Patents by Inventor Steven N. Winkel

Steven N. Winkel 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: 11406096
    Abstract: A sprayer boom charging system for an agricultural sprayer is provided that allows a wet boom to be pre-loaded or charged during a charging session with liquid product before starting a spraying session. The boom charging system may deliver liquid product into the boom sections at their downstream ends to flow in a charge-flow or reverse flow direction that is opposite a normal spray delivery flow direction. This purges air from the boom sections and pushes it into the product tank that also collects the purging liquid product so that no liquid product is released onto the ground during the charging session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Paul Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Publication number: 20200390079
    Abstract: A sprayer boom charging system for an agricultural sprayer is provided that allows a wet boom to be pre-loaded or charged during a charging session with liquid product before starting a spraying session. The boom charging system may deliver liquid product into the boom sections at their downstream ends to flow in a charge-flow or reverse flow direction that is opposite a normal spray delivery flow direction. This purges air from the boom sections and pushes it into the product tank that also collects the purging liquid product so that no liquid product is released onto the ground during the charging session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan Paul Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10823285
    Abstract: Agricultural machines such as sprayers can be improved by providing a pressure relief system in the operator cab to allow the operator cab to be pressurized while avoiding over-pressurization. The pressure relief system can be arranged to allow air to freely escape from the operator cab during what would otherwise be an over-pressurization event, such as a door or window being closed. In one aspect, the pressure relief system can include a spring-loaded pressure relief valve configured to passively allow air to escape from the cab in order to maintain a cab pressure at or below a predetermined threshold, such as 100 Pascals. In addition, interior and exterior pressures can be monitored for implementing a closed loop control for the pressurization system to enable a more comfortable experience for the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Steven N. Winkel, Nathan Brooks
  • Patent number: 10814914
    Abstract: A chassis frame including a top plate, a bottom plate spaced apart from the top plate, a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate, a plurality of mounting tabs extending from at least one of the top plate and the bottom plate and being integrally formed therewith, and a plurality of mounting brackets permanently coupled to at least one of the top plate and the plurality of side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian J. Pilney, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10814341
    Abstract: An armrest control center can be configured on with respect to an armrest of a chair in an operator cab of an agricultural machine to have physical inputs which can be quickly and easily controlled by an operator in the cab to affect automatically controlled sprayer boom functions so that the operator is not distracted by cumbersome menus on a computer screen. Such physical inputs can include push buttons and/or a joystick. Such sprayer boom functions can include activating or deactivating automatic sprayer boom height control, adjusting automatic sprayer boom height settings, and folding and/or unfolding the sprayer boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10744919
    Abstract: An operator seat system is provided that includes an operator seat and an armrest control center with an I/O (input/output) system that is connected to and moves with the operator seat. An armrest control center mount system may include a seat mount and an armrest control center mount that are attached to each other with an adjustment system that allows adjustment of the armrest control center with respect to the operator seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10653128
    Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural sprayer can be configured with a spray boom, adjustable width wheels and rear wheel spray nozzles arranged over rear wheels of the adjustable width wheels, so that the rear wheel nozzles ensure proper coverage of an agricultural field behind the rear wheels according to location. A control system can determine front wheel nozzles disposed on the spray boom that are counterpart spray nozzles to the rear wheel nozzles based on a width of the wheels, and implement activation/deactivation states of the rear wheel nozzles based on the counterpart front spray nozzles. The activation/deactivation states of the spray nozzles can be determined by geographic location of the machine using a UPS location. The rear wheel nozzles can be arranged with respect to fenders of the rear wheels, so that the rear wheel nozzles move laterally with the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel, Blaine A. Schwalbe
  • Patent number: 10603983
    Abstract: Agricultural machines such as sprayers can be improved by providing pressure sensors inside and outside of the operator cab, a cab sensor for sensing an open or closed state of the operator cab, and a controller configured to activate/deactivate an airflow system according to the pressure sensors and the cab sensor. Accordingly, the controller can activate the airflow system to provide a positive pressure differential in the operator cab (higher pressure in the operator cab/lower pressure external to the operator cab), and deactivate the airflow system when the operator cab is in the open state to maximize the life of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10569704
    Abstract: An ambient light controller in an agricultural machine can control multicolor lights arranged in an operator cab of the machine to project light around structures in the cab to areas that are perceivable by a forward facing operator to convey useful information about the machine to the operator. The lights can be projected around such structures by using light pipes. The lights can preferably be in a color which minimizes glare inside the cab to avoid distraction. The light controller can monitor various functions of the machine, such as boom height, and change colors and/or patterns of the lights to indicate states corresponding to the conditions, such as a normal state and a fault state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel, Robert Schnell
  • Patent number: 10569806
    Abstract: A chassis frame includes a side rails and cross-members that intersect at a number of intersection points, which collectively define a chassis frame with front and rear portions that define a main support section and an integral engine support section. Each side rail includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and first and second side plates extending between the top and bottom plates. The first and second side plates each have a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top plate and a second end coupled to the top surface of the bottom plate. Each cross-member includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and first and second side plates extending between the top plate and bottom plates. The first and second side plates each have a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top plate and a second end coupled to the top surface of the bottom plate. A plurality of gusset portions is formed between the top plates of the side rails and cross-members at each intersection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian Pilney, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10513294
    Abstract: A chassis frame including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a top plate having a first thickness, a bottom plate, and a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. The second section includes a top plate having a second thickness, a bottom plate, and a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. The first section and the second section are joined at least one transition joint. Each transition joint includes a protrusion configured to engage a pocket. Each pocket is defined by angular edges of the top and bottom plates of the first section. Each protrusion defined by angular edges of the top and bottom plates of the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian Pilney, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10488874
    Abstract: A front overhead display panel can be configured in an operator cab of an agricultural machine so that an operator can quickly monitor current states of multiple functions of the machine while maintaining a forward view of the agricultural field. The display panel can include multiple multicolor indicators with each multicolor indicator corresponding to a function of the machine. A display controller can monitor current states of the functions and illuminate the indicators with select colors corresponding to the states. States can include activation, deactivation and/or susceptibility to machine control. Functions can include control with respect to spray sections, product pumps, rinse systems, steering modes, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10464600
    Abstract: Electronically controlled hydraulic valves can be directly mounted to rear steering cylinders of a four wheel steering machine to improve steering, reduce space consumption, reduce leak points and allow ease of routing. The valves can receive hydraulic fluid from a pump and release hydraulic fluid to tank, while controlling an amount of hydraulic fluid to the steering cylinder via inlets and outlets in direct contact. The valves can be controlled by a controller that is also in communication with position sensors configured to sense positions of the front and rear steering cylinders, so that the directly mounted valves in the rear can be correspondingly controlled to follow steering in the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kerry J. Treinen, Blaine A. Schwalbe, Nathan P. Brooks, Roy A. Bittner, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10434914
    Abstract: The armrest of an operator's chair in a cab of an agricultural machine is configured to include a support attachment for enabling multiple touchscreens to be supported by and oriented with the chair. The support attachment allows multiple arms supporting the touchscreens to be joined below the armrest. The multiple arms can advantageously rotate around an axis defined by the support attachment, and the touchscreens can advantageously move to face multiple directions and lock in a desired position. As a result, when an operator adjusts the seat in the cab for optimum driving conditions, the touchscreens can better adjust with the operator accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10315707
    Abstract: An engine hood mounting system includes an engine hood having at least one engine hood pivot support disposed on an inner surface thereof, at least one pivot joint located on a chassis frame of the agricultural machine, and at least one pivot bar assembly configured to interfit with a respective pivot joint and engine hood pivot support. The at least one pivot bar assembly includes an outer pivot bar having a first end and a second end and an inner pivot bar disposed within the outer pivot bar having a first end and a second end. The outer pivot bar and the inner pivot bar are coupled to each other via at least one fastener. Further, the at least one pivot bar assembly, its respective engine hood pivot support, and its respective pivot joint are oriented along a rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Lawrence R. Borucki, Jr., Ross Christiansen, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: D873191
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Douglas Montgomery, Steven N. Winkel, Ross P. Christiansen
  • Patent number: D877209
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Steven N. Winkel, Nathan P. Brooks, Douglas Montgomery
  • Patent number: D880538
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Nathan P. Brooks, Douglas Montgomery, Lawrence R. Borucki, Jr., Steven N. Winkel, Ross P. Christiansen
  • Patent number: D900855
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Paul Brooks, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: D901545
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel