Patents by Inventor Craig E. Murray

Craig E. Murray 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: 9763390
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes a chassis and a threshing system carried by the chassis. The threshing system includes a rotor, a frame assembly and at least one concave carried by the frame assembly. A latch mechanism supports and secures the concave relative to the frame assembly and includes a concave support bar, a clamping bar and a quick-connect, over center latch for tool-less operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Matway, Travis Ohms, Craig E. Murray
  • Patent number: 9699970
    Abstract: A combine side-shaking control system includes a sieve for separating crop material from other materials and a movable side-shaking mechanism coupled to the sieve and configured to move the sieve in a side-to-side motion. The control system also includes also includes first and second grain loss sensors configured to sense amounts of grain loss from separate portions of the sieve. The control system further includes a controller configured to: (i) receive a first grain loss value corresponding to the sensed first amount of grain loss and a second grain loss value corresponding to the sensed second amount of grain loss; and (ii) cause the side-shaking mechanism to control movement of the sieve in the side-to-side motion based on at least one of the received first grain loss value and the received second grain loss value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Orlin W. Johnson, Dale William Panoushek, Craig E. Murray
  • Publication number: 20170105351
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes a chassis and a threshing system carried by the chassis. The threshing system includes a rotor, a frame assembly and at least one concave carried by the frame assembly. A latch mechanism supports and secures the concave relative to the frame assembly and includes a concave support bar, a clamping bar and a quick-connect, over center latch for tool-less operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Matway, Travis Ohms, Craig E. Murray
  • Publication number: 20170055456
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis; a threshing and separating assembly carried by the chassis; and a cleaning system carried by the chassis and configured to receive crop material that has passed through the threshing and separating assembly. The cleaning system includes a pan configured to receive crop material from the threshing and separating assembly on a pan surface and to shake in a fore-to-aft direction; at least one sieve located below the pan and configured to shake in fore-to-aft and lateral directions, the sieve including a sieve surface configured to receive crop material from the pan; and at least one divider associated with and extending at least 3 centimeters above at least one of the pan surface and the sieve surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Craig E. Murray
  • Patent number: 9554518
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester with a flexible crop residue management system. A pivotal swath door and displaceable windrow chute are coordinated to be displaced between positions in which all of crop residue is spread laterally and another position in which straw in the crop residue is directed in a windrow by a windrow chute and the chaff is directed laterally. The windrow chute and swath door are each pivotally mounted and a linkage is provided between the windrow chute and swath door in the form of bars extending in between rollers to displace the windrow chute in coordination with the displacement of the swath door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Justin L. Montenguise, Nicholas S. Shane
  • Publication number: 20170020072
    Abstract: A cleaning system for an agricultural combine harvester includes a sieve having a periphery and an interference member located at the periphery. A chaffer frame carries the sieve, and includes a clamp with a pair of spring fingers positioned on either side of the interference member, thereby retaining the sieve within the chaffer frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Kevin S. Schwinn, Craig E. Murray, Orlin W. Johnson, Kai Zhao, Jishan Jin
  • Publication number: 20170020075
    Abstract: A sieve arrangement for an agricultural combine harvester includes a sieve frame for carrying a sieve, a side shaker arm, and a plurality of elongate structural members. The sieve frame includes a first side frame member and a second side frame member. The side shaker arm is connected with the first side frame member. Each structural member has a first end connected to the side shaker arm, and a second end connected with the second side frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Tyler L. Nelson, Craig E. Murray, Jishan Jin, Kai Zhao, Kevin S. Schwinn
  • Publication number: 20170020071
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly includes right and left frames interconnected by a cross member. The cross member has end castings securable to the right and left frame members. An elongated U-shaped sheet metal member extends between the castings. An elongated slot at each of the U-shaped sheet metal member terminates in a circular hole. The slot and circular hole accommodate variations in forming tolerances for the U-shaped sheet member and dissipate stresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Craig E. Murray, Orlin W. Johnson, Kai Zhao
  • Publication number: 20170020073
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a sieve. The sieve is driven in fore and aft oscillation while permitting side to side movement by a pair of cast members interconnected each having three mounting points. Two of the mounting points of the members are interconnected by flexible rubber bushings and the third mounting point of one of the members receives fore and aft oscillating movement and the third mounting point on the second of the members pivotally interconnects to the sieve to drive it into fore and aft oscillation while permitting side to side movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Tyler L. Nelson, Craig E. Murray, Curtis F. Hillen, Clay A. Reinecke, Kevin S. Schwinn
  • Publication number: 20170020074
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly is connected to mechanism for producing a side to side oscillation by a single cast structural link having an input through slotted openings to the drive mechanism to accommodate misalignment. The link has vertical and horizontal flanges connected to a main body for interconnection between the right and left frames and structural supports interconnecting the right and left frames. The main body of the link extends through a slot in a rubber wall to accommodate the movement and seal against loss of grain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Tyler L. Nelson, Craig E. Murray, Kevin S. Schwinn, Justin L. Montenguise, Jishan Jin, Kai Zhao
  • Patent number: 9526211
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting system including a chassis, an agricultural product moving device coupled to the chassis, an airflow system, a cleaning system and an airflow characterizing system. The cleaning system is configured to receive the agricultural product from the moving device. The cleaning system is configured to receive an airflow from the airflow system. The airflow characterizing system is at least partially positioned in the airflow, and is configured to measure an airflow profile across the cleaning system. The airflow characterizing system includes a plurality of sensors that determine airflow by measuring a thermal transfer from the sensors to the airflow. The airflow characterizing system being configured to maintain a substantially constant electrical resistance of the sensors as the airflow varies. The airflow characteristics are measured in the cleaning system and are used to improve the cleaning capacity of the harvesting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Tyler L. Nelson, Eric E. Veikle, Kevin S. Schwinn
  • Publication number: 20160316622
    Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a pair of spreader discs, at least one cover plate and a windrow chute. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. Each cover plate is positioned at a location above a respective spreader disc, and is operable to inhibit a flow of crop material to the respective spreader disc when positioned above the respective spreader disc. The windrow chute has an entrance end positioned below the pair of cover plates and above the pair of spreader discs, whereby crop material is discharged from the top of the cover plates into the windrow chute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley, Stefaan Desmet, Frederik Baes, Mark D. Dilts, Nathan E. Isaac, Craig E. Murray, Justin L. Montenguise, Stefaan Ballegeer, Nicholas S. Shane
  • Publication number: 20160316635
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a frame; a threshing and separating system carried by the frame; a cleaning system carried by the frame; a mounting surface carried by the frame; and a residue system including a chopper carried by the frame and supplied with crop material from the threshing and separating system and/or the cleaning system. The chopper includes a chopper frame mounted to the mounting surface and having at least one shaft opening formed through; a chopper shaft held in the at least one shaft opening that is configured to rotate and is carried by the frame independently of the chopper frame; at least one rotating knife carried by the chopper shaft; and at least one stationary knife held in the chopper frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Justin L. Montenguise, Nicholas S. Shane
  • Patent number: 9357703
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes: a base member; a residue assembly; a support member assembly being pivotally coupled with the base member and being connected to the residue assembly, the support member assembly supporting the residue assembly and being configured for moving the residue assembly relative to the base member between a residue assembly operating position and a residue assembly service position about a pivot axis substantially without raising an elevation of the residue assembly when the residue assembly is in the residue assembly service position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Justin L. Montenguise, Nicholas S. Shane
  • Publication number: 20160143224
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes: a base member; a leading edge coupled with the base member and configured for receiving a flow of a material; and an assembly coupled with the base member, the assembly including a device and at least one flexible wiper coupled with the device, the device being configured for rotating and thereby for rotating the at least one flexible wiper therewith, said at least one flexible wiper thereby being configured for cleaning the material from the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Justin Montenguise, Craig E. Murray, Nicholas Shane
  • Patent number: 9313950
    Abstract: A spreader system for discharging residue from an agricultural combine to a ground surface. The spreader system including at least one rotatable member positioned to encounter the residue and to disperse the residue when in a first orientation. The at least one rotatable member having a second orientation wherein the rotatable member is configured to contact the ground and to assist in providing support to the agricultural combine when in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig E. Murray, John J. Borsdorf
  • Publication number: 20160081270
    Abstract: A spreader system for discharging residue from an agricultural combine to a ground surface. The spreader system including at least one rotatable member positioned to encounter the residue and to disperse the residue when in a first orientation. The at least one rotatable member having a second orientation wherein the rotatable member is configured to contact the ground and to assist in providing support to the agricultural combine when in the second orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig E. Murray, John J. Borsdorf
  • Patent number: 9288944
    Abstract: A cleaning system for use in an agricultural harvester includes a sieve and an auger arrangement positioned below the sieve. The auger arrangement includes an auger, an end plate carrying the auger and having a curved slot positioned radially outside of the auger, a deformable seal associated with the curved slot, a trough having an inner side wall, and an elongate removable pull out which is slidable through the curved slot adjacent to the inner side wall. The removable pull out and the deformable seal together being configured to prevent exit and entry of loose particles through the curved slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jason R. Coppinger, Tyler D. Brockel, Craig E. Murray, William L. Cooksey
  • Patent number: 9271447
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester with a flexible crop residue management system. A pivotal swath door and displaceable windrow chute are coordinated to be displaced between positions in which all of crop residue is spread laterally and another position in which straw in the crop residue is directed in a windrow by a windrow chute and the chaff is directed laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Justin L. Montenguise, Nicholas S. Shane
  • Patent number: 9232694
    Abstract: A combine side-shaking control system and a method for controlling operation of a side-shaking mechanism in a combine. The control system includes at least one sieve for separating crop material from other materials and a movable side-shaking mechanism coupled to the at least one sieve and configured to move the at least one sieve in a side-to-side motion. The control system also includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one operating condition of a combine system. The control system further includes a controller for receiving the at least one operating condition and causing the side-shaking mechanism to stop moving the at least one sieve in the side-to-side motion or start moving the at least one sieve in the side-to-side motion based on the at least one operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Orlin W. Johnson, Dale W. Panoushek, Tyler L. Nelson, Kevin S. Schwinn, Bin Lou