Caterpillar Inc.

Brent David Widder

Thierry Andre Marchione

Timothy A Thorson

Gregory Jerome Kaufmann

Rahul N Gami

A filter element for the filtration of fluids can be manufactured from powdered metal using a laser manufacturing process. The powdered metal is deposited in a layer on fabrication platform and a laser beam is directed toward the layer of material so that the powdered metal granules fuse together to form a first component of the filter element. Successive layers of powdered metal can be deposited over the first component and also fused with the laser beam to form additional components. During the manufacturing process, the power or scan rate of the laser beam many be changed so that the formed layers of the filter element may have different porosity characteristics, for example, with certain portions being fluid permeable and other portions being fluid impermeable.

Filter element and method of manufacturing a filter element

A method of manufacturing an undercarriage track joint assembly includes forming at least a first portion of a seal assembly by laser brazing an annular, metal sealing washer to a first track link of the undercarriage track joint assembly. The method may also include performing the laser brazing to form at least one of an annular fillet of braze material between the first track link and at least a portion of an inner diameter surface of the washer and an annular fillet of braze material between the first track link and at least a portion of an outer diameter surface of the washer. The method may still further include inserting a second portion of the seal assembly into a counterbore formed in an axial face of a second track link of the track joint assembly such that an axial sealing face of the washer opposite from the first track link slidably engages with the second portion of the seal assembly on the second track link of the track joint assembly to form a sealing surface between the first and second track links.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Brent David Widder