The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 2010
Filed:
Jun. 08, 2007
Eric W. Benz, Peoria, IL (US);
Peter W. Offutt, Mossville, IL (US);
Thomas R. Foster, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Josh Bero, Green Bay, WI (US);
Eric W. Benz, Peoria, IL (US);
Peter W. Offutt, Mossville, IL (US);
Thomas R. Foster, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Josh Bero, Green Bay, WI (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A sorting process for used friction elements such as friction discs is provided, including determining whether the friction elements are heat compromised based at least in part on a wave scattering property of at least one frictionally interactive face of each of the used friction elements. Suitable friction elements may be sorted into an acceptable category, and unsuitable friction elements sorted into a scrap category. A method of assembling a machine system such as a transmission includes determining suitability of a friction element for service therein by measuring a wave scattering property such as reflectivity of at least one frictionally interactive face of the friction element, and coupling the friction element with the same or a different machine system for returning to service therein based at least in part on the determination of suitability.