Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert E. Muir
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Patent number: 6468154Abstract: A device for adjusting the opening width of vibrating sieves in a cleaning mechanism of combine harvesters is arranged on and vibrates directly with the sieves or the sieve frame. The device includes an electric-motor-driven adjusting mechanism which actuates in a direction along an axis which differs from the direction in which the sieve is vibrating. A detector is activated when a particular sieve opening width is achieved. When the detector is activated, the particular opening width is associated with a position of the adjusting mechanism as measured by a position sensor, thereby allowing calibration of further adjustments to the sieve opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Georg Eggenhaus, Eckehard Jeppe, Dieter Strickmann, Ulrich Claes
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Patent number: 6461035Abstract: A device for contactless testing of structural and/or surface defects of large-surface bodies, especially of slab-shaped materials includes a conveying device with an unsupported area; a source of heat arranged above the plane of conveyance and extending transversally to the direction of conveyance and which radiates heat in lines or strips onto the plane of conveyance; a thermographic camera having at least one camera line aligned transversally to the direction of conveyance and arranged above the plane of conveyance and after the source of heat in the direction of conveyance; and a computer connected to the camera that has a monitor and generates a separate heat image pattern from every camera line.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.Inventors: Peter Meinlschmidt, Joerg Sembach
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Patent number: 6458030Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, a separation zone and a discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, a rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, and sucking air flow stream generating device sucking an air flow stream from the discharge zone through the rotor housing. Guiding elements arranged in the discharge zone, which are projecting over the inner surface of the rotor housing to an extent to which they allow chaff to be sucked out of the rotor housing but retain grain kernels inside. Helical vanes in at least the first half of the length of the rotor housing are projecting over the inner surface of the rotor housing and are at an angle or inclined towards the feeding direction of the harvested crop to support the feeding action.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Andrie Diederich Visagie
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Patent number: 6450430Abstract: A drum chopper in which cutting blades are locked in a form-fitting relationship to blade receptacles includes a locking structure between the blades and receptacles and a clamping piece. In one embodiment, the locking structure is integrally formed in the bearing surfaces of the receptacle and the mating surfaces blade by a latch projection in the receptacle and a lug in the blade. In another embodiment, the locking structure is formed by matching grooves in the mating surfaces of the receptacle and blade and a key inserted into the matching grooves. The clamping piece is inserted between the blade and a stop in the receptacle to secure the arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Martin Dykstra, Ludger Gausmann
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Patent number: 6439277Abstract: A fuel tank, especially that of a motor vehicle, substantially reduces emission of fuel vapor from the fuel tank during refueling. Part of the fuel tank is cooled so that the rising fuel vapor condenses and flows back to the fuel tank, instead of vaporizing and releasing into the environment outside of the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Inventor: Hans Kyburz
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Patent number: 6435965Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, separation zone and is discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, fan to produce a main air flow stream and auxiliary air flow stream through the rotor housing, and wherein baffle plates are adjustable and located between the sieve and grain collection element wherein the baffle plates effect the auxiliary air flow stream. The baffle plates are adjustable in position, length and width parallel and traverse to the rotary threshing and separation unit axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Andrie Diederich Visagie
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Patent number: 6430905Abstract: A hydraulic reel drive wherein the reel motor is driven by a hydraulic pump, which is adjustable in a continuous manner and operates therewith in a closed oil circulating system. The advantage of this arrangement is that the reel always rotates uniformly independently of the instantaneous load thereon. Another advantage thereof is that by using a hydraulic pump, which is adjustable in a continuous manner, only that amount of oil is ever circulated as is required to drive the reel at a predetermined rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Günter Eis, Norbert Strieker
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Patent number: 6428600Abstract: The spheroidized hard material powders are produced by introducing a finely ground basic mixture of hard material into a thermal, inductively coupled high-frequency plasma so that at the same time a chemical conversion reaction to form an alloy and/or chemical reaction and spheroidization of the particles in the plasma take place. The hard material mixture may be powder, granules, or a suspension or any combination thereof. Hence, a mixture consisting of MexMy, wherein Me is a metal and M is a metalloid so that different metals and metalloids may be combined in the required metal-metalloid ratio is injected axially into an inductively coupled, high-frequency plasma with the aid of a carrier gas stream. The spheroidized hard material powder has excellent suitability for protection against wear.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Inventors: Walter Flurschütz, Alexander Klein, Rudi Horn, Simon Zakharian
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Patent number: 6416472Abstract: A method for measuring cognitive efficiency uses the following cognitive tests: Simple Reaction Time; Running Memory Continuous Performance Task; Matching to Sample; and Mathematical Processing Task. A device for measuring cognitive efficiency includes a microprocessor having a memory; the aforementioned cognitive tests loaded into the memory; a baseline stored in the memory, means for computing the score on a run of these tests and for storing the score in the memory; the means for computing being operative for comparing the score to the stored baseline; and means for indicating a cognitive change from the baseline. Changes in cognitive efficiency may be measured by comparing the results of the cognitive tests to a baseline.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: Edus Inc.Inventors: Roger K. Cady, Kathleen U. Farmer
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Patent number: 6416405Abstract: In a combine incorporating blowers (9) for spreading the discharge mixture of chopped straw and chaff over a wide area, the kinetic energy obtained through the medium of a chopper or feed device located prior to the blowers is retained so as to save on drive power by making the material outlet opening (4′) of the chopper (4) or the feed device lie in the same plane as the inlet opening (9′) of the blower (9).Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2000Date of Patent: July 9, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Martin Niermann
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Patent number: 6402516Abstract: A jaw implant for receiving and mounting of artificial teeth or a prosthetic overstructure has a disk-shaped foot part which may be inserted in an upper or lower jaw, a shaft oriented orthogonally to the foot part, a structure providing an abutment and arranged at one side on the shaft, and a web which connects the shaft with the foot part to form a one-piece jaw implant. The foot part transmits force and is formed as a disk-shaped form body composed of different geometric base forms. The form body is articulated through the web on the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Inventor: Stefan Ihde
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Patent number: 6401637Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for rapidly treating the surface and subsurface of soil by irradiation with microwave energy to preclude germination of existing seeds and to kill weeds prior to sowing new seed and to kill insects. A microwave weed seed sterilizer is powered by a generator set to produce microwave energy to a predetermined depth in the soil. The preferred embodiment of the microwave weed seed sterilizer is portable and operatively attached to a self-propelled farm machine. The self-propelled farm machine moves along a field while the portable microwave weed seed sterilizer emits microwave energy into the soil.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Inventor: Harold Earl Haller
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Patent number: 6402672Abstract: A roller in the form of a hollow cylinder is for use in harvesting machines and has inner support plates provided within the roller. A plurality of the innermost support plates are connected together by at least one axle section so as to prevent lateral displacement.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Usines Claas FranceInventors: Nicolas Mornet, Benoit Louyot, Martin Hawlas
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Patent number: 6397593Abstract: An apparatus for improving the cooler efficiency of a hydraulic drive system in a self-propelled agricultural machine includes a constantly running hydraulic pump which is driven by an internal combustion engine and a diverting device. The hydraulic pump creates a constant circulating stream of hydraulic fluid that circulates separately from the working stream of hydraulic fluid of the system. The diverting device draws a partial stream of hydraulic fluid from the working stream to the cooler. The diverting device adjusts the size of the partial flow depending on the temperature of the constant circulating stream of fluid in order to allow the cooler to work continuously at optimum efficiency without exceeding the maximum permissible pressure in the system.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Heinrich Dückinghaus
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Patent number: 6398639Abstract: A sieve lining for a concave in a threshing mechanism of a harvesting machine accommodates larger threshing cylinders while still allowing the sieve lining segments to be removed through an inspection opening in a threshing mechanism housing and includes an extension formed by either a single piece or segments; a plurality of sieve lining segments; and an articulated connection between the extension and the sieve lining segments.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Martin Dammann, Franz Heidjann
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Patent number: 6397569Abstract: An adjusting device for a sensor unit mounted on a field machine, or a harvester or tractor, and an associated method for positioning the field machine and sensor unit for locating a working edge of a field. The sensor unit can be mounted on a cutter bar assembly of a field machine via a supporting arm. The sensor unit may be adjusted horizontally or vertically. The sensor produces a signal that is communicated to a steering control unit to guide the field machine along the working edge of the field. The position or alignment of the sensor unit relative to a working edge of the field may be indicated on a two-dimensional display.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Helmut Homburg, Jochen Huster
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Patent number: 6398478Abstract: A compaction mechanism for mounting to a storage body for refuse or recyclables includes a tailgate apparatus mountable to a rearward opening of the storage body. The tailgate apparatus includes a receiving hopper and a movable panel which in a compaction position provides a rear closure for the storage body. The moveable panel is pivotally mounted to a pair of side panels which are pivotable upon the rear end of the sides of the tailgate. The movable panel may be swept rearwardly while the side panels are pivotable to a high position and then after the side panels are lowered, the moveable panel is pivoted forwardly to sweep through the hopper and compact the swept articles into the opening of the storage body. The entire tailgate may be opened by operation of a cylinder and link mechanism mounted between the top of the storage body and the rear face of the tailgate.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Wayne Engineering CorporationInventors: Fred P. Smith, Fred T. Smith
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Patent number: 6398310Abstract: An anatomically shaped seat shell includes a first lateral profile and a second lateral profile with a longitudinal axis located between the first lateral profile and the second lateral profile, a median support located edgeways to the longitudinal axis of the scat shell and having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion and seat bands located transverse to the median support and connected to the upper edge portion of the median support, the first lateral profile and the second lateral profile. A method of construction is also disclosed. By automatically adjusting the seat bands to the individual profile of the buttocks or posterior of a user, a high sitting stability and a high evenness of the distribution of sitting pressure are achieved. The distance of the seat bands from one another, in combination with an open-pore cellular material pad cut to the same thickness, provides a very good microclimate.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Otto Bock Orthopaedische Industrie Besitz-und Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Klaus Seeliger
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Patent number: 6393813Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine has a feed conveyor assembly arranged in the front region and a crop receiving assembly attached thereto. The two drive shafts of these assemblies are fitted with drive pulleys over which a common belt is entrained to drive the assemblies. A slip clutch is located between the pulley and the drive shaft for the feed conveyor. A brake is associated with the drive shaft for the feed conveyor by which the drive shaft can be braked suddenly when foreign objects appear in the feed region. The crop receiving assembly is braked by at least one slip clutch which is activated by the brake.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Martin Nowak
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Patent number: 6394893Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated blade actuator selectively actuating the shear blades associated with a rotary cutter for cutting the harvested crop into small pieces prior to the baling or collecting process in agricultural harvesting machines. The hydraulic cylinders (12) are disposed within a parallelpiped block (14). A plurality of hydraulic cylinders (12) are arranged adjacent to one another in a block (14). A plurality of transversely extending borings (18, 19, 20) are arranged in the base region of each one of the blocks (14), the borings extending continuously through each of the assembled blocks such that each one of these borings (18, 19, 20) is connected to the space within a hydraulic cylinder (12) via a respective connecting bore (21, 22, 23). Each of the borings (18, 19, 20) is provided with an appertaining on-off valve (29, 30, 31) and an accumulator (32, 33, 34).Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Egbert Scholz, Stephan Berkemann