Patents by Inventor Ward J. Hepting

Ward J. Hepting 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: 8371238
    Abstract: An assembly for selectively supplying particulate material to an air seeder, an agricultural implement able to selectively supply and dispense particulate material into the ground and a method of selectively dispensing particulate material into the ground are provided. The assembly has at least one supply receptacle for receiving particulate material from a source and a metering roller for supplying the material to an air seeder. The assembly is operative to selectively supply the material to the air seeder and prevent the material from being supplied to the air seeder. The implement can use the assembly to selectively supply particulate material to ground engaging openers where the particulate material will be dispensed into the ground. Particulate material can be selectively supplied to the implement when it is desired to have the particulate material dispensed into the ground and then prevented from being supplied to the implement when it is not desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: One Pass Implements Inc.
    Inventors: Brian F. Dean, Patrick M. Beaujot, David R. Duke, Bruce W. Wilton, Barry K. Melanson, Justin C. Varjassy, Ward J. Hepting, Dave Hundeby
  • Patent number: 7690440
    Abstract: An agricultural seeder or fertilizer having a meter device which dispenses seed or fertilizer to a plurality of ground-engaging members. The supply of metered seed or fertilizer to each of the ground-engaging members is controlled via input from a GPS/GNSS satellite navigation system to prevent the meter device delivering seed or fertilizer to selected of the ground-engaging members which would otherwise pass over soil which has been previously seeded or fertilized. Raising means, responsive to input from said GPS/GNSS satellite navigation system detecting that the device is travelling or is about to travel over areas of soil that has been previously seeded or fertilized, is further is provided to raise the selected ground-engaging members to which delivery of seed/fertilizer has been prevented in order to prevent soil which has been previously seeded or fertilized from being disturbed. A method of operating a seeder/fertilizer implement to achieve the aforesaid is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: One Pass Implements Inc.
    Inventors: Brian F. Dean, Patrick M. Beaujot, David R. Duke, Bruce W. Wilton, Barry K. Melanson, Justin C. Varjassy, Ward J. Hepting, Dave Hundeby
  • Publication number: 20090079624
    Abstract: A sectional meter shut-off apparatus for use in preventing material such as seed or fertilizer from reaching a metering device, for the purpose of preventing double seeding or double fertilizing. The sectional meter shut-off apparatus comprises a plurality of gates capable of opening or closing access to a metering roller. The plurality of gates can be controlled through electric actuators, hydraulic cylinders or a shaft. These gates can individually be controlled through an electric switch connected to the cab of the vehicle and operated by the driver, or automatically controlled by a GPS/GNSS system capable of determining which areas of the field have been previously seeded or fertilized. Additionally, an agricultural implement is further provided, comprising a dual material dispensing apparatus, which incorporates a meter shut-off device, and hydraulic rams to raise ground-engaging soil openers when passing over soil that has been previously seeded/fertilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Brian F. Dean, Patrick M. Beaujot, David R. Duke, Bruce W. Wilton, Barry K. Melanson, Justin C. Varjassy, Ward J. Hepting, Dave Hundeby