Patents Examined by Mai Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8806845
    Abstract: A mowing finger arrangement and mowing bar for finger bar mowers of a harvester, as well as a method for manufacturing mowing fingers has an upper and lower element connected together to form at least one mowing finger. The mowing finger arrangement serves to guide a mowing sickle and forms counter cutting edges for the sickle blades arranged on the mowing sickle. An abutment on the upper element delimits upward movement of the mowing sickle when a downward force is exerted on the face end of the sickle blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Gebr. Schumacher Geratebaugesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Gustav Schumacher, Friedrich-Wilhelm Schumacher
  • Patent number: 8776489
    Abstract: A quick-change mowing blade arrangement is provided. The mowing blade has a shaped feature and a hole which maintain a certain spacing X from one another. For installation, the mowing blade is held, by means of the hole, pivotally on a head of a peg. If the head) undergoes an impermissible amount of wear, the shaped feature is no longer hidden by a cover of the mowing cutter disc, but becomes visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Heinrich Tepe
  • Patent number: 8740679
    Abstract: A combine harvester unloading system is provided in which an unloading auger (20) is swingable between a stowed position and an unloading position around an upright pivot axis disposed at one end of the auger. A pivotally mounted auger support cradle (26) is moveable between a reception position to engage the underside of the auger when transitioning into the stowed position and a supporting position under the auger when in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Laverda SpA
    Inventor: Brian Jay Hollatz
  • Patent number: 8720171
    Abstract: A helical-acting snap roll for a harvesting header having straight flutes which are free of a formed twist. The snap roll includes a plurality of elongated straight flutes that extend substantially the entire length of the snap roll but that are parallel misaligned with a central axis of rotation of the snap roll. A pair of opposing and counter-rotating snap rolls of the present invention chops and pulls crop stalks passing therebetween downward toward the ground while also creating a helical action such that the crop stalks are conveyed rearward. In one embodiment, at least a pair of straight portions acting as flutes are partially parallel aligned with one another along the length and one side of each snap roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Lohrentz, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 8720172
    Abstract: A helical-acting snap roll for a harvesting header having straight flutes which are free of a formed twist. The snap roll includes elongated straight flutes that extend substantially the entire length of the snap roll but that are parallel misaligned with a central axis of rotation of the snap roll. A pair of opposing and counter-rotating snap rolls of the present invention chops and pulls crop stalks passing therebetween downward toward the ground while also creating a helical action such that the crop stalks are conveyed rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Lohrentz, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 8701378
    Abstract: A mobile rake device for displacing mown crop has a frame with a rake tool assembly that has a path-shaped working range and includes two rake tools with rake tines. In an operative position, the rake tools are arranged behind each other in a staggered manner in the direction of travel to provide two path parallel sections to achieve the path-shaped working range. The rake tools displace the mown crop located in the path section to one side in a flow of crop in order to form ultimately one final windrow. The rake tool assembly has an auxiliary displacing tool, that is arranged to throw the crop, which has been collected by the first rake tool in a flow of crop or in the form of a windrow, a pre-windrow, across the front of the next rake tool towards the final windrow to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Forage Innovations B.V.
    Inventors: Martin Arnold, Marc Rinkel
  • Patent number: 8677724
    Abstract: A method of converting a conventional round baler to a round baler with an accumulator chamber is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark M Chaney, Stephen Michael Patton
  • Patent number: 8650846
    Abstract: A machine is provided for harvesting stalk-like plants. The machine has at least one mowing and pick-up mechanism that comprises a cutting mechanism that can be set into a rotational movement for cutting plant stalks, and a feed mechanism arranged above the cutting mechanism for taking in and discharging the cut plant stalks. The cutting mechanism is drivably connected to an electric motor allocated to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Richard Wuebbels
  • Patent number: 8646250
    Abstract: First and second snap rolls corresponding with a pair of forward-extending row units of a harvesting header wherein the snap rolls oppose one another on opposite sides of a crop passage and are operated at different speeds relative to one another. In one embodiment one of the snap rolls is a powered snap roll and the other is an idler roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Lohrentz, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 8640434
    Abstract: A removable divider for a row unit of an agricultural header. The divider is configured to be detachably retained by mounting portions of a frame of the row unit. The divider is retained by the mounting portions of the frame when the divider is in a first position relative the row unit for harvesting crop and is removable from the mounting portions when the divider is in a second position relative the row unit. Outward and parallel extending portions abut the frame of the row unit when the divider is in the first position but then allow the divider to be removed from the row unit when the divider is moved into the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Lohrentz, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 8635841
    Abstract: To reduce the complexity, maintenance, and cost and increase reliability of a riding lawnmower employing a center rear discharge deck, the riding lawn mowers may be configured with a cutter engagement system which allows for a cutting system to be engaged and disengaged by a user without a motor clutching system. A riding lawn mower may comprise a center rear discharge deck having a single sided belt and a cutter engagement system. The cutter engagement system may be configured to interface with the belt to provide power and opposing rotation movement through one or more cutter engagements and/or gear boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Husqvarna Consumer Outdoor Products, N.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Jake Fiser, Seth Chapman
  • Patent number: 8621835
    Abstract: A corn head includes a frame, an auger, and a finger. The frame includes a feeder house opening and a trough located in front of the feeder house opening. The auger is rotatably mounted in the trough and includes flighting for directing material into the feeder house opening. The finger is attached to the auger and extends radially outward from the auger. The finger is flexible and rotates along with the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Dragotec USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis Bollig
  • Patent number: 8621769
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various aspects of an improved snow or material pushers for use with loaders, backhoes, agricultural and larger home and garden tractors and the like for moving snow or other materials on generally flat areas such as parking lots, driveways, feed lots, runways, and loading areas. The improvements include, among others, a reversible design, extended side plates and/or wear shoes as well as improved scraping edge configurations so as to provide added functionality and versatility to pushers. As described the various features may be employed alone or in combination to provide the capability for snow and ice removal while minimizing the potential for damage to surfaces and objects thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Pro-Tech Manufacturing and Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Weagley, Michael J. Guggino, James Maier
  • Patent number: 8622791
    Abstract: A cleaning shoe (102) for an agricultural combine comprises a cleaning shoe frame (200); a first plurality of hangers (104) supporting the cleaning shoe frame (200) on the body; a sieve (212) disposed within the cleaning shoe frame (200); two rods (216, 218) supported on the cleaning shoe frame (200), wherein each rod is constrained to pivot about a fore-and-aft axis with respect to the cleaning shoe frame (200); and a second plurality of hangers (214) supported on the rods and coupled to the sieve (212) to support the sieve (212) and constrain the sieve (212) to reciprocate in a lateral direction with respect to the cleaning shoe frame (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jared A Puvak, Wesley Brands
  • Patent number: 8615978
    Abstract: Sugar cane stalks are conveyed along a path passing between upper and lower chopper drums equipped with chopper blades extending lengthwise of the drums and located so that blades of one drum intermesh with those of the other so as to cut the cane stalks into billets. The cutting diameter of the blades of the upper chopper drum is greater than that of the blades carried by the lower blade resulting in the peripheral speed of the upper chopper drum being greater than that of the lower chopper drum. The cutting edge of each of the blades is defined at one side by a compound bevel with the blades being disposed on the drums so that they overlap and mesh bevel-to-bevel. The compound bevels are chosen so as to both satisfy the requirement that the blades be self-sharpening and have close to a zero timing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
  • Patent number: 8601778
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a harvesting header includes a helper roll having an auger flighting configured to move crop material laterally inward. The auger flighting may be outboard of a crop receiving area. The helper roll may be placed rearward of a cutter mechanism and forward of a conditioning roll of the header. The axis of rotation of the helper roll may be positioned slightly above a cutting plane of a cutting bed so that the auger flighting extends vertically past the cutting plane. In an example embodiment, at least a portion of the auger flights are positioning outboard of a conditioning roll of the header. The helper roll may be supported within the cutting zone and comprised of a plurality of sub-helper rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Pruitt, Brendon Nafziger
  • Patent number: 8578688
    Abstract: A harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants. The harvester includes a chassis, at least one ground contacting propulsion device connected to the chassis, and a basecutter assembly. The basecutter assembly is coupled to the chassis. The basecutter assembly includes a plurality of cutting knives and a pair of counter rotating plates. The pair of counter rotating plates include a first plate and a second plate, each of which have at least one of the plurality of cutting knives attached thereto. The first plate rotates about a first axis. The first plate has at least one portion thereof that extends in a radial direction such that the portion would interfere with the knife of the second plate except that the first plate is offset in a direction parallel to said first axis relative to said knife of said second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
  • Patent number: 8567169
    Abstract: An agricultural bale accumulator includes a load bed, a bale transfer module, and a bale discharge module. The load bed includes center, right and left load beds, adapted to receive and accumulate thereon first, second and third bales, respectively, from a bale chamber of an agricultural baler along a bale-receiving axis. The bale transfer module alternately transfers the bales across the load bed from the center load bed to the right load bed or the left load bed along a bale transfer axis, transverse to the bale receiving axis, responsive to a bale transfer signal to accumulate the bales on the center, right, and the left load beds in a side-by-side relationship. The bale discharge module moves between a bale accumulating position and a bale discharging position responsive to a bale discharge signal. The bale discharge module moves to the bale accumulating position to accumulate the bales on the load bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventors: Phillip G. Spaniol, Stephen J. Spaniol, Kevin D. Kaschke
  • Patent number: 8567168
    Abstract: Crop header with lateral fingers and hood articulated which particular structure facilitates time reduction during the task of inspection of the transport commands or auger activations of the crop header thereby contributing to the rotation or turn of aforementioned lateral fingers, enabling an easy access to the commands or auger activations. In the machine the lateral fingers (A) and hood (8) are arranged in an articulated form in relation to the piece that contains the transport auger, and preferably, lateral fingers (A) and hood (8) articulate in a way that their longitudinal axles (A1) are displaced on a substantial horizontal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventor: José Luis Allochis
  • Patent number: 8560182
    Abstract: An adjustable height implement system for an agricultural vehicle. A harvesting implement has an adjustable height. A control system is operably connected in a first operating mode to the harvesting implement to adjust the height of the harvesting implement with respect to the ground. The control system is operably connected in a second operating mode to the harvesting implement to maintain at least a predetermined distance between the harvesting implement and the ground. The second operating mode is engaged in response to the agricultural vehicle satisfying at least one predetermined vehicle operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Justin Ringwald, Frank Dupire, James Keppers