Patents by Inventor Michael D. Kollath
Michael D. Kollath 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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Patent number: 9802585Abstract: A linkage assembly couples a plunger of a brake valve to a manually operated brake input member. The linkage assembly includes a pushrod and a resilient member. The pushrod has an end member which is engagable with the plunger. The resilient member is attached to the pushrod end member. The resilient member has an end which is engagable with the plunger when the pushrod end member is spaced apart from the plunger. The resilient member deforms to allow the pushrod end member to directly engage the plunger when the pushrod end member is moved towards the plunger. One of the end and resilient members surrounds a portion of the other of the end and resilient members. The resilient member may be a sleeve which surrounds an end portion of the pushrod. Or, the resilient member may be surrounded by a hollow end portion of the pushrod.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael D. Kollath, Christopher A. Bering, Scott A. Hudson, Scott A. Tebbe
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Publication number: 20160144837Abstract: A linkage assembly couples a plunger of a brake valve to a manually operated brake input member. The linkage assembly includes a pushrod and a resilient member. The pushrod has an end member which is engagable with the plunger. The resilient member is attached to the pushrod end member. The resilient member has an end which is engagable with the plunger when the pushrod end member is spaced apart from the plunger. The resilient member deforms to allow the pushrod end member to directly engage the plunger when the pushrod end member is moved towards the plunger. One of the end and resilient members surrounds a portion of the other of the end and resilient members. The resilient member may be a sleeve which surrounds an end portion of the pushrod. Or, the resilient member may be surrounded by a hollow end portion of the pushrod.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: MICHAEL D. KOLLATH, CHRISTOPHER A. BERING, SCOTT A. HUDSON, SCOTT A. TEBBE
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Patent number: 9347844Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Edwin R. Kreis, Mark S. Earley, Dennis A. Bowman, Jonathan T. Roth, Douglas R. Fischer, Michael D. Kollath
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Publication number: 20150177086Abstract: A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: Deere & CompanyInventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Edwin R. Kreis, Mark S. Earley, Dennis A. Bowman, Jonathan T. Roth, Douglas R. Fischer, Michael D. Kollath
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Patent number: 8292318Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Patent number: 7717454Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Publication number: 20100109288Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Publication number: 20080284133Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Patent number: D910086Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Eric Keen, Brian Huenink, Richard N. Knowles, Thomas C Boe, Felix Nagelin, Thorsten Hagner, Michael D Kollath, Charles N Warren, Daniel J DeBoer, William Clayton Martin, John W. Krieger, Volker Durre, Sebastian Himpel