Patents by Inventor Zachary S. Birky

Zachary S. Birky 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: 10816524
    Abstract: A method for calculating an amount of ammonia present in a gas sample is provided. The method includes receiving a first gas sample by a hydrogen analyzer. The first gas sample contains ammonia. The method also includes receiving a second gas sample by the hydrogen analyzer. The second gas sample is formed by eliminating ammonia from the gas sample. The method further includes measuring, by the hydrogen analyzer, an output signal for each of the first and second gas samples. The method includes calculating the amount of ammonia present in the gas sample based on the measured output signal for each of the first and second gas samples and a hydrogen error correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20190285599
    Abstract: A method for calculating an amount of ammonia present in a gas sample is provided. The method includes receiving a first gas sample by a hydrogen analyzer. The first gas sample contains ammonia. The method also includes receiving a second gas sample by the hydrogen analyzer. The second gas sample is formed by eliminating ammonia from the gas sample. The method further includes measuring, by the hydrogen analyzer, an output signal for each of the first and second gas samples. The method includes calculating the amount of ammonia present in the gas sample based on the measured output signal for each of the first and second gas samples and a hydrogen error correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Patent number: 10272960
    Abstract: A track pin for a track chain assembly includes a body made from a steel alloy. The steel alloy has a composition comprising iron, a nitride-forming element, and silicon. The composition of the steel alloy comprises at least 0.5 percent by weight of silicon. The body includes an external nitrided surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bierman, Robert Meyer, Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20180223411
    Abstract: A disclosure is directed to a method for rapidly nitriding steel, the method including: placing the steel in a furnace having an atmosphere comprising partially dissociated ammonia gas; heating the steel to a highest temperature in a range of 400 to 600° C. while holding a nitriding potential below 15 atm?1/2 during heat-up from 400° C. up to the highest temperature; and holding the steel at the highest temperature while continuing to maintain the nitriding potential below 15 atm?1/2, where a total time taken for the heating and holding the steel in the range of 400 to 600° C. during the nitriding is 15 hours or less, and where a composition of the steel comprises at least one of the group consisting of Al, Cr, Mo, V, and Ti.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary S. Birky, Michael A. Pershing, Thomas E. Clements
  • Publication number: 20180119286
    Abstract: A plating method for plating a layer of material onto a part using friction burnishing is provided. The method includes moving the part at a predetermined speed. The method further includes bringing the material into contact with the moving part at a predetermined pressure. The method further includes forming a plating layer of the material on a surface of the part by maintaining the material in contact with the moving part for a predetermined time period. Alternatively, the method includes forming at least one lobed plating layer of the material on the moving part by maintaining the material in contact with the moving part and switching between a first predetermined pressure and a second predetermined pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Catepillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. BIRKY
  • Publication number: 20170130304
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an alloy steel suitable for rapid nitriding, having a steel composition including by weight (%): Carbon: from 0.2 to 0.4; Manganese: from 0.50 to 1.60; Silicon: from 0.50 to 2.0; Chromium: from 0.40 to 1.5; Vanadium: from 0.03 to 0.30; Aluminum: from 0.07 to 0.30; and a balance of iron and other residual elements, where amounts of nickel and molybdenum are limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary S. Birky, Robert Meyer, Robert Bierman
  • Publication number: 20170129556
    Abstract: A track pin for a track chain assembly includes a body made from a steel alloy. The steel alloy has a composition comprising iron, a nitride-forming element, and silicon. The composition of the steel alloy comprises at least 0.5 percent by weight of silicon. The body includes an external nitrided surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bierman, Robert Meyer, Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20170123406
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an object using an additive manufacturing process. The method includes determining a location on the object for a code based on an identification information for the object wherein the determined location is a part of the code and embedding a code by an additive manufacturing process at that location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20170067818
    Abstract: A detection system for monitoring a component is disclosed. The component may be exposed to a condition that produces a change to the component. The detection system may have a sensor including a material sample configured to be exposed to the condition to produce a change to the material sample. The sensor may be configured to generate a signal indicative of the change to the material sample, which may be a step change in electrical resistance. The detection system may further have a controller configured to measure the change in electrical resistance based on the signal and determine the change to the component based on the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20170066054
    Abstract: A system and a method of making an object from powdered metal are provided. The method includes feeding the powdered metal into a first end of a die. The die is rotated to pull a first portion of the powdered metal into a pressing zone. The first portion of the powdered metal is pressed using high pressure. The die is further rotated to release the first portion of the powdered metal from a second end of the die. A second portion of the powdered metal is then pulled into the first end of the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Patent number: 9506389
    Abstract: A method for nitriding of at least one component of an aftertreatment system is provided. The method includes passing heated gases through the at least one component of the aftertreatment system. The method also includes heating the at least one component, based on the passage of the heated gases. The method further includes dosing a reductant into the at least one component. The method includes forming a nitride layer on an inner surface of the at least one component, based on the passage of the heated gases and the dosing of the reductant. The method also includes controlling the formation of the nitride layer on the at least one component based on adjusting at least one of the passage of the heated gases or the dosing of the reductant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20160258333
    Abstract: A method for nitriding of at least one component of an aftertreatment system is provided. The method includes passing heated gases through the at least one component of the aftertreatment system. The method also includes heating the at least one component, based on the passage of the heated gases. The method further includes dosing a reductant into the at least one component. The method includes forming a nitride layer on an inner surface of the at least one component, based on the passage of the heated gases and the dosing of the reductant. The method also includes controlling the formation of the nitride layer on the at least one component based on adjusting at least one of the passage of the heated gases or the dosing of the reductant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary S. Birky
  • Publication number: 20160130692
    Abstract: A disclosure is directed to a method for rapidly nitriding steel, the method including: placing the steel in a furnace having an atmosphere comprising partially dissociated ammonia gas; heating the steel to a highest temperature in a range of 400 to 600° C. while holding a nitriding potential below 15 atm?1/2 during heat-up from 400° C. up to the highest temperature; and holding the steel at the highest temperature while continuing to maintain the nitriding potential below 15 atm?1/2, where a total time taken for the heating and holding the steel in the range of 400 to 600° C. during the nitriding is 15 hours or less, and where a composition of the steel comprises at least one of the group consisting of Al, Cr, Mo, V, and Ti.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary S. Birky, Michael A. Pershing, Thomas E. Clements