David Laverne Sprinkle

US Patent:

6672399, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Oct 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/041831

Inventors:

David Laverne Sprinkle - Warrenton GA
Robert D. Cork - Grovetown GA

Assignee:

Deere Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

A01B 63112

US Classification:

172 7, 91402, 60421

Abstract:

A hydraulic fluid diverting arrangement for a utility vehicle provides additional pressurized hydraulic fluid supply to an installed backhoe attachment by diverting hydraulic fluid from the unused rockshaft or three-point hitch of the utility vehicle. A solenoid operated valve manifold is switch actuated by contact from the backhoe during installation of the backhoe to the utility vehicle and diverts hydraulic fluid flow from rockshaft hydraulic cylinders to backhoe hydraulic cylinders. The system increases the available horsepower to the backhoe by using hydraulic fluid otherwise dedicated to the idle rockshaft.

US Patent:

6725583, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Oct 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/041830

Inventors:

David Laverne Sprinkle - Warrenton GA
Daniel R. Fuzzen - Welland, CA

Assignee:

Deere Co. - Moline IL

International Classification:

E02F 396

US Classification:

37468, 37403, 414723, 414686, 172481

Abstract:

A rear-mounted implement mounting system includes semi-cylindrical seats open upwardly and mounted on a lower back portion of a utility vehicle chassis that receive bar members located on a facing lower part of the rear-mounted implement. The utility vehicle chassis further includes semi-cylindrical receivers open in a rearward direction and adjacent cylinder portions open laterally. The receivers guide cylindrical bosses, located on an upper portion of the rear-mounted implement, into alignment with the cylinder portions, when the rear-mounted implement is pivoted upwardly by extending the boom cylinder of the rear-mounted implement. Connecting pins can be slipped through the cylindrical bosses and cylinder portions to lock the rear-mounted implement to the utility vehicle chassis. An operator remaining in the vehicle cab or operator station can easily operate the mounting system.

US Patent:

6799936, Oct 5, 2004

Filed:

Oct 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/041833

Inventors:

David Laverne Sprinkle - Warrenton GA

Assignee:

Deere Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

B60K 100

US Classification:

414686, 180291, 37235, 280833

Abstract:

A utility vehicle having a front loader bucket includes shaped towers and shaped boom arms connected to the towers, and a sloped hood and a shaped fuel tank which all increase the operators view of the bucket, wheels; axle and ground for close control of the utility vehicle bucket with respect to external structures and surfaces. The towers extend substantially vertically from the utility vehicle chassis to a mid-location wherein the towers are offset inwardly to top ends thereof. The boom arms are connected to the top ends of the towers, extend forwardly, and are offset outwardly to a mid-location of the boom arms wherein the boom arms then extend forwardly to be connected to the bucket.

US Patent:

6837326, Jan 4, 2005

Filed:

Oct 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/042072

Inventors:

Robert Dale Haun - Evans GA, US
David Laverne Sprinkle - Warrenton GA, US

Assignee:

Deere & Co. - Moline IL

International Classification:

B60K 1104

US Classification:

180 686, 280770, 293115

Abstract:

In a tractor having a frame, a grille has a hollow frame fastened to a front portion of the frame of the tractor, so as to protect a radiator of the tractor. Two brackets are provided, each of which is mounted to the front portion of the frame of the tractor and each of which projects frontwardly from the frame of the tractor, through an aperture in a lower portion of the frame of the grille. A guard is provided, which is fastened to the brackets, in front of the grille, so as to protect the grille. The hollow frame of the grille is fastened to the front portion of the frame of the tractor only at the lower portion of the frame of the grille. The hollow frame of the grille is molded, as by rotational molding, from a polymeric material, for which cross-linked polyethylene is preferred. The brackets and the guard are made of steel.

US Patent:

6851495, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Oct 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/040105

Inventors:

David Laverne Sprinkle - Warrenton GA, US
John D. Sundberg - Martinez GA, US

Assignee:

Deere & Co. - Moline IL

International Classification:

B60K017/28

US Classification:

180 532, 180336, 180338, 280 5508

Abstract:

A speed control system for a utility vehicle, the vehicle having a forward-facing driving position and a rearward-facing seat, includes a creep control system for moving the utility vehicle, controlled from the rearward-facing seat. The vehicle includes a speed-controllable transmission operable to output power to drive a wheel. The vehicle includes a creep speed control actuator located adjacent to the rearward-facing seat and a creep speed control system operatively connected to the actuator and to the transmission. The system converts movement of the actuator to speed change of the transmission. The transmission can be a mechanically or electronically controlled hydrostatic transmission, or an electronically controlled reverser transmission.

US Patent:

7047735, May 23, 2006

Filed:

Jul 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/903315

Inventors:

David LaVerne Sprinkle - Warrenton GA, US
Daniel Joseph Goodman - Martinez GA, US
Philip Carl Fernandez - Grovetown GA, US

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

F16D 31/02

US Classification:

60422, 60421

Abstract:

Hydraulic flow to tractor attachments such as a sweeper, snow thrower, breaker, auger or cold planer may be increased by diverting pressurized hydraulic fluid from the auxiliary pump. A diverter valve between the auxiliary pump and the auxiliary circuit of the loader hydraulic system may direct flow to either the backhoe hydraulic system, the rockshaft hydraulic system, or the auxiliary circuit of the loader hydraulic system. The additional flow from the auxiliary pump is provided at a mid-inlet position and is not available to the loader boom or bucket circuits, to preserve tractive horsepower needed during loader work.

US Patent:

8056697, Nov 15, 2011

Filed:

Dec 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/644213

Inventors:

Mark A. Eley - White Plains GA, US
David L. Sprinkle - Warrenton GA, US
Brian E. Biles - Cedar Falls IA, US

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline CA

International Classification:

B60W 10/12
B60W 10/18

US Classification:

192218, 475237, 7447316, 74481

Abstract:

A brake/differential lock pedal linkage includes a two-stage manual control that may lock a differential before progressively engaging a brake. The manual control may be a foot pedal or hand lever. The linkage may include a brake cam lever that pivots on a brake cam shaft in response to movement of the manual control, a differential lock link connected between the brake cam lever and an actuator that can move a differential lock shaft to lock the differential, and a lost motion coupling between the brake cam lever and the actuator allowing the brake cam lever to pivot to a differential lock position in which the actuator moves the differential lock shaft sufficiently to lock the differential, before the brake cam lever pivots further to progressively engage the brake.

US Patent:

8322482, Dec 4, 2012

Filed:

Sep 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/891128

Inventors:

David L. Sprinkle - Warrenton GA, US
William O. Ifode - Grovetown GA, US
Mark D. Evans - Grovetown GA, US

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

B60K 23/00

US Classification:

180321, 180 532, 180336, 701 50

Abstract:

A tractor ground positioning system includes ground positioning controls outside of an operator station of the tractor that can be actuated by an operator while maintaining contact with the tractor to move the tractor forward or reverse to connect an implement. A controller commands the tractor to move at a desired ground speed only while the operator continues actuating the controls.