Patents Examined by Alicia Torres
  • Patent number: 11770990
    Abstract: An apparatus for combining planting implements enables an operator of a tractor to use both a conventional cultivating implement and a conventional broadcasting implement simultaneously. The apparatus is rigidly affixed to a conventional cultivating implement and comprises a support frame, a pair of brackets, and a connection bar. In combination, the support frame, pair of brackets, and connection bar provide a three-point connection whereby a conventional broadcasting implement may be attached thereto, thus enabling an operator of a tractor to use both a conventional cultivating implement and a conventional broadcasting implement simultaneously. In operation, at least a portion of the conventional cultivating implement is disposed behind the conventional broadcasting implement when the conventional broadcasting implement is attached to the support frame, thereby allowing simultaneous cultivation and broadcasting of constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Jeffrey Howard Cromwell
  • Patent number: 11770998
    Abstract: A seed-sowing assembly, especially of rice, consisting of at least two single seeding units arranged in parallel and displaced longitudinally from each other, which allows a narrow separation between furrows, wherein each of said single units comprises a first pivoting support arm connected at one of its ends that supports a load regulator; and a second pivoting support arm connected to another end of the first support arm that supports at least one furrow-generating disc; at least one depth limiting wheel coupled to at least one furrow-generating disc; a seed contact wheel; and a third pivoting support arm connected to one end of the second support arm that supports two furrow-closing wheels. A seed-sowing machine comprising the seed-sowing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TECNOLOGIA AGROPECUARIA, PLA S.A.
    Inventors: Hernan Javier Ferrari, Luis Duranti
  • Patent number: 11765992
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting a difference in orientation between a lawn mower and a surface on which the mower is mowing, or between portions of such surface, based on one or more of sensor data or map data are discussed. The difference in orientation may then be used to control the lawn mower by, for example, raising a deck height or idling a blade speed, though other actuations are contemplated. In some examples, an amount the deck height is raised may be based on the difference in orientation. Based on a subsequent difference detected being at or below a threshold difference, the mower may return to previous operating conditions including, but not limited to, returning a blade speed to a previous blade speed and/or returning the deck height to a previous deck height, among other controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Scythe Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Davis Thorp Foster, Robert Johnstone McCutcheon, IV, John Gordon Morrison, Isaac Heath Roberts
  • Patent number: 11758843
    Abstract: A mower deck belt tensioning arm having a sheet metal body with an idler pulley rotatably mounted to a first end of the body. A spring is connected to a second end of the body biasing the idler pulley against a belt on a mower deck rotating a plurality of blade pulleys. An integrally formed in bushing is between the first end and the second end of the body, the bushing having a straight section length greater than the thickness of the sheet metal body and pivotably mounted around a spindle secured to the mower deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Ryan A. Fergus, Samuel W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11758851
    Abstract: A cracker roller disc has a first portion radially outward of the centre of substantially constant thickness, and a second portion radially outward of the first portion which second portion tapers towards the periphery of the disc. A plurality of upstanding ridges extending radially outward across the second portion on opposed faces of the disc are machined to define respective conical surfaces forming radially extending edges on opposed faces of the disc. The disc is provided with one or more circular or spiral grooves which cut across the edges in a substantially perpendicular direction to the edges. The grooves extend the effective length of each edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg Bethge
  • Patent number: 11744177
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a housing having a rear hood and defining an interior, a blower for generating an air stream in a substantially rearward direction, and a cleaning system separating residue from a crop material such that the residue is transported via the air stream rearwardly to be discharged from the housing. A chopper rotor assembly is disposed within the interior below the rear hood and includes a chopper rotor having a plurality of blades for chopping the residue as it is received via the air stream. A chopper housing is disposed within the interior and defines an inlet of the chopper rotor for receiving the residue and an outlet spaced rearward from the chopper rotor for discharge of the chopped residue from the interior of the housing. An air gap through which the air stream may exit the interior is defined between the rear hood and chopper rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Peter Mischler, Gregor Diessner, Martin Rittershofer, Oliver Klein
  • Patent number: 11744176
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a blade lock for use with a lawnmower. The blade lock includes an adjustable intermediate shaft having a hook-like component on one end for holding the blade of the lawnmower and a clamp-like member on the opposite end for attachment to the deck of the lawnmower. The shaft portion includes a plurality of fasteners which allow the shaft to be adjustable in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: James Joe Springer
  • Patent number: 11737386
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring soil properties. An example control and monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units includes a reflectivity sensor, a camera, a processor, and a monitoring device. The reflectivity sensor generates a reflectivity signal related to reflectivity of soil worked by the row units. The camera captures images of a seed trench opened by an opening assembly of the row units. The camera is disposed on a shank extension forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by the row units. The processor is configured to calculate a statistical variation in the reflectivity signal and the monitoring device is configured to display one or more of the images captured by the camera and a representation of the statistical variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CLIMATE LLC
    Inventors: Matt Morgan, Mike Strnad, Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Brian McMahon, Troy Plattner
  • Patent number: 11737392
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame and at least one row unit supported by the frame. The at least one row unit including has at least one deck assembly. The at least one deck assembly has a plurality of plates defining an outer periphery for contacting a crop material. Adjacent ones of the plurality of plates at least partially overlap and are movable with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Eric L. Walker
  • Patent number: 11730072
    Abstract: A harvesting and sowing integrated compound operation machine, including a combine harvester, a stubble cleaning device, a topsoil loosening device, a fertilization device, a rotary tillage and ditching device, a sowing device, a detection device, a first driving device, a second driving device and a control device, wherein the stubble cleaning device is mounted below a header of the combine harvester; and the topsoil loosening device, the fertilization device, the rotary tillage and ditching device and the sowing device are mounted at a rear of a chassis of the combine harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Jiangsu University
    Inventors: Lizhang Xu, Tiaotiao Chen, Yixin Sun, Yaoming Li
  • Patent number: 11723311
    Abstract: A radio-controlled mower has a frame, an engine unit, rolling bodies configured to move the frame over an area of ground, a central cutting unit, and side cutting units. The frame and the side cutting units are mutually movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: MDB SRL
    Inventor: Mario Di Biase
  • Patent number: 11723304
    Abstract: A device is provided that includes: an elongated handle having a proximal end and a distal end; a handle coupling device attached to the distal end of the elongated handle, the coupling device having a tubular head and a plurality of spaced legs extending distally from the tubular head; a first attachment device pivotally coupled to a distal end of a first leg of the handle coupling device and a second attachment device pivotally coupled to a distal end of a second leg the handle coupling device; and a first set of yard rake tines rotatably coupled to the first attachment device and a second set of yard rake tines rotatably coupled to the second attachment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Barbara Ann Lyons
  • Patent number: 11716933
    Abstract: A straw chopper for a combine harvester including a rotor supporting a plurality of chopping elements. A rotor housing including an inlet opening, an outlet axially aligned with the inlet opening, and at least one outlet that is axially offset from the inlet opening. A portion of the straw is conveyed tangentially to the axially-aligned outlet, whilst a further portion is conveyed from the inlet opening to the axially offset outlet(s) via a path having an axial component, for example a helical path. Guide vanes may be provided on the inside of the housing to impart an axial force upon the straw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO do Brasil Soluções Agrícolas Ltda.
    Inventor: Lauro Bonetti
  • Patent number: 11716932
    Abstract: A mower may have a frame, a cutting deck coupled to the frame, a side discharge opening on a lateral side of the cutting deck, a discharge chute coupled to the lateral side of the cutting deck, a mounting frame coupled proximate the discharge opening, the discharge chute movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A distal end of the discharge chute is spaced away from the side discharge opening in the extended position. The distal end of the discharge chute being positioned such that the top edge of the discharge chute is substantially parallel (e.g., +/?10 degrees) to the mounting frame in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: EXCEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gaeddert, Michael L. Webb
  • Patent number: 11716931
    Abstract: A collected article container device provided with a collected article container and capable of traveling autonomously is detachably connected to a work equipment main body that has a work unit such as a cutting blade device and is able to travel, the container device being configured to travel in a detached state to a collected article destination by itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Runa Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11712002
    Abstract: A residue spreader for receiving crop residue from a residue chopper of a combine harvester and spreading crop residue onto the ground. The spreader includes a body having an inlet side and an outlet side, a plurality of outlet deflectors, each outlet deflector mounted on the body in juxtaposed position and configured to laterally deflect the crop residue between the inlet side and the outlet side, and a plurality of inlet deflectors, each inlet deflector pivotally mounted on the body in juxtaposed position and extending forwards from a respective pivot axis towards the inlet side and each configured to laterally deflect the crop residue between the inlet side and the outlet side upstream of the outlet deflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Mygind Bojsen
  • Patent number: 11711996
    Abstract: A row unit for a high-speed agricultural seeder includes a leading system including an opener and a dispenser, a trailing system including a leveler and a packer, a primary force generator generating a primary force, and a packer force adjustment system generating a packer adjustment force. The primary force includes opener and trailing force portions that are transferred to the opener and trailing system, respectively. The trailing force portion includes a leveler force portion that is transferred to the leveler and a packer force portion that is transferred to the packer. The packer adjustment force is adjustable independently of the leveler force portion, such that a combined packer force equal to a sum of the packer force portion and the packer adjustment force is adjustable independent of the leveler force portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Morris Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Clint W. Sheppard, Bhaskar Paliwal, Mark R. Benko, Edwin Antony
  • Patent number: 11711997
    Abstract: In one aspect, an agricultural row unit is provided an includes a frame, an opener disc rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to open a seed trench, and an applicator assembly coupled to the frame and configured to apply a liquid. The applicator assembly including a housing and a valve coupled to the housing and configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source. The valve is electronically powered to move to an open condition, in which fluid is configured to pass through and emit from the valve, and electronically powered to move to a closed condition, in which fluid is inhibited from passing through and emitting from the valve. The agricultural row unit also includes a closing wheel coupled to the frame and configured to close the seed trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: 360 YIELD CENTER, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler R. Ritland, Connor M. Hesterberg, Timothy A Sauder
  • Patent number: 11700787
    Abstract: An electric walk behind greens mower includes an electric reel motor rotating a cutting reel; an electric traction motor rotating at least one traction drive roller; and an electronic control unit commanding the electric traction motor and the electric reel motor to rotate at reduced speeds during a turn if an electronic signal indicates a deviation from a normal walk speed. The electric walk behind greens mower also may include a battery management system that activates a low voltage power supply if a key switch is turned from the off position to the run position, and that provides a start signal to an electronic control unit if the key switch is momentarily turned from the run position to the start position whereby the electronic control unit activates a high voltage power supply to the electric reel motor and the electric traction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Punamchandra Kulkarni, Sandip Edake, Saravanan Deenadayalan, Chinmay Deshpande, Rajesaheb Bagwan, Bhupesh Agrawal, Naveen Kumar
  • Patent number: 11690321
    Abstract: A system for supplying electric power to components of an agricultural harvester may include a power storage device and a first agricultural harvester component. The system may also include a first bus electrically coupled to the power storage device and configured to supply electric power at a first voltage to the first agricultural harvester component. Furthermore, the system may include a second agricultural harvester component and a second bus configured to supply the electric power at a second voltage to second agricultural harvester component, the second voltage being less than the first voltage. Additionally, the system may include a converter electrically coupled between the first and the second bus, with the converter configured to reduce the first voltage supplied through the first bus to allow electric power to be supplied to the second agricultural harvester component at the second voltage via the second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Fabio Nicora, Giorgio Mantovani, Alessandro Bernardini, Carlos Eduardo de Carvalho Visconti