Patents by Inventor Carl Steven Silbernagel

Carl Steven Silbernagel 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: 7805918
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The reel mower cutting unit may be manual or self-adjusting. In the manual mode, adjustments can be made by engaging and turning an adjustment actuator on the side of the cutting reel with a hand tool such as a socket wrench. In the self-adjustment mode, adjustments can be made by engaging and turning adjustment actuators with an output shaft of an electric motor. The same adjustment actuators are used in both adjustment modes, and the reel cutting unit may be converted between modes by fastening or unfastening electric motor assembly from the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, Paul Michael Elhardt, Kenneth Edward Hunt
  • Patent number: 7669580
    Abstract: An electronic engine speed control system for a grass mowing machine powered by an internal combustion engine includes a microcontroller providing an output signal to an engine speed actuator for the engine, a pedal position sensor connected to a foot pedal and providing a voltage input signal to the microcontroller based on the position of the foot pedal, a PTO clutch switch providing a signal input to the microcontroller indicating if a PTO clutch is engaged, and a lever position sensor connected to a hand lever and having a range of positions including an Automatic mode position and a plurality of Manual mode positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, John Boyd Kuhn, Harlin J. Trefz, Donald William Ertmer
  • Publication number: 20090235627
    Abstract: An electronic engine speed control system for a grass mowing machine powered by an internal combustion engine includes a microcontroller providing an output signal to an engine speed actuator for the engine, a pedal position sensor connected to a foot pedal and providing a voltage input signal to the microcontroller based on the position of the foot pedal, a PTO clutch switch providing a signal input to the microcontroller indicating if a PTO clutch is engaged, and a lever position sensor connected to a hand lever and having a range of positions including an Automatic mode position and a plurality of Manual mode positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, John Boyd Kuhn, Harlin J. Trefz, Donald William Ertmer
  • Publication number: 20080196377
    Abstract: A height of cut adjustment system for a reel type grass cutting unit includes adjustment screw mechanisms mounted at each corner of the cutting unit. Linkages between the adjustment screw mechanisms permit driving all of the adjustment screw mechanisms synchronously from a single adjustment point to change the cutting height. The linkages may be worm gear drives or other mechanical linkages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, David Lawrence Phillips, Truluck Tillman Ammons, Richard David Thier, Kenneth Edward Hunt, Ronald Lee Reichen, Brent Gordon Rinholm
  • Patent number: 7395648
    Abstract: A height of cut adjustment system for a reel type grass cutting unit includes adjustment screw mechanisms mounted at each corner of the cutting unit. Linkages between the adjustment screw mechanisms permit driving all of the adjustment screw mechanisms synchronously from a single adjustment point to change the cutting height. The linkages may be worm gear drives or other mechanical linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, David Lawrence Phillips, Truluck Tillman Ammons, III, Richard David Thier, Kenneth Edward Hunt, Ronald Lee Reichen, Brent Gordon Rinhoim
  • Patent number: 7370461
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector. An adaptive threshold technique may be used for detecting reel-to-bedknife contact during a pre-adjustment analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Carl Steven Silbernagel
  • Patent number: 7353644
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector. Once contact is detected between the reel and bedknife, the adjustment actuators may reverse direction and be energized in a direction that would increase the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Carl Steven Silbernagel