Patents by Inventor Douglas S. Fitzkee

Douglas S. Fitzkee 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: 10225987
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester discharge guide includes a porous apparatus adapted for mounting to a discharge end of the agricultural harvester for guiding crop residue discharged from the agricultural harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Douglas S. Fitzkee, John H. Posselius, Mike Mielke
  • Patent number: 10037484
    Abstract: A system for tracking a harvested agricultural product unit includes a magazine configured to be disposed on an agricultural implement and to facilitate insertion of one or more stakes into the harvested agricultural product unit. The magazine is also configured to store the one or more stakes having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is configured to identify the harvested agricultural product unit and to associate the harvested agricultural product unit with harvesting data. Further, the system includes an insertion device configured to insert one of the stakes from the magazine into the harvested agricultural product unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Douglas S. Fitzkee, John H. Posselius, Edward H. Priepke, Justin R. Ringwald
  • Patent number: 9686913
    Abstract: System and method which automatically updates estimated field and in-transit yield values as a function of estimated vehicle load values and correction values determined from more accurate yield values obtained later, such as at a processing or other receiving facility, thereby providing better estimates of yield values between yield monitor system calibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Justin R. Ringwald, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Kevin S. Richman, Jesse H. Orsborn, Thomas H. Brown, Jr., John H. Posselius
  • Patent number: 9585310
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to weighing a bale formed by a round baler. One or more load cells, but not including load cells at each support of the baler, are used to obtain a measurement of the baler containing the bale and a measurement of the baler empty. Factors related to the slope of the surface on which the baler is located, the size of the bale, and the shape of the bale are used to adjust the measured weight of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Kevin M. Smith, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Robrecht M. K. Dumarey, Bart M. A. Missotten, Didier O. M. Verhaeghe
  • Publication number: 20160165801
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to weighing a bale formed by a round baler. One or more load cells, but not including load cells at each support of the baler, are used to obtain a measurement of the baler containing the bale and a measurement of the baler empty. Factors related to the slope of the surface on which the baler is located, the size of the bale, and the shape of the bale are used to adjust the measured weight of the bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Kevin M. Smith, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Robrecht M.K. Dumarey, Bart M.A. Missotten, Didier O.M. Verhaeghe
  • Patent number: 9297688
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to weighing a bale formed by a round baler. One or more load cells, but not including load cells at each support of the baler, are used to obtain a measurement of the baler containing the bale and a measurement of the baler empty. Factors related to the slope of the surface on which the baler is located, the size of the bale, and the shape of the bale are used to adjust the measured weight of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Kevin M. Smith, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Robrecht M. K. Dumarey, Bart M. A. Missotten, Didier O. M. Verhaeghe
  • Publication number: 20150310323
    Abstract: A system for tracking a harvested agricultural product unit includes a magazine configured to be disposed on an agricultural implement and to facilitate insertion of one or more stakes into the harvested agricultural product unit. The magazine is also configured to store the one or more stakes having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is configured to identify the harvested agricultural product unit and to associate the harvested agricultural product unit with harvesting data. Further, the system includes an insertion device configured to insert one of the stakes from the magazine into the harvested agricultural product unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Douglas S. Fitzkee, John H. Posselius, Edward H. Priepke, Justin R. Ringwald
  • Publication number: 20140358466
    Abstract: System and method which automatically updates estimated field and in-transit yield values as a function of estimated vehicle load values and correction values determined from more accurate yield values obtained later, such as at a processing or other receiving facility, thereby providing better estimates of yield values between yield monitor system calibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Justin R. Ringwald, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Kevin S. Richman, Jesse H. Orsborn, Thomas H. Brown, JR., John H. Posselius
  • Publication number: 20140174303
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to weighing a bale formed by a round baler. One or more load cells, but not including load cells at each support of the baler, are used to obtain a measurement of the baler containing the bale and a measurement of the baler empty. Factors related to the slope of the surface on which the baler is located, the size of the bale, and the shape of the bale are used to adjust the measured weight of the bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Kevin M. SMITH, Douglas S. FITZKEE, Robrecht M.K. DUMAREY, Bart M.A. MISSOTTEN, Didier O.M. VERHAEGHE
  • Publication number: 20140162740
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester discharge guide includes a porous apparatus adapted for mounting to a discharge end of the agricultural harvester for guiding crop residue discharged from the agricultural harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. FOSTER, Douglas S. FITZKEE, John H. POSSELIUS, Mike MIELKE
  • Patent number: 8531300
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically identifying and locating a cotton module that has been transported prior to marking with an identifier, such system and method locating the cotton module as a function of a location of the cotton module and a heading of an unloading vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Justin R. Ringwald, Thomas H. Brown, Jr., Jesse H. Orsborn, Trent A. Haggard, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Kevin S. Richman, John H. Posselius
  • Patent number: 8452496
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically identifying, locating, and tracking a cotton module that eliminates the necessity of physically marking or tagging the cotton module, such system and method using information such a location of the cotton module and a heading of a harvesting vehicle and a transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Justin R. Ringwald, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Kevin S. Richman, Jesse H. Orsborn, Thomas H. Brown, Jr., John H. Posselius
  • Publication number: 20130006481
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically identifying, locating, and tracking a cotton module that eliminates the necessity of physically marking or tagging the cotton module, such system and method using information such a location of the cotton module and a heading of a harvesting vehicle and a transport vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Justin R. Ringwald, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Kevin S. Richman, Jesse H. Orsborn, Thomas H. Brown, JR., John H. Posselius
  • Publication number: 20120319837
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically identifying and locating a cotton module that has been transported prior to marking with an identifier, such system and method locating the cotton module as a function of a location of the cotton module and a heading of an unloading vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Justin R. Ringwald, Thomas H. Brown, JR., Jesse H. Orsborn, Trent A. Haggard, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Kevin S. Richman, John H. Posselius
  • Patent number: 8286410
    Abstract: The non-row sensitive corn harvesting unit utilizes a tine wheel tilted to have tines that extend forwardly and downwardly into a side region of a stalk receiving area bounded by a row divider and which move along an upward and rearward trajectory toward a moving stalk handling element bounding an inlet of a stalk processing or picking channel, for pushing stalks toward the path of the handling element, such that the stalk will be grasped and carried into the channel, providing enhanced non-row sensitivity as well as handling of downed stalks. A companion tine wheel can be provided on the opposite side of the receiving area and function in the same manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Edward H. Priepke, James F. Rayfield, Douglas S. Fitzkee
  • Patent number: 8240240
    Abstract: A device for detecting the absolute position of a cylinder rod is provided. A cylinder assembly has a cylinder body with a gland member positioned thereof. The gland member has a rod opening extending therethrough. An adjustable sensor is mounted on the gland member, the adjustable sensor being operable to read one or more detectable features of the cylinder rod. The adjustable sensor can be incrementally adjusted relative to the cylinder rod to optimize the gap provided between the adjustable sensor and the cylinder rod, allowing the sensor to detect the motion and absolute position of the cylinder rod. The detectable features may be three tracks of data including first timing data and position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Douglas S. Fitzkee, Christopher A. Foster, John Posselius, Chris Brubaker, Justin Ringwald
  • Patent number: 8117810
    Abstract: A cutting system for a forage harvester including a pair of planar counterrotating blades, each blade of the pair of blades configured to rotate about a substantially parallel axis. A portion of the pair of blades at least partially overlap each other, but are spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axes. A pair of planar counterrotating gripping members with each gripping member of the pair of gripping members configured to rotate about a corresponding rotational axis of one blade of the pair of blades. The pair of gripping members are aligned with each other in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axes. The pair of blades rotate at a different rotational speed than the pair of gripping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Hall, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius
  • Patent number: 8117811
    Abstract: A cutting system for a forage harvester includes a source of rotational movement for each of the pair of substantially planar counterrotating blades and for a pair of substantially planar counterrotating gripping members. Each blade of the pair of blades is configured to rotate about a substantially parallel axis. Each gripping member of the pair of gripping members is configured to rotate about a corresponding rotational axis of one blade of the pair of blades. The source of rotational movement is separated from each blade of the pair of blades by an inner shaft. The source of rotational movement is separated from each gripping member of the pair of gripping members by a tube surrounding the shaft. The tube includes a gripping portion secured to a periphery of the tube between the source of rotational movement and the pair of gripping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Hall, Douglas S. Fitzkee, Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius
  • Publication number: 20110308220
    Abstract: The non-row sensitive corn harvesting unit utilizes a tine wheel tilted to have tines that extend forwardly and downwardly into a side region of a stalk receiving area bounded by a row divider and which move along an upward and rearward trajectory toward a moving stalk handling element bounding an inlet of a stalk processing or picking channel, for pushing stalks toward the path of the handling element, such that the stalk will be grasped and carried into the channel, providing enhanced non-row sensitivity as well as improved handling of downed stalks. A companion tine wheel can be provided on the opposite side of the receiving area and function in the same manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Edward H. Priepke, James F. Rayfield, Douglas S. Fitzkee
  • Publication number: 20100107869
    Abstract: A device for detecting the absolute position of a cylinder rod is provided. A cylinder assembly has a cylinder body with a gland member positioned thereof. The gland member has a rod opening extending therethrough. An adjustable sensor is mounted on the gland member, the adjustable sensor being operable to read one or more detectable features of the cylinder rod. The adjustable sensor can be incrementally adjusted relative to the cylinder rod to optimize the gap provided between the adjustable sensor and the cylinder rod, allowing the sensor to detect the motion and absolute position of the cylinder rod. The detectable features may be three tracks of data including first timing data and position data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Douglas S. FITZKEE, Christopher A. FOSTER, John POSSELIUS, Chris BRUBAKER, Justin RINGWALD