Patents by Inventor Michael W. Mossman

Michael W. Mossman 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: 20220183202
    Abstract: A transport assembly for a harvesting head that includes head connector arms, a transport axle, and a coupling system with a latch actuator, and first and second latch mechanisms coupled to the latch actuator and located at opposite ends of the transport axle. The transport assembly functions in working and transport modes. In the working mode, the first and second latch mechanisms latch the first and second head connector arms to the transport axle to latch the harvesting head to the transport axle. When the latch actuator is activated, the first and second latch mechanisms release the first and second head connector arms from the transport axle to allow the harvesting head to separate from the transport axle. When the latch actuator is not activated, the first and second latch mechanisms can be biased to remain latched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Jixin Chen, Michael W. Mossman, Michael L. Vandeven, Duane M. Bomleny
  • Publication number: 20220046860
    Abstract: A reel for use in an agricultural header has an axis of rotation and comprises a bat and a finger. The bat is mounted to rotate around the axis of rotation to gather crop, and has a non-circular cross-sectional profile. The finger is mounted to the bat to rotate with the bat around the axis of rotation to gather crop. The finger comprises a tine and a clamshell mount to which the tine is coupled and that surrounds the bat to mount the finger to the bat against rotation about the bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventor: MICHAEL W. MOSSMAN
  • Publication number: 20220000030
    Abstract: A reel assembly for a harvester head of agricultural machine includes a carrier bar, standard tines coupled to the carrier bar, and gaps tine removably coupled to the carrier bar and such that the gap tines do not penetrate an outer surface of the carrier bar. The gap tines contact the standard tines to prevent rotation of the gap tines relative to the carrier bar during operation of the work machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 11178821
    Abstract: A reel for use in an agricultural header has an axis of rotation and comprises a bat and a finger. The bat is mounted to rotate around the axis of rotation to gather crop, and has a non-circular cross-sectional profile. The finger is mounted to the bat to rotate with the bat around the axis of rotation to gather crop. The finger comprises a tine and a clamshell mount to which the tine is coupled and that surrounds the bat to mount the finger to the bat against rotation about the bat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Publication number: 20200383269
    Abstract: A reel for use in an agricultural header has an axis of rotation and comprises a bat and a finger. The bat is mounted to rotate around the axis of rotation to gather crop, and has a non-circular cross-sectional profile. The finger is mounted to the bat to rotate with the bat around the axis of rotation to gather crop. The finger comprises a tine and a clamshell mount to which the tine is coupled and that surrounds the bat to mount the finger to the bat against rotation about the bat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: MICHAEL W. MOSSMAN
  • Patent number: 10813282
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a main frame, a cutter assembly, and a conveyor system. The cutter assembly is pivotally coupled to the main frame. The cutter assembly includes a cutter bar configured to sever crop material adjacent to the ground and a cutter frame configured to support the cutter bar for pivotal movement relative to the main frame. The conveyor system is coupled to the main frame and configured to convey severed crop material in a rearward direction away from the cutter bar toward a central feed drum of the harvesting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 10660272
    Abstract: A draper platform includes a drive roller and an idler roller spaced from the drive roller. A belt is operatively coupled to each of the drive roller and the idler roller. The draper platform also includes a belt tensioning system, including a tension adjustment rod. A worm gear is operatively coupled to the tension adjustment rod. A sector gear is in meshed engagement with the worm gear. A push rod is operatively coupled to each of the sector gear and the idler roller such that rotation of the sector gear causes translation of the idler roller so as to adjust tension of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael W. Mossman, Jesse R. Neely
  • Publication number: 20200022304
    Abstract: Harvesting machines and agricultural harvesting heads for harvesting machines are disclosed herein. A harvesting machine includes a main frame, a cutter assembly, and a conveyor system. The cutter assembly is pivotally coupled to the main frame. The cutter assembly includes a cutter bar configured to sever crop material adjacent to the ground and a cutter frame configured to support the cutter bar for pivotal movement relative to the main frame. The conveyor system is coupled to the main frame and configured to convey severed crop material in a rearward direction away from the cutter bar toward a central feed drum of the harvesting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 10537063
    Abstract: A head for an agricultural machine includes a frame with a center segment defining a first longitudinal axis and a wing defining a second longitudinal axis. The head also includes a motion control assembly connecting the center segment and the wing such that the wing is movable relative to the center segment between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. The motion control assembly is configured to maintain the second longitudinal axis in a parallel relationship with the first longitudinal axis as the wing moves between the deployed position and the non-deployed position, and the wing is movable from the deployed position to the non-deployed position along a continuous arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Publication number: 20190380273
    Abstract: A draper platform includes a drive roller and an idler roller spaced from the drive roller. A belt is operatively coupled to each of the drive roller and the idler roller. The draper platform also includes a belt tensioning system, including a tension adjustment rod. A worm gear is operatively coupled to the tension adjustment rod. A sector gear is in meshed engagement with the worm gear. A push rod is operatively coupled to each of the sector gear and the idler roller such that rotation of the sector gear causes translation of the idler roller so as to adjust tension of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael W. Mossman, Jesse R. Neely
  • Patent number: 10426088
    Abstract: A draper head for a combine includes a center section adapted for attachment to the combine. The center section is provided with a center feed assembly that includes first and second belt frames. Each of the first and second belt frames supports a drive roller, an idler roller, and a belt extending between the drive roller and the idler roller. The draper head also includes first and second wings extending in opposite lateral directions from the center section. Each of the first and second wings includes a draper belt operable to feed crop material toward the center section. The second belt frame is movable relative to the first belt frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Publication number: 20190104683
    Abstract: A head for an agricultural machine includes a frame with a center segment defining a first longitudinal axis and a wing defining a second longitudinal axis. The head also includes a motion control assembly connecting the center segment and the wing such that the wing is movable relative to the center segment between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. The motion control assembly is configured to maintain the second longitudinal axis in a parallel relationship with the first longitudinal axis as the wing moves between the deployed position and the non-deployed position, and the wing is movable from the deployed position to the non-deployed position along a continuous arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Publication number: 20190104682
    Abstract: A draper head for a combine includes a center section adapted for attachment to the combine. The center section is provided with a center feed assembly that includes first and second belt frames. Each of the first and second belt frames supports a drive roller, an idler roller, and a belt extending between the drive roller and the idler roller. The draper head also includes first and second wings extending in opposite lateral directions from the center section. Each of the first and second wings includes a draper belt operable to feed crop material toward the center section. The second belt frame is movable relative to the first belt frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 10212885
    Abstract: A finger support for the fingers of a rotating drum conveyor (e.g. feed drum) and agricultural harvesting head includes first and second finger supports with first and second ring portions fixed together to define a gap into which a third ring portion is received and supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Publication number: 20180103586
    Abstract: A finger support for the fingers of a rotating drum conveyor (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 9872436
    Abstract: A drum conveyor has a laterally extending drum (120), first and second stub axles (204, 206) extending into the ends of the drum; two link members (208, 210) that are fixed to the stub axles inside the drum and that support a third axle (212) inside the drum for free rotation with respect to the two link members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael W. Mossman, Duane J. Gosa
  • Patent number: 9814178
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvesting machine includes a cutting bar for cutting agricultural material, a first frame portion, a second frame portion, and a bracket assembly for pivotably coupling the second frame portion to the first frame portion. The first frame portion includes a conveyor for moving cut material and a pair of supports. The first frame portion also includes a pin extending between the supports and secured to the supports. The second frame portion includes a conveyor for moving cut material. The bracket assembly includes a first portion and a second portion removably coupled to the first portion such that the pin is positioned between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Publication number: 20170318746
    Abstract: A drum conveyor has a laterally extending drum (120), first and second stub axles (204, 206) extending into the ends of the drum; two link members (208, 210) that are fixed to the stub axles inside the drum and that support a third axle (212) inside the drum for free rotation with respect to the two link members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michael W. Mossman, Duane J. Gosa
  • Patent number: D901548
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael W. Mossman, Dhananjay Rajopadhye, Vivek Vedpathak
  • Patent number: D929468
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Dhananjay Rajopadhye, Michael W. Mossman, Marshall T. Graves, Vivek Vedpathak, Tobias Adami, Florian Teubner