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).

  • Patent number: 9802585
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Kollath, Christopher A. Bering, Scott A. Hudson, Scott A. Tebbe
  • Publication number: 20160144837
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: MICHAEL D. KOLLATH, CHRISTOPHER A. BERING, SCOTT A. HUDSON, SCOTT A. TEBBE
  • Patent number: 9347844
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Edwin R. Kreis, Mark S. Earley, Dennis A. Bowman, Jonathan T. Roth, Douglas R. Fischer, Michael D. Kollath
  • Publication number: 20150177086
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Andrew M. Tilkes, Benjamin J. Heimbuch, Edwin R. Kreis, Mark S. Earley, Dennis A. Bowman, Jonathan T. Roth, Douglas R. Fischer, Michael D. Kollath
  • Patent number: 8292318
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
  • Patent number: 7717454
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
  • Publication number: 20100109288
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
  • Publication number: 20080284133
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
  • Patent number: D910086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: 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