Patents by Inventor Norbert Fritz

Norbert Fritz 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: 12221090
    Abstract: A method for determining a torque acting at a position of a drive train of an agricultural towing vehicle, includes controlling a clutch of the drive train between a closed state and an open state, capturing a drive-side rotational speed at the clutch via a first rotational speed sensor, capturing an output-side rotational speed at the clutch via a second rotational speed sensor, controlling the clutch in the direction of the open state, determining, during controlling the clutch, a difference between the rotational speeds on the drive and output sides, comparing the difference with a predetermined difference limit value, capturing the value of a physical variable that causes the clutch control on the basis of the comparison result, and determining the torque on the basis of the captured value of the physical variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Volker Kegel, David Mueller, Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel
  • Publication number: 20250031598
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydrostatic steering device for an agricultural utility vehicle, includes controlling a steering orbitrol of the hydrostatic steering device by a steering wheel via a steering column, deflecting a steering cylinder in accordance with a driver-side steering actuation of the steering wheel, detecting a steering actuation variable via a first sensor, detecting a steering position variable via a second sensor, in a normal operating mode, the control unit is configured to actuate the electric drive unit such that an actuating torque which increases continuously with the wheel steering angle is generated at the steering column and thus at the steering wheel, and in an emergency operating mode, the control unit is configured to control the electric drive unit such that an actuating torque is generated on the steering column and thus on the steering orbitrol to support driver-side steering actuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Patent number: 12181030
    Abstract: A method controls a power split transmission structure to direct drive power from a drive through at least three interfaces to at least one output to supply connected consumers. The transmission structure has at least two variator paths each comprising a summation gearbox downstream of the interfaces in which drive power is varied via a mechanical and an electrical path. The transmission structure has power electronics or a hydraulic control device including at least three electric or hydraulic machines arranged in parallel with the summation gearbox of each variator path downstream of the interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel, David Mueller
  • Publication number: 20240391448
    Abstract: A method for determining a torque acting at a position of a drive train of an agricultural towing vehicle, includes controlling a clutch of the drive train between a closed state and an open state, capturing a drive-side rotational speed at the clutch via a first rotational speed sensor, capturing an output-side rotational speed at the clutch via a second rotational speed sensor, controlling the clutch in the direction of the open state, determining, during controlling the clutch, a difference between the rotational speeds on the drive and output sides, comparing the difference with a predetermined difference limit value, capturing the value of a physical variable that causes the clutch control on the basis of the comparison result, and determining the torque on the basis of the captured value of the physical variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: VOLKER KEGEL, DAVID MUELLER, NORBERT FRITZ, RAINER GUGEL
  • Publication number: 20240392846
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a selected clutch arranged within a drivetrain of an agricultural towing vehicle. The selected clutch is activatable between a closed and an open state. The method includes connecting the selected clutch in terms of drive on the drive side to a running drive motor of the agricultural towing vehicle and connecting in terms of drive on the output side to an output shaft, defining the value of a first physical variable bringing about the clutch activation, determining a second physical variable representing the rotation of the output shaft, and assigning the second physical variable representing the rotation of the output shaft to the value of the first physical variable bringing about the clutch activation, in order to generate calibration data of the selected clutch depending on the assignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: VOLKER KEGEL, DAVID MUELLER, RAINER GUGEL, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Patent number: 12134242
    Abstract: A method for compacting a harvested material in a silo by an agricultural working machine includes determining via a control unit a density profile which represents a target density of the harvested material as a function of a silo position or a silo portion along a predetermined silo length of the silo, controlling via the control unit compaction work as a function of the density profile, and controlling via the control unit a travel speed of the working machine during the compaction work as a function of the density profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Stefan Brocke, Norbert Fritz
  • Publication number: 20240343156
    Abstract: A method for dynamic charge status monitoring for an electrically operated work vehicle includes recording via a control unit a covered route between a start position of the work vehicle at the site of the charging station and a current operating position of the work vehicle, ascertaining via the control unit an average energy consumption of the work vehicle along the covered route, estimating via the control unit a total energy requirement of the work vehicle that needs to be reserved for returning from the current operating position to the start position along one of the covered route and a return route derived therefrom based on the covered route and the average energy consumption, and outputting via the control unit the estimated total energy requirement of the work vehicle that needs to be reserved as energy reserve information via a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: DOMINIK REITER, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Patent number: 12099021
    Abstract: A method for determining a density of a harvested material includes transmitting radar signals into the harvested material from a transmitting unit, receiving the radar signals reflected by the harvested material by a receiving unit, determining a permittivity of the harvested material as a function of the reflected radar signals via an evaluation unit, and determining the density of the harvested material as a function of the determined permittivity via a signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stefan Brocke, Norbert Fritz, Rasika Wagh, Prashant Koparde, Swarupanand Sewalkar
  • Publication number: 20240278826
    Abstract: A hydrostatic steering device for an agricultural utility vehicle including a steering orbitrol, which can be controlled via a steering handle and by which a dual-action steering cylinder can be extended in accordance with a steering operation occurring at the steering handle. Depending on the operation direction of the steering handle, a first orbitrol connection forms a supply fed from a hydraulic high-pressure source, and a second orbitrol connection forms a return which communicates with a hydraulic reservoir, to actuate opposing working chambers of the steering cylinder. A hydraulic leakage flow occurring between the first and second orbitrol connections can be compensated with regard to a hydraulic operation of the steering cylinder via a valve assembly communicating with the high-pressure source and the hydraulic reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ, RICHARD STARCK, JONAS GASSMANN, FABIAN HARTMANN
  • Patent number: 11891080
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor with a system for identifying downstream road users includes a control unit in communication with a user interface, and a sensor having a detection range which runs in a vicinity of a ground and which is in a direction of an attachment connected to the agricultural tractor. The sensor is configured to identify a vehicle located in the detection range or which enters therein, and then generates a corresponding message signal which is supplied to the control unit. The control unit activates the user interface based on the message signal for the output of a driver message. A free region visible from the agricultural tractor by the sensor is formed between a road surface and a lower contour of the attachment facing the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stefan Brocke, Norbert Fritz
  • Patent number: 11856896
    Abstract: A method for assisting a compaction-appropriate distribution of harvested material in a flat silo includes providing a silo vehicle having a control unit, ascertaining a dry-substance density to be achieved via the control unit, determining a maximally producible compaction pressure via the control unit, ascertaining a maximally permissible layer thickness via the control unit for the implementation of a distribution-and-compaction process, determining a layer thickness currently being applied during the implementation of the distribution-and-compaction process in a location-specific manner via a GPS receiver, comparing the maximally permissible layer thickness and the layer thickness currently being applied in the location-specific manner via the control unit in order to ascertain a target layer thickness, and driving a regulating device of a distribution tool provided on the silo vehicle to assimilate the layer thickness currently being applied to the target layer thickness via the control unit in an automa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stefan Brocke, Norbert Fritz
  • Patent number: 11850895
    Abstract: A method is provided for dynamically determining a tire longitudinal force. The method includes determining a tire acceleration variable by an acceleration sensor arranged in a tire bead, determining a first time interval between a tire contact patch entry point and an acceleration vertex by a processor unit, and determining a second time interval between the acceleration vertex and a tire contact patch exit point by the processor unit. The method also includes determining a magnitude or direction of a tire longitudinal force variable comprising a tire longitudinal force by the processor unit from a symmetry shift detected between the first and second time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Florian Schott, Norbert Fritz
  • Publication number: 20230389481
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a compaction state of silage stored in a flat silo, in which a work vehicle used for compacting the silage has inflated tires on at least one vehicle axle, includes in a first step, via an acceleration sensor, one or more of a normal and a tangential acceleration occurring in a tire bead is detected and wirelessly transmitted in the form of sensor data corresponding thereto to a processor unit, in a second step, starting from the transferred sensor data from the processor unit, the deformations of the tire casing occurring in each case during the rolling of the tire in an entry point and an exit point are ascertained and compared to one another, and in a third step, based on the comparison, a compression behavior and in turn therefrom the compaction state of the silage is determined by the processor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ, FLORIAN SCHOTT
  • Patent number: 11756315
    Abstract: A method for classifying an underlying surface travelled by an agricultural utility vehicle includes acquiring a detail of a surface of the underlying surface in the form of optical data, classifying the optical data in a data processing unit with respect to different underlying surface classes, and determining an underlying surface class on the basis of the classifying step. Output data is output from the data processing unit representative of the determined underlying surface class as a classification result. A technical feature of the utility vehicle is adapted as a function of the classification result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin Schmidt, Norbert Fritz
  • Publication number: 20230184694
    Abstract: A method for determining a density of a harvested material includes transmitting radar signals into the harvested material from a transmitting unit, receiving the radar signals reflected by the harvested material by a receiving unit, determining a permittivity of the harvested material as a function of the reflected radar signals via an evaluation unit, and determining the density of the harvested material as a function of the determined permittivity via a signal processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ, RASIKA WAGH, PRASHANT KOPARDE, SWARUPANAND SEWALKAR
  • Publication number: 20230034813
    Abstract: A method for compacting a harvested material in a silo by an agricultural working machine includes determining via a control unit a density profile which represents a target density of the harvested material as a function of a silo position or a silo portion along a predetermined silo length of the silo, controlling via the control unit compaction work as a function of the density profile, and controlling via the control unit a travel speed of the working machine during the compaction work as a function of the density profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Publication number: 20220332339
    Abstract: A method for perceiving an augmented reality during a work assignment of an agricultural utility vehicle includes processing data of a data communication system of the agricultural utility vehicle via a control unit, sending the data processed via the control unit to a perception device, projecting the data received from the control unit as an item of optical information via a perception device, and jointly perceiving the real surroundings of the agricultural utility vehicle and the projected optical information via the perception device
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: NORBERT FRITZ, Stephan Denker
  • Patent number: 11444697
    Abstract: A method of communicating information via optical data transmission between two utility vehicles includes providing a control unit on a first utility vehicle, a work light on the first utility vehicle, and a second utility vehicle. The method also includes generating activation signals by the control unit of the first utility vehicle in dependence on transmission data to be transmitted, activating the work light by the activation signals, and emitting light signals via the activated work light to the second utility vehicle. The light signals represent the transmission data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Florian Schott, Norbert Fritz, Juergen Hollstein
  • Publication number: 20220243794
    Abstract: A method controls a power split transmission structure to direct drive power from a drive through at least three interfaces to at least one output to supply connected consumers. The transmission structure has at least two variator paths each comprising a summation gearbox downstream of the interfaces in which drive power is varied via a mechanical and an electrical path. The transmission structure has power electronics or a hydraulic control device including at least three electric or hydraulic machines arranged in parallel with the summation gearbox of each variator path downstream of the interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel, David Mueller
  • Patent number: 11391572
    Abstract: A method for predicting a topography information item for a vehicle includes assigning at least one respective topography information item to each of the different travel positions of the vehicle, determining a future travel position, and querying at least one topography information item assigned to the determined future travel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Bernd Baum, Sebastian Illy, Thomas Floerchinger