Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Bebernes
Thomas D. Bebernes 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).
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Patent number: 10793185Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Thomas D Bebernes, Thomas A Nichols, Kyle R Teach
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Patent number: 10766526Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
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Patent number: 10518804Abstract: A steering system and method for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels has rear hydraulic steering device that may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command from a controller. In a manual steering mode, the controller does not determine a rear steering command for the rear valve assembly such that the rear wheels are freely rotatable. In a rear steering assist mode, the controller determines the rear steering command based upon, at least in part, the manual steering input.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright, Eric R. Lang, Mitchell R. Usasz
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Publication number: 20190106148Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: David V. ROTOLE, Thomas D. BEBERNES, Thomas A. NICHOLS, Kyle R. TEACH
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Patent number: 10207735Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
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Patent number: 10179604Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V Rotole, Thomas D Bebernes, Thomas A Nichols, Kyle R Teach
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Patent number: 10179606Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels. A rear hydraulic steering device may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command. In a rear steering assist mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a manual steering input received at a steering input device. In an automated steering mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a target path of the agricultural vehicle that is determined independently of the manual steering input.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D Bebernes, Thomas A Nichols, David V Rotole, Walter C Wright, Eric R Lang, Mitchell R Usasz
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Publication number: 20180346020Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
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Publication number: 20180334186Abstract: A steering system and method for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels has rear hydraulic steering device that may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command from a controller. In a manual steering mode, the controller does not determine a rear steering command for the rear valve assembly such that the rear wheels are freely rotatable. In a rear steering assist mode, the controller determines the rear steering command based upon, at least in part, the manual steering input.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright, Eric R. Lang, Mitchell R. Usasz
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Patent number: 9950734Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A steering device may be coupled to one or more of the wheels. A parked state of the vehicle and a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device may be determined. The present orientation of the steering device may be compared with a neutral orientation of the steering device. Based upon a determined parked state of the vehicle and the comparing of the present and neutral orientations of the steering device, the steering device may be moved from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2016Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Benjamin C. Potter
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Publication number: 20160339952Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
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Publication number: 20160297472Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A steering device may be coupled to one or more of the wheels. A parked state of the vehicle and a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device may be determined. The present orientation of the steering device may be compared with a neutral orientation of the steering device. Based upon a determined parked state of the vehicle and the comparing of the present and neutral orientations of the steering device, the steering device may be moved from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Benjamin C. Potter
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Publication number: 20160288827Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels. A rear hydraulic steering device may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command. In a rear steering assist mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a manual steering input received at a steering input device. In an automated steering mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a target path of the agricultural vehicle that is determined independently of the manual steering input.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Thomas D BEBERNES, Thomas A NICHOLS, David V ROTOLE, Walter C WRIGHT, Eric R LANG, Mitchell R USASZ
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Publication number: 20160288826Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: David V. ROTOLE, Thomas D. BEBERNES, Thomas A. NICHOLS, Kyle R. TEACH
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Patent number: 9439341Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
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Patent number: 9421999Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle, and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: David V. Rotole, Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, Kyle R. Teach
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Patent number: 9380737Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A steering device may be coupled to one or more of the wheels. A parked state of the vehicle and a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device may be determined. The present orientation of the steering device may be compared with a neutral orientation of the steering device. Based upon a determined parked state of the vehicle and the comparing of the present and neutral orientations of the steering device, the steering device may be moved from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Benjamin C. Potter
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Patent number: 9370138Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels. A rear hydraulic steering device may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command. In a rear steering assist mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a manual steering input received at a steering input device. In an automated steering mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a target path of the agricultural vehicle that is determined independently of the manual steering input.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright, Eric R. Lang, Mitchell R. Usasz
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Publication number: 20160037706Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels. A rear hydraulic steering device may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command. In a rear steering assist mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a manual steering input received at a steering input device. In an automated steering mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a target path of the agricultural vehicle that is determined independently of the manual steering input.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: THOMAS D. BEBERNES, THOMAS A. NICHOLS, DAVID V. ROTOLE, WALTER C. WRIGHT, ERIC R. LANG, MITCHELL R. USASZ
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Publication number: 20160039452Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle, and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: DAVID V. ROTOLE, THOMAS D. BEBERNES, THOMAS A. NICHOLS, KYLE R. TEACH