Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Zent

Kevin J. Zent 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).

  • Publication number: 20230077263
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include steering circuits utilizing a controllable cross-feed loop between left and right drive motor sides of an articulated power machine to reduce skidding caused by a turning operation in which an articulation actuator changes an articulation joint angle between a front frame member and a rear frame member of the power machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Daniel J. Krieger
  • Patent number: 11305812
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include steering circuits utilizing a controllable cross-feed loop between left and right drive motor sides of an articulated power machine to reduce skidding caused by a turning operation in which an articulation actuator changes an articulation joint angle between a front frame member and a rear frame member of the power machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Daniel J. Krieger
  • Publication number: 20200269911
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include steering circuits utilizing a controllable cross-feed loop between left and right drive motor sides of an articulated power machine to reduce skidding caused by a turning operation in which an articulation actuator changes an articulation joint angle between a front frame member and a rear frame member of the power machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Daniel J. Krieger
  • Patent number: 10711431
    Abstract: A clamp implement and a control system for controlling the clamp implement such that the clamp implement can be caused to follow motion of a bucket or other primary implement in a selected mode of operation. In another mode of operation, the claim implement can be caused to move independently of the primary implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin J Zent, Jonathan J. Roehrl
  • Patent number: 10597846
    Abstract: A method of controlling a lift arm actuator and a tilt actuator to control positioning of an implement carrier coupled to a lift arm of a power machine. An activation signal is received from an enabling input device. A lift arm control signal is received from a lift arm control input commanding movement of the lift arm. The lift arm actuator is controlled responsive to receipt of both of the activation signal and the lift arm control signal to move the lift arm to a target lift arm position and to move the implement carrier to or maintain the implement carrier at a target implement carrier orientation relative to a gravitational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Compmany
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Trevor W. Krause, Jonathan J. Roehrl, Marty Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10480154
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include implement carriers and power machines with implement carriers. In some embodiments, the implement carriers have a mounting structure having first and second mounting structure surfaces with first and second pluralities of mounting features located along the first mounting structure surfaces, respectively. Each of the second plurality of mounted features is aligned with one of the first plurality of mounting features. The mounting structure is configured to receive an implement in a first attitude and a second attitude different from the first attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Jim M. Breuer, Kevin J. Zent, Jonathan J. Roehrl, Scott N. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20190127947
    Abstract: A clamp implement and a control system for controlling the clamp implement such that the clamp implement can be caused to follow motion of a bucket or other primary implement in a selected mode of operation. In another mode of operation, the claim implement can be caused to move independently of the primary implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Jonathan J. Roehrl
  • Publication number: 20180238017
    Abstract: A method of controlling a lift arm actuator and a tilt actuator to control positioning of an implement carrier coupled to a lift arm of a power machine. An activation signal is received from an enabling input device. A lift arm control signal is received from a lift arm control input commanding movement of the lift arm. The lift arm actuator is controlled responsive to receipt of both of the activation signal and the lift arm control signal to move the lift arm to a target lift arm position and to move the implement carrier to or maintain the implement carrier at a target implement carrier orientation relative to a gravitational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Trevor W. Krause, Jonathan J. Roehrl, Marty Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9951494
    Abstract: A method of controlling a lift arm actuator and a tilt actuator to control positioning of an implement carrier coupled to a lift arm of a power machine. An activation signal is received from an enabling input device. A lift arm control signal is received from a lift arm control input commanding movement of the lift arm. The lift arm actuator is controlled responsive to receipt of both of the activation signal and the lift arm control signal to move the lift arm to a target lift arm position and to move the implement carrier to or maintain the implement carrier at a target implement carrier orientation relative to a gravitational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Trevor W. Krause, Jonathan J. Roehrl, Marty Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20160319509
    Abstract: A method of controlling a lift arm actuator and a tilt actuator to control positioning of an implement carrier coupled to a lift arm of a power machine. An activation signal is received from an enabling input device. A lift arm control signal is received from a lift arm control input commanding movement of the lift arm. The lift arm actuator is controlled responsive to receipt of both of the activation signal and the lift arm control signal to move the lift arm to a target lift arm position and to move the implement carrier to or maintain the implement carrier at a target implement carrier orientation relative to a gravitational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin J. Zent, Trevor W. Krause, Jonathan J. Roehrl, Marty Carpenter