Patents by Inventor THOMAS WOOPEN

THOMAS WOOPEN 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).

  • Publication number: 20220016948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupling device (1) for mechanical coupling and media supply between a carrier vehicle (41) and a superstructure (42), having a coupling mechanism (10) for establishing a mechanical coupling between the carrier vehicle (41) and the superstructure (42) and a media mechanism (20) for establishing a media supply between the carrier vehicle (41) and the superstructure (42), which are operatively connected with each another via an operating mechanism (30). The coupling mechanism (10) is mounted so as to be moveable between at least one first coupling position at least partially forming the mechanical coupling and a release position releasing the mechanical coupling. The media mechanism (20) is also mounted so as to be moveable between a supply position forming the media supply and a shut-off position shutting off the media supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: AVL Commercial Driveline & Tractor Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas WOOPEN, Stephan HAMMES, Frank Michael MÜLLER
  • Patent number: 11034238
    Abstract: A method for determining a contact force on a utility vehicle includes providing the utility vehicle with a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle, determining a drive slip of the second wheel axle, and a road surface-specific determination data set associated with a traction coefficient in dependence on the drive slip, and determining the contact force on the second wheel axle based on the drive slip of the second wheel axle and the road surface-specific determination data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Woopen, Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel
  • Patent number: 10780887
    Abstract: A utility vehicle and a method of operating a utility vehicle having a rear axle driven by a drive engine, a rear axle differential on the rear axle, and a front axle that is configured to be switched on to perform four-wheel drive are provided. The method includes activating a differential lock for locking the rear axle differential on the basis of at least one of a rear axle slippage variable, which characterizes a drive slippage occurring at the rear axle, an engine power of the drive engine, a status of at least one brake device associated with the rear axle, and a status regarding the four-wheel drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas Woopen, Florian Reinmuth
  • Patent number: 10723217
    Abstract: A drive train system includes at least one internal combustion engine, at least one generator driven by the internal combustion engine for generating electrical energy, at least one electrical machine electrically connected to the generator, at least one driven front axle and at least one driven rear axle, an automatic or manual transmission located between the internal combustion engine and the respective axles, and at least one epicyclic gear unit. Each of the at least one drive front axle and at least one drive rear axle includes output means and is driven by the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas Woopen
  • Patent number: 10286893
    Abstract: A device for operating an all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle with a driven rear axle and a front axle that can be engaged for performing an all-wheel-drive mode. A control unit determines, during the all-wheel-drive mode, a front wheel slip parameter that characterizes a drive wheel slip occurring on the front axle of the agricultural commercial vehicle. The control unit deactivates the all-wheel-drive mode independent of the driver if this unit detects that the determined front wheel slip parameter is greater than a specified threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Woopen, Florian Reinmuth
  • Publication number: 20190126929
    Abstract: A utility vehicle and a method of operating a utility vehicle having a rear axle driven by a drive engine, a rear axle differential on the rear axle, and a front axle that is configured to be switched on to perform four-wheel drive are provided. The method includes activating a differential lock for locking the rear axle differential on the basis of at least one of a rear axle slippage variable, which characterizes a drive slippage occurring at the rear axle, an engine power of the drive engine, a status of at least one brake device associated with the rear axle, and a status regarding the four-wheel drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: THOMAS WOOPEN, FLORIAN REINMUTH
  • Publication number: 20180312063
    Abstract: A method for determining a contact force on a utility vehicle includes providing the utility vehicle with a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle, determining a drive slip of the second wheel axle, and a road surface-specific determination data set associated with a traction coefficient in dependence on the drive slip, and determining the contact force on the second wheel axle based on the drive slip of the second wheel axle and the road surface-specific determination data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Woopen, Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel
  • Publication number: 20180072150
    Abstract: A drive train system includes at least one internal combustion engine, at least one generator driven by the internal combustion engine for generating electrical energy, at least one electrical machine electrically connected to the generator, at least one driven front axle and at least one driven rear axle, an automatic or manual transmission located between the internal combustion engine and the respective axles, and at least one epicyclic gear unit. Each of the at least one drive front axle and at least one drive rear axle includes output means and is driven by the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas Woopen
  • Publication number: 20170008504
    Abstract: A device for operating an all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle with a driven rear axle and a front axle that can be engaged for performing an all-wheel-drive mode. A control unit determines, during the all-wheel-drive mode, a front wheel slip parameter that characterizes a drive wheel slip occurring on the front axle of the agricultural commercial vehicle. The control unit deactivates the all-wheel-drive mode independent of the driver if this unit detects that the determined front wheel slip parameter is greater than a specified threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: THOMAS WOOPEN, FLORIAN REINMUTH