Patents by Inventor Benjamin Michael Witte

Benjamin Michael Witte 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).

  • Patent number: 6866286
    Abstract: A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor. Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Witte, James Arthur Nagorcka
  • Publication number: 20040090042
    Abstract: A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor. Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Benjamin Michael Witte
  • Patent number: 6698786
    Abstract: A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor.Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Witte, James Arthur Nagorcka
  • Patent number: 6502654
    Abstract: A utility transport tractor having a cargo box above the rear axle with the operator's platform forward of the rear axle enabling additional seats to be included. To maintain the functionality of a conventional agricultural tractor, the cargo box tail gate and a portion of the cargo box floor can be raised to positions in which they both extend upwardly and forwardly toward the operator. In these positions, the three point hitch at the rear of the tractor is visible to the operator as is typically the case conventional agricultural tractors. The tail gate is mounted to the cargo box for rotation about multiple axes to pivot the tail gate to multiple open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Witte, Robert James Recker, Barrie Lloyd Smith
  • Publication number: 20020190496
    Abstract: A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor. Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation.
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Witte, James Arthur Nagorcka
  • Publication number: 20020170760
    Abstract: A utility transport tractor having a cargo box above the rear axle with the operator's platform forward of the rear axle enabling additional seats to be included. To maintain the functionality of a conventional agricultural tractor, the cargo box tail gate and a portion of the cargo box floor can be raised to positions in which they both extend upwardly and forwardly toward the operator. In these positions, the three point hitch at the rear of the tractor is visible to the operator as is typically the case conventional agricultural tractors. The tail gate is mounted to the cargo box for rotation about multiple axes to pivot the tail gate to multiple open positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Witte, Robert James Recker, Barrie Lloyd Smith
  • Patent number: 6138782
    Abstract: A steering control system for a tracked vehicle includes an engine driven variable displacement steering pump which drives a hydraulic motor. A control system senses steering wheel position, vehicle speed, engine speed and forward/reverse vehicle direction. As a function of these sensed inputs, a control signal is generated and is used to control the swashplate angle of an engine-driven variable displacement pump which drives a steering motor which drives a differential track drive mechanism. The control system also determines a ratio of motor speed to vehicle speed and generates a powerboost signal when the ratio exceeds a threshold value. The powerboost signal is communicated to the engine controller which causes the engine to increase its power output. This modifies the engine fuel delivery curve based on the steering system power requirement and increases the power available for turning the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Vernon Anderson, John Wayne Schletzbaum, Ronald Lee Mayfield, Dennis Royal Yoder, Benjamin Michael Witte, Raymond Yifei Hou, Sanjay Ishvarlal Mistry
  • Patent number: 3990520
    Abstract: The lower draft link of a tractor three-point hitch includes a sensor to sense draft loads imposed on the draft link by an earth-working implement. Variations in the draft load cause variations in the pressure of the fluid in the sensor from a preselected pressure. A pilot-operated, load control valve is connected to the sensor and is shiftable in response to pressure above and below the preselected pressure to actuate a control mechanism. The control mechanism actuates a direction control valve for directing fluid to and from a hydraulic lift cylinder for respectively raising and lowering the draft link to adjust the implement so as to maintain the preselected pressure and thus maintain the desired draft load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: James Allan Koch, Richard Treichel, Benjamin Michael Witte