Patents by Inventor Donald W. Bickel

Donald W. Bickel 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: 6910323
    Abstract: A combination for a harvester pickup reel, a harvester tine, and a method of assembling a pickup reel. In some aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and a fastener assembly integrally formed on one of the shaft and the tine. In other aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft and a fastener assembly. In such aspects, the fastener assembly comprises a first fastener member including a projection and a second fastener member defining a recess, the projection being insertable into the recess. In some aspects, the harvester tine comprises a support portion connectable with the second shaft to support the tine for rotation with the second shaft, the support portion being connectable to the second shaft without separate fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: HCC, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Bickel
  • Patent number: 6890253
    Abstract: A slat and a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly comprises a frame, a slat supported by the frame, and a rotational drive mechanism supported by the frame. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat extends at least 180° about an axis and has a cross-section having a uniform radius in relation to the axis. The slat includes spaced finger-like indentations being defined on an edge of the slat. The slat is couplable to the rotational drive mechanism for rotation about the axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the rotational drive mechanism includes a pinion connected to the end of the slat, and a drive shaft including a worm gear engaging the pinion and rotatably supported by the frame to rotate about a drive axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat may include a cross-section having a first adjustment cavity and a second adjustment cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: HCC, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Mammen, Dennis J. Jones, Donald W. Bickel
  • Publication number: 20030130019
    Abstract: A slat and a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly comprises a frame, a slat supported by the frame, and a rotational drive mechanism supported by the frame. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat extends at least 180° about an axis and has a cross-section having a uniform radius in relation to the axis. The slat includes spaced finger-like indentations being defined on an edge of the slat. The slat is couplable to the rotational drive mechanism for rotation about the axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the rotational drive mechanism includes a pinion connected to the end of the slat, and a drive shaft including a worm gear engaging the pinion and rotatably supported by the frame to rotate about a drive axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat may include a cross-section having a first adjustment cavity and a second adjustment cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: HCC, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Mammen, Dennis J. Jones, Donald W. Bickel
  • Publication number: 20030126848
    Abstract: A combination for a harvester pickup reel, a harvester tine, a harvester pickup reel, and a method of assembling a pickup reel. In some aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and a fastener assembly integrally formed on one of the shaft and the tine. In other aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft and a fastener assembly. In such aspects, the fastener assembly comprises a first fastener member including a projection and a second fastener member defining a recess, the projection being insertable into the recess. In some aspects, the harvester tine comprises a support portion connectable with the second shaft to support the tine for rotation with the second shaft, the support portion being connectable to the second shaft without separate fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: HCC, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Bickel
  • Publication number: 20030010009
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus, a guard assembly for a cutting apparatus and a method of assembling a cutting apparatus. The cutting apparatus includes a frame supported for movement over ground, the frame having a forward portion, a cutter support supported on the forward portion, and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly includes a chain cutter assembly and a guard assembly. The chain cutter assembly includes a continuous chain assembly having opposite lateral chain surfaces, a plurality of knife members connected to the chain assembly to form a cutting portion, and a drive assembly for driving the chain assembly. In some aspects, the guard assembly includes a guard supported by the cutter support, the guard defining a channel having opposite lateral channel surfaces engageable with the opposite lateral chain surfaces to guide a portion of the chain assembly in the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Donald W. Bickel, Dennis J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20020148210
    Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvester. The harvester includes a harvesting platform including a frame having a front edge and a cutter bar extending along the front edge. The pickup reel includes a reel support supported by the frame, a first shaft rotatably supported by the reel support and extending along an axis transverse to the frame, an arm extending radially from and being rotatable with the first shaft, a second shaft supported by the arm and being generally parallel to and radially spaced from the first shaft, the second shaft being rotatable relative to and rotatable with the arm, and a plurality of tines supported by the second shaft for rotation with the second shaft, each of the plurality of tines having a tip, the tips being movable along a tip path during rotation of the first shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: HCC, inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Bickel
  • Patent number: 4989829
    Abstract: A flow control valve (20) has a needle valve (76) for controlling flow between an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of pressure and an outlet adapted to be connected to an operating device whose operation is dependent upon the position of the needle valve; the needle valve is positioned by an armature (60) magnetically attracted by a solenoid coil (18); the armature is pressure equalized by two pins (72, 74) acting on the opposite ends (60a, 60b) of the armature and by a bypass tube (90) for supplying source pressure to each pin such that the control position of the valve is unaffected by changes in the pressure and is dependent solely upon the average current flow through the solenoid coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Bickel