Patents by Inventor Frank Buhrke

Frank Buhrke 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: 20240300352
    Abstract: A device in the form of a mobile trailer includes an electrical charging system for electrically charging a drive battery of an electrically driven mobile work machine. The device can attach to a towing vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventor: FRANK BUHRKE
  • Publication number: 20230286365
    Abstract: A drivetrain for an agricultural vehicle includes a rear axle, and a front axle, a first electric drive unit, and a transmission. The transmission has a first output shaft connected to the rear axle. The drivetrain includes a front axle drive unit having a second output shaft. The first output shaft is connected to the second output shaft. The first electric drive unit is connected to the second output shaft. A torque can be introduced into the second output shaft by the first electric drive unit. The torque can be transmitted from the second output shaft via the transmission to the rear axle such that the rear axle can be driven by the first electric drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventor: FRANK BUHRKE
  • Publication number: 20230272843
    Abstract: A transmission unit for a drivetrain of an agricultural towing vehicle including a first clutch, a second clutch, a first input shaft, a second input shaft, and an output shaft, wherein the first clutch is connected to the first input shaft and the second clutch is connected to the second input shaft. The transmission unit includes a plurality of gear sets for establishing a plurality of gear ratio stages. Each of the plurality of gear sets including a shift wheel rotatably mounted on the output shaft and a fixed wheel arranged on one of the first and second input shafts. The shift wheels of a second gear set and a third gear set of the plurality of gear sets can be selectively coupled to a shift element such that at least one winding path gear ratio stage can be formed via the second and the third gear sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: STEFAN RAISCH, RAINER GUGEL, FRANK BUHRKE, DAVID MUELLER
  • Publication number: 20230272842
    Abstract: A transmission unit for a drivetrain of an agricultural towing vehicle includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a first input shaft, a second input shaft, and an output shaft, wherein the first clutch is connected to the first input shaft and the second clutch is connected to the second input shaft. The transmission includes a plurality of gear sets, wherein a second gear set has the fixed wheel on the first input shaft and the shift wheel on the output shaft, and a third gear set has the fixed wheel on the second input shaft and the shift wheel on the output shaft. The shift wheels of the second and third gear sets can be selectively coupled to a shift element such that at least one winding path gear ratio stage can be formed via the second and the third gear set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: STEFAN RAISCH, RAINER GUGEL, FRANK BUHRKE, DAVID MUELLER
  • Patent number: 11629777
    Abstract: A powershift transmission for an agricultural machine includes a transmission housing, an input shaft unit and an output shaft, wherein the input shaft unit and the output shaft extend at least in sections within the transmission housing. An auxiliary shaft is arranged parallel to but offset between the input shaft unit and the output shaft. The input shaft unit and the auxiliary shaft are connected to one another via a front-mounted range unit, and the auxiliary shaft and the output shaft are connected to one another via a rear-mounted range unit. The front-mounted and rear mounted range units each includes at least two gear wheel pairs, the at least two gear wheel pairs being individually coupled or decoupled. The auxiliary shaft unit includes a first auxiliary shaft and a second auxiliary shaft, where the first and second auxiliary shafts are coupled to one another via a reduction gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David Müller, Rainer Gugel, Frank Buhrke, Michael Schumann
  • Patent number: 11592083
    Abstract: A method is provided for configuring different numbers of gearshift variants in a stepped powershift transmission for an agricultural working machine. The method includes providing a transmission unit, a front-mounted range unit, a gear reduction unit, a rear-mounted range unit, a housing, a drive shaft, a lay shaft, an output shaft, and a hydraulic control arrangement. The same transmission unit is used for all the numbers of gearshift variants while an identical spatial orientation of the shafts is maintained for all the numbers of gearshift variants. The method further includes adapting exclusively the gearshift variants by varying the front-mounted range unit or the rear-mounted range unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David Müller, Rainer Gugel, Frank Buhrke, Michael Schumann
  • Patent number: 11555532
    Abstract: A powershift transmission for an agricultural machine includes a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft unit. The input shaft and the output shaft unit extend at least at a distance within the transmission housing. The transmission also includes an auxiliary shaft arranged within the transmission housing and offset between the input shaft and the output shaft unit. The input shaft and the auxiliary shaft are connected to one another via a front-mounted range unit, and the auxiliary shaft and the output shaft unit are connected to one another via a rear-mounted range unit. Each range unit includes at least two individual gear wheel pairs which are coupled or decoupled. The output shaft unit includes a main output shaft and an auxiliary output shaft coupled to one another via a reduction gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Rainer Gugel, Frank Buhrke, David Müller, Michael Schumann
  • Patent number: 11491829
    Abstract: A method for actuating a tire-pressure regulating system of an agricultural vehicle combination includes monitoring a current operating status of an implement by a control unit and receiving data by the control unit indicative of a change in the current operating status of the implement. The method also includes communicating a command by the control unit to a tire-pressure regulating system of the change in the current operating status and controllably adjusting a tire inflation pressure in one or more tires of a tractor or the implement by the tire-pressure regulating system based on the data received by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Patent number: 11156268
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear train includes a housing, an input shaft, a first sun gear fixedly connected to the input shaft, an output shaft, a second sun gear fixedly connected to the output shaft, a planetary gear carrier arranged to be movable with respect to the first and second sun gears, and first and second planetary gears arranged to move on the planetary gear carrier. The planetary gears are fixedly connected to one another and disposed in engagement with the first and second sun gears, The epicyclic gear train further includes a first clutch device is disposed between the planetary gear carrier and the first sun gear, and a second clutch device is disposed between the housing and the planetary gear carrier. The first and second clutch devices block a relative movement between the planetary gear carrier and the first sun gear or between the planetary gear carrier and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Patent number: 11130375
    Abstract: A rotary union for a tire inflation system includes an axle housing and a wheel axle rotatably mounted in the axle housing. The wheel axle has a flange for attachment of a wheel rim. The wheel axle is received by a passage socket that is connected for conjoint rotation to the wheel axle and supported by a radial bearing relative to a bearing seat within the axle housing. A compressed air duct is disposed inside a cylindrical wall of the passage socket such that the compressed air duct is connected at one end to a pressure connector mounted on the axle housing and at the other end to a tire connector mounted on the passage socket. The passage socket is sealed rotationally movably with respect to an adjacent inner side of the axle housing such that an enclosed chamber is formed between the pressure connector and the compressed air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Publication number: 20210008934
    Abstract: A method for actuating a tire-pressure regulating system of an agricultural vehicle combination includes monitoring a current operating status of an implement by a control unit and receiving data by the control unit indicative of a change in the current operating status of the implement. The method also includes communicating a command by the control unit to a tire-pressure regulating system of the change in the current operating status and controllably adjusting a tire inflation pressure in one or more tires of a tractor or the implement by the tire-pressure regulating system based on the data received by the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Patent number: 10859144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive train (20) for an agricultural working vehicle (10), comprising a drive motor (22), a main transmission (24), a vehicle axle (26) driven by means of the drive motor (22) and the main transmission (30), and a post-transmission (60), which is arranged between the main transmission (30) and the vehicle axle (26) and has at least two gear ratios, characterized in that a first gear ratio can be selected by means of a first shifting element (64) arranged on a main shaft (62) of the post-transmission (60) and a second gear ratio can be selected by means of a second shifting element (68) arranged on a countershaft (66) of the post-transmission (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Publication number: 20200284322
    Abstract: A powershift transmission for an agricultural machine includes a transmission housing, an input shaft unit and an output shaft, wherein the input shaft unit and the output shaft extend at least in sections within the transmission housing. An auxiliary shaft is arranged parallel to but offset between the input shaft unit and the output shaft. The input shaft unit and the auxiliary shaft are connected to one another via a front-mounted range unit, and the auxiliary shaft and the output shaft are connected to one another via a rear-mounted range unit. The front-mounted and rear mounted range units each includes at least two gear wheel pairs, the at least two gear wheel pairs being individually coupled or decoupled. The auxiliary shaft unit includes a first auxiliary shaft and a second auxiliary shaft, where the first and second auxiliary shafts are coupled to one another via a reduction gear unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: DAVID MÜLLER, RAINER GUGEL, FRANK BUHRKE, MICHAEL SCHUMANN
  • Publication number: 20200284324
    Abstract: A powershift transmission for an agricultural machine includes a transmission housing, an input shaft and an output shaft unit. The input shaft and the output shaft unit extend at least at a distance within the transmission housing. The transmission also includes an auxiliary shaft arranged within the transmission housing and offset between the input shaft and the output shaft unit. The input shaft and the auxiliary shaft are connected to one another via a front-mounted range unit, and the auxiliary shaft and the output shaft unit are connected to one another via a rear-mounted range unit. Each range unit includes at least two individual gear wheel pairs which are coupled or decoupled. The output shaft unit includes a main output shaft and an auxiliary output shaft coupled to one another via a reduction gear unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Rainer Gugel, Frank Buhrke, David Müller, Andrew Rekow, Thomas Ore, Michael Schumann
  • Publication number: 20200284340
    Abstract: A method is provided for configuring different numbers of gearshift variants in a stepped powershift transmission for an agricultural working machine. The method includes providing a transmission unit, a front-mounted range unit, a gear reduction unit, a rear-mounted range unit, a housing, a drive shaft, a lay shaft an output shaft, and a hydraulic control arrangement. The same transmission unit is used for all the numbers of gearshift variants while an identical spatial orientation of the shafts is maintained for all the numbers of gearshift variants. The method further includes adapting exclusively the gearshift variants by varying the front-mounted range unit or the rear-mounted range unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: DAVID MÜLLER, RAINER GUGEL, FRANK BUHRKE, MICHAEL SCHUMANN
  • Publication number: 20200284323
    Abstract: A powershift transmission for an agricultural machine includes a transmission housing, an input shaft unit and an output shaft, wherein the input shaft unit and the output shaft extend at least at a distance within the transmission housing. An auxiliary shaft is arranged within the housing parallel to but offset between the input shaft unit and the output shaft. The input shaft unit and the auxiliary shaft are connected to one another via a front-mounted range unit, and the auxiliary shaft and the output shaft are connected to one another via a rear-mounted range unit. The front-mounted and rear mounted range units each includes at least two gear wheel pairs. The input shaft unit is formed from a main input shaft and an auxiliary input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: DAVID MÜLLER, RAINER GUGEL, FRANK BUHRKE, MICHAEL SCHUMANN
  • Publication number: 20200032879
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear train includes a housing, an input shaft, a first sun gear fixedly connected to the input shaft, an output shaft, a second sun gear fixedly connected to the output shaft, a planetary gear carrier arranged to be movable with respect to the first and second sun gears, and first and second planetary gears arranged to move on the planetary gear carrier. The planetary gears are fixedly connected to one another and disposed in engagement with the first and second sun gears, The epicyclic gear train further includes a first clutch device is disposed between the planetary gear carrier and the first sun gear, and a second clutch device is disposed between the housing and the planetary gear carrier. The first and second clutch devices block a relative movement between the planetary gear carrier and the first sun gear or between the planetary gear carrier and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Patent number: 10344808
    Abstract: A synchronizing device, for a vehicle gearbox, with a synchronizer body which can be mounted rotationally fixedly on an axial shaft, and a shift sleeve which is connected rotationally fixedly to the synchronizer body and can be moved axially along an outer periphery of the synchronizer body and which, to perform a synchronizing process, can be brought from a neutral position into rotationally fixed engagement in a first shift phase with an axially displaceable synchronizer ring and in a second shift phase with a clutch body adjacent to the synchronizer ring. During the first shift phase, the synchronizer ring can be moved in the direction of the adjacent clutch body by the shift sleeve using pressure pads arranged axially displaceably in the synchronizer body, and hence can be brought into frictional engagement with the adjacent clutch body for the purpose of pre-synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank Buhrke
  • Publication number: 20190009622
    Abstract: A rotary union for a tire inflation system includes an axle housing and a wheel axle rotatably mounted in the axle housing. The wheel axle has a flange for attachment of a wheel rim. The wheel axle is received by a passage socket that is connected for conjoint rotation to the wheel axle and supported by a radial bearing relative to a bearing seat within the axle housing. A compressed air duct is disposed inside a cylindrical wall of the passage socket such that the compressed air duct is connected at one end to a pressure connector mounted on the axle housing and at the other end to a tire connector mounted on the passage socket. The passage socket is sealed rotationally movably with respect to an adjacent inner side of the axle housing such that an enclosed chamber is formed between the pressure connector and the compressed air duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventor: FRANK BUHRKE
  • Publication number: 20180112754
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive train (20) for an agricultural working vehicle (10), comprising a drive motor (22), a main transmission (24), a vehicle axle (26) driven by means of the drive motor (22) and the main transmission (30), and a post-transmission (60), which is arranged between the main transmission (30) and the vehicle axle (26) and has at least two gear ratios, characterized in that a first gear ratio can be selected by means of a first shifting element (64) arranged on a main shaft (62) of the post-transmission (60) and a second gear ratio can be selected by means of a second shifting element (68) arranged on a countershaft (66) of the post-transmission (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: FRANK BUHRKE