Caterpillar Inc.

Ananda S Ponnusamy

Kurt Steven Goslovich

Justin Douglas Speichinger

Cody P Renshaw

Rameshkrishnan Lakshminarayanan

Jaime E Ruiz

Satish B Nutakki

Christopher J Demick

Russell Ross Henderson

Thomas K Yeung

Abdul K Maoued

Manufactures and methods implement wear components containing a subsurface underlying incipient failure indicator, machinery parts including at least one wear component containing a subsurface underlying incipient failure indicator, and mechanical systems including at least one machinery part including at least one wear component containing a subsurface underlying incipient failure indicator. An elastomeric seal has one or more failure indicators including a spectrally distinguishable element and/or molecule from operating-native constituent matter of a mechanical system underlying at one or more subsurface distances, including at least one subsurface distance within an incipient failure region. Abrasive wear of an elastomeric seals can expose subsurface strata having failure indicators embedded therein, each exposure causing a spectrally distinguishable element and/or molecule to mingle with lubricant of the mechanical system. Based on detecting the failure-indicating characteristic spectrum, the mechanical system can be removed from operation and one or more elastomeric seals replaced.

Subsurface underlying incipient failure indicator in wear components

Hydraulic cylinder

A combination of seals and wear guides for use in a hydraulic cylinder provides a sealed engagement between a piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder and an inner circumferential surface of a rod end of a cylinder barrel of the hydraulic cylinder through which the piston rod is axially movable. The combination includes a cylindrical metallic wear guide for seating within a first annular groove formed around the inner circumferential surface, a buffer seal assembly including an annular buffer seal cooperatively mated with an annular backup ring for seating within a second annular groove, a U-cup seal for seating within a third annular groove, a cylindrical plastic wear guide for seating within a fourth annular groove, and a triple lip wiper seal including three ringed lip portions for seating within a fifth annular groove.

Hydraulic cylinder sealing arrangement

An annular seal for use in a hydraulic device provides a static seal between two components of the hydraulic device that do not move relative to each other. The annular seal has a cross-section that is substantially M-shaped along one of an inner diameter circumferential surface of the annular seal or an outer diameter circumferential surface of the annular seal. The other of the inner diameter circumferential surface or the outer diameter circumferential surface of the annular seal includes opposite side cylindrical portions extending substantially parallel to a central axis of the annular seal with a concave central portion disposed between the opposite side cylindrical portions.

Dual-peak static seal for hydraulic device

A seal assembly for a hydraulic cylinder piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder includes an annular buffer seal and an annular backup ring. A first axial pressure side of the annular buffer ring faces a rod end chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and fits adjacent a first axial side surface of an annular groove defined in a rod end of the hydraulic cylinder through which the piston rod passes, and a second axial seal side opposite from the first axial pressure side includes a radially outer annular seal surface and a radially inner annular seal surface, wherein the radially outer annular seal surface is spaced farther from the first axial pressure side of the annular buffer seal than the radially inner annular seal surface of the buffer seal such that an annular notch is formed around an inner diameter of the annular buffer seal on the second axial seal side of the annular buffer seal. The annular backup ring includes a radially extending leg portion that extends along substantially an entire radial extent of the radially outer annular seal surface of the annular buffer seal, and an axially extending leg portion that extends axially into the annular notch formed around the inner diameter of the annular buffer seal on the second axial seal side of the annular buffer seal.

Hydraulic cylinder buffer seal backup ring

The pulldown apparatus may comprise a main stage and a secondary stage. The main stage may comprise a cylinder, a main head, a main gland, a piston and a main rod. The cylinder defines a chamber and includes a first end and a second end. The main gland and the piston is disposed in the chamber. The main rod is disposed in the chamber between the piston and the second end. The secondary stage includes a secondary head, a secondary gland, a secondary rod and a flange. The secondary gland is disposed in the chamber. The secondary rod is coupled to the flange. The flange is coupled to the main stage and disposed inside the cylinder between the piston and the secondary rod. The cylinder is slidable over the main rod, the piston and the secondary rod.

Pulldown apparatus

Systems, assemblies, and methods can involve a retainer assembly adapted to interface with a sensor rod of an in-cylinder position sensor assembly of a fluid cylinder. The retainer assembly can comprise an annular body that defines a bore extending from a first end of the annular body to a second end of the annular body opposite the first end; a sleeve disposed in the bore at an inner wall of the annular body; and one or more magnets fixedly provided between the annular body and the sleeve in a radial direction of the annular body. Each of the one or more magnets may be fixedly molded in place between the annular body and the sleeve in the radial direction of the annular body.

Molded in magnetic sensor and systems, assemblies, components, and methods thereof

An integrated piston and bearing may include a piston having an outer peripheral surface and a first end and a second end and a bearing arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The bearing may include a surface contour including a setback region with a first thickness and a full region with a second thickness, thicker than the first thickness. The bearing may also include a snubbing chamfer transitioning between the first and second thicknesses.

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Ananda S Ponnusamy