Patents by Inventor Kent M. Wichelt

Kent M. Wichelt 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: 5458021
    Abstract: A guide mechanism for controlling the pivotal positioning of a hydraulic control lever on tractors is disclosed wherein the guide mechanism incorporates a positive neutral lock in the form of a tab that is projectable into an opening within the control lever that is alignable therewith when in a neutral position. The guide mechanism includes a thumb wheel portion that projects upwardly through the control panel for manipulation by the operator for selectively rotating the guide mechanism to align a slotted opening therein with the control lever to limit the movement thereof in a preselected manner. The guide member is rotatable to four orientations to correspond to a neutral lock position, a float lockout position, a hydraulic motor mode position, and an unrestricted free range of movement position for the control lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent M. Wichelt, Jack K. Braine
  • Patent number: 5442527
    Abstract: A lighting control system for a tractor is disclosed wherein the various lights on the tractor are controlled through a pair of switch devices. The first lighting control switch is a rotary switch controlling the macro positions of the lighting operation from an off position to selected combinations of groups of lights on the vehicle. The second lighting control switch is operable to select individual lights within respective groups. The electronic instrument cluster upon which the lighting control switches are mounted includes a memory to store the last selected combination of selected individual lights to permit the same combination of lights to illuminate automatically whenever the main control switch is moved from the off position to the appropriate on position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent M. Wichelt