Patents by Inventor Timothy D. Wodrich

Timothy D. Wodrich 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).

  • Publication number: 20180065692
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is disclosed herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy D. WODRICH, Todd B. NIEMANN, Gopal S. REVANKAR
  • Patent number: 9623921
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy D. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 9616951
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy D. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 9138805
    Abstract: Mechanical face seal rings having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating on the wear surfaces thereof and methods for forming such coated components is taught herein. The face seal rings, which can be formed of a relatively inexpensive base metal or alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on the wear surfaces and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy D. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 8915556
    Abstract: A track chain assembly for a crawler type work vehicle includes a plurality of links pivotally connected together at respective link joints. Each link joint includes a bushing, a pin, and at least one elastomeric bearing. Each elastomeric bearing includes an inside diameter (ID) engaging the pin and an outside diameter (OD) engaging a link and/or bushing. Each elastomeric bearing includes a plurality of alternating metal layers and elastomer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Patrick J. Mulligan, James G. Merten
  • Publication number: 20140103703
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Timothy D. WODRICH
  • Patent number: 8684475
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Todd B. Niemann, Gopal S. Revankar
  • Publication number: 20140070603
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy D. WODRICH, Todd B. Niemann, Gopal S. Revankar
  • Patent number: 8469465
    Abstract: An undercarriage is disclosed that includes a rigidly mounted track roller near or adjacent to a rear drive sprocket, with the outer radius of the track roller overlapping the outer radius of the drive sprocket. The remaining rollers and bogies may be flexibly suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Timothy D. Wodrich
  • Publication number: 20130099433
    Abstract: A recoil spring assembly includes a rod which has a flange at one end and a groove spaced apart from the flange. A first collar receives the rod and is mounted adjacent to the flange. A compressed spring engages the first collar. A second collar receives the rod and engages a second end of the spring. A pair of retainer clips is releasably received by the groove to retain the second collar to maintain compression of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: TIMOTHY D. WODRICH
  • Publication number: 20130092459
    Abstract: A track chain assembly for a crawler type work vehicle includes a plurality of links pivotally connected together at respective link joints. Each link joint includes a bushing, a pin, and at least one elastomeric bearing. Each elastomeric bearing includes an inside diameter (ID) engaging the pin and an outside diameter (OD) engaging a link and/or bushing. Each elastomeric bearing includes a plurality of alternating metal layers and elastomer layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Patrick J. Mulligan, James G. Merten
  • Publication number: 20120274129
    Abstract: An undercarriage is disclosed that may include a rigidly mounted roller near or adjacent to a rear drive sprocket. The remaining rollers and bogies may be flexibly suspended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy D. Wodrich
  • Publication number: 20110285091
    Abstract: Mechanical face seal rings having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating on the wear surfaces thereof and methods for forming such coated components is taught herein. The face seal rings, which can be formed of a relatively inexpensive base metal or alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on the wear surfaces and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Timothy D. WODRICH
  • Patent number: 7657990
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a PTA welded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components are disclosed. Bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a material PTA welded on a surface or into an undercut or channel of the iron-based alloy. A heat treatment of the formed component further hardens the body. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Reinhard Jordan, Alois Kroll
  • Publication number: 20100007206
    Abstract: Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Timothy D. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 7163754
    Abstract: A sprocket has a base steel member including an outer toothed profile surface, at least a portion of the outer toothed profile surface having a wear and corrosion resistant coating disposed thereon; the coating comprising an alloy, the alloy comprising at least 60 weight % iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. A method of producing a wear and corrosion resistant sprocket includes: (i) machining a base steel member to form an outer toothed profile surface thereon; (ii) applying a coating to at least a portion of the surface; and (iii) fusing the coating to the base steel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gopal S. Revankar, Timothy D. Wodrich, Todd B. Niemann
  • Patent number: 6948784
    Abstract: A track pin bushing for cooperating with a track pin in an endless track has a tubular body with a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and a method for forming such a coated track pin bushing is taught herein. The tubular body, formed of an iron-based alloy, has an outer surface that is carburized and quenched, i.e., case-hardened, in at least a section thereof. At least a portion of the case hardened section has been removed to a depth sufficient to expose a non-carburized layer of the iron-based alloy. A hard metal alloy slurry is disposed on the non-carburized layer and forms a metallurgical bond between the non-carburized layer and the coated unfused slurry by fusing the hard metal alloy. The thickness of the unfused slurry is adjusted to be from 1.67 to 2.0 times a final thickness of the wear-resistant coating. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Todd B. Niemann, Gopal S. Revankar
  • Publication number: 20030168912
    Abstract: A track pin bushing for cooperating with a track pin in an endless track has a tubular body with a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and a method for forming such a coated track pin bushing is taught herein. The tubular body, formed of an iron-based alloy, has an outer surface that is carburized and quenched, i.e., case-hardened, in at least a section thereof. At least a portion of the case hardened section has been removed to a depth sufficient to expose a non-carburized layer of the iron-based alloy. A hard metal alloy slurry is disposed on the non-carburized layer and forms a metallurgical bond between the non-carburized layer and the coated unfused slurry by fusing the hard metal alloy. The thickness of the unfused slurry is adjusted to be from 1.67 to 2.0 times a final thickness of the wear-resistant coating. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy D. Wodrich, Todd B. Niemann, Gopal S. Revankar