Patents by Inventor Jonathan E. Ricketts

Jonathan E. Ricketts 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).

  • Publication number: 20240099197
    Abstract: A harvester cleaning fan system having a cross flow fan rotor, a fan inlet, a rotor shroud, a fan outlet and a cutoff wall assembly. The fan inlet extends in the fan rotation direction around a first portion of the cylindrical rotation volume. The rotor shroud is adjacent the fan inlet and extends in the rotation direction to enclose a second portion of the cylindrical rotation volume. The fan outlet is adjacent the rotor shroud. The cutoff wall assembly extends in the rotation direction by a cutoff wall distance to enclose a third portion of the cylindrical rotation volume. The cutoff wall assembly has a first cutoff wall and a second cutoff wall. The cutoff wall distance is about 40 mm to about 90 mm, and the fan has a rotation diameter of about 400 mm to about 500 mm. An agricultural vehicle having a cleaning fan is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts, II
  • Publication number: 20230389479
    Abstract: A fan assembly for a cleaning system of a combine harvester includes a housing having a plurality of interconnected walls, the interconnected walls defining least one inlet opening through which air is delivered into the housing, and at least one outlet opening through which air is exhausted from the housing. A deflector is positioned either at or adjacent the outlet opening, the deflector being configured to affect a flow of air across a width dimension W of the outlet opening. The deflector may be a single, unitary body or the deflector may include a plurality of independently rotatably panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Curtis Frederick Hillen, Michiel Vanderstichele, Bart Moutton
  • Patent number: 11832557
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a rotor configured for threshing a crop material and a housing located at a distance radially away from the rotor and circumferentially encasing at least a portion of the rotor. The agricultural vehicle also includes a discharge chopper positioned downstream of the rotor in a direction of crop material flow, and a discharge deflector moveably connected to the housing, circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of the rotor, and located at a radial distance away from the rotor. The discharge deflector has a distal end that defines a discharge opening for allowing the crop material to pass from the rotor to the discharge chopper such that as the discharge deflector is moved a circumferential position of the discharge opening is correspondingly moved without changing the radial distance between the discharge deflector and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 11825770
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes: a drive hub having a spline configured to couple to a gearbox; a clutch housing coupled to the drive hub and having an end face defining an opening therein; a clutch hub disposed within the clutch housing and having a portion that extends out of the opening, the clutch hub being rotatable with respect to the clutch housing during a slip condition; a primary seal disposed between the clutch housing and the clutch hub; a quantity of purging compound disposed between the clutch housing and the clutch hub; and an end washer coupled to the clutch hub and facing the end face, the end washer and the end face defining a purge gap therebetween such that rotation of the clutch hub relative to the clutch housing causes some of the purging compound to eject from the clutch housing through the purge gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: James M. Gessel, Thamilselvan Karuppannan, Dan L. Garland, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Brian P. Crow
  • Publication number: 20230309451
    Abstract: A draper header of an agricultural harvester comprising a first reel, a second reel spaced from the first reel a predetermined distance, and a center belt reel assembly between the first and second reels. The center belt reel assembly includes an endless belt rotationally driven about a rotational axis substantially parallel to a central rotational axis of one of the first and second reels, wherein the endless belt has a width that extends substantially the predetermined distance. The endless belt is rotationally driven by one of the first and second reels for conveying grain received between the first and second reels. As a result of the center belt reel assembly, grain between the first and second reels is fed to the center of the header where it may be conveyed to and processed by the harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Zachary Harmon, Dan Garland
  • Patent number: 11746836
    Abstract: A header assembly of an agricultural harvester, includes: a rotatable shaft; a torque limiter assembly coupled with the rotatable shaft, the torque limiter assembly including: a driving element coupled with the rotatable shaft; a driven element coupled with the driving element which is configured for selectively transmitting a torque to the driven element; an input seal element including at least one aperture; and an automatic lubrication mechanism coupled with the driven element, the automatic lubrication mechanism including a movable piston, the movable piston and the input seal element together at least partially forming a chamber therebetween configured for releasably containing a lubricant, the movable piston configured for forcing the lubricant out of the chamber through the at least one aperture so as to lubricate the driving element and the driven element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20230240190
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes: a chassis; and a threshing and separating system coupled with the chassis, the threshing and separating system including a rotor including at least one brush device including a plurality of fingers which are flexible, the plurality of fingers being configured for engaging a crop material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig E. Murray
  • Publication number: 20230069948
    Abstract: An agricultural system includes a baling system configured to form a bale of crop material and an accumulator positioned laterally outward from the baling system. The accumulator is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, and the baling system is configured to receive the crop material from the accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Jason D.M. Cousins
  • Publication number: 20230064380
    Abstract: A header assembly of an agricultural harvester, includes: a rotatable shaft; a torque limiter assembly coupled with the rotatable shaft, the torque limiter assembly including: a driving element coupled with the rotatable shaft; a driven element coupled with the driving element which is configured for selectively transmitting a torque to the driven element; an input seal element including at least one aperture; and an automatic lubrication mechanism coupled with the driven element, the automatic lubrication mechanism including a movable piston, the movable piston and the input seal element together at least partially forming a chamber therebetween configured for releasably containing a lubricant, the movable piston configured for forcing the lubricant out of the chamber through the at least one aperture so as to lubricate the driving element and the driven element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20230034156
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for moving an implement attached to an agricultural vehicle. The actuator assembly includes an actuator comprising a longitudinal axis, a cylinder extending along the longitudinal axis, and a piston rod extending from the cylinder along the longitudinal axis and that is configured to be attached to the implement at a connection point. A safety stop is pivotably attached at the connection point and is movable between a deployed position where the safety stop is configured to block retraction of the actuator, and a retracted position where the safety stop is not configured to block retraction of the actuator. The safety stop is configured to rotate with respect to the actuator about a first rotational axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, as well as a second rotational axis that is orthogonal to both the longitudinal axis and the first rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Seth Bietz, Jonathan E. Ricketts, David M. DeChristopher, Barry E. Lehman, Joel T. Cook
  • Publication number: 20220279726
    Abstract: A harvester cleaning fan system having a cross flow fan rotor, an inlet, an outlet and an inlet cover. The rotor rotates about a fan axis and has vanes defining a cylindrical rotation volume. The inlet extends around the rotor from an inlet leading edge to an inlet trailing edge. The outlet extends from the inlet trailing edge to the inlet leading edge. The inlet cover is adjacent the inlet, radially spaced from the rotor, and extends from a cover leading edge to a cover trailing edge. The cover leading and trailing edges are between the inlet leading and trailing edges. A first inlet passage is between the cover leading edge and the inlet leading edge, and a second inlet passage is between the inlet trailing edge and the cover trailing edge. An agricultural vehicle having a cleaning fan is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20220272904
    Abstract: A bale wrapping system that includes a belt that rotates to form and drive rotation of a bale of an agricultural product. The bale is configured to be wrapped with a wrapping layer of a bale wrap while rotating on the belt. A first portion of the wrapping layer overlaps a second portion of the wrapping layer while disposed on the belt. A glue system sprays a layer of glue onto the wrapping layer. The layer of glue enables the first portion of the wrapping layer to couple to the second portion of the wrapping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Jason Douglas McAuley Cousins
  • Patent number: 11425862
    Abstract: A combine (10) including a cutting wheel for harvesting crop, a separating system (24) for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, at least one of a yield monitor (115) or a loss monitor (113), a crop cleaning system (26) including a cleaning fan (52), and a controller (310) coupled to the at least one of the yield monitor (115) or the loss monitor (113). The controller (310) controls the crop cleaning system (26), and is configured to determine at least one of a throughput from the yield monitor (115), or a loss from the loss monitor (113), compare the determined throughput or loss to a respective throughput threshold or loss threshold, and control a speed of the cleaning fan (52) based on the throughput or loss comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20220264804
    Abstract: A wrapping system of an agricultural baling system includes a wrap directing system configured to direct a wrapping material to cover an entire periphery of a bale of crop material, such that a first portion of the wrapping material overlaps a second portion of the wrapping material. The wrapping system further includes a fastening system configured to secure the first portion of the wrapping material to the second portion of the wrapping material and a sewing system configured to sew the first portion and the second portion to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Zachary Harmon, Dan L. Garland
  • Publication number: 20220256773
    Abstract: A bale wrap includes a wrapping layer configured to wrap around a bale of agricultural product, such that a first portion of the wrapping layer overlaps a second portion of the wrapping layer. Additionally, the bale wrap includes an adhesive layer embedded on or in the wrapping layer and configured to be activated by an adhesive activation mechanism. Activation of the adhesive layer enables the adhesive layer to bond the first portion of the wrapping layer to the second portion of the wrapping layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Martin J. Roberge
  • Publication number: 20220248609
    Abstract: A bale wrapping system includes a bale chamber configured to receive agricultural product and a belt configured to be disposed within the bale chamber. The belt is configured to be positioned between a bale wrap and an interior surface of the bale chamber while the belt is disposed within the bale chamber. Additionally, the belt is configured to support the bale wrap and to move into the bale chamber due to a weight of the agricultural product on the bale wrap. Further, the belt is configured to compact the agricultural product within the bale wrap, such that a bale of the agricultural product at least partially surrounded by the bale wrap is formed within the bale chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Jason D.M. Cousins
  • Publication number: 20220232769
    Abstract: An automated system for moving a crop harvester relative to an obstacle in a crop field. The system includes a sensor that is configured to sense a presence of the obstacle in the crop field, and transmit a signal corresponding to the presence of the obstacle. A motor is configured to move the crop harvester relative to the agricultural vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the motor based upon the signal received from the sensor and thereby move the crop harvester relative to the agricultural vehicle to prevent physical contact between crop harvester and the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Travis Ohms
  • Patent number: 11375664
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester includes: a header frame; a flexible cutterbar carried by the header frame; a plurality of flex arms coupled to the cutterbar; and a flex arm drive assembly coupled to at least one of the flex arms and configured to selectively, linearly displace the at least one coupled flex arm in a vertical direction relative to the header frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 11297770
    Abstract: A draper belt assembly for an agricultural harvester that includes a first roller, a second roller, and a draper belt surrounding the first and second rollers. The draper belt includes a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and an upper surface extending from the front end to the rear end having a width substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of one of the first and second rollers. The draper belt further includes a plurality of spaced apart lugs each extending in the widthwise direction having an anterior end distal to the rear end and a posterior end proximal to the rear end, wherein the anterior end is spaced from the front end of the draper belt at least about 15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott Palmer Deichmann, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley
  • Patent number: 11272668
    Abstract: A cleaning system for a combine harvester includes a fan, at least one duct having an interior passageway that is positioned to receive an air stream from the fan, and a surface defined within the interior passageway of the at least one duct that is configured to restrict a volume of the flow of air passing through the at least one duct and increase a pressure of the air stream passing through the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Curtis F. Hillen, Michiel Vanderstichele