Patents by Inventor Martin Rittershofer

Martin Rittershofer 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: 20200107499
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and defines an inlet of the chopper rotor for receiving the residue and an outlet spaced rearward from the chopper rotor for discharge of the chopped residue from the interior of the housing. An air gap through which the air stream may exit the interior is defined between the rear hood and chopper rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Peter Mischler, Gregor Diessner, Martin Rittershofer, Oliver Klein
  • Patent number: 10499566
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and defines an inlet of the chopper rotor for receiving the residue and an outlet spaced rearward from the chopper rotor for discharge of the chopped residue from the interior of the housing. An air gap through which the air stream may exit the interior is defined between the rear hood and chopper rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Peter Mischler, Gregor Diessner, Martin Rittershofer, Oliver Klein
  • Patent number: 10405491
    Abstract: A wear strip arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine includes a first body that is configured to be attached to a slat that in turn is attached to the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David W. Peters, Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Mark L. Mattson, Christopher J. Faulkner, Martin Rittershofer
  • Patent number: 10398082
    Abstract: A combine harvester has a straw chute with a straw conveyor which comprises a conveyor rotor which can be set into rotation and has dogs distributed helically around the conveyor rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Oliver Klein, Peter Mischler, Gregor Diessner, Volker Fuchs, Christina Fries, Dirk Schubert
  • Publication number: 20190261562
    Abstract: A combine double-decker crop residue spreader for use with a rotating chopper having chopper blades and through which air is blown may include a divider panel separating a lower portion from an upper portion of the spreader. The divider panel extends rearwardly from a location where the chopper blades transition from rotating towards the divider panel to rotating away from the divider. An airflow conduit extends above the divider panel in the upper portion to rearwardly direct air flow. At least one lower vertical panel below the divider panel in the lower portion rearwardly directs crop residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Michael T. Meschke, Matthew T. Wold, Oliver Klein, Marco Broschart
  • Patent number: 10390491
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and includes a roof structure located above the chopper rotor such that a minimal gap is defined therebetween. The air stream flows out of the interior via a flow path defined through the chopper rotor without being substantially redirected from flowing in the rearward direction by the plurality of blades of the chopper rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Gregor Diessner, Oliver Klein, Peter Mischler, Volker Fuchs, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Publication number: 20190174674
    Abstract: An arrangement for switching over a combine harvester between swath deposit operation and wide distribution operation comprises a front element and a rear element which follows downstream. The rear element may be attached in an articulated fashion, in an inherently rigid fashion, at its upstream end about a first pivoting axis and may be moved between a swath deposit position and a wide distribution position by an adjustment drive. The front element may be attached in an articulated fashion at its upstream end about a second pivoting axis, may be inherently rigid and may also be coupled to the adjustment drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Gregor Diessner, Oliver Klein, Martin Rittershofer
  • Patent number: 10259655
    Abstract: A cogged drive arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine has a first drive wheel with an axis of rotation, a hub extending around the axis of rotation, flanges fixed to an outer edge of the hub and extending outward from the hub and a plurality of cogs fixed to the outer ends of the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David W. Peters, Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Mark L. Mattson, Christopher J. Faulkner, Martin Rittershofer
  • Publication number: 20190090428
    Abstract: A spreader of a combine for conveying crop residue rearwardly from a rotor assembly includes a frame coupled to the combine and has a top portion adapted to receive a portion of crop residue during a harvesting operation. An impellor includes one or more blades for rotatably conveying crop residue rearwardly, and an actuator is controllably moved between an extended position and a retracted position. The actuator is pivotally coupled to the combine. A linkage assembly is pivotally coupled to the actuator at one end and to the frame at another end. The spreader is disposable in a first position when the actuator is in the extended position, and the spreader is disposable in a second position when the actuator is in the retracted position. A movement from the extended position to the retracted position induces pivotal movement of the spreader from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Gregor Diessner, Marco Broschart, Oliver Klein
  • Publication number: 20190059218
    Abstract: A residue deflector is disposed in a combine body, and positioned along an airflow path to guide residue from an exit end of a cleaning shoe and a threshing and separation assembly, to a residue chopper. The deflector is configured with a plurality of spaced fingers so that air can pass through the deflector between the fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Michael T. Meschke, Matthew T. Wold, Gregor Diessner, Marco Broschart
  • Publication number: 20180352748
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and includes a roof structure located above the chopper rotor such that a minimal gap is defined therebetween. The air stream flows out of the interior via a flow path defined through the chopper rotor without being substantially redirected from flowing in the rearward direction by the plurality of blades of the chopper rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Gregor Diessner, Oliver Klein, Peter Mischler, Volker Fuchs, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Publication number: 20180352739
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and defines an inlet of the chopper rotor for receiving the residue and an outlet spaced rearward from the chopper rotor for discharge of the chopped residue from the interior of the housing. An air gap through which the air stream may exit the interior is defined between the rear hood and chopper rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Peter Mischler, Gregor Diessner, Martin Rittershofer, Oliver Klein
  • Publication number: 20180279554
    Abstract: A conveyor drum (202) for an endless belt conveyor (200) for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine (104) includes an elongate drum (202), cogs (213) fixed to the drum for driving endless belts (210), and retainers (218) fixed to the drum (202) to maintain the endless belts (210) in a proper operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: David W. PETERS, Corwin M. PURYK, Volker FUCHS, Mark L. MATTSON, Christopher J. FAULKNER, Martin RITTERSHOFER
  • Publication number: 20180282071
    Abstract: A cogged drive arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine has a first drive wheel with an axis of rotation, a hub extending around the axis of rotation, flanges fixed to an outer edge of the hub and extending outward from the hub and a plurality of cogs fixed to the outer ends of the flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: David W. PETERS, Corwin M. PURYK, Volker FUCHS, Mark L. MATTSON, Christopher J. FAULKNER, Martin RITTERSHOFER
  • Publication number: 20180279553
    Abstract: A wear strip arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine includes a first body that is configured to be attached to a slat that in turn is attached to the endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: David W. PETERS, Corwin M. PURYK, Volker FUCHS, Mark L. MATTSON, Christopher J. FAULKNER, Martin RITTERSHOFER
  • Publication number: 20180070532
    Abstract: A combine harvester has a straw chute with a straw conveyor which comprises a conveyor rotor which can be set into rotation and has dogs distributed helically around the conveyor rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Martin RITTERSHOFER, Oliver KLEIN, Peter MISCHLER, Gregor DIESSNER, Volker FUCHS, Christina FRIES, Dirk SCHUBERT
  • Patent number: 9717182
    Abstract: A feederhouse for a combine harvester comprises an endless conveyor having at least two traction means made of inherently flexible material circulating about the deflection rollers and offset from one another in the axial direction of the deflection rollers, between which conveying strips extend. The inner sides of the traction conveying strips are furnished with cams made of inherently flexible material. Anchor plates are embedded in each of the cams. A first fastener having a first head recessed within the individual cam extends through individual cams, through individual anchor plates and through individual conveying strips. The anchor plate comprises two non-circular openings, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener each have non-cylindrical outer circumferential surfaces received within the non-circular openings to inhibit rotation of each of the first fastener and the second fastener relative to the anchor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Volker Fuchs, Van Wolde Harm-Jan, Arjan Mulder
  • Patent number: 9706715
    Abstract: A feederhouse (20) for a combine harvester (10) has a drivable inclined conveyor shaft (80), which is supported via a bearing arrangement (48), which is designed as an axially movable floating bearing, on the housing (76) of the feederhouse (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Volker Fuchs, Philipp Veit, Martin Rittershofer
  • Patent number: 9485915
    Abstract: A combine harvester (10) has a feederhouse assembly (20) that comprises a housing (62). The housing (62) contains feederhouse rollers (64, 80), about which an endless conveying element (82) circulates. The endless conveying element (82) is made from an inherently flexible material having slats (84) fastened thereon. A first feederhouse roller (80) is mounted movably along an imaginary connecting line (95) between the feederhouse rollers (64, 80) and can be coupled to a spring (86) that pre-tensions the endless conveying element (82) and brings the first feederhouse roller (80) into a target position. The movement of the first feederhouse roller (80) toward the second feederhouse roller (64) is limited to this target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin Rittershofer, Philipp Veit
  • Patent number: 9309057
    Abstract: An inclined conveyor assembly for a combine has a housing, an upper inclined conveyor roller rotatably mounted at the rear of the housing, and a lower inclined conveyor roller positioned at the front end of the housing. An endless conveying element has drivers and rotates about the lower and upper inclined conveyor rollers. A pendulum frame on which a harvester head can be mounted articulates at the front end of the housing and is pivotable about a pendulum shaft. The pendulum shaft is inclined at a rearward and upward angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Johannes Juelke, Martin Rittershofer, Volker Fuchs