Patents by Inventor Michael J. Connors

Michael J. Connors 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: 20170318739
    Abstract: The selective positioning of row units along a planter tool bar is facilitated by introducing an elongated channel of generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration intermediate the tool bar and a plurality of row unit head brackets. The channel is welded or otherwise fixed to the tool bar with the open edge of the “C” facing away from the tool bar and the head brackets are fixed to the channel by clamping nut and bolt assemblies. The bolts extend through the clamping brackets and engage corresponding clamping nuts. The clamping nuts are positioned within the “C” and may be slid along the inner edge of the channel to any preferred position. The bolts are then and tightened fixing the head bracket at the selected at location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerard James Gadzella, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20170303461
    Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes a toolbar assembly configured to support multiple row units, and multiple wheels configured to support the toolbar assembly. The wheels include a first wheel and a second wheel, and at least one row unit is configured to be disposed between the first wheel and the second wheel. The agricultural implement system also includes a wheel position control system configured to instruct first and second actuators to lower the first wheel and the second wheel to transition the agricultural implement system to a non-working position, to instruct the first and second actuators to raise the first wheel and the second wheel to transition the agricultural implement system to a working position, and to instruct the second actuator to raise the second wheel while the agricultural implement system is in the working position such that the second wheel is disengaged from a soil surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Johnathon R. Dienst, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9775280
    Abstract: An agricultural product distribution system that includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the agricultural product and the conveyed air. The agricultural product distribution system also includes a removable baffle configured to control an amount of the conveyed air that flows into each port of the plurality of ports. Furthermore, the inductor box is configured to enable the removable baffle to be slidingly inserted into the inductor box, and the removable baffle comprises a tang configured to at least partially block insertion of the removable baffle into the inductor box while the removable baffle is oriented at an undesirable orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9750177
    Abstract: A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank, the inductor box including, an inductor segment comprising a particulate material supply chamber configured to guide the particulate material toward a fluidization chamber, and an air supply chamber configured to receive airflow from an airflow supply, wherein the inductor box is configured to direct the airflow from the air supply chamber to the particulate material supply chamber through a first airflow path and through a second airflow path remote from the first air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Marvin A. Prickel, Grant T. MacDonald, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9743576
    Abstract: The selective positioning of row units along a planter tool bar is facilitated by introducing an elongated channel of generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration intermediate the tool bar and a plurality of row unit head brackets. The channel is welded or otherwise fixed to the tool bar with the open edge of the “C” facing away from the tool bar and the head brackets are fixed to the channel by clamping nut and bolt assemblies. The bolts extend through the clamping brackets and engage corresponding clamping nuts. The clamping nuts are positioned within the “C” and may be slid along the inner edge of the channel to any preferred position. The bolts are then and tightened fixing the head bracket at the selected at location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerard James Gadzella, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9699951
    Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes a toolbar assembly configured to support multiple row units, and multiple wheels configured to support the toolbar assembly. The wheels include a first wheel and a second wheel, and at least one row unit is configured to be disposed between the first wheel and the second wheel. The agricultural implement system also includes a wheel position control system configured to instruct first and second actuators to lower the first wheel and the second wheel to transition the agricultural implement system to a non-working position, to instruct the first and second actuators to raise the first wheel and the second wheel to transition the agricultural implement system to a working position, and to instruct the second actuator to raise the second wheel while the agricultural implement system is in the working position such that the second wheel is disengaged from a soil surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Johnathon R. Dienst, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9682736
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes left and right track assemblies, each track assembly including a main frame, a pivot member, a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot member, and an actuator coupled between the pivot shaft and the main frame. Each pivot member is mounted to a respective main frame to permit pivotal steering movement about a generally vertical steering axis for steering the track assemblies under the influence of the actuator. Additionally, each track assembly is pivotal about a generally horizontal pitch axis of the respective pivot shaft to permit pitch movement of the respective track assembly. Each track assembly is also pivotal about a generally horizontal camber axis through a portion of the respective pivot member to permit camber movement of the respective track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors, Tom Lykken, David Allen Zach
  • Patent number: 9670888
    Abstract: One embodiment is a filter element including an outer filter media and an inner filter media. The outer filter media is operable to remove particulates present in a flow of fluid and/or coalesce water contained in the flow of fluid. The inner filter media is operable to remove particulates from the flow of fluid, separate water form the flow of fluid, and remove particulates from the flow of fluid. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods relating to fuel filters and filtration. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Zemin Jiang, Melvin Douglas McCormick, David P. Genter, Norman C. Blizard, Jeffrey A. Husband, Michael J. Connor, Wassem Abdalla, Barry M. Verdegan
  • Patent number: 9648802
    Abstract: A system is provided for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop planting an agricultural field. The system may include a selector assembly arranged between a multi-compartment on-row hopper and a seed meter at each row unit of a planter. A control system controls selector valves of the selector assembly to switch from releasing of seeds of a first type from the on-row hopper the seed meter to releasing of seeds of a second type from the on-row hopper to the seed meter for providing a switchover of seeds being planted from the seed meter, from the first to the second type when the seed meter cross a boundary between different zones of the agricultural field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, Chad M. Johnson, Scott A. Long, Brian T. Adams, Marvin A. Prickel, Jason T. Czapka, Brian T. Anderson, Michael J. Connors, Darian E. Landolt
  • Patent number: 9603299
    Abstract: A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop or other planting of an agricultural field. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system. The system may include a seed metering system that can be controlled at each of multiple row units to selectively plant different types or varieties of seed based on seed type or variety zones agricultural field, which may correspond to field characteristics defined in a seed variety prescription map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, Brian T. Adams, Marvin A. Prickel, Brian J. Anderson, Chad M. Johnson, Jason T. Czapka, Scott A. Long, Michael J. Connors, Darian E. Landolt
  • Patent number: 9603298
    Abstract: A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop or other planting of an agricultural field. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system. The system may include a seed metering system that can be controlled at each of multiple row units to selectively plant different types or varieties of seed based on seed type or variety zones agricultural field, which may correspond to field characteristics defined in a seed variety prescription map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, Brian T. Adams, Marvin A. Prickel, Brian J. Anderson, Chad M. Johnson, Jason T. Czapka, Scott A. Long, Michael J. Connors, Darian E. Landolt
  • Publication number: 20170065924
    Abstract: A pleated filter media comprises a plurality of pleats comprised of pleat segments extending in an axial direction between first and second axial ends and extending in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at least partially defined by first and second sets of bend lines. Axial flow channels are defined between the pleat segments in the lateral direction and the plurality of pleats has a width in the transverse direction that varies along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Arun Janakiraman, Orvin D. Kendall, Scott W. Schwartz, Eric A. Janikowski, Michael J. Connor, Kurt M. A. Badeau, Murray R. Schukar
  • Patent number: 9555346
    Abstract: A filter includes a plurality of annular filter elements arranged in axially staggered relation. An axial flow path includes a plurality of flow path segments, some being filtered by a respective filter element, and others bypassing a respective filter element. Various combinations are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Holm, Michael J. Connor, Peter K. Herman, Scott W. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20170006762
    Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes a tow bar configured to couple to a hitch assembly. The agricultural implement system also includes a first wing tool bar rotatable relative to the tow bar and disposed proximate to a first side of the tow bar. The first wing tool bar has a first send proximate to the first side of the tow bar and a second end opposite the first end. Further, the agricultural implement system includes a caster wheel assembly having a caster wheel pivotally coupled to a sub-frame. The first sub-frame is pivotally coupled to the first wing tool bar proximate to the second end of the first wing tool bar, and is coupled to the first wing tool bar such that the axis of rotation of the sub-frame extends through the first wing tool bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Johnathon R. Dienst, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20170006761
    Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes a tow bar assembly configured to couple the agricultural implement system to a tow vehicle. The agricultural implement system also includes a toolbar assembly coupled to the tow bar assembly. The toolbar assembly includes a first wing toolbar configured to support a first row unit, the first wing toolbar is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the tow bar assembly to enable the toolbar assembly to bend in response to variations in a surface of soil, and no ground engaging wheel is coupled to the first wing toolbar. The agricultural implement system also includes an actuator configured to rotate the first wing toolbar upwardly about the first axis while the toolbar assembly is in a raised position such that the first row unit is disengaged from soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Brian John Anderson, Scott Allen Long, Johnathon R. Dienst, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20170006758
    Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes a toolbar assembly configured to support multiple row units, and multiple wheels configured to support the toolbar assembly. The wheels include a first wheel and a second wheel, and at least one row unit is configured to be disposed between the first wheel and the second wheel. The agricultural implement system also includes a wheel position control system configured to instruct first and second actuators to lower the first wheel and the second wheel to transition the agricultural implement system to a non-working position, to instruct the first and second actuators to raise the first wheel and the second wheel to transition the agricultural implement system to a working position, and to instruct the second actuator to raise the second wheel while the agricultural implement system is in the working position such that the second wheel is disengaged from a soil surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Johnathon R. Dienst, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20170000008
    Abstract: An agricultural planter has a chassis with at least one wing section, which is operable to rotate forward about a vertical hinge to a transport configuration and to rotate outward about the vertical hinge to a working configuration. The agricultural planter has a telescoping hitch assembly made of an inner hitch bar and an outer hitch bar in a sliding relationship. A horsehead is attached to the at least one wing section and configured in such a way as to support the at least one wing section when in the transport configuration by resting upon the top of the outer hitch bar of the telescoping hitch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Anderson, Patrick Dinnon, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20170000004
    Abstract: The selective positioning of row units along a planter tool bar is facilitated by introducing an elongated channel of generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration intermediate the tool bar and a plurality of row unit head brackets. The channel is welded or otherwise fixed to the tool bar with the open edge of the “C” facing away from the tool bar and the head brackets are fixed to the channel by clamping nut and bolt assemblies. The bolts extend through the clamping brackets and engage corresponding clamping nuts. The clamping nuts are positioned within the “C” and may be slid along the inner edge of the channel to any preferred position. The bolts are then and tightened fixing the head bracket at the selected at location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Gerard James Gadzella, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9504950
    Abstract: A pleated filter media comprises a plurality of pleats comprised of pleat segments extending in an axial direction between first and second axial ends and extending in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at least partially defined by first and second sets of bend lines. Axial flow channels are defined between the pleat segments in the lateral direction and the plurality of pleats has a width in the transverse direction that varies along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Arun Janakiraman, Orvin D. Kendall, Scott W. Schwartz, Eric A. Janikowski, Michael J. Connor, Kurt M. A. Badeau, Murray R. Schukar
  • Patent number: 9439344
    Abstract: An agricultural product delivery system for an agricultural implement includes an inductor box with an agricultural product inlet configured to receive an agricultural product, an air inlet configured to receive an airflow, a plurality of mixing chambers, and a plurality of air bypass channels. Each mixing chamber is configured to mix the agricultural product and a respective first portion of the airflow. The plurality of air bypass channels is configured to guide a respective second portion of the airflow from the air inlet to a respective mixing chamber of the plurality of mixing chambers. The plurality of bypass channels includes inside air bypass channels that contact adjacent inside air bypass channels, and outside air bypass channels that are arranged adjacent to an exterior inductor box wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, David D. Flamme, Chad M. Johnson, Scott A. Long, Grant T. MacDonald, Marvin A. Prickel, Martin J. Roberge