Patents by Inventor Tom N. N. Somers
Tom N. N. Somers 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).
-
Patent number: 11553647Abstract: A spreader system for use in an agricultural harvester having a threshing system and a cleaning system. The spreader system includes a chopper for the chopping of straw from the threshing system and a chaff spreader system and a straw spreader system. The chaff spreader system is configured to receive a flow of chaff from the cleaning system; and the straw spreader system is configured to receive a flow of straw from the chopper. The chaff spreader system is configured to emit a chaff airflow stream in a first flow path, and the straw spreader system is configured to emit a straw airflow stream in a second flow path. The first flow path and the second flow path intersect at a place of confluence apart from the chaff spreader system and the straw spreader system.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Stefaan Desmet, Tom N. N. Somers, Geert Nerinckx
-
Publication number: 20220377977Abstract: A combine harvester including a grain elevator for transporting and elevating harvested grain. The grain elevator includes a paddle loop, a driver, an elevator housing, and a sensor assembly. The paddle loop has a plurality of paddles for carrying the harvested grain. The driver is arranged for driving the paddle loop and thereby moving the paddles upward at a first side of the paddle loop and downward at a second side of the paddle loop. The elevator housing encompasses at least a portion of the paddle loop. The sensor assembly comprises a NIR sensor for detecting properties of the harvested grain and a sensor window arranged for enabling infrared light to travel between the NIR sensor and the harvested grain. The sensor window is embedded in the elevator housing, adjacent the first side of the paddle loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Tom N.N. Somers, Steven G.M. Van Overbeke, Michiel Vanderstichele, Pieter Vandevelde
-
Patent number: 10143141Abstract: A threshing section of an agricultural harvester. The threshing section includes a threshing drum and at least one concave assembly positioned proximate to the threshing drum. The concave assembly has a plurality of modularized assemblies, each modularized assembly being independently configurable.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Joris De Witte, Johan A. Van Der Haegen, Tom N. N. Somers
-
Patent number: 10130039Abstract: An agricultural harvester for harvesting a crop on a field. The harvester includes a chopping assembly configured to chop a crop residue of the harvested crop. The chopping assembly includes an inlet for receiving the crop residue, a rotor provided with one or more cutting tools and configured to chop the crop residue, a drive assembly configured to drive the rotor, and an outlet for outputting the chopped crop residue onto the field. The harvester further includes an image based sensor configured to generate a signal comprising an image of the chopped crop residue and a processing unit configured to receive the signal from the image based sensor, process the signal to derive a geometric parameter indicative of a geometry of the chopped crop residue, and determine a control signal for the drive assembly based on the geometric parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Tom N. N. Somers
-
Patent number: 10070590Abstract: A cleaning assembly for a harvester has a fan assembly with a fan and a first fan outlet and a second fan outlet, a first sieve assembly with at least one reciprocable sieve, an upstream end of the first sieve assembly near the first fan outlet such that air from the first fan outlet flows along the first sieve assembly and a direction of crop flow; and a second sieve assembly has at least one reciprocable sieve, an upstream stream end of the second sieve assembly near the second fan outlet such that the air from the second fan outlet flows along the second sieve assembly and the direction of crop flow, the second sieve assembly has a clean grain auger for receiving cleaned grain, and the first sieve assembly has a further clean grain auger arranged for receiving cleaned grain.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Frank R. G. Duquesne, Tom N. N. Somers
-
Patent number: 9980433Abstract: A cleaning assembly for a harvester operable to clean a crop while moving along a direction of the crop flow and comprising multiple cleaning sub-assemblies has a control system coupled to each of the cleaning sub-assemblies and operable to control the operation of each of the cleaning sub-assemblies in function of separate cleaning sub-assembly control settings for each of the cleaning sub-assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Bart M. A. Missotten, Tom N. N. Somers
-
Publication number: 20180007831Abstract: An agricultural harvester with crop residue spreaders distributing crop residue laterally. Each crop residue spreader has a plurality of radially extending bats rotatable within a housing for directing residue from an axially directed inlet radially outward through an outer outlet. The housing has an outer wall with a height that increases axially in a uniform fashion around the periphery to minimize if not eliminate recirculation of residue to the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Stefaan Ballegeer, Stefaan Desmet, Frank R.G. Duquesne, Eli Maes, Tom N.N. Somers, Peter Hollevoet
-
Patent number: 9814179Abstract: A combine harvester has an inclination module coupled to the straw walker control system. The inclination module provides information on the inclination of the combine harvester. The straw walker control system is further configured to control the controllable frequency of the oscillating movement in function of the information on the inclination of the combine harvester.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Bart M. A. Missotten, Tom N. N. Somers, Johan A. Van Der Haegen
-
Publication number: 20170055445Abstract: An agricultural harvester for harvesting a crop on a field. The harvester includes a chopping assembly configured to chop a crop residue of the harvested crop. The chopping assembly includes an inlet for receiving the crop residue, a rotor provided with one or more cutting tools and configured to chop the crop residue, a drive assembly configured to drive the rotor, and an outlet for outputting the chopped crop residue onto the field. The harvester further includes an image based sensor configured to generate a signal comprising an image of the chopped crop residue and a processing unit configured to receive the signal from the image based sensor, process the signal to derive a geometric parameter indicative of a geometry of the chopped crop residue, and determine a control signal for the drive assembly based on the geometric parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Tom N.N. Somers
-
Publication number: 20160295802Abstract: A threshing section of an agricultural harvester. The threshing section includes a threshing drum and at least one concave assembly positioned proximate to the threshing drum. The concave assembly has a plurality of modularized assemblies, each modularized assembly being independently configurable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Joris De Witte, Johan A. Van Der Haegen, Tom N.N. Somers
-
Publication number: 20160198629Abstract: A cleaning assembly for a harvester operable to clean a crop while moving along a direction of the crop flow and comprising multiple cleaning sub-assemblies has a control system coupled to each of the cleaning sub-assemblies and operable to control the operation of each of the cleaning sub-assemblies in function of separate cleaning sub-assembly control settings for each of the cleaning sub-assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2014Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Bart M.A. Missotten, Tom N.N. Somers
-
Publication number: 20160192591Abstract: A cleaning assembly for a harvester has a fan assembly with a fan and a first fan outlet and a second fan outlet, a first sieve assembly with at least one reciprocable sieve, an upstream end of the first sieve assembly near the first fan outlet such that air from the first fan outlet flows along the first sieve assembly and a direction of crop flow; and a second sieve assembly has at least one reciprocable sieve, an upstream stream end of the second sieve assembly near the second fan outlet such that the air from the second fan outlet flows along the second sieve assembly and the direction of crop flow, the second sieve assembly has a clean grain auger for receiving cleaned grain, and the first sieve assembly has a further clean grain auger arranged for receiving cleaned grain.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2014Publication date: July 7, 2016Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Frank R.G. Duquesne, Tom N. N. Somers
-
Publication number: 20150342119Abstract: A combine harvester has an inclination module coupled to the straw walker control system. The inclination module provides information on the inclination of the combine harvester. The straw walker control system is further configured to control the controllable frequency of the oscillating movement in function of the information on the inclination of the combine harvester.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 1, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Bart M.A. Missotten, Tom N.N. Somers, Johan A. Van Der Haegen
-
Patent number: 8920226Abstract: An intake feeder system having a stone separator mounted between a crop elevator and the mouth of a threshing mechanism disposed longitudinally in a combine harvester. The stone separator includes a rotary feed beater and a sump disposed beneath the feed beater. The feed beater serves to advance crop raised by the elevator along a crop flow path towards the mouth of the threshing mechanism and to propel stones in the crop into the sump. A duct is provided in parallel with the crop flow path for connecting a space above the rotary feed beater to the mouth of the threshing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Tom N. N. Somers, Stefaan Ballegeer, Andre G. J. Dhont
-
Publication number: 20130310120Abstract: A stone separator is described for mounting between a crop elevator and the mouth of a threshing mechanism disposed longitudinally in a combine harvester. The stone separator includes a rotary feed beater and a sump disposed beneath the feed beater. The feed beater serves to advance crop raised by the elevator along a crop flow path towards the mouth of the threshing mechanism and to propel stones in the crop into the sump. A duct is provided in parallel with the crop flow path for connecting a space above the rotary feed beater to the mouth of the threshing mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Tom N.N. Somers, Stefaan Ballegeer, Andre G.J. Dhont
-
Patent number: 7553226Abstract: A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester, comprises a frame supporting a grain pan and a sieve. The grain pan receives grain and chaff separated from the crop by a threshing mechanism and is reciprocable relative to the frame in order to separate the grain from the chaff and to propel the grain and chaff towards the sieve. The sieve is reciprocable relative to the frame and is connected to the frame by front and rear support arms and that are pivotably secured to the frame and to the sieve. In the invention, the front support arms have different geometries from the rear support arms such that when the sieve is reciprocated relative to the frame, the vertical component of oscillation is greater at the front end than at the rear end of the sieve.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: CNH America LLCInventors: André G. J. Dhont, Johnny Bossuyt, Frank R. G. Duquesne, Tom N. N. Somers
-
Publication number: 20080318650Abstract: A grain cleaning system for a combine harvester, comprises a frame supporting a grain pan and a sieve. The grain pan receives grain and chaff separated from the crop by a threshing mechanism and is reciprocable relative to the frame in order to separate the grain from the chaff and to propel the grain and chaff towards the sieve. The sieve is reciprocable relative to the frame and is connected to the frame by front and rear support arms and that are pivotably secured to the frame and to the sieve. In the invention, the front support arms have different geometries from the rear support arms such that when the sieve is reciprocated relative to the frame, the vertical component of oscillation is greater at the front end than at the rear end of the sieve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: Andre G.J. Dhont, Johnny Bossuyt, Frank R.G. Duquesne, Tom N.N. Somers
-
Patent number: 7322882Abstract: A drive linkage is described for reciprocating a sieve that is suspended within a frame of a combine harvester for movement in mutually orthogonal directions. The drive linkage comprises a cranking mechanism for imparting a reciprocating motion to the sieve in the direction of travel of the harvester and a pivot arm pivotably connected at one end to one side of the sieve to cause the sieve to move in an arc centered on a pivot axis at the opposite end of the pivot arm as the sieve is reciprocated. In the invention, the pivot axis of the pivot arm is displaced relative to the frame in synchronism with the reciprocation of the sieve in such a manner as to cause the sieve to follow a substantially rectilinear path relative to the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: CNH America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Tom N. N. Somers