Patents by Inventor Adam B. Zell

Adam B. Zell 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: 20240217350
    Abstract: A battery powered electric excavator includes an undercarriage including left and right crawler tracks. A main frame is mounted on the undercarriage to be pivotable about a vertical pivot axis relative to the undercarriage. An operator's cabin is located on the main frame closer to the forward end than to the rearward end and located to one lateral side of the vertical pivot axis. At least one high voltage battery is located on the main frame rearward of the vertical pivot axis and rearward of the operator's cabin. A primary electric motor is operably connected to the at least one high voltage battery. At least one main hydraulic pump is driven by the primary electric motor. The primary electric motor, the main hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic reservoir are located on the main frame on an opposite lateral side of the vertical pivot axis from the operator's cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Nathan H. Laws, Richard Pugh, Manish M. Kute, Reece J. Bachman, Adam B. Zell, Mark C. Eckstein
  • Patent number: 11248362
    Abstract: A closed loop feedback circle drive system utilized onboard a motor grader includes an operator input device, a blade, and a multi-speed hydraulic motor having a motor output shaft. The motor output shaft is mechanically linked to blade such that motor output shaft rotation drives rotation of the blade about a blade rotation axis. A controller is operably coupled to the operator input device and to the multi-speed hydraulic motor. The controller is configured to: (i) receive blade rotation commands via the operator input device to rotate the blade about the rotation axis in a commanded manner; and (ii) control the multi-speed hydraulic motor to implement the blade rotation commands, while repeatedly adjusting the rotational speed of the motor output shaft to reduce variations in a rotational velocity of the blade due to changes in blade loading conditions occurring during motor grader operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam B. Zell, Katherine S. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20210131060
    Abstract: A closed loop feedback circle drive system utilized onboard a motor grader includes an operator input device, a blade, and a multi-speed hydraulic motor having a motor output shaft. The motor output shaft is mechanically linked to blade such that motor output shaft rotation drives rotation of the blade about a blade rotation axis. A controller is operably coupled to the operator input device and to the multi-speed hydraulic motor. The controller is configured to: (i) receive blade rotation commands via the operator input device to rotate the blade about the rotation axis in a commanded manner; and (ii) control the multi-speed hydraulic motor to implement the blade rotation commands, while repeatedly adjusting the rotational speed of the motor output shaft to reduce variations in a rotational velocity of the blade due to changes in blade loading conditions occurring during motor grader operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Adam B. Zell, Katherine S. Rogers