Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Upchurch

Stephen M. Upchurch 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: 9556790
    Abstract: A bi-directional tractor exhaust system with ground speed detection includes a downwardly directed exhaust pipe, an upwardly directed exhaust pipe, and an intermediate exhaust pipe connected to the outlet of a diesel particulate filter. An exhaust pipe valve may be opened or closed by an actuator to direct exhaust through the downwardly directed exhaust pipe during regeneration of the diesel particulate filter if a signal from a ground speed sensor indicates ground speed above a first speed, or through the upwardly directed exhaust pipe if the ground speed is below a second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher T. McCord, Tien-Chuong Lim, Stephen M. Upchurch
  • Publication number: 20160237891
    Abstract: A bi-directional tractor exhaust system with ground speed detection includes a downwardly directed exhaust pipe, an upwardly directed exhaust pipe, and an intermediate exhaust pipe connected to the outlet of a diesel particulate filter. An exhaust pipe valve may be opened or closed by an actuator to direct exhaust through the downwardly directed exhaust pipe during regeneration of the diesel particulate filter if a signal from a ground speed sensor indicates ground speed above a first speed, or through the upwardly directed exhaust pipe if the ground speed is below a second speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher T. McCord, Tien-Chuong Lim, Stephen M. Upchurch
  • Patent number: 9327698
    Abstract: A tractor park brake force sensing system includes a force sensor switch that is actuated if a tensile force applied to a linkage between a park brake lever and a park brake is adequate to compress a spring in the linkage a pre-specified amount as the park brake lever is moved to a park brake set position. A controller connected to the force sensor switch and to a tractor motion sensor turns on a solid indicator light if the force sensor switch is actuated, and flashes the indicator light if the park brake lever is moved to the park brake set position and the tractor motion sensor indicates the tractor is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Chad Helland, Marlin L. Goodnight, Andrew M. Smock, Stephen M. Upchurch
  • Publication number: 20130289831
    Abstract: A tractor park brake force sensing system includes a force sensor switch that is actuated if a tensile force applied to a linkage between a park brake lever and a park brake is adequate to compress a spring in the linkage a pre-specified amount as the park brake lever is moved to a park brake set position. A controller connected to the force sensor switch and to a tractor motion sensor turns on a solid indicator light if the force sensor switch is actuated, and flashes the indicator light if the park brake lever is moved to the park brake set position and the tractor motion sensor indicates the tractor is moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Chad Helland, Marlin L. Goodnight, Andrew M. Smock, Stephen M. Upchurch