Patents by Inventor Donald F. Hornung

Donald F. Hornung 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: 9253947
    Abstract: An easily transportable cotton module builder includes a side mounted dump basket for receiving a load of cotton bolls from a cotton picker or stripper. The module builder is sized to form a module of half standard size, which enables the unit to be readily transportable on fields and roads. The basket expands outwardly, is lightweight and is sized to receive a full load dump from a cotton picker or stripper, then the basket swings up and over a module builder compression chamber. A compression bridge extends across the top of the compression chamber and supports a tamper bar assembly which compresses the cotton dumped in the chamber. The module builder compression chamber takes two to three loads from a cotton picker or stripper before it reaches capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Donald F. Hornung
  • Publication number: 20150096450
    Abstract: An easily transportable combination cotton transport cart and module builder includes a side mounted dump basket for receiving a load of cotton bolls from a cotton picker or stripper. The cart is sized to form a module of half standard size, which enables the unit to be readily transportable on fields and roads. The basket expands outwardly, is lightweight and is sized to receive a full load dump from a cotton picker or stripper, then the basket swings up and over a compression chamber. A tamper mechanism extends across the top of the compression chamber and supports a tamper bar which compresses the cotton dumped in the chamber. The compression cycle takes a longer time to accomplish than the time to dump the picked cotton into the side basket, so while the cotton is being compressed and the half module is being formed, the cotton picker or stripper has already been emptied and is back continuing harvest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Donald F. Hornung
  • Publication number: 20040163578
    Abstract: An eductor assembly is adapted for seed delivery and is designed to reduce or eliminate clogs. The eductor uses a compartment comprising a feed section into which falls seed from a primary storage hopper. A primary pneumatic tube runs through the compartment and continues on to delivery sites such as secondary hoppers which feed the seed to singulators. A secondary pneumatic tube branches from the primary tube and opens into the compartment generally below the primary tube, pressurizing the compartment and creating turbulence sufficient to prevent seed from packing. An eductor tube is mounted within the compartment and has an open, lower end that extends from adjacent the termination of the secondary pneumatic tube so that seed accumulating in the compartment is drawn through the eductor. The eductor tube at its upper end extends into the primary pneumatic tube and has an outlet end positioned so as to form a constriction in the first pneumatic line to create a venturi to draw seed through the eductor tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Roger C. McDonald, Thomas A. Klenke, Donald F. Hornung
  • Patent number: 5826947
    Abstract: A vehicle for transporting and dumping loads of particulate material comprising a vehicle frame having spaced, ground engaging wheels extending therefrom, and angularly upstanding spaced frame members projecting upward from the vehicle frame; a dump basket operative to contain the loads of particulate material therein, the dump basket situated between the spaced frame members and having spaced end walls, a first side wall, and a dump side wall, the spaced end walls, the first side wall and the dump side walls each having respective upper edges, the respective junctures of the upper edges forming spaced, upper corners, the dump basket having hinge connections to the frame members at the upper corners of the upper edges of the end walls and the dump side wall for upward rotation, tilting and dumping of the loads of particulate material of the dump basket; a drop chute extension swingably connected to the dump basket by hinges and extending along the upper edge of the dump side wall; and a top arm and a bottom a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Crust Buster/Speed King, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Hornung, Thomas A. Klenke
  • Patent number: 5398771
    Abstract: A grain drill is disclosed having a folding frame for parallel operation and a parallel link system that controls the tension to earth openers in order to produce relatively constant downward pressure for the openers. The grain drill includes a rotating tool bar for facilitating the adjustment of downward pressure to the openers, controlling the ground cutting depth of the openers and raising the tools to obtain the ground clearance needed for road transport. The drill has disc openers with axially collocated discs having different outer diameters and a narrow angle between the opener discs producing a "V" shaped groove for seeding. The grain drill has a common horizontal center to support seed boxes, fixed dual wheels and a hitch for connection to a pulling vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: CrustBuster/Speed King, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Hornung, J. Edson Mc Canse, Thomas A. Klenke, Roger C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5380142
    Abstract: A drop chute extension for unloading a shuttle dumping transport vehicle for harvested cotton bolls extends the length of the conveyor dump side wall when unloading the transport vehicle. The extension of the conveyor dump side wall allows cotton to be dumped in the middle and far side of a module builder or trailer. The drop chute extension can be folded over and down into the basket of the dumping transport vehicle, reducing both the transport height and width of the vehicle. The drop chute extension includes two hydraulic extension arm cylinders which cause the door chute to extend or retract and are interconnected with the hydraulic system of the vehicle lift basket. Operation of the basket lift cylinders is precluded until the extension arm cylinders have fully extended the chute door. The drop chute extension is also joined to a second hydraulic system to operate an unloading conveyor which extends into the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: CrustBuster/Speed King, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Hornung, Thomas A. Klenke, Melvin L. Burge