Patents by Inventor Grant Thomas MacDonald

Grant Thomas MacDonald 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: 11930728
    Abstract: A control system for a double-acting air cylinder of an agricultural implement includes a valve assembly configured to control a base end air pressure and a rod end air pressure of the double-acting air cylinder. The control system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the valve assembly. The controller is configured to determine a target base end air pressure and a target rod end air pressure based on a target force of the double-acting air cylinder and a target damping factor of the double-acting air cylinder. The controller is also configured to control the valve assembly such that a first difference between the base end air pressure and the target base end air pressure is less than a first threshold value and a second difference between the rod end air pressure and the target rod end air pressure is less than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad Michael Johnson, Trevor Phillip Stanhope, Michael Christopher Conboy, Grant Thomas Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20230320257
    Abstract: A product flow splitter is used to distribute agricultural product from a distribution line to a primary hopper and a secondary hopper. The splitter has an inlet segment, a primary outlet segment, and a secondary outlet segment. The inlet segment receives the agricultural product from the distribution line, the primary outlet segment outputs the agricultural product to the primary hopper, and the secondary outlet segment outputs the agricultural product to the secondary hopper. The primary outlet segment is aligned with the inlet segment along a common axis and the secondary outlet segment is curved to avoid plugging of the agricultural product in the product flow splitter. The primary outlet segment is positioned relative to the primary hopper so that an outlet of the primary outlet segment in the primary hopper is offset from an outlet of the primary hopper to a meter system to solve an overfilled situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Chad Michael Johnson, Grant Thomas MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11723302
    Abstract: A particle delivery assembly of an agricultural row unit includes a particle tube configured to receive a particle and to deliver the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle tube includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a hinge coupled to the first body portion and to the second body portion. The hinge is configured to enable the first body portion and the second body portion to pivot relative to one another between an open position of the particle tube and a closed position of the particle tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Brian John Anderson, Chad Michael Johnson, Patrick Dinnon, Grant Thomas Macdonald, Brent David Elwing
  • Publication number: 20220346300
    Abstract: A control system for a double-acting air cylinder of an agricultural implement includes a valve assembly configured to control a base end air pressure and a rod end air pressure of the double-acting air cylinder. The control system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the valve assembly. The controller is configured to determine a target base end air pressure and a target rod end air pressure based on a target force of the double-acting air cylinder and a target damping factor of the double-acting air cylinder. The controller is also configured to control the valve assembly such that a first difference between the base end air pressure and the target base end air pressure is less than a first threshold value and a second difference between the rod end air pressure and the target rod end air pressure is less than a second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Chad Michael Johnson, Trevor Phillip Stanhope, Michael Christopher Conboy, Grant Thomas Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20220174856
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an agricultural implement includes a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a position of at least one scraper of the agricultural implement relative to a surface of at least one respective disc. The at least one scraper is configured to engage the surface of the at least one respective disc to remove accumulated soil from the surface of the at least one respective disc. The monitoring system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to determine an amount of wear on the at least one scraper based on the position of the at least one scraper relative to the surface of the at least one respective disc, and the controller is configured to output a wear signal indicative of the amount of wear on the at least one scraper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Austin Joseph McLuckie, Grant Thomas Macdonald, Johnathon Raymond Dienst, Brian John Anderson
  • Publication number: 20220142041
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for an agricultural product meter includes an upper mount configured to support at least a portion of a weight of the agricultural product meter. The upper mount is configured to couple to a support structure. The mounting assembly also includes a pin configured to engage the agricultural product meter via movement of the pin along a longitudinal axis of the pin. In addition, the mounting assembly includes a lower mount configured to selectively receive the pin via movement of the pin along the longitudinal axis of the pin. The lower mount is configured to couple to the support structure, and the pin is configured to block movement of the agricultural product meter away from the support structure while the pin is engaged with the agricultural product meter and the lower mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Chad Michael Johnson, Grant Thomas Macdonald, Brian John Anderson, Mayur Kishorchandra Joshi
  • Patent number: 11089722
    Abstract: A scraper assembly of an agricultural row unit includes an inner scraper configured to engage an inner surface of a disc. The scraper assembly also includes a fastener configured to couple the inner scraper to an outer scraper configured to engage an outer surface of the disc. In addition, the inner scraper has an engagement feature configured to contact the outer scraper and/or a frame of the agricultural row unit to block rotation of the inner scraper about the fastener relative to the outer scraper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Austin Joseph McLuckie, Brian J. Anderson, Johnathon R. Dienst, Grant Thomas MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20210059109
    Abstract: A particle delivery assembly of an agricultural row unit includes a particle tube configured to receive a particle and to deliver the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle tube includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a hinge coupled to the first body portion and to the second body portion. The hinge is configured to enable the first body portion and the second body portion to pivot relative to one another between an open position of the particle tube and a closed position of the particle tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Brian John Anderson, Chad Michael Johnson, Patrick Dinnon, Grant Thomas Macdonald, Brent David Elwing
  • Publication number: 20210059108
    Abstract: A particle delivery assembly of an agricultural row unit includes a first particle tube and a sensor housing coupled to the first particle tube. The sensor housing is configured to receive a particle from the first particle tube and to house a sensor configured to detect the particle. The particle delivery assembly includes a second particle tube coupled to the first particle tube and to the sensor housing and configured to receive the particle from the sensor housing and to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. Additionally, the particle delivery assembly includes a coupling mechanism extending between the second particle tube and the first particle tube along the sensor housing. The coupling mechanism is configured to couple the second particle tube to the first particle tube and to at least partially secure the sensor housing between the first particle tube and the second particle tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Brian John Anderson, Chad Michael Johnson, Patrick Dinnon, Grant Thomas Macdonald, Brent David Elwing
  • Publication number: 20200267882
    Abstract: A scraper assembly of an agricultural row unit includes an inner scraper configured to engage an inner surface of a disc. The scraper assembly also includes a fastener configured to couple the inner scraper to an outer scraper configured to engage an outer surface of the disc. In addition, the inner scraper has an engagement feature configured to contact the outer scraper and/or a frame of the agricultural row unit to block rotation of the inner scraper about the fastener relative to the outer scraper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Austin Joseph McLuckie, Brian J. Anderson, Johnathon R. Dienst, Grant Thomas MacDonald
  • Patent number: D892177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Austin Joseph McLuckie, Brian J. Anderson, Johnathon R. Dienst, Grant Thomas MacDonald