Patents by Inventor Andrew M. Tilkes

Andrew M. Tilkes 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).

  • Three point hitch draft sensing system
    Patent number: 9347844
    Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Edwin R. Kreis, Mark S. Earley, Dennis A. Bowman, Jonathan T. Roth, Douglas R. Fischer, Michael D. Kollath
  • Three point hitch draft sensing system
    Patent number: 9282690
    Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Mark S. Earley, Edwin R. Kreis, Charles H. Carda, Peter A. Kosmicki
  • THREE POINT HITCH DRAFT SENSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150173292
    Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: ANDREW M. TILKES, Mark S. Earley, Edwin R. Kreis, Charles H. Carda, Peter A. Kosmicki
  • THREE POINT HITCH DRAFT SENSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20150177086
    Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Edwin R. Kreis, Mark S. Earley, Dennis A. Bowman, Jonathan T. Roth, Douglas R. Fischer, Michael D. Kollath
  • DRAFT FORCE SENSOR ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20130192854
    Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism includes a draft frame adapted to be attached to a frame of a vehicle. The draft frame has left and right supports adapted to be coupled to corresponding left and right draft links. A draft strap has a left end fixed to a front side of the left support and a right end fixed to a front side of the right support. The draft strap is deflectable in response to draft forces applied to the left and right supports. A draft sensor is attached to the draft strap. The sensor generates a draft signal in response to deflection of the draft strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: PETER A. KOSMICKI, Benjamin J. Heimuch, Mark S. Earley, Edwin R. Kreis, Andrew M. Tilkes
  • Draft force sensor assembly
    Patent number: 8496068
    Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism includes a draft frame adapted to be attached to a frame of a vehicle. The draft frame has left and right supports adapted to be coupled to corresponding left and right draft links. A draft strap has a left end fixed to a front side of the left support and a right end fixed to a front side of the right support. The draft strap is deflectable in response to draft forces applied to the left and right supports. A draft sensor is attached to the draft strap. The sensor generates a draft signal in response to deflection of the draft strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Peter A. Kosmicki, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Mark S. Earley, Edwin R. Kreis, Andrew M. Tilkes