Patents by Inventor Barry D. Batcheller
Barry D. Batcheller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11054292Abstract: A dry-particulate monitoring system for a machine that distributes dry-particulate to the ground by metering product into a flowing airstream. The airstream is diverted into several tubes mounted on booms covering some horizontal distance. At the end of each tube is a deflector designed to direct the flow of material to a desired location with a particular coverage. An acoustic-based sensor of the preferred embodiment is placed on each deflector to detect material flowing through each tube or pipe or against the deflector. The information that is gathered from the sensors is sent to the dry-particulate spreader operator, who is able to view the real time operation of the dry-particulate flow. The system may be capable of detecting presence or absence of flow (i.e., blockage), or may detect variance of flow in individual pipes over time, or variances of flow between different pipes.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLCInventors: Joseph A. Heilman, Robert J. Volesky, Robert M. Allen, Barry D. Batcheller, Joel J. Kern
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Patent number: 10821460Abstract: An innovative spraying system, comprising features such as a weather station that senses environmental factors that may affect spraying operations, a system for creating and distributing droplets of a uniform and appropriate size, a flow management system that would allow the sprayer to control nozzle rate and direction individually, a high-rate flow system capable of filling the sprayer at rates of up to at least 400 gallons per minute, a modular chemical cartridge system, in which various chemicals are stored in pre-loaded, easy to install cartridges, a direct injection system, mixing chemicals and water as needed, optionally based on sensed changing conditions, electrostatic application of chemical to optimize the amount of chemical applied to plant matter.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2016Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLCInventors: David C. Batcheller, Barry D. Batcheller, Marshall T. Bremer, Bradley R. Thurow, Nicholas L. Butts, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Paul A. Nystuen, Joseph A. Heilman, Robert J. Volesky, Jonathan L. Tolstedt
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Publication number: 20200122174Abstract: An intelligent spray nozzle, comprising an input pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a flow modulator, a nozzle pressure sensor, a linear actuator, and an output orifice modulator, wherein an input pressure read from the input pressure sensor and a flow rate read from the flow rate sensor are used as inputs by the flow modulator to drive the at least one linear actuator to control an output spray rate from the intelligent spray nozzle, and wherein a nozzle pressure read from the nozzle pressure sensor is used as feedback for the output orifice modulator, wherein an output orifice is modified by the output orifice modulator to achieve optimal output spray.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Bradley R. Thurow, Paul A. Nystuen, Barry D. Batcheller
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Patent number: 10607424Abstract: A structural health monitoring system comprising intelligent sensors and serial communications devices interconnecting the sensors, data acquisition units and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The intelligent sensors are individually programmable and can be tuned to listen to specific frequencies based on a scaling factor based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, a set of pre-known frequencies based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, and the output of a central frequency-based system sensor. An aircraft flight control application of a method embodying the present invention includes anomaly detection based on comparing one or more preprogrammed flight plan regimen variables with actual aircraft performance parameters, and taking appropriate corrective action.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Johan A. Wiig
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Patent number: 10518284Abstract: An intelligent spray nozzle, comprising an input pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a flow modulator, a nozzle pressure sensor, a linear actuator, and an output orifice modulator, wherein an input pressure read from the input pressure sensor and a flow rate read from the flow rate sensor are used as inputs by the flow modulator to drive the at least one linear actuator to control an output spray rate from the intelligent spray nozzle, and wherein a nozzle pressure read from the nozzle pressure sensor is used as feedback for the output orifice modulator, wherein an output orifice is modified by the output orifice modulator to achieve optimal output spray.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLCInventors: Bradley R. Thurow, Paul A. Nystuen, Barry D. Batcheller
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Publication number: 20190204130Abstract: A dry-particulate monitoring system for a machine that distributes dry-particulate to the ground by metering product into a flowing airstream. The airstream is diverted into several tubes mounted on booms covering some horizontal distance. At the end of each tube is a deflector designed to direct the flow of material to a desired location with a particular coverage. An acoustic-based sensor of the preferred embodiment is placed on each deflector to detect material flowing through each tube or pipe or against the deflector. The information that is gathered from the sensors is sent to the dry-particulate spreader operator, who is able to view the real time operation of the dry-particulate flow. The system may be capable of detecting presence or absence of flow (i.e., blockage), or may detect variance of flow in individual pipes over time, or variances of flow between different pipes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Joseph A. Heilman, Robert J. Volesky, Robert M. Allen, Barry D. Batcheller, Joel J. Kern
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Patent number: 10321624Abstract: A manifold system for balancing particle delivery from multiple discharge outlets includes a diverter subassembly movably mounted in a manifold for balancing discharge from the outlets. The manifold system is disclosed in an agricultural air seeder application, with the particles comprising tubes and the discharge outlets being connected to ground-engaging tools for depositing seeds in space, subsurface locations in a crop field. Automated and manually-adjustable embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Intelligent Agriculture Solutions LLCInventors: Adam A. Reich, Joshua N. Gelinske, Barry D. Batcheller
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Patent number: 10318138Abstract: A harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment, comprising a plurality of acoustic material flow sensors, a control system, a processor, and application software, wherein the plurality of acoustic material flow sensors are mounted internal to the harvesting machine at points of crop material flow and are capable of sensing an amount of crop material passing by them. The control system operates in a cause-and-affect mode for interactively enabling manual or automatic responses to Mass Material Distribution (MMD) information and equipment-related performance parameters. An interactive combine control method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: INTELLIGENT AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS LLCInventors: Flemming Schøler, Barry D. Batcheller, Marshall T. Bremer, Nicholas L. Butts, Paul A. Nystuen, Adam A. Reich, Bradley K. Schleusner, Bradley R. Thurow
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Publication number: 20180111148Abstract: An innovative spraying system, comprising features such as a weather station that senses environmental factors that may affect spraying operations, a system for creating and distributing droplets of a uniform and appropriate size, a flow management system that would allow the sprayer to control nozzle rate and direction individually, a high-rate flow system capable of filling the sprayer at rates of up to at least 400 gallons per minute, a modular chemical cartridge system, in which various chemicals are stored in pre-loaded, easy to install cartridges, a direct injection system, mixing chemicals and water as needed, optionally based on sensed changing conditions, electrostatic application of chemical to optimize the amount of chemical applied to plant matter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: David C. Batcheller, Barry D. Batcheller, Marshall T. Bremer, Bradley R. Thurow, Nicholas L. Butts, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Paul A. Nystuen, Joseph A. Heilman, Robert J. Volesky, Jonathan L. Tolstedt
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Patent number: 9924629Abstract: An agricultural planting system and method comprising a soil sampling and analysis means, wherein soil samples are taken and analyzed in real-time during a planting operation (or, optionally, via a separate, prior operation) to determine the conditions and nutrient content of the soil, and a planting system, wherein the planting system is capable of planting seeds in any arbitrary position on an X-Y plane directly beneath the planting system, whereby the data gathered from the analyzed soil samples are used to determine the optimal placement of seeds or plants in a field in order to take advantage of the soil conditions present and to optimize crop yield.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Joseph A. Heilman, David C. Batcheller, Robert V. Weinmann, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Paul D. Johnson, Paul A. Nystuen
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Publication number: 20180047225Abstract: A structural health monitoring system comprising intelligent sensors and serial communications devices interconnecting the sensors, data acquisition units and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The intelligent sensors are individually programmable and can be tuned to listen to specific frequencies based on a scaling factor based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, a set of pre-known frequencies based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, and the output of a central frequency-based system sensor. An aircraft flight control application of a method embodying the present invention includes anomaly detection based on comparing one or more preprogrammed flight plan regimen variables with actual aircraft performance parameters, and taking appropriate corrective action.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Johan A. Wiig
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Patent number: 9797801Abstract: A structural health monitoring system comprising intelligent sensors, wherein the intelligent sensors are individually programmable and can be tuned to listen to specific frequencies based on a scaling factor based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, a set of pre-known frequencies based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, and the output of a central frequency-based system sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Johan A. Wiig
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Publication number: 20170235471Abstract: A harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment, comprising a plurality of acoustic material flow sensors, a control system, a processor, and application software, wherein the plurality of acoustic material flow sensors are mounted internal to the harvesting machine at points of crop material flow and are capable of sensing an amount of crop material passing by them. The control system operates in a cause-and-affect mode for interactively enabling manual or automatic responses to Mass Material Distribution (MMD) information and equipment-related performance parameters. An interactive combine control method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Flemming Schøler, Barry D. Batcheller, Marshall T. Bremer, Nicholas L. Butts, Paul A. Nystuen, Adam A. Reich, Bradley K. Schleusner, Bradley R. Thurow
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Patent number: 9702966Abstract: A synthetic underwater visualization system (SUVS) comprising a real-time graphics software engine, a sophisticated underwater environmental sensor, a fixed-base database, and a retrieval system designed to accept and assimilate into a common database bathymetric and environmental information acquired from around the world by components of other deployed SUVS sensing systems. SUVS is capable of sensing, modeling, and realistically displaying underwater environments in real-time, and will foster widespread utilization in the areas of homeland security, commercial and recreational maritime navigation, bathymetric data collection, and environmental analysis. The technology will also be readily adaptable and highly desirable in non-marine applications.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Derek B. Aslakson
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Publication number: 20170156258Abstract: A manifold system for balancing particle delivery from multiple discharge outlets includes a diverter subassembly movably mounted in a manifold for balancing discharge from the outlets. The manifold system is disclosed in an agricultural air seeder application, with the particles comprising tubes and the discharge outlets being connected to ground-engaging tools for depositing seeds in space, subsurface locations in a crop field. Automated and manually-adjustable embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicant: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLCInventors: Adam A. Reich, Joshua N. Gelinske, Barry D. Batcheller
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Patent number: 9631964Abstract: A material flow sensor for a harvesting machine comprising an acoustic chamber comprising an impact plate and a housing, microphone, a pneumatic impulse line connecting the housing and the microphone, and an electronics module, wherein the housing is shaped so as to direct sound waves created by crop matter striking the impact plate into the pneumatic impulse line, wherein the sound waves move through the pneumatic impulse line into the microphone, which detects the sound waves and converts them into an electrical signal that is a representation of the sound power derived from the sound waves, which in turn is a representation of the mass of the crop matter striking the material flow sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLCInventors: Joshua N. Gelinske, Barry D. Batcheller, Paul A. Nystuen, Adam A. Reich, Bradley R. Thurow, Bradley K. Schleusner
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Patent number: 9629308Abstract: A harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment, comprising a plurality of acoustic material flow sensors, a control system, a processor, and application software, wherein the plurality of acoustic material flow sensors are mounted internal to the harvesting machine at points of crop material flow and are capable of sensing an amount of crop material passing by them, wherein the control system is capable of adjusting a plurality of internal elements of the harvesting machine, wherein the software is hosted on the processor, and the processor is operatively coupled to the control system and the acoustic material flow sensors, wherein the software uses information sensed by the acoustic material flow sensors to determine if the internal elements of the harvesting machine are set for optimal machine performance, and the software sends commands to the internal elements of the harvesting machine in order to improve the machine performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLCInventors: Flemming Schøler, Barry D. Batcheller, Marshall T. Bremer, Nicholas L. Butts, Paul A. Nystuen, Adam A. Reich, Bradley K. Schleusner, Bradley R Thurow
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Publication number: 20170036228Abstract: An intelligent spray nozzle, comprising an input pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, a flow modulator, a nozzle pressure sensor, a linear actuator, and an output orifice modulator, wherein an input pressure read from the input pressure sensor and a flow rate read from the flow rate sensor are used as inputs by the flow modulator to drive the at least one linear actuator to control an output spray rate from the intelligent spray nozzle, and wherein a nozzle pressure read from the nozzle pressure sensor is used as feedback for the output orifice modulator, wherein an output orifice is modified by the output orifice modulator to achieve optimal output spray.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Bradley R. Thurow, Paul A. Nystuen, Barry D. Batcheller
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Publication number: 20170034416Abstract: A wireless camera system for mobile operations, comprising a mobile device, a software application, and at least one camera module, the at least one camera module comprising an image capture device, a memory, and a communications link, wherein the at least one camera module is mounted on or near a vehicle, wherein the software application is executing on the mobile device, wherein images captured by the at least one camera module may be transmitted over the communications link to the mobile device, wherein the software application processes images received from the at least one camera module, and wherein the software application displays the processed images on the screen of the mobile device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Joseph A. Heilman, Barry D. Batcheller, Robert V. Weinmann, Jeffrey L. Johnson
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Patent number: 9474208Abstract: A system and method for determining material yield and/or loss from a harvesting machine using acoustic sensors and advanced signal processing capabilities is presented. The system consists of a sensor housing with an opening on one side of the sensor housing, a strike plate designed to fit into the opening, and an electronics module comprising a microphone and a signal processor designed to capture the sound waves created when material impacts on the strike plate, and convert them into an audio signal indicating the amount of material impacting the sensor at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Appareo Systems, LLCInventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Joshua N. Gelinske, Peder A. Nystuen, Adam A. Reich