Patents by Inventor Kent J. Niederhofer

Kent J. Niederhofer 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).

  • Drive configuration for a wheeled machine
    Patent number: 5379857
    Abstract: Construction equipment is often provided with the same size tires on both the front and the rear of the machine to maintain commonality of tire sizes and to simplify the drivetrain configuration. The present invention provides a smaller pair of tires on one end of a machine than the pair of tires that are positioned on the opposite end. In doing so, the overall height of the end of the machine having the smaller tires is reduced. This lowers the center of gravity of the machine to improve operating stability of the machine. In addition, the reduced height makes that portion of the vehicle more accessible and thereby enhances serviceability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Kent J. Niederhofer