzhoy, Christopher A Kinney, Jose F. Leon Torres, Stephen E Post, Robert E. Sharp
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Publication number: 20040216295Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for repairing a casting, and more specifically to a method of repairing a casting by pouring melted filler material into a damaged portion of the original casting. Damaged cast metal components, such as a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine are repaired by preheating the component to a first preheat temperature. The damaged area of the casting is then heated to a higher temperature using a torch and melted filler material is poured into the casting. The torch is used to maintain the temperature of the melted material for thirty seconds to two minutes. The temperature of the filler material is then cooled using compressed air.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventors: Michael D. Bridges, Leonid Chuzhoy, Christopher A. Kinney, Jose F. Leon Torres, Stephen E. Post, Robert E. Sharp
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Patent number: 4314120Abstract: A device adapted to respond to a mechanical shock as in an earthquake or the like, and including a first movable element to be controlled, a second element which normally blocks movement of the first element but is displaceable by shock-induced movement of a weight to permit movement of the first element, together with resetting mechanism operable to move the first element back toward its initial position and operable also to deflect the second element laterally back to an active position again blocking movement of the first element from its normal setting. The weight is preferably supported by a universal connection including a ball and socket joint in which the ball has an upper truncated portion defining a surface engageable with a movable part in a manner shifting that part axially in response to shock-induced pivotal movement of the weight structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1980Date of Patent: February 2, 1982Inventors: Mark B. Sharp, Robert E. Sharp