Patents by Inventor Bryan S. Claerhout

Bryan S. Claerhout 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).

  • Patent number: 9668425
    Abstract: A combine harvester including a frame, threshing apparatus, a grain cleaning system, and, a feederhouse pivotally mounted to the frame on a transverse lift axis. The feederhouse includes a conveyor for conveying cut crop material from a fore opening to an aft opening. The feederhouse is configured to support a cutting header at its forward end. The grain cleaning system includes a transverse cross-flow fan having a debris screen protecting an air inlet channel. The debris screen includes a plurality of elongate transverse screen elements each being mounted to the frame so as to provide a degree of vertical movement freedom with respect to the frame. At least one elastic member is connected between the underside of the feederhouse and the frame and connects the plurality of screen elements. At least one elastic member is stretched as the feederhouse is raised and the vertical spacing between the plurality of screen elements increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20160157432
    Abstract: A combine harvester including a frame, threshing apparatus, a grain cleaning system, and, a feederhouse pivotally mounted to the frame on a transverse lift axis. The feederhouse includes a conveyor for conveying cut crop material from a fore opening to an aft opening. The feederhouse is configured to support a cutting header at its forward end. The grain cleaning system includes a transverse cross-flow fan having a debris screen protecting an air inlet channel. The debris screen includes a plurality of elongate transverse screen elements each being mounted to the frame so as to provide a degree of vertical movement freedom with respect to the frame. At least one elastic member is connected between the underside of the feederhouse and the frame and connects the plurality of screen elements. At least one elastic member is stretched as the feederhouse is raised and the vertical spacing between the plurality of screen elements increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20150140897
    Abstract: A package and system for holding and transporting small living beings, particularly, insects such as honeybees and the like, configurable in a robust, sturdy three-dimensional shape for handling and transport by mail and commercial carriers, which prevents stinging from within the package, allows escape of smaller accompanying insects such as hive beetles, is interlocking with others of the packages and strong enough to support other packages and items thereon; that provides for air flow through and about the package for heat dissipation for proper honeybee environment; that accommodates food and separately carrying a queen bee; and that can be easily and quickly broken down into a non-operational, generally flat configuration for initial sale, transport, and storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Charles Linder, Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20140274234
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a combine harvester comprising a chassis; and a grain storage bin coupled to the chassis, the bin comprising a single-walled, plastic storage container for the storage of crop material processed by the combine harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven R. Tippery, Bryan S. Claerhout, Eric M. Biggs, Eric Richard Michels, Eric M. Reichenberger, Joseph Mark Biggerstaff, Anthony D. Ward, Leonardo H. Ungaretti, Craig C. May
  • Publication number: 20140274235
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming a grain storage bin for a combine harvester, the method comprising forming, in a plastic molding process, plural double-walled plastic panels of the grain storage bin; and coupling the plural double-walled plastic panels in an interlocking arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20140274233
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a combine harvester comprising a chassis; and a double-walled, plastic grain storage bin coupled to the chassis, the bin configured to store crop material processed by the combine harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Richard Michels, Bryan S. Claerhout, Steven R. Tippery, Eric M. Biggs, Eric M. Reichenberger, Craig C. May
  • Publication number: 20140274237
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a combine harvester comprising a chassis; and a double-walled, plastic grain storage bin coupled to the chassis, the bin comprising an integrated support structure disposed on an interior surface of the bin that contacts crop material processed by the combine harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven R. Tippery, Bryan S. Claerhout, Eric M. Reichenberger, Eric Richard Michels, Eric M. Biggs, Craig C. May
  • Publication number: 20140128133
    Abstract: An adjustable chaffer assembly is operable to be mounted in a chaffer housing of a harvester. The adjustable chaffer assembly includes forward and aft chaffer sections. The forward chaffer section includes a forward frame assembly and adjustable forward louvers shiftably mounted on the forward frame assembly. The aft chaffer section includes an aft frame assembly and adjustable aft louvers shiftably mounted on the aft frame assembly. The aft chaffer section is shiftably mounted relative to the forward chaffer section and is shiftable between a parallel condition where the frame assemblies are substantially parallel with each other and an oblique condition where the frame assemblies define an oblique angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20130167955
    Abstract: A duct may be disclosed. The duct may comprise a first wall and a second wall. The first wall and the second wall in combination may define a passage, an inlet, and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet may be in fluid communication with the passage. The second wall may define at least one opening in fluid communication with the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20130170942
    Abstract: A fan may be provided. The fan may comprise a first plurality of vanes and a second plurality of vanes. The first plurality of vanes may be arranged substantially parallel to an axis of rotation and positioned along a first arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation. Vanes in the first plurality of vanes may be being positioned at a first angle relative to the first arc. The second plurality of vanes may be arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and positioned along a second arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation. Vanes in the second plurality of vanes may be positioned at a second angle relative to the second arc. The first angle may be different than the second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20130165192
    Abstract: A combine harvester has a threshing mechanism with a rotor and a plurality of concaves for threshing grain and cleaning apparatus for removing chaff from the threshed grain. The cleaning apparatus includes a rotor pan arranged below the concaves and a sieve arranged below the rotor pan. A fan is arranged to blow air into an inlet. A duct has a wall defining a passage in fluid communication with the inlet, a first exhaust and a second exhaust in fluid communication with the passage. The first exhaust is arranged to direct a first portion of airflow on the sieve and then up toward the underside of the rotor pan. The second exhaust is located above the rotor pan and arranged to direct a second portion of airflow between the top of the rotor pan and an underside of the concaves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Kopriva, Robert A. Matousek, Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20110151951
    Abstract: A combine harvester where opposing concaves on either side of a rotor of a processing system substantially simultaneously travel symmetrical paths. The concaves of the processing system may be pivotally supported on a rockshaft where the axis of the rockshaft moves in a generally vertical manner so that the concaves then move generally radially toward or away from the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bernard D. Regier, Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Publication number: 20100267433
    Abstract: The concave adjust assembly uses a torsion axle connecting a drive to a concave. The torsion axle includes an inner element having an angular sectional shape, a tubular outer element disposed about the inner element and having a larger angular sectional shape oriented such that corners of the tubular element are disposed opposite flats of the inner element, the elements being laterally relatively rotatable, and damping elements disposed between the inner and outer elements such that the rotation will compressively load the damping elements. The drive includes a motor, such that operation of the motor will adjustably move the concave, and the damping elements will damp impulse loads generated from threshing, to reduce transmission of the loads to the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Wayne T. Flickinger, Nathan E. Isaac, Robert A. Matousek, Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Patent number: 7803040
    Abstract: The concave adjust assembly uses a torsion axle connecting a drive to a concave. The torsion axle includes an inner element having an angular sectional shape, a tubular outer element disposed about the inner element and having a larger angular sectional shape oriented such that corners of the tubular element are disposed opposite flats of the inner element, the elements being laterally relatively rotatable, and damping elements disposed between the inner and outer elements such that the rotation will compressively load the damping elements. The drive includes a motor, such that operation of the motor will adjustably move the concave, and the damping elements will damp impulse loads generated from threshing, to reduce transmission of the loads to the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Wayne T. Flickinger, Nathan E. Isaac, Robert A. Matousek, Bryan S. Claerhout
  • Patent number: 7585213
    Abstract: An auger trough and associated clean-out door construction of a clean grain and tailings conveying system for an agricultural combine, such construction including a pair of spaced, depending auger trough side walls that extend laterally across a combine between opposed sidesheets, with a removable door panel positionable across the combine between the opposed sidesheets and between said auger trough side walls to form an auger trough base, which door panel is configured to be so engageable with the auger trough side walls to substantially close the bottom of the auger trough and whose opposite ends are configured to be complementarily engageable with engagement features associated with the sidesheets to maintain such door panel in place during harvesting operations and, with such auger trough side walls, to define a generally rigid trough between the opposed sidesheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Claerhout, Robert A. Matousek
  • Publication number: 20090186674
    Abstract: An auger trough and associated clean-out door construction of a clean grain and tailings conveying system for an agricultural combine, such construction including a pair of spaced, depending auger trough side walls that extend laterally across a combine between opposed sidesheets, with a removable door panel positionable across the combine between the opposed sidesheets and between said auger trough side walls to form an auger trough base, which door panel is configured to be so engageable with the auger trough side walls to substantially close the bottom of the auger trough and whose opposite ends are configured to be complementarily engageable with engagement features associated with the sidesheets to maintain such door panel in place during harvesting operations and, with such auger trough side walls, to define a generally rigid trough between the opposed sidesheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Bryan S. Claerhout, Robert A. Matousek
  • Publication number: 20090061968
    Abstract: A sieve retainer for an agricultural combine which is more accessible, particularly from the rear of the combine, which provides improved access to, and removal and replacement of the sieve and prevents loss of sieve retaining hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Bryan S. Claerhout, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 7497775
    Abstract: A sieve retainer for an agricultural combine which is more accessible, particularly from the rear of the combine, which provides improved access to, and removal and replacement of the sieve and prevents loss of sieve retaining hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Bryan S. Claerhout, Robert A. Matousek
  • Patent number: 6979262
    Abstract: Locking apparatus adapted for releasably holding a first member, which can be, for instance, a relatively heavy member or device such as a crop residue spreader, in one or more predetermined positions relative to a second member, which can be, for instance, a fixed structure of an agricultural combine, which apparatus when locked and actuated or moved into an unlocking mode will automatically unlock when any forces urging the apparatus to remain in the locked condition are overcome or removed or are otherwise absent, and which when actuated or moved into a locking mode, will automatically lock the members together when in or moved to one of the predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Randall A. Maro, Bryan S. Claerhout