Patents Assigned to Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20170354091
    Abstract: A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. The grain cart also has a hitch for allowing the grain cart to be towed. The discharge portion is forward of the hitch when in the operating position. Embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, increased forward and side reach, additional storage capacity of the hopper, increased discharge rate from the hopper, and a more compact transport position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. VAN MILL, Ronald J. SCHLIMGEN
  • Patent number: 9840121
    Abstract: A suspension axle for a farm equipment is provided. The suspension axle includes an axle beam having two ends. The two ends are configured to be simply supported to the farm equipment. The suspension axle also includes a first mounting arm coupled to the axle beam between the two ends and extending outwardly from the axle beam. The suspension axle also includes a first mounting bracket pivotably coupled to the first mounting arm at a first horizontal pivot axis. The suspension axle also includes a first suspension member coupled to at least one of the axle beam and the first mounting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hilvers, David R. Smith, Shawn W. Gerdeman
  • Patent number: 9839175
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a toolbar system having a toolbar frame, an elevator assembly, and a first wing on one side of the toolbar frame. The first wing may be coupled to the elevator and pivotable about a first vertical axis of rotation between an extended and a folded position. Tools may be coupled to the first wing and rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the first wing from an operating position below the first wing to a transport/shipping position above the first wing. Further, the first wing may be adapted to be moveable to position the first wing higher than a wheel of the agricultural implement on the same side of the toolbar frame in the folded position. Subsequently, the tools may be circularly rotated and the middle wing and tools pushed down to reduce the overall width and height of the implement for transporting or shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ryan J. Fleshner, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Patent number: 9810013
    Abstract: A door control system for a farm implement with a storage bin having a discharge opening and a door movable by a drive mechanism between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening includes a dual position door control system. The system includes at least two controllers at spaced positions relative to the door and coupled to a drive mechanism for opening and closing the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen, Daryl Rubner
  • Publication number: 20170290270
    Abstract: A cart for transporting and conveying agricultural materials is provided. The cart includes a frame; a set of wheels or tracks coupled with said frame; and a hitch assembly coupled with said frame to allow the cart to be towed on the wheels or tracks behind a tow vehicle. The cart further includes a hopper defined by a plurality of walls supported by the frame and having a hopper opening to receive agricultural material and a discharge opening for discharging agricultural material. The cart further includes a conveyor assembly coupled to the hopper, the conveyor assembly including an inlet in communication with the discharge opening to receive agricultural material therefrom and an outlet to discharge agricultural material. The conveyor assembly includes a lower conveyor section and an upper conveyor section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. VAN MILL, Ronald J. SCHLIMGEN
  • Patent number: 9745123
    Abstract: A seed carrier includes a main hopper coupled with a frame via leg members. The main hopper has a discharge. A base plate is coupled with the frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled with the base plate at a first end. A belt driven conveyor having a conveyor hopper at a first end and a discharge at a second end is rotatably coupled with a second end of the support arm at an approximate center of gravity thereof. A latch mechanism is provided for detachably coupling the first end of the conveyor with the first end of the support arm such that the conveyor hopper is position below the main hopper discharge. When the conveyor is uncoupled from the first end of the support arm, the conveyor can rotate to a loading position wherein the discharge thereof can be positioned over the main hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian James Petersen, David Richard Smith
  • Patent number: 9723789
    Abstract: A cart having an adjustable elevation auger. A junction box may located within the opening of a sump of a bin of a cart. The junction box may have an open top, closed bottom and sides, and back wall. The back wall of the junction box may be secured to a bin wall by a hinge such that the junction box may pivot about a pivot axis. An auger housing may be connected to and extend from the junction box. An auger may extend through the auger housing and have an intake end disposed within the junction box. The auger housing and auger may pivot with the junction box about a pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position. The auger may be a corner auger and may be a folding auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Patent number: 9706713
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a cart for transporting and conveying agricultural materials is provided. The cart includes a frame and a plurality of wheels coupled with the frame. The cart further includes a bin supported on the frame and including a plurality of bin walls defining a storage space for an agricultural material. The cart further includes a conveyor assembly having an intake end configured to receive agricultural material from the bin and a discharge end configured to discharge agricultural material, the conveyor assembly including a lower conveyor section, an intermediate conveyor section, and an upper conveyor section. The lower conveyor section includes a lower conveyor housing and a lower conveyor extending within the lower conveyor housing, the intermediate conveyor section includes an intermediate conveyor housing, and the upper conveyor section includes an upper conveyor housing and an upper conveyor extending within the upper conveyor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Publication number: 20170182921
    Abstract: According to a first aspect, a grain cart is provided. The grain cart includes a rolling frame; and a bin mounted to the frame and having one or more walls defining a space for storing an agricultural product. The grain cart also includes a folding auger assembly having an upper auger portion with a first longitudinal axis and a lower auger portion with a second longitudinal axis. The upper auger portion further has an upper auger, an upper auger housing, and a discharge spout coupled to a top end of the upper auger housing. The lower auger portion further has a lower auger and lower auger housing. A bottom end of the lower auger housing is coupled to the bin and a top end of the lower auger housing is coupled to a bottom end of the upper auger housing, such that the lower auger and upper auger are operable to convey the agricultural product from the bin to the discharge spout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc
    Inventor: Michael D. VAN MILL
  • Publication number: 20170150679
    Abstract: A method of unloading mobile farm implements is presented. Unloading the mobile farm implement is accomplished by transmitting commands to unfold an auger arm and to open a container door and by monitoring weight measurements from the implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. VAN MILL, Shawn W. GERDEMAN, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Publication number: 20170142902
    Abstract: A method of automating unloading for a mobile farm implement is presented. The method includes determining whether the speed of the mobile farm implement is below a first threshold. In response to a determination that the speed of the mobile farm implement is below the first threshold, a conveyor is moved to an operating position, where it is used to unload agricultural material from the mobile farm implement. Upon termination of the unloading of the agricultural material, the controller folds the conveyor to a storage or transport position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. VAN MILL, Shawn W. GERDEMAN, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Patent number: 9596809
    Abstract: A method of automating unloading for a mobile farm implement is presented. The method includes determining whether the speed of the mobile farm implement is below a first threshold. In response to a determination that the speed of the mobile farm implement is below the first threshold, a conveyor is moved to an operating position, where it is used to unload agricultural material from the mobile farm implement. Upon termination of the unloading of the agricultural material, the controller folds the conveyor to a storage or transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Shawn W. Gerdeman, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Patent number: 9596805
    Abstract: A method of unloading mobile farm implements is presented. Unloading the mobile farm implement is accomplished by transmitting commands to unfold an auger arm and to open a container door and by monitoring weight measurements from the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Shawn W. Gerdeman, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Patent number: 9581202
    Abstract: A tilling implement for use with a farm vehicle includes a frame, a tilling element attached to the frame, a bearing assembly configured to allow the tilling element to rotate relative to the frame. The bearing assembly can include a first race, a second race spaced apart from the first race to define a gap therebetween, a bearing rotatably disposed within the gap to allow relative movement between the first race and the second race, a seal including a flexible protrusion having a distal end that presses against the first race to seal off the gap, and a stop positioned adjacent to the flexible protrusion configured to prevent the distal end of the protrusion from bending towards the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Smith, Thomas Steffan, Shawn Gerdeman
  • Publication number: 20170049038
    Abstract: A farm implement for tilling soil includes a frame having a transverse axis. The farm implement further includes at least one first ground engaging tool coupled to the frame and having a first tool axis oriented within a range of from parallel to the transverse axis to about 30 degrees of the transverse axis and at least one first finishing tool coupled to the frame adjacent to the first ground engaging tool, and having an axis generally aligned with or substantially parallel to the first tool axis. The at least one first finishing tool is configured to control a ground working depth of the at least one first ground engaging tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hilvers, David R. SMITH, Thomas STEFFAN, Shawn W. GERDEMAN
  • Patent number: 9554500
    Abstract: The present application discloses an improvement to hydraulically operated wing lift wheels used in tillage equipment. According to embodiments of the present invention, a hydraulic lockout mechanism is provided that uses gravity to rotate a weighted latch into a position that prevents full retraction of a hydraulic cylinder when in a certain orientation. When in other orientations, the weighted latch is in a position that allows the hydraulic cylinder to fully retract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: David Smith, Thomas Steffan
  • Patent number: 9517886
    Abstract: A belt includes one or more devices that prevent roll-back of material being conveyed by the belt wherein the one or more devices are formed as a pattern on the belt. The pattern includes one of the one or more devices being offset from at least another of the one or more devices. The pattern is at distance from another pattern of the one or more devices formed on the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian James Petersen, Shawn W. Gerdeman
  • Publication number: 20160355221
    Abstract: A mobile farm implement includes a track assembly with a plurality of arms that are pivotally coupled to support idler wheels and bogie wheels such that the track assembly is able to better conform to the terrain when the implement is towed behind a tractor or otherwise moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. VAN MILL, Christopher M. SELF, John Walvatne
  • Patent number: 9487990
    Abstract: A door control system for a farm implement with a storage bin having a discharge opening and a door movable by a drive mechanism between open and dosed positions relative to the discharge opening includes a dual position door control system. The system may include an arm pivotally connected at one end to the storage bin such that the arm is rotatable between at least a first operating position and a second operating position and a controller connected to the arm and to the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Van Mill, Ronald J. Schlimgen
  • Publication number: 20160297628
    Abstract: A seed carrier includes a frame and a main hopper mounted to the frame. The seed carrier also includes a support arm extending upwardly in relation to the frame, the support arm having a first end and a second end. The seed conveyor also includes a conveyor coupled to the support arm, the conveyor having an intake end and a discharge end and being pivotable relative to the support arm between a self-loading position and an unloading position. The conveyor also includes a main conveyor having a lower end and an upper end and an intake conveyor pivotally connected to the lower end of the main conveyor. The conveyor also includes a lift-assist assembly coupled between the main conveyor and the intake conveyor, the lift-assist assembly applying a force with an upward component to the intake conveyor at a position spaced from the pivot, whereby the weight of the intake conveyor is counterbalanced so as to render the intake conveyor manually pivotable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Brian James PETERSEN