Patents by Inventor James Tipka

James Tipka 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).

  • Vehicle rear axle load relief method and system
    Patent number: 6240339
    Abstract: A method and apparatus involves selectively relieving the load from the rearmost wheels of a trailer to shorten the effective wheel base of the trailer. When the effective wheel base is shortened, off-tracking of the trailer during turning is reduced. The load may relieved while the trailer and vehicle are traveling at, for example, less than a first speed, with the vehicle turning at least at a first angle. The axle may be reloaded when the vehicle speed is increased to a second speed above the first speed and the vehicle is turning at an angle which is less than the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Freightliner LLC
    Inventors: Michael von Mayenburg, Gary W. Rossow, Cary Coverdill, Judith Estep, Doug Loutzenheiser, Long V. Nguyen, James Tipka