Patents by Inventor Zachary T. Donlan

Zachary T. Donlan 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: 12049265
    Abstract: A roller assembly for a ground-engaging track system includes a roller forming a shaft bore, and a roller shaft within the shaft bore and having a circumferential ramp surface. A roller retention system for the roller assembly includes a roller retention collar with an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface that may include a wedge surface structured to friction fit the retention collar, within a collar bore in the roller, upon the circumferential ramp surface to limit axial displacement of the roller upon the roller shaft. The roller assembly may include two roller retention collars supporting the roller against axial displacement without use of thrust washers or the like, and fixing the roller and roller shaft to rotate together relative to a track roller frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Mircea Dumitru, Zachary T. Donlan
  • Patent number: 11530007
    Abstract: A replacement kit includes a first coupler that includes a first inner axial end, a first outer axial end, and a first coupler attachment portion including a first forked oblong structure that defines a first minor axis with a first minor axis length, and a first major axis with a first major axis length that is greater than the first minor axis length, and including a first prong, a second prong disposed axially away from the first prong, and defining a first predetermined axial distance, and a first cam surface disposed between the first prong and the second prong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Donlan, Benjamin I. Jones, Mircea Dumitru
  • Patent number: 11518455
    Abstract: A rotating member attachment assembly includes a shaft including a cylindrical configuration defining a cylindrical axis, a first axial end and a second axial end along the cylindrical axis; a first coupler defining a first hole that defines a first hole axis and that is configured to receive the shaft, the first coupler further including a first inner axial end, and a first outer axial end; a first shaft bushing disposed on the shaft at the first axial end; and a first coupler bushing disposed in the first hole of the first coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Donlan, Roger L. Recker
  • Publication number: 20220194496
    Abstract: A roller assembly for a ground-engaging track system includes a roller forming a shaft bore, and a roller shaft within the shaft bore and having a circumferential ramp surface. A roller retention system for the roller assembly includes a roller retention collar with an outer peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface that may include a wedge surface structured to friction fit the retention collar, within a collar bore in the roller, upon the circumferential ramp surface to limit axial displacement of the roller upon the roller shaft. The roller assembly may include two roller retention collars supporting the roller against axial displacement without use of thrust washers or the like, and fixing the roller and roller shaft to rotate together relative to a track roller frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Lee Recker, Mircea Dumitru, Zachary T. Donlan
  • Patent number: 11312434
    Abstract: A replacement kit for a rotating member attachment assembly includes a first thrust washer defining a first thrust washer diameter and a first thrust washer axial thickness, and a first end cap defining a first end cap axial thickness and including a first end cap circumferential surface defining a first end cap diameter that is greater than the first thrust washer diameter. The first end cap circumferential surface includes external threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Donlan, Mircea Dumitru
  • Publication number: 20210046982
    Abstract: A replacement kit includes a first coupler that includes a first inner axial end, a first outer axial end, and a first coupler attachment portion including a first forked oblong structure that defines a first minor axis with a first minor axis length, and a first major axis with a first major axis length that is greater than the first minor axis length, and including a first prong, a second prong disposed axially away from the first prong, and defining a first predetermined axial distance, and a first cam surface disposed between the first prong and the second prong.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Donlan, Benjamin I. Jones, Mircea Dumitru
  • Publication number: 20210046983
    Abstract: A rotating member attachment assembly includes a shaft including a cylindrical configuration defining a cylindrical axis, a first axial end and a second axial end along the cylindrical axis; a first coupler defining a first hole that defines a first hole axis and that is configured to receive the shaft, the first coupler further including a first inner axial end, and a first outer axial end; a first shaft bushing disposed on the shaft at the first axial end; and a first coupler bushing disposed in the first hole of the first coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Donlan, Roger L. Recker
  • Publication number: 20210046981
    Abstract: A replacement kit for a rotating member attachment assembly includes a first thrust washer defining a first thrust washer diameter and a first thrust washer axial thickness, and a first end cap defining a first end cap axial thickness and including a first end cap circumferential surface defining a first end cap diameter that is greater than the first thrust washer diameter. The first end cap circumferential surface includes external threads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary T. Donlan, Mircea Dumitru