Patents by Inventor Jeffrey D. Kernwein

Jeffrey D. Kernwein 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: 7232083
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R. Brand, Brian M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7044409
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R. Brand, Brian M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7040558
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein
  • Patent number: 7011258
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Mark Robert Stelter
  • Publication number: 20040267450
    Abstract: A method of determining locomotive orientation based on magnetic compass reading, GPS, and track layout includes the steps of determining a global position and a heading of a locomotive. Upon determining the global position and heading, it is necessary to communicate these to a track database disposed in a computer located in a predetermined location. The track database also includes a parallel line substantially identical to a predetermined track layout within the track database for comparing the determined global position and heading to the parallel line for deriving an actual orientation of a locomotive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Kernwein
  • Publication number: 20040108397
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Mark Robert Stelter
  • Publication number: 20020070301
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R. Brand, Brian M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6208246
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing warning lamps on the side of railcars where the lamps are powered by and receive information from a power line extending across numerous cars of the train and where the power line also provides power and information to the electronic air brakes disposed on the various railcars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Wabtec Railway Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Kernwein, David H. Halvorson
  • Patent number: 6128558
    Abstract: An automatic train control system, including a track occupancy detector is disclosed which utilizes an image sensor disposed on the front of a locomotive which scans an image immediately in front of the locomotive and is capable of detecting the presence of the occupied track and any parallel tracks disposed on either side of the occupied track. Image processing is accomplished using a Laplacian edge detection algorithm and a Hough transform line detection algorithm. An on-board computer determines the slope of lines corresponding to rails extending ahead of the locomotive. The lines are grouped into lines having positive and negative slope and the number of lines in each group is determined. Based upon the number of lines having positive and negative slopes, a determination of occupancy is made. The information from the track occupancy detector is provided to other equipment located on the locomotive and used to assist with other advanced train control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Wabtec Railway Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Kernwein