Patents by Inventor Franz Erhard

Franz Erhard 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: 11858556
    Abstract: A hood assembly for an agricultural vehicle such as a farm tractor has a first hood panel and a second hood panel pivotably attached to the first hood panel and movable from a first closed position to a second open position relative to the first hood panel. The first hood panel is an elongate body mounted above an engine of the vehicle and having a front end and a rear end joined by two side portions. The second hood panel wraps around the front end of the first hood panel and extends along the two sides thereof to respective pivotal attachments. The attachments have a common pivot axis which traverses the first hood panel in spaced-apart relation to the first hood panel front end. Opening the second hood panel provides maintenance access to a cooling package of the vehicle without opening or disassembling the remainder of the hood assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Bräutigam, Andreas Kleinhenz, Franz Erhard, Thomas Maier, Simon Brack
  • Publication number: 20220204092
    Abstract: A hood assembly for an agricultural vehicle such as a farm tractor has a first hood panel and a second hood panel pivotably attached to the first hood panel and movable from a first closed position to a second open position relative to the first hood panel. The first hood panel is an elongate body mounted above an engine of the vehicle and having a front end and a rear end joined by two side portions. The second hood panel wraps around the front end of the first hood panel and extends along the two sides thereof to respective pivotal attachments. The attachments have a common pivot axis which traverses the first hood panel in spaced-apart relation to the first hood panel front end. Opening the second hood panel provides maintenance access to a cooling package of the vehicle without opening or disassembling the remainder of the hood assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Markus Bräutigam, Andreas Kleinhenz, Franz Erhard, Thomas Maier, Simon Brack
  • Patent number: 9122301
    Abstract: A tractor steering and braking arrangement has a substantially vertically extending structural support column 11 for connection at a lower end 12 to a floor 13 of a tractor cab and carrying means 18 to support a steering wheel 15 at its upper end. At least one hydraulic master cylinder 29, 30 for operation of brakes of the tractor is supported within the column 11. The master cylinder 29, 30 includes an operating rod 27, 28 and an associated piston which is moved substantially vertically by an associated brake operating pedal 19, 20. The pedal is positioned at one side of the structural support column 11 and supported for pivoting from the column. Where separate left and right brakes are used, separate left and right master cylinders are mounted vertically within the support column 11. Both pedals are also mounted for pivoting from the column at a position 21 inside the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Brugger, Christoph Wintergerst, Herbert Kerler, Franz Erhard
  • Publication number: 20140096635
    Abstract: A tractor steering and braking arrangement has a substantially vertically extending structural support column 11 for connection at a lower end 12 to a floor 13 of a tractor cab and carrying means 18 to support a steering wheel 15 at its upper end. At least one hydraulic master cylinder 29, 30 for operation of brakes of the tractor is supported within the column 11. The master cylinder 29, 30 includes an operating rod 27, 28 and an associated piston which is moved substantially vertically by an associated brake operating pedal 19, 20. The pedal is positioned at one side of the structural support column 11 and supported for pivoting from the column. Where separate left and right brakes are used, separate left and right master cylinders are mounted vertically within the support column 11. Both pedals are also mounted for pivoting from the column at a position 21 inside the column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Brugger, Christoph Wintergerst, Herbert Kerler, Franz Erhard