Patents by Inventor William Douglas Graham

William Douglas Graham 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: 20240090366
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for air seeding using an agricultural seeder. The agricultural seeder includes an air seeder for an agricultural implement having a frame, a plurality of seeding units coupled to the frame, and a linkage coupling an arm to the frame, wherein the arm is coupled to a ground engaging member. The air seeder further includes an actuator having a piston and cylinder arrangement operationally coupled to the arm and configured to adjust a ground penetration depth of the ground engaging member. The piston and cylinder arrangement include a two-stage cylinder operable to change a height of the ground engaging member by movement of the two-stage cylinder to adjust the ground penetration depth of the ground engaging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, William Douglas Graham
  • Patent number: 11818976
    Abstract: A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Sandeep Ekhe, Mandar Mhalsakant Kale, Sean A Mahrt, William Douglas Graham, Peter R. Nedved, Grant J. Wonderlich, Robert T. Casper, Omkar Joshi
  • Publication number: 20230000007
    Abstract: A device detects a trigger to dispense a product at a dispense point using a tool operably coupled to a tractor. In response to detecting the trigger, the device determines a delay time between commanding the tool to dispense the product and the product actually being dispensed, and determines a release point based on operating parameters of the tractor, the release point being a point at which the tractor is predicted to be an amount of time away from the dispense point equal to the delay time. The device determines that the tractor has reached the release point, and commands the tool to dispense the product, where the product reaches the dispense point based on the delay time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Solomon J. Sawlaw, Sean A. Mahrt, Ray M. Scheufler, William Douglas Graham, Samuel Santiago
  • Patent number: 11511938
    Abstract: Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Nicholas Geiger
  • Publication number: 20220214201
    Abstract: A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew David Arnold, William Douglas Graham, Michael Eugene Frasier
  • Publication number: 20220212507
    Abstract: An exemplary self-locking actuator mechanism includes a floating plate and a linear actuator. The floating plate defines a first slot that includes a first central portion, a first jog extending laterally from a first end of the first central portion, and a second jog extending laterally from a second end of the first central portion. The linear actuator includes a shaft pivotably connected to the floating plate, and is operable to drive the shaft between a first shaft position and a second shaft position to thereby move the self-locking actuator mechanism between a first locking state and a second locking state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Anand Mudanur, Anant Dnyanoba Nimbalkar, Pravin Pawar
  • Publication number: 20220174858
    Abstract: A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
  • Patent number: 11191207
    Abstract: A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
  • Patent number: 11140811
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a commodity container and an actuator system with a plurality of actuators. The work vehicle includes a delivery system with a plurality of tubes. Furthermore, the work vehicle includes a metering system with a plurality of metering rollers that are configured to be individually actuated by respective ones of the plurality of actuators to meter out a commodity from the commodity container to respective ones of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of metering rollers are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The plurality of metering rollers are disposed in a staggered arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Michael E. Frasier, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
  • Publication number: 20210153424
    Abstract: Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM, Nicholas Geiger
  • Publication number: 20210129808
    Abstract: An agricultural train assembly having a tractor and at least one implement coupled to the tractor through a tongue. The assembly has a tractor braking system that selectively applies tractor brakes, an implement braking system that selectively applies implement brakes, a controller that selectively applies the implement braking system, a sensor that communicates with the controller to identify a push force applied to the tongue, the push force being the amount of force applied by the at least one implement towards the tractor. Wherein, the controller communicates with the sensor to identify the push force and compares the push force to a push threshold and when the push force is greater than the push threshold, the controller instructs the implement braking system to apply a burst braking procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Mandar M. Kale
  • Publication number: 20210112698
    Abstract: A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: SANDEEP EKHE, MANDAR MHALSAKANT KALE, Sean A. MAHRT, William Douglas GRAHAM, Peter R. NEDVED, Grant J. WONDERLICH, Robert T. CASPER, Omkar JOSHI
  • Publication number: 20190380263
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a commodity container and an actuator system with a plurality of actuators. The work vehicle includes a delivery system with a plurality of tubes. Furthermore, the work vehicle includes a metering system with a plurality of metering rollers that are configured to be individually actuated by respective ones of the plurality of actuators to meter out a commodity from the commodity container to respective ones of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of metering rollers are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The plurality of metering rollers are disposed in a staggered arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: ANDREW W. HARMON, MICHAEL E. FRASIER, ROBERT T. CASPER, WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM
  • Patent number: 9743575
    Abstract: A commodity tank for a product distribution machine has a hollow body enclosing an interior space with an upper fill opening through which product can flow into the interior space. For convenience of the operator, a lower fill opening is also provided though which product can flow into the interior space. The lower fill opening is located at a lower height relative to the upper fill opening. The provision of the lower fill opening enables the operator to choose between either bulk filling the tank using the cart conveyor through the upper opening or manually filling the tank through the lower opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stanley R. Borkgren, Matthew J. Mentzer, Ryan C. Jardon, William Douglas Graham
  • Publication number: 20160330901
    Abstract: A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: MATTHEW DAVID ARNOLD, WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM, MICHAEL EUGENE FRASIER
  • Publication number: 20160255767
    Abstract: A commodity tank for a product distribution machine has a hollow body enclosing an interior space with an upper fill opening through which product can flow into the interior space. For convenience of the operator, a lower fill opening is also provided though which product can flow into the interior space. The lower fill opening is located at a lower height relative to the upper fill opening. The provision of the lower fill opening enables the operator to choose between either bulk filling the tank using the cart conveyor through the upper opening or manually filling the tank through the lower opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: STANLEY R. BORKGREN, MATTHEW J. MENTZER, RYAN C. JARDON, WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM
  • Publication number: 20150132072
    Abstract: An implement includes a frame, a tower, a manifold, and a retractable mount. The manifold is attached to the tower. The retractable mount attaches the tower and manifold to the frame and is configured to allow the tower and manifold to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the frame. A distance between the manifold and the frame is greater in the extended position than in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Tyler G. Groves, Kevin W. Hoehn, Dale A. Quam, William Douglas Graham
  • Patent number: 8573111
    Abstract: A load sense connection is provided between the implement rockshaft cylinders and the load-sensed power source. However, to avoid tractor starting difficulty, a valve structure is provided in the power beyond fluid line to keep the fluid line closed when starting the tractor. This valve structure provides a hydraulic latching function that allows the load-sensed power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load-sensed power source is activated when the rockshaft cylinder(s) is fully extended and remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. The load-sensed power source is deactivated or unlatched when the rockshaft cylinder is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Aaron L. Barfels
  • Publication number: 20110253239
    Abstract: A load sense connection is provided between the implement rockshaft cylinders and the load-sensed power source. However, to avoid tractor starting difficulty, a valve structure is provided in the power beyond fluid line to keep the fluid line closed when starting the tractor. This valve structure provides a hydraulic latching function that allows the load-sensed power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load-sensed power source is activated when the rockshaft cylinder(s) is fully extended and remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. The load-sensed power source is deactivated or unlatched when the rockshaft cylinder is retracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Aaron L. Barfels
  • Patent number: 7918285
    Abstract: A hydraulic latching circuit is provided that allows a load-sense power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load sense power source is activated when the wing cylinders are fully extended to maintain proper down force on the wings. It remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. It is deactivated or unlatched when the wing cylinders are retracted. Two circuits have been devised to accomplish this latching function. Both of these latching circuits can be used with the sequencing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Aaron L. Barfels