Patents Represented by Attorney Robert L. Farris
  • Patent number: 4152883
    Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has power-rotated rollers to convey severed cane sticks between stick-serving base cutters and stick dividing choppers. The rollers extend across the path of the cane sticks and at least one of the rollers below the cane path has stick-engaging paddles of differing radial lengths whereby the cane sticks are shaken up and down to dislodge earth mixed with the mat of cane sticks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Donald J. Quick
  • Patent number: 4149475
    Abstract: Seed drill has a row of coulters which are raised and lowered by a beam positioned above the coulters and connected to the coulters by spring assemblies. The beam is journalled for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis and the spring assemblies are connected to the beam so that some exert reaction forces on the beam having clockwise moments about the beam's pivot axis, and others anticlockwise moments, whereby changes in loading of the coulters can be distributed between the coulters by angular movement of the beam about its pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Bailey, Ronald S. Sargent
  • Patent number: 4142587
    Abstract: Rotary cultivator having resilient vibration damper acting between the cultivator's drive and a reaction member, to absorb vibration generated by varying torque reaction exerted on the drive during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: John W. Woodward, Bruce H. Ashton
  • Patent number: 4121778
    Abstract: Air intake for trash removal apparatus of a cane harvester. The air intake forms the lower portion of the housing of the trash removal apparatus and also serves to guide cane billets into the hopper of a pivotally-mounted billet discharge conveyor. The air intake is formed as a deflectible air permeable curtain of perforated rubber sheeting which avoids both damage to the air intake and jamming of the conveyor during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Donald J. Quick
  • Patent number: 4098060
    Abstract: Sugar cane harvester has base twin contra-rotating cutters driven by flat profile gearboxes positioned above the base cutters within the throat of the harvester. The base cutters are positioned between the harvester's front wheels (as viewed in a horizontal direction at right angles to forward travel of the harvester) so that the cutting height is unaffected by pitching of the harvester when traversing uneven terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Donald J. Quick
  • Patent number: 4089396
    Abstract: Torque limiting clutch for drive to cane chopping mechanism in sugar cane harvester. Torque is transmitted through a ball and ramp self servo device. Axial thrust generated by the self servo device is transmitted through hydraulic fluid in a piston and cylinder assembly generating hydraulic pressure proportional to the torque. A pilot operated pressure limiting valve vents the cylinder and thereby stops torque transmission when a predetermined torque is reached. Selective disengagement of the clutch is provided by a manual control valve which vents the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Donald J. Quick
  • Patent number: 4069650
    Abstract: The crop gathering reel of a combine is mounted on a pair of reel support arms each in the form of a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having widely spaced load-bearing lands which enable the arms to withstand the bending loads arising from supporting the reel in cantilever fashion while permitting adjustment of the reel position forwards and rearwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Marc Montanari, Jean C. Van Dest
  • Patent number: 4065912
    Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has cane cutting apparatus for chopping cane sticks into billets. The apparatus comprises a pair of rotatable cutting elements carrying projecting axially extending blades which co-operate as the cutting elements rotate in timed relationship. The blades each have a bevelled cutting edge and are mounted so as to come into back-to-back relationship i.e. with the bevelled surfaces facing outwards, when the blades overlap. This minimizes servicing requirements and improves the quality of the cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Donald J. Quick
  • Patent number: 4065009
    Abstract: Quick attach front end loader for an agricultural tractor. Loader has a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal rod members at each side. Tractor has sockets and guides to receive the rod members. The loader becomes supported on the tractor merely by driving tractor forwards until the rod members are received in the sockets. The lateral spacing of the sockets gives structural rigidity while minimizing obstruction of view from tractor cab when the loader is detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: John L. Old
  • Patent number: 4061359
    Abstract: A load carrying vehicle is provided with a pair of wheel assemblies which are swingable relative to the frame to vary the width of the track. The wheel assemblies are supported on torsion bars which extend along the frame and may be rotated by a hydraulic cylinder. The torsion bars also provide springing for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Edward Geoffrey Metcalfe, Walter Henry Ward
  • Patent number: 4039434
    Abstract: A sugar cane harvester having walls defining a channel through which harvested sugar cane is to be conveyed. Power-rotated conveyor rollers extending across the channel move the cane through the channel. At least one of the rollers is in the form of a drum of expanded metal which allows escape from the cane of earth and rocks and permits inflow of air to trash removal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Croucher
  • Patent number: 4038809
    Abstract: Crop gathering table for a grain combine has belts positioned to convey crop rearwards between a cutterbar and an auger. Each belt is caused to run straight by adjustable guide rollers located between the upper and lower runs of the belt and engaging the edge portions of the inner surface of the belt in its lower run and deflecting said edge portions downwards. The guide rollers are angularly adjustable by a lever mechanism actuable from the front of the table while the belts are being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Jean Arnould, James B. McNaught, Jose Andiano
  • Patent number: 4037755
    Abstract: A mobile planter of the pneumatic type which has a rotating drum with seed receiving apertures arranged so that seed is deposited at an upper peripheral surface of the drum to be received in the seed receiving apertures. The exterior of the drum is maintained at a higher pressure than the interior of the drum so that the resultant pressure differential holds seeds in the apertures until they are released from the drum at the lowest point in the path of travel of the drum surface from which the seeds are conveyed by tubes utilizing the pressure at the exterior of the drum for deposit in the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Inc.
    Inventor: Floyd W. Reuter
  • Patent number: 4030641
    Abstract: A spreader for fertilizer or similar material has a metering mechanism for said material to vary the rate of spreading. The metering mechanism has two metering members in face-to-face contact defining a metering opening. A hydraulic ram moves the metering members so as to open and close the opening. An adjustable stop within the ram allows the ram's stroke to be changed. This changes the extent to which the ram can open the opening so that the ram can be supplied with fluid under sufficient pressure to overcome possible corrosion between the metering members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Bailey, Malcolm Dean
  • Patent number: 4019308
    Abstract: A sugar cane harvester has a pair of contrarotatable base cutters with projecting blades to sever cane sticks from their roots. The base cutters are constructed to minimize the quantity of earth fed into the harvester with the crop. A large free area is provided between successive blades for earth and rocks to drop out, but each blade has a long exposed cutting edge to prevent cane sticks entering said area without being cut. The blades are mounted on a support member having a flat profile to minimize the paddling action of the base cutters on earth and rocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Donald J. Quick
  • Patent number: 4011710
    Abstract: A hay baler having two bale chambers arranged end to end in a straight line and a single plunger reciprocating in both chambers. Drive for the plunger may be by cranks and connecting rods on each side of the plunger or by a planetary gear train driving a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1977
    Inventor: Helwig Schmitt
  • Patent number: 4009555
    Abstract: An automatic height control for the header of a combine in which the elevation of the header relative to the ground is varied by hydraulic means under the control of the system using the presence or absence of light to lower or raise the header, the light being regulated by feeler members engageable with the ground and being responsive to changes in ground contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Temple
  • Patent number: 4008557
    Abstract: Topping mechanism capable of selective delivery of cane tops to either side, for use in a two-way sugar cane harvester. The mechanism has a pair of contra-rotating in-running cutters which are always rotated in the same direction and which assist the discharge of cut tops for both directions of top delivery. The cutters have mounted on them hub members carrying projecting feed members which serve both to gather the cane tops and to discharge them. A top deflector is pivotally mounted between the cutters and according to its position deflects the tops selectively towards either of the cutters according to the desired direction of delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Keith Ruback, Rolf Haines
  • Patent number: 4002272
    Abstract: Spreader for farmyard manure has a moving wall to push manure to a discharge rotor. The wall is moved by a hydraulic ram located at the side of the spreader. The ram is coupled to the wall by chains trained round pocket wheels or sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventors: Alexander Crawford, Alfred J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4002266
    Abstract: A seed planting device wherein seeds are carried at high velocities from a central selecting and dispensing unit to individual row units, each row unit has a rotating device that positively decelerates the seeds sufficiently to avoid bouncing of the seeds when they engage the ground and at the same time avoids materially changing the spaced relation between the seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Beebe