Patents Examined by Jessica H Lutz
  • Patent number: 11466417
    Abstract: A snow plow having a lift actuator for a snow plow of a vehicle. The lift actuator including a lift actuator reservoir configured to accumulate compressible gas, which is operable to bias the lift actuator toward an extended position. A pneumatic valve may be operable to selectively control supply of compressible gas from a gas reservoir to the lift actuator reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Ricky A. Weihl
  • Patent number: 11466425
    Abstract: A land plane that may be moved over an agricultural field to smooth any irregularities in the surface of the field is pulled by a tow vehicle and has a blade assembly in a general diamond shape. The general diamond shape may be between 30 and 35 feet wide and 35 and 40 feet long. Thus, the land plane may have a sufficient length for drag and earth moving capability to economically and properly level a field, and a sufficient width to cover a substantially large area in single pass over the field. Further, the land plane may have foldable wing sections that enable the land plane to be transported over a typical state or county road or highway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Brian Alumbaugh
  • Patent number: 11466416
    Abstract: A snow plow having a wing that is rotatably coupled to a side of a primary plow, and configured to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the side of the primary plow. A portion of the wing is operable to rotate about a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis, where the portion is operable to rotate upward about the second axis relative to the ground in response to the wing encountering an obstruction. A snow plow having a receiver coupled to a surface of the primary plow and an actuator coupled to the receiver. The receiver allows the snow plow to move proximally and distally with respect to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Ricky A. Weihl
  • Patent number: 11459717
    Abstract: A snow plow blade assembly comprises a main blade, an extension blade extending laterally from the main blade; a slide member and a flat bar. An interface is present between the main blade and the extension blade, with the slide member and the flat bar installed at the interface. The slide member slidably cooperates with the flat bar to control or to minimize a gap between the main blade and the extension blade at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: 9091-4532 QUÉBEC INC.
    Inventors: Etienne Côté, Alexandre Côté
  • Patent number: 11459707
    Abstract: A dual ballast cribber for on-rail operation for preventing and removing cemented ballast with minimal site preparation can include a central frame, a plurality of wheels, a first pivot arm, a second pivot arm, a first cribber bucket, a second cribber bucket, a first clamp, a second clamp, and a hydraulic system. The dual ballast cribber may perform a digging cycle in 2 minutes or less. Preferably the digging cycle is performed in 45 seconds or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Soterran Group, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Rau
  • Patent number: 11453996
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for a circle member of a motor grader is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plurality of cover segments disposed adjacent to an inner circumference of the circle member. At least one of the plurality of cover segments defines a gap in association with a component disposed adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of cover segments. The sealing assembly also includes a sealing element removably disposed on the at least one of the plurality of cover segments and extending into the gap. The sealing element is adapted to sealingly engage each of the at least one of the plurality of cover segments and the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Kovalick, Nathaniel K. Harshman, Lankesh Mathur Shanmukappa, Bruce Raymond Vahling
  • Patent number: 11447927
    Abstract: A grading machine includes a machine body, a blade assembly, a circle supporting the blade assembly and including a plurality of teeth, a drawbar assembly connecting the circle to the machine body, and a cover plate coupled to a bottom portion of the drawbar assembly. The drawbar assembly includes a plurality of blocks, and the cover plate is configured to be coupled to the drawbar assembly via the plurality of blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel K. Harshman, Davida R. Reang, Benjamin J. Kovalick
  • Patent number: 11421397
    Abstract: A blade assembly is disclosed. The blade assembly may include a blade having a surface defined between an upper edge and a lower edge of the blade, the lower edge being associated with a cutting edge, and a wear plate attached to the blade. The wear plate may extend along the surface and terminate short of the lower edge. The wear plate may have a plurality of accumulation members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David Cox
  • Patent number: 11419254
    Abstract: A system for detecting the levelness of ground engaging tools of a tillage implement including an agricultural implement including a frame and tool assemblies supported relative to the frame. The tool assemblies each include a toolbar coupled to the frame and one or more ground engaging tools coupled to the toolbar. The system further includes sensors coupled to two of the tool assemblies and configured to capture data indicative of a load acting on the one or more ground engaging tools of the tool assemblies. Additionally, the system includes a controller configured to monitor the data received from the sensors and compare at least one monitored value associated with the load acting on the ground engaging tool(s) of each of the tool assemblies. Moreover, the controller is further configured to identify the ground engaging tool(s) are not level when the monitored value(s) differ by a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Barrick, James W. Henry, Robert Zemenchik
  • Patent number: 11408131
    Abstract: A rail-lifting and ballast-spreading apparatus that may be employed to rehabilitate damaged tracks or aid rough in of new tracks, is described. The apparatus includes a track-lifting unit at a forward end thereof that includes an arm that is pivotable to extend forwardly and over a section of track in need of repair or ballast replenishment. Rail clamps are provided on a distal end of the arm that engage and travel along the rails as the apparatus moves forward. A conveyor provides a stream of ballast across the width of the tracks while the tracks are lifted and as the apparatus moves forward onto the now repaired tracks. A surge bin is provided to increase a rate of distribution of the ballast material by the conveyor over that available from the ballast-delivery consist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Herzog Railroad Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob D. Herzog, Tony Shirk, Daniel T. Marshall, Steven R. Walton, Derek DeMott
  • Patent number: 11399453
    Abstract: An agricultural soil cultivation unit having at least two rows of soil working tools that are fastened to a tool carrying frame that is pivotably supported about a horizontal frame pivot axis at a machine frame supported by a chassis on the ground and liftable by a lifting apparatus into a headland position and/or transport position. It is therefore proposed in accordance with an aspect of the invention to change the working depth setting of the soil working tool rows relative to one another online in working operation to hereby be able to react to changing soil conditions in working operation and to be able to mutually compensate resulting side forces of the soil working tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: POTTINGER LANDTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Jorg Preimess, Friedrich Baldinger, Martin Kaltseis, Wilhelm Meindlhumer
  • Patent number: 11396739
    Abstract: A tooling system includes a dipper having a lip with a plurality of apertures, the apertures extending at least partially through the lip. The tooling system also includes a modular adapter configured to be inserted partially into one of the apertures along an axis of insertion. The adapter is configured to be releasably coupled to the lip. The adapter includes a first portion configured to extend into the aperture, and a second portion configured to extend out of the aperture. The tooling system also includes a locking system including a fastener configured to extend at least partially into the aperture and couple to the adapter to the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL SURFACE MINING INC
    Inventors: James R. Popp, Richard Nicoson
  • Patent number: 11391010
    Abstract: Bucket for an earth-working or materials-handling machine, which comprises a floor and a side wall, and at least one wear component that is removably attached to the floor and the side wall by means of at least one mechanical fastener. The floor and the side wall are disconnectably connected to each other via the at least one wear component so as to form a replaceable bucket corner edge along at least a part of the floor and the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SSAB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Brian Coulson
  • Patent number: 11375652
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for plough skimmers comprises a mounting rail adapted to be connected to the main frame of a plough and a skimmer support bracket adapted to surround parts of the mounting rail. The mounting rail and the skimmer support bracket are arranged such that the mounting rail and the skimmer support bracket are braced against each other in at least two directions when the plough skimmer is in use, wherein the at least two directions are oblique to a ploughing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Hertzog
  • Patent number: 11365522
    Abstract: A grading system for connection to a vehicle having vertically movable arms, the grading system including a grading blade assembly having a frame having a first pivot extending upward, a second pivot extending forward, a blade connected to the frame via the first pivot and the second pivot, a blade yaw actuator and a blade roll actuator, wherein the frame is configured to have the first pivot extend substantially vertically and the second pivot extend substantially longitudinally when the grading blade assembly is connected to the vehicle and the blade and vehicle are in a level position on a ground surface and the vertically movable arms of the vehicle are in a first raised position above a lowest most position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SC GRADE, LLC
    Inventor: Bo Jason Stocks
  • Patent number: 11359348
    Abstract: An excavation bucket with a chain adherent release device, wherein inside the bucket is two side chains positioned proximate the bucket sides, at least one inner chain spaced between the side chains, and at least one cross chain attached to the side chains and positioned between the front and back of the bucket and attached to the at least one inner chain, but not attached to the bottom of the bucket. The side chains, the at least one inner chain and the at least one cross chain form a grid. The side chains and at least one of the inner chain each have both back attachment points proximate the back of the bucket and front attachment points proximate the front of the bucket. The grid has sufficient length to lie untensioned on the bottom of the bucket when it is in the empty and upright position and has direct, uninterrupted and continuous contact with the bottom of the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Grace Abundantly LLC
    Inventor: Michael Justin Balderas
  • Patent number: 11357152
    Abstract: A wearing part arrangement (1) provided with a holder (11) providing releasable attachment of a wearing part (12) by means of a socket-and-pin type quick-fit coupling, wherein the holder (11) comprises a pair of opposing first guide portions (1132) being arranged to face corresponding supporting faces (1221) provided on the wearing part (12), and a pair of second guide portions (1134) arranged to face corresponding top faces (1223) of the wearing part (12), wherein one of the pair of the opposing first guide portions (1132) and the corresponding side supporting faces (1221) of the wearing part (12) is provided with at least one elevation (1222), and the other one of the pair of the opposing first guide portions (1132) and the corresponding side supporting faces (1221) is provided with a corresponding recess (1135) arranged for receipt of the elevation (1222) when the wearing part (12) is in engagement with the holder (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: KVERNELAND GROUP OPERATIONS NORWAY AS
    Inventors: Arnold Furre, Erlend Sølvberg, Øyvind Egeland
  • Patent number: 11350553
    Abstract: A grouser-cage attachment for equipment is an apparatus that imprints troughs into the soil, specifically troughs oriented perpendicular to a slope to hinder rainfall from running straight down the slope. The apparatus includes a main frame, a roller, and a grouser cage. The main frame connects the roller with a piece of equipment or large machinery such as a skid steer. The roller presses the grouser cage into the soil. The grouser cage further includes a cylindrical frame, a plurality of holes, and a plurality of cleats. The cylindrical frame supports and positions the plurality of cleats around the roller. The cylindrical frame freely rotates around and with the roller. The plurality of holes and the plurality of cleats imprints troughs into the soil. The plurality of holes also provides a smooth and continuous rotation for the grouser cage. The roller presses the plurality of cleats into the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Marlon Lane Curtis
  • Patent number: 11343956
    Abstract: A system for monitoring soil conditions within a field includes an agricultural implement including a frame and a ground-engaging tool coupled to the frame. The system further includes a first sensor coupled to the ground-engaging tool and configured to detect motion of the ground-engaging tool as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system additionally includes a second sensor separate from the first sensor. The second sensor is configured to detect an orientation of the ground-engaging tool relative to the frame as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a soil condition at a given location within the field based at least in part on the detected motion and the detected orientation of the ground-engaging tool at the given location within the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael G. Kovach, James W. Henry, Yong Deng
  • Patent number: 11337353
    Abstract: A link assembly (3) and system (203) including a first link portion (7, 207) and a second link portion (9, 209). The first link portion (7, 207) includes a bulbous end (13). The second link portion (9, 209 a socket (15). To link adjacent link assemblies (3) or the first link portion (7, 207) to the second link portion (9, 209), the bulbous end (13) is received in the socket (15). In one example, the link assembly (3) is part of an agricultural ground engaging chain (1) having harrow member portions (5). In other examples, the link assembly and system (203) are used to link first element (204) and second elements (206) to one another. This may be used to join or anchor vehicles, structures and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: IRON GRIP HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Charles Ainge, Seyed Ali Heydarshahy