Patents by Inventor Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
Jonathan Eugene 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).
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Patent number: 11483971Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a frame, at least one support arm extending, a cutter assembly attached to the distal ends of the support arms, a draper belt with an upper belt portion located above the support arms, and a parallel linkage connected to each support arm to operatively connect the cutter assembly to the frame. The linkage includes upper and lower links. The upper belt portion extends along a cross-belt direction that is perpendicular to a travel direction of the upper belt portion, and the proximal pivots of the upper and lower links are positioned on a line that is oriented at an angle of 60 to 120 degrees relative to the cross-belt direction when the header is in a freestanding static state.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley, Wayne T. Flickinger, John Hinkle
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Publication number: 20210112715Abstract: An agricultural vehicle header having a frame, at least one support arm extending, a cutter assembly attached to the distal ends of the support arms, a draper belt with an upper belt portion located above the support arms, and a parallel linkage connected to each support arm to operatively connect the cutter assembly to the frame. The linkage includes upper and lower links. The upper belt portion extends along a cross-belt direction that is perpendicular to a travel direction of the upper belt portion, and the proximal pivots of the upper and lower links are positioned on a line that is oriented at an angle of 60 to 120 degrees relative to the cross-belt direction when the header is in a freestanding static state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2019Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley, Wayne T. Flickinger, John Hinkle
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Patent number: 10966371Abstract: A combine grain cleaning system having front and rear rollers, a conveyor belt having an upper surface extending from the front roller to the rear roller, a motor operatively connected to the conveyor belt and configured to drive the upper surface in a belt travel direction from the front roller to the rear roller, and a baffle located adjacent the rear roller. The baffle has a leading edge, a trailing edge located behind the leading edge with respect to the belt travel direction and below the leading edge with respect to a vertical direction, and a baffle surface extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. One or more sieves are located below the baffle, and a fan is provided to direct an airflow at least partially upwards in the vertical direction adjacent the rear roller. A method for separating grain is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
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Publication number: 20200137959Abstract: A combine grain cleaning system having front and rear rollers, a conveyor belt having an upper surface extending from the front roller to the rear roller, a motor operatively connected to the conveyor belt and configured to drive the upper surface in a belt travel direction from the front roller to the rear roller, and a baffle located adjacent the rear roller. The baffle has a leading edge, a trailing edge located behind the leading edge with respect to the belt travel direction and below the leading edge with respect to a vertical direction, and a baffle surface extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. One or more sieves are located below the baffle, and a fan is provided to direct an airflow at least partially upwards in the vertical direction adjacent the rear roller. A method for separating grain is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventor: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
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Patent number: 10582658Abstract: An improved automatic height adjustment system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes apparatus and methods utilizing detection of a light beam at or near the skid plate of a header to adjust the height of the header relative to the ground surface. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light to a receiver. An apertured sensor guide is positioned between the emitter and the receiver. The sensor guide is in communication with a controller. If the body of the sensor guide is detected as blocking passage of light to the receiver then the controller operates an extensible actuator to raise or lower the header relative to the ground surface. The system provides rapid header height adjustment in response to detected changes in elevation of the skid plate as the harvester traverses a crop field.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2016Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Inventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, John Conroy
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Patent number: 10448576Abstract: A combine including a cutting wheel for harvesting crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, at least one of a yield monitor or a loss monitor, a crop cleaning system including a cleaning fan, and a controller coupled to the at least one of the yield monitor or the loss monitor. The controller controls the crop cleaning system, and is configured to determine at least one of a throughput from the yield monitor, or a loss from the loss monitor, compare the determined throughput or loss to a respective throughput threshold or loss threshold, and control a speed of the cleaning fan based on the throughput or loss comparison.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
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Patent number: 10219439Abstract: A preparation section of a combine harvester that is configured to receive a mixture of grain and material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing section of the combine harvester. The preparation section includes a conveyor positioned beneath the threshing section that is configured to transport the grain and MOG in a downstream direction toward a cleaning section, and a deflector positioned at a downstream end of a conveyor that is configured to launch the grain and MOG into the air and cause at least partial separation of the MOG and grain prior to falling onto the cleaning section.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis Frederick Hillen, Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
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Publication number: 20190059232Abstract: A combine including a cutting wheel for harvesting crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, at least one of a yield monitor or a loss monitor, a crop cleaning system including a cleaning fan, and a controller coupled to the at least one of the yield monitor or the loss monitor. The controller controls the crop cleaning system, and is configured to determine at least one of a throughput from the yield monitor, or a loss from the loss monitor, compare the determined throughput or loss to a respective throughput threshold or loss threshold, and control a speed of the cleaning fan based on the throughput or loss comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventor: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
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Publication number: 20190045715Abstract: A preparation section of a combine harvester that is configured to receive a mixture of grain and material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing section of the combine harvester. The preparation section includes a conveyor positioned beneath the threshing section that is configured to transport the grain and MOG in a downstream direction toward a cleaning section, and a deflector positioned at a downstream end of a conveyor that is configured to launch the grain and MOG into the air and cause at least partial separation of the MOG and grain prior to falling onto the cleaning section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis Frederick HILLEN, Jonathan Eugene RICKETTS
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Patent number: 10028436Abstract: An adjustable gathering chain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester includes a drive unit, a driven unit spaced from and movable with respect to the drive unit and an endless gathering chain extending between the drive unit and the driven unit. An adjustment unit including an idler member in engagement with the gathering chain is operable to move the idler member with respect to the drive unit in order to move the driven unit between first and second positions relative to the drive unit whereby the header may effectively harvest both standing crop and downed or lodged crop depending on harvesting conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Bart M A Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Eric L. Walker
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Patent number: 9775297Abstract: A bubble up auger includes a tubular housing, a screw auger and a baffle. The tubular housing includes an inlet opening having a first width end adjacent a first end of the tubular housing and a second width end opposite the first width end. The baffle extends from the inlet opening, outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the tubular housing and towards the first end of the tubular housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, William Mark McCully, Clayton E. Banks, Jr.
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Publication number: 20170196168Abstract: An adjustable gathering chain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester is disclosed as is a header including such an assembly and methods for adjusting the length of the gathering chain assembly. The assembly includes a drive unit, a driven unit spaced from and movable with respect to the drive unit and an endless gathering chain extending between the drive unit and the driven unit. An adjustment unit including an idler member in engagement with the gathering chain is operable to move the idler member with respect to the drive unit in order to move the driven unit between first and second positions relative to the drive unit whereby the header may effectively harvest both standing crop and downed or lodged crop depending on harvesting conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2017Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Bart M A Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Eric L. Walker
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Patent number: 9635811Abstract: An adjustable gathering chain assembly includes a drive unit, a driven unit spaced from and movable with respect to the drive unit and an endless gathering chain extending between the drive unit and the driven unit. An adjustment unit including an idler member in engagement with the gathering chain is operable to move the idler member with respect to the drive unit in order to move the driven unit between first and second positions relative to the drive unit whereby the header may effectively harvest both standing crop and downed or lodged crop depending on harvesting conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Bart M A Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20170020065Abstract: An improved automatic height adjustment system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes apparatus and methods utilizing detection of a light beam at or near the skid plate of a header to adjust the height of the header relative to the ground surface. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light to a receiver. An apertured sensor guide is positioned between the emitter and the receiver. The sensor guide is in communication with a controller. If the body of the sensor guide is detected as blocking passage of light to the receiver then the controller operates an extensible actuator to raise or lower the header relative to the ground surface. The system provides rapid header height adjustment in response to detected changes in elevation of the skid plate as the harvester traverses a crop field.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, John Conroy
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Publication number: 20150319925Abstract: An adjustable gathering chain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester is disclosed as is a header including such an assembly and methods for adjusting the length of the gathering chain assembly. The assembly includes a drive unit, a driven unit spaced from and movable with respect to the drive unit and an endless gathering chain extending between the drive unit and the driven unit. An adjustment unit including an idler member in engagement with the gathering chain is operable to move the idler member with respect to the drive unit in order to move the driven unit between first and second positions relative to the drive unit whereby the header may effectively harvest both standing crop and downed or lodged crop depending on harvesting conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Bart M A Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Eric L. Walker
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Patent number: 9119349Abstract: A concave for a harvester combine is provided, the concave comprising a first longitudinal member comprising a plurality of first longitudinal member wire guide grooves substantially at the same height position relative to a bottom of the first longitudinal member; a second longitudinal member comprising a plurality of second longitudinal member wire guide grooves substantially at the same height position relative to a bottom of the second longitudinal member; a first transverse member and a second transverse member substantially parallel to one another affixed to the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member; and a plurality of module members affixed to the first and second transverse members.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Wayne T Flickinger, Joshua D Werning
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Publication number: 20150195991Abstract: An improved automatic height adjustment system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The system includes apparatus and methods utilizing detection of a light beam at or near the skid plate of a header to adjust the height of the header relative to the ground surface. The apparatus includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light to a receiver. An apertured sensor guide is positioned between the emitter and the receiver. The sensor guide is in communication with a controller. If the body of the sensor guide is detected as blocking passage of light to the receiver then the controller operates an extensible actuator to raise or lower the header relative to the ground surface. The system provides rapid header height adjustment in response to detected changes in elevation of the skid plate as the harvester traverses a crop field.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, John Conroy
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Patent number: 8978802Abstract: An agricultural work vehicle includes a vehicle body having longitudinally extending sides. An enclosed engine compartment is configured within the vehicle body. An air inlet is defined in side of the vehicle body for intake of air into the engine compartment. A grain bin forward of the engine compartment includes a grain bin extension skirt mounted above the grain bin. An intake housing is mounted over the air inlet in the vehicle body side and includes a forwardly extending portion mounted alongside the grain bin extension with an inlet opening oriented so as draw air primarily from an area forward of the engine compartment and above the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts
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Publication number: 20140213331Abstract: A bubble up auger for conveying crop material on an agricultural combine is provided. The bubble up auger includes a tubular housing, a screw auger and a baffle. The tubular housing includes an inlet opening having a first width end adjacent a first end of the tubular housing and a second width end opposite the first width end. The baffle extends from the inlet opening, outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the tubular housing and towards the first end of the tubular housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, William Mark McCully, Clayton E. Banks, JR.
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Publication number: 20140174049Abstract: A concave for a harvester combine and methods of use are provided, such as a concave for a combine harvester, the concave comprising a first longitudinal member comprising a plurality of first longitudinal member wire guide grooves substantially at the same height position relative to a bottom of the first longitudinal member; a second longitudinal member comprising a plurality of second longitudinal member wire guide grooves substantially at the same height position relative to a bottom of the second longitudinal member; a first transverse member and a second transverse member substantially parallel to one another affixed to the first longitudinal member and the second longitudinal member; and a plurality of module members affixed to the first and second transverse members.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: CNH America LLCInventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Wayne T Flickinger, Joshua D Werning