Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Bubula

Thomas J. Bubula 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: 5238177
    Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible hinge pin, and a method and apparatus for forming the hinge pin, wherein a cable is twisted and heated with sufficient torque and heat to sever the cable into shorter hinge pins. The heating and twisting causes the portions of the cable in proximity with the severed ends to have a tight spiral and to be reduced in diameter, and the strands which comprise the cable to be bonded to one another both internally and at external portions of the cable. The reduced diameters of the formed ends facilitates easier threading of the hinge pins through belt fastener hoops. The bonding of the cable strands in the region of the ends serves to both maintain the tight spiral and the reduced diameter, and to prevent the ends of the hinge pin from separating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: William L. Nakulski, Thomas J. Bubula, Richard J. Behrends
  • Patent number: 5020209
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for cutting an end of a belt and for clinching belt fasteners to the cut belt end. The apparatus includes a clamp for clamping the belt and a knife carriage driven across the belt to cut the belt end wtih a knife on the carriage. A line of belt fasteners mounted in a comb are then pressed against the belt by a roller which is mounted on a roller carriage for travel across the line of belt fasteners. Preferably, a single, detachable, manual driver or handle is used to drive the knife carriage and the roller carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Brian W. Fullard, Thomas J. Bubula
  • Patent number: 4203293
    Abstract: A drive train includes a hydrostatic transmission unit and a multiple speed range transmission unit arranged in series between a prime mover and a primary output shaft, variable displacement and torque transmitting capacity of the hydrostatic transmission unit being adjusted by hydraulic controls including a speed control valve for developing a differential pressure signal proportional to a desired rate of operation, a modulating valve for regulating the differential pressure signal corresponding to accelerating and decelerating operation of the transmission, a directional control valve for determining the direction of operation of the hydrostatic transmission unit, and a range selector valve for shifting the operating speed range of the multiple speed range transmission as the hydrostatic transmission approaches a limit of displacement, the displacement of the hydrostatic transmission being automatically reset in response to shifting of the multiple speed range transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bubula, Maurice F. Franz, Gordon W. Johnson, James D. Rinaldo
  • Patent number: 4193323
    Abstract: A drive train includes a hydrostatic transmission unit and a multiple speed range transmission unit arranged in series between a prime mover and a primary output shaft, variable displacement and torque transmitting capacity of the hydrostatic transmission unit being adjusted by hydraulic controls including a speed control valve for developing a differential pressure signal proportional to a desired rate of operation, a modulating valve for regulating the differential pressure signal corresponding to accelerating and decelerating operation of the transmission, a directional control valve for determining the direction of operation of the hydrostatic transmission unit, and a range selector valve for shifting the operating speed range of the multiple speed range transmission as the hydrostatic transmission approaches a limit of displacement, the displacement of the hydrostatic transmission being automatically reset in response to shifting of the multiple speed range transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bubula, Maurice F. Franz, Gordon W. Johnson, James D. Rinaldo
  • Patent number: 4080850
    Abstract: A drive train includes a hydrostatic transmission unit and a multiple speed range transmission unit arranged in series between a prime mover and a primary output shaft, variable displacement and torque transmitting capacity of the hydrostatic transmission unit being adjusted by hydraulic controls including a speed control valve for developing a differential pressure signal proportional to a desired rate of operation, a modulating valve for regulating the differential pressure signal corresponding to accelerating and decelerating operation of the transmission, a directional control valve for determining the direction of operation of the hydrostatic transmission unit, and a range selector valve for shifting the operating speed range of the multiple speed range transmission as the hydrostatic transmission approaches a limit of displacement, the displacement of the hydrostatic transmission being automatically reset in response to shifting of the multiple speed range transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bubula, Maurice F. Franz, Gordon W. Johnson, James D. Rinaldo