Patents by Inventor Steven Winkel

Steven 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).

  • Publication number: 20200236844
    Abstract: By using various feedback data on a sprayer system, such as engine speed, wheel speed, sensed temperatures and/or sensed pressures, an onboard logic controller can be used to fine tune parameters of the driveline system in an automatic calibration process. In one aspect, a controller can drive up engine speed and manipulate electrical current being sent to coils of propel pumps and/or wheel motors as current reaches a point where there is no more change in wheel speed as detected by the system, thereby achieving a. calibration setpoint. Additionally, during the automatic calibration process, the machine as a whole can be monitored with respect to several sensors, such as pressures, temperatures, and the like, so that if any parameter being monitored is out of a predetermined range, the calibration can be stopped and not set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan Brooks, Steven Winkel
  • Publication number: 20200239063
    Abstract: By using various feedback data on a sprayer system, such as sensed positions of power actuators for turning wheels, an onboard logic controller can be used to fine tune parameters of the steering system in an automatic calibration process. In one aspect, a controller can send an electrical signal to a coil of a hydraulic pump to fully extend a power actuator for turning a wheel in a first direction, then incrementally adjust the signal until a change in position of the power actuator is determined, thereby obtaining a precise magnitude for commanding a full extension of the power actuator. Similarly, the controller can change the signal to fully retract the power actuator for turning the wheel in a second direction, then incrementally adjust the signal until a change in position of the power actuator is determined, thereby obtaining a precise magnitude for commanding a full retraction of the power actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan Brooks, Steven Winkel
  • Publication number: 20200189388
    Abstract: The present invention provides an alternative traction control system, in addition to a primary traction control system, in which a user selectable input can allow wheels of an agricultural machine to spin freely, such as for clearing debris from tires, until a predetermined deactivate condition occurs. Such a deactivate condition could comprise, for example, reaching a maximum rotation speed and/or temperature threshold with respect to a wheel. To minimize the risk of damage to propulsion components which may be caused by excessive rotation speeds and/or temperatures, upon reaching such a threshold, operation can return from the alternative traction control system to the primary traction control system. Such a system can therefore allow an “on the fly” change that would permit an operator to selectively spin the tires without damaging mechanical aspects of the sprayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Roy Bittner, Nathan Brooks, Lawrence Borucki, JR., Steven Winkel, Blaine Schwalbe
  • Patent number: 9821737
    Abstract: A battery combiner may be used to electrically isolate first and second batteries during conditions in which a first battery required for a mechanical drive system may experience excessive power draw. The second battery may be used to provide a switched and/or continuous power source to a control system and/or other electrical devices for reliable operation, and the combiner may join the first and second batteries together such that both are electrically charged by a single alternator during conditions when it is safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Americal LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Brooks, Steven Winkel
  • Publication number: 20160318466
    Abstract: A battery combiner may be used to electrically isolate first and second batteries during conditions in which a first battery required for a mechanical drive system may experience excessive power draw. The second battery may be used to provide a switched and/or continuous power source to a control system and/or other electrical devices for reliable operation, and the combiner may join the first and second batteries together such that both are electrically charged by a single alternator during conditions when it is safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Nathan Brooks, Steven Winkel