Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Pfohl
Kevin L. Pfohl 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).
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Publication number: 20240026655Abstract: A method of controlling a work vehicle on a worksite. Receiving a weather data indicative of a rainfall of the worksite. Receiving a design topography data indicative of the worksite in a final configuration. Receiving a current topography data. Determining a low elevation location on the worksite that may accumulate water from the rainfall. Comparing the rainfall to a rainfall threshold. Devising a temporary design topography data and communicating the temporary design topography data to the work vehicle if the rainfall threshold is met.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2022Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Francois Stander, Jeremy B. Shuler, Kevin L. Pfohl, Cory J. Brant, Luke J. Kurth, Lance R. Sherlock
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Patent number: 9586473Abstract: A work vehicle includes a cooling fan that selectively and/or periodically runs in reverse in order to discharge accumulated dirt or debris from one or more coolers. The reverse activation of the fan is prevented from initiating when the operator of the running vehicle is outside the operator cab in the vicinity of the coolers. In an exemplary embodiment, activation of a parking brake interrupts or prevents reverse activation of the fan, though a fuel door sensor may also be used. A minimum engine speed may be specified to ensure adequate power for maximum fan power during the reverse operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Kevin L. Pfohl, John M. Chesterman, Michael R. Gratton
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Patent number: 9126598Abstract: The invention relates to power management of a off-highway vehicle. A power management apparatus is described as a vehicle control unit coupled to a vehicle and the vehicle control unit is in communication with an engine and a transmission controller. In response to power management input, the vehicle control unit sends a message to the transmission controller commanding a maximum torque limit based on the maximum drivetrain torque. The maximum torque limit is configured to optimize power to the vehicle implement.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Jahmy Hindman, Eric R Anderson, Chris Maifield, Christopher G Parish, Jeremiah J Bock, Daniel Pflieger, Kevin L Pfohl, Clayton G Janasek, Briton T Eastman, Michael D Testerman, Michael L Frank
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Publication number: 20150017901Abstract: A work vehicle includes a cooling fan that selectively and/or periodically runs in reverse in order to discharge accumulated dirt or debris from one or more coolers. The reverse activation of the fan is prevented from initiating when the operator of the running vehicle is outside the operator cab in the vicinity of the coolers. In an exemplary embodiment, activation of a parking brake interrupts or prevents reverse activation of the fan, though a fuel door sensor may also be used. A minimum engine speed may be specified to ensure adequate power for maximum fan power during the reverse operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Kevin L. Pfohl, John M. Chesterman, Michael R. Gratton
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Patent number: 8620550Abstract: A final drive assembly is driven by an electric motor and includes a park and service brake arrangement including a shared disc brake pack that is compressed by a preload exerted by a compression spring arrangement defined by a stack of Belleville springs for establishing an engaged park brake condition in the absence of pressurized brake actuating fluid being routed to a park brake piston. An electrical control is provided for computing disc brake pack wear based on a stored load curve of the stack of Belleville springs containing information correlating preload amounts to various compressed heights of the stack of Belleville springs, and on the magnitude of a drive signal sent to the electric motor for causing sufficient drive torque to be developed for causing the rotor discs of the engaged disc brake pack to slip relative to the stator discs.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Kevin L. Pfohl, Eric R Anderson, Mark J Besler
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Publication number: 20120221184Abstract: A final drive assembly is driven by an electric motor and includes a park and service brake arrangement including a shared disc brake pack that is compressed by a preload exerted by a compression spring arrangement defined by a stack of Belleville springs for establishing an engaged park brake condition in the absence of pressurized brake actuating fluid being routed to a park brake piston. An electrical control is provided for computing disc brake pack wear based on a stored load curve of the stack of Belleville springs containing information correlating preload amounts to various compressed heights of the stack of Belleville springs, and on the magnitude of a drive signal sent to the electric motor for causing sufficient drive torque to be developed for causing the rotor discs of the engaged disc brake pack to slip relative to the stator discs.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Kevin L. Pfohl, Eric R. Anderson, Mark J. Besler
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Patent number: 8039769Abstract: The invention concerns an armrest mounted joystick for communication of operator initiated control signals to a vehicle controller. A plurality of switches require that the operator be safely located in the operation position in order for the control signals to reach the vehicle controller. Only when all of the switches change state, at substantially the same time, does the joystick either activate or de-activate, in response.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Charles J Asp, Jeremy B Shuler, Kevin L Pfohl, Daniel J Wild
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Patent number: 7984574Abstract: A vehicle, such as a loader, includes a chassis, a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis, a tool supported by the chassis to move material, and a rear object detector. The object detector may be supported by the chassis of the vehicle and configured to detect objects around the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Kevin L Pfohl, Gary S Honey, Jahmy Jomont Hindman, Douglas G. Meyer
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Patent number: 7633021Abstract: A cycle counter system for use with a loading machine having a loading bucket. The cycle counter system includes at least one weight sensor, an operator activated control and a processing circuit. The at least one weight sensor produces a weight signal relating to a measured weight of a weight lifted by the loading machine. The operator activated control in the loading machine selectively produces at least one control signal. The processing circuit receives the control signal and the weight signal. The measured weight is added to a selected of a plurality of weight values dependent on the at least one control signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2007Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Kevin L. Pfohl, Gary S. Honey, Erin E. Ralph, Douglas Meyer
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Publication number: 20090095539Abstract: A cycle counter system for use with a loading machine having a loading bucket. The cycle counter system includes at least one weight sensor, an operator activated control and a processing circuit. The at least one weight sensor produces a weight signal relating to a measured weight of a weight lifted by the loading machine. The operator activated control in the loading machine selectively produces at least one control signal. The processing circuit receives the control signal and the weight signal. The measured weight is added to a selected of a plurality of weight values dependent on the at least one control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2007Publication date: April 16, 2009Inventors: Kevin L. Pfohl, Gary S. Honey, Erin E. Ralph, Douglas Meyer
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Patent number: D854032Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Amy K. Jones, Kevin L. Pfohl, Troy K. Maddox, Richard Pugh