Patents Examined by Arpad Fabian Kovacs
  • Concaves for an agricultural combine
    Patent number: 10609867
    Abstract: A concave for an agricultural combine includes threshing bars carried by a base frame and forming openings therebetween for grain to pass through. Each threshing bar includes an inner extremity, a deflecting extremity including a deflecting surface, a separating grate between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity, the separating grate extends across an adjacent one of the openings between the inner extremity and the deflecting extremity for separating grain from threshed crop material, the deflecting surface projects angularly upward relative to the separating grate, and the deflecting surface and the separating grate are arranged at an obtuse angle therebetween forming a grain-collecting trough between the deflecting surface and the separating grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin J. Kile
  • Flexible row crop header for an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 10609865
    Abstract: A row crop header for a harvester having a subframe removably coupleable to a feeder housing of the harvester. A pivot assembly is supported by the subframe permitting first and second header sections to pivotably move between raised and lowered positions together or independently of the other. A cross-auger center suspension assembly rotateably supports one end of the first cross-auger section and one end of the second cross-auger section as the first and second header sections pivotally move between the raised and lowered positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Inventor: Kevin Markt
  • Adjustable conveyor assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 10595463
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester that includes a frame, a support bar connected to the frame and a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly is connected to the support bar and is adjustable in position relative to the frame about at least two degrees of freedom. The conveyor assembly includes a cam track, an endless web extending across the cam track and a plurality of tines connected to the endless web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Eric Walker
  • Power rake devices
    Patent number: 10595460
    Abstract: A dethatcher includes a frame having front and rear ends and a handle extending from the frame rear end. Wheels are coupled to the frame, and a cutting reel is housed in the frame. An engine is included for powering the cutting reel. In one embodiment, a bottom of the engine is below a top of the cutting reel when the cutting reel is in use. In another embodiment, the cutting reel is located between the engine and the frame front end. Another dethatcher has sequentially from a rear end: a handle, an engine, a cutting reel powered by the engine, and a bagger for collecting debris from the cutting reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Harvey, Ryan Jaskowiak, Matthew S. Zurawski
  • Auger bed with multiple augers in a single trough for a combine harvester
    Patent number: 10588262
    Abstract: An auger bed for a threshing and separation system of an agricultural harvester includes a bed having a trough and two augers positioned in the trough for conveying material along the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Manual and self adjusting deck plate for agricultural header
    Patent number: 10582662
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle includes: a header frame; a first deck plate carried by the header frame; a second deck plate carried by the header frame, the first deck plate and the second deck plate forming a gap therebetween defining a gap width and a width direction; a rotatable tube carried by the header frame and connected to at least one of the first deck plate and the second deck plate such that rotation of the rotatable tube adjusts the gap width; and a spring fixed to the rotatable tube and having at least one end captured by the second deck plate such that a force directed in the width direction acting on the second deck plate produces a spring force in the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industial America LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Ricketts
  • Grain pan for a combine harvester
    Patent number: 10582666
    Abstract: A grain pan for a combine harvester comprises a plurality of grain pan members with a closed surface grain contacting surface adapted to engage the harvested crop. More than one of the grain pan members are grain pan members comprising a first connection element and a second connection element, the first connection element being adapted to effectuate a detachable connection with the second connection element of another grain pan body member and vice versa. The grain pan members are detachably connected to each other, one behind the other via their respective first and second connection elements, in a direction substantially parallel to the main direction of grain transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Vanstaen, Willem De Coninck, Bart Derynck, Frank R. G. Duquesne, Michiel J. Vanderstrichele, Kris S. Vanhee
  • Agricultural machine having a plant processing apparatus
    Patent number: 10582664
    Abstract: An agricultural machine can include a plant processing apparatus for processing plant material. The plant processing apparatus includes a cylindrical drum rotatable about a drum axis, a rotary drive for rotating the drum about the drum axis, and a curved shell that extends around at least part of the circumference of the drum. The plant processing apparatus includes a processing channel provided between an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and an inner surface of the shell. The processing channel has an inlet end and an outlet end. Plant material is transported through the processing channel from the inlet end to the outlet end by rotation of the cylindrical drum. The drum and the shell each have sets of working elements that together process the plant material as it is fed through the processing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Kverneland Group Kerteminde A/S
    Inventor: Uffe Larsen
  • Modular mounting system for a cotton harvester
    Patent number: 10575466
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a work machine having a primary frame member and a prime mover platform removably coupled to the primary frame member. Wherein the prime mover platform is configured to selectively couple a prime mover to the primary frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Barrett D. Reed, Kevin J. Goering, Michael S. Garton
  • Agricultural header
    Patent number: 10575467
    Abstract: A header has a middle section disposed on a main frame and at least two side sections disposed adjacent to the middle section, a cutterbar extending substantially across the width of the header, and at least one conveyor device which conveys crop cut by the cutterbar laterally in the direction of the middle section. The conveyor device has a central conveyor including an endlessly circulating, endless conveyor belt which is guided around two rollers disposed on two support elements extending in parallel to the conveyance direction and are each mounted on bearing points provided on the support elements. The support elements each have a guide recess and in which one of the rollers is displaceable so that the conveyor belt can be transferred from an operating position, in which the conveyor belt is tensioned, into a maintenance position, in which the conveyor belt sags, in sections, in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Fuechtling, Thomas Hinz, Mathieu Koehler
  • Apparatus for setting concave clearance and pinch point in a combine harvester
    Patent number: 10575468
    Abstract: A concave adjustment device for an agricultural harvester includes a rotor having a longitudinal axis, a concave encircling at least a portion of the rotor, and a linkage connected to the concave for moving the concave with respect to the rotor. The linkage includes a first link, a second link and the concave. The first link has a first portion connected to a device for moving the linkage and a second portion connected to one side of the concave. The second link has a first portion pivotably connected to an opposing side of the concave and a second portion pivotably connected to a fixed point on the harvester. The device for moving the linkage is configured to translate the first link, which causes rotation of the second link and movement of the concave with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Wayne Flickinger
  • Linkage assembly for header height control
    Patent number: 10568263
    Abstract: The agricultural harvester comprises a header. The header includes a frame, a control shaft connected to the frame, a flex arm, a linkage assembly and a cutter bar connected to the flex arm. The linkage assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. The linkage assembly includes a first end pivotably connected to the control shaft and a second end connected to the flex arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel Cook, Sergio Inglat
  • Harvester separation frame orientation adjustment
    Patent number: 10568267
    Abstract: A harvester may include a chassis, a first separation frame movably supported by the chassis and upon which crop material is deposited, a second separation frame movably supported by the chassis and upon which the crop material is deposited; a reciprocating drive operably coupled to the separation frame to reciprocate the separation frame and an adjustable link operably coupled between the separation frame and the chassis. The adjustable link facilitates adjustment of an orientation of the first separation frame independent of an orientation of the second separation frame without altering a reciprocation stroke distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Narayanan, James K. Adamson, Kevin P. Hurley, Volker Fuchs
  • Harvester with header lift assembly
    Patent number: 10568264
    Abstract: A header for a harvester includes: a header frame; one or more harvesting elements carried by the header frame; a lift arm coupled to the header frame and configured to displace the header frame vertically relative to the ground; and a lift assembly displaceably coupling the header frame to the lift arm, the lift assembly being configured to displace the header frame vertically further than and/or independently of the lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Fay, II
  • Draper belt roller support
    Patent number: 10568265
    Abstract: A roller support for draper belt supporting rollers of a harvester header may include a base, a first post extending from the base in a direction to support a first roller, a second post extending from the base in the direction to support a second roller, an arm extending from the base in the direction between the first post and the second post and a wear structure supported by and immovable relative to the arm. The wear structure may have a wear surface facing downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Brent A. Augustine, Anthony M. Hasenour, Alex Brimeyer, Joshua R. Pierson, Daniel S. Hoffman, Nicholis R. Fitzpatrick, Rodrigo Carlesso
  • Center link knife drive for a header of an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 10568259
    Abstract: A knife head drive assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester including a knife head assembly for attachment to a forward end of the header. A first pivot arm and a second pivot arm are carried by the knife head assembly and are pivotably connected by a linkage. A rotating crank is operatively connected to and extending substantially transverse to the knife head assembly for engagement with a drive. A reciprocating shaft is connected to the rotating crank and either of the pivot arms or the linkage. Operation of the knife head drive assembly results in substantially linear, opposed oscillating motion of cutter bars carried by the knife head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel Cook, John Hinkle, Herb Farley, David M. DeChristopher, Barry Lehman
  • Segmented fan housing for cleaning system of combine harvester
    Patent number: 10561069
    Abstract: A fan assembly for a cleaning system of a combine harvester includes a housing having a plurality of interconnected walls. The interconnected walls include at least two side walls and a lower wall connecting the two side walls, and at least one partition positioned between the side walls. The partition promotes uniform air flow across a width dimension of the fan assembly. The interconnected walls define at least one inlet opening through which air is delivered into the housing and at least one outlet opening through which air is exhausted from the housing. A fan rotor is mounted to the housing and is configured to rotate to distribute air from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Thomas, Karl Linde
  • Harvester and method for leafy plants
    Patent number: 10542672
    Abstract: Measuring lateral separation distances and longitudinal separation distances from a center of a plant to be cut to a reference point on a harvester; determining a lateral and longitudinal blade displacement and moving a cutting tool; activating a cut and lift mechanism to cut a plant with the cutting tool; while the cutting tool remains in contact with the plant, removing an outer leaf from the cut plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Anthony D'Arrigo, Anthony Dejesus Sandoval, Hector Amando Camacho Garcia, Peter Frits de Groot
  • Harvester for leafy plants
    Patent number: 10542671
    Abstract: A support frame; a cut and lift mechanism coupled to the support frame; a tool carrying platform coupled to the cut and lift mechanism; an outer leaf removal device coupled to the tool carrying platform; a cutting tool coupled to the tool carrying platform; a controller in data communication with the cut and lift robot; and a plant center locator in data communication with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Anthony D'Arrigo, Anthony Dejesus Sandoval, Hector Amando Camacho Garcia, Peter Frits de Groot
  • Folding agricultural head
    Patent number: 10537063
    Abstract: A head for an agricultural machine includes a frame with a center segment defining a first longitudinal axis and a wing defining a second longitudinal axis. The head also includes a motion control assembly connecting the center segment and the wing such that the wing is movable relative to the center segment between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. The motion control assembly is configured to maintain the second longitudinal axis in a parallel relationship with the first longitudinal axis as the wing moves between the deployed position and the non-deployed position, and the wing is movable from the deployed position to the non-deployed position along a continuous arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman