Caterpillar Inc.

Douglas Trent Weaver

Roger Lee Recker

Andrew Douglas Steinmetz

Daniel Joseph Sordelet

Chandrasen Rameshlal Rathod

Scott E Keele

Eric James Johannsen

Thierry Andre Marchione

Thomas J Yaniak

Jason L Sebright

Mark D Veliz

Robert Jason Pickerill

Arthur James Bland

A method for manufacturing a component is provided. The method includes providing one or more notches on a surface of the component. Further, depositing a coating on the surface to provide a thickness of the coating on the surface, is performed. The method also includes removing, at least partially, the coating from the surface such that the thickness of the coating over the notches is different from the thickness of the coating on the surface adjacent to the notches.

Method for manufacturing a component

A bushing for a track assembly includes a tubular bushing substrate having a longitudinal length and an outer surface. The outer surface includes at least one flat portion. The bushing also includes at least one white iron member. The at least one white iron member includes a flat inner surface, and the flat inner surface of the at least one white iron member is fixed to the flat portion of the outer surface of the tubular bushing substrate.

Track assembly bushing having a wear member

A steel track chain component, such as a track bushing, may be formed with a carburized portion, a hardface portion, and a core portion. The core portion may be softer than the carburized portion, which in turn, may be softer than the hardface portion. This configuration of the various portions of the component may allow for relatively high wear resistance of the component, as well as toughness. The core portion may be mostly ferrite crystal structure, while the carburized portion and the hardface portions may include martensitic and/or austenitic crystal structure. The carburized portion may be formed by carburizing the track chain component in a heated and carbon rich environment. The hardface portion may be formed by welding a hardface alloy over at least a portion of the carburized portion.

Track chain components with hardface overlay

A bushing assembly for a track assembly includes a first end element, a second end element, and a central element positioned between the first end element and the second end element. The central element may be interference fit or positioned between the first end element and the second end element, and the central element may include a greater hardness than the first and second end elements. The first end element, the second end element, and the central element form a bushing with a longitudinal opening extending longitudinally through the bushing.

Bushing for a track assembly

A fabrication method is provided for use in making a component. The fabrication method may include generating a laser beam at a first orientation relative to a wear surface of the component to produce a first laser beam spot having a first characteristic, and feeding a cladding material into the first laser beam spot to produce a cladding layer on the wear surface. The fabrication method may also include generating a laser beam at a second orientation relative to the wear surface of the component to produce a second laser beam spot having a second characteristic, and moving the second laser beam spot along the cladding layer to substantially flatten the cladding layer.

Growing community of inventors

Brimfield, IL, United States of America

Douglas Trent Weaver