Patents Examined by Arpad Fabian Kovacs
  • Patent number: 10537068
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring agricultural products, for agricultural machines designed for the formation of a bale is provided. The transfer apparatus includes at least one impeller rotor, which can be arranged between a pick-up drum of agricultural products and a chamber for the compression of the agricultural products. The rotor is facing a deck, for delimiting at least partially a channel. The deck is coupled to a fixed frame by way of at least two supports which can move on command. At least one first support includes at least one support pin, which is coupled to a first portion of the deck and moved, in a corresponding guiding slot, by a corresponding actuator. At least one second support includes at least one crank, which is coupled to a second portion of the deck and rotatable about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the advancement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: KVERNEKAND GROUP RAVENNA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Ravaglia
  • Patent number: 10537056
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester comprising a frame and an epicyclical drive operatively connected to the frame. The epicyclical drive includes a first rotatable wheel having a first central rotational axis and a first flange. The first flange includes a first eccentric axis rotatable about the first central rotational axis, and a first output shaft spaced from the first eccentric axis. The epicyclical drive further includes a second rotatable wheel having a second central rotational axis and a second flange. The second flange includes a second eccentric axis rotatable about the second central rotational axis, and a second output shaft spaced from the second eccentric axis. The header further includes a first cutter bar directly connected to the first output shaft and a second cutter bar directly connected to the second output shaft. Operation of the epicyclical drive results in substantially linear oscillating motion of the cutter bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Joel Timothy Cook
  • Patent number: 10537065
    Abstract: An adjustable vane system for use with a rotor cage of a threshing system of an agricultural harvester includes a vane. The vane includes: a generally helically curved inner profile; a surface being an outer profile that is opposite the inner profile and is generally helically curved over a portion of the vane, the outer profile being configured to be positioned closer to the rotor cage than the inner profile; and a flat portion located midway along the outer profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Kemmerer, Wayne T. Flickinger
  • Patent number: 10531611
    Abstract: A chopping assembly is configured to receive crop plants processed by an agricultural combine harvester. The chopping assembly includes an inlet and a plurality of blades rotatable about an axis. The plurality of blades is positioned downstream of the inlet. The chopping assembly also includes an outlet positioned downstream of the plurality of blades. The outlet is partially defined by a first wall and a second wall. The chopping assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the second wall. The actuator is configured to move the second wall relative to the first wall. A control processor is in communication with the actuator. The control processor is configured to receive a first signal corresponding to a condition representative of a characteristic of the crop plants. The control processor is also configured to generate a second signal operable to control the actuator based on the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew G. Larson, Justin D. Bruns
  • Patent number: 10531608
    Abstract: A knife drive assembly for use with a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The knife drive assembly includes a housing, a rotatable driver having at least one curved channel or sloped lateral side, at least one wobble arm engaging the curved channel and a at least one mounting bar that engages the wobble arm and a cutter bar such that when the rotatable driver is rotated, the cutter bar engages in substantially linear oscillating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Josh Lounder, Donald Keller, Robert D. Crandall, Doug Sorensen
  • Patent number: 10524414
    Abstract: A lawnmower with a plurality of blade holding elements in a horizontally rotating blade assembly holds a plurality of blades in a blade channel. The blade assembly is covered by a blade assembly guard that is only open underneath at a point where blades in the blade assembly would cut grass during normal operation. A blade assembly access panel in the upper portion of the blade assembly guard allows blades or a blade assembly to be easily replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HRM Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Zerbarini
  • Patent number: 10524415
    Abstract: A header for a combine harvester comprising a drive arm assembly, bearing assembly and knife head assembly is disclosed. The drive arm assembly includes a drive arm with a proximal end operatively connected to a drive mechanism for reciprocating motion therewith and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The bearing assembly is attachable to the distal end of the drive arm and includes an eccentric hub. The knife head assembly includes a knife head and a housing mounted to the knife head. The housing houses the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Blaine Noll
  • Patent number: 10517208
    Abstract: In a mower provided with a center pivot axle 12, a control unit 1 controls a height adjusting mechanism 19 for a mowing unit 16 so that a grass cutting height is increased from an initial level when an absolute value of a roll angle of the center pivot axle relative to a vehicle body has exceeded a first roll angle threshold value. A cutting blade 21 is stopped when the absolute value of the roll angle has exceeded a fourth roll angle threshold value which is greater than the first roll angle threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura, Norikazu Shimizu, Shota Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10517217
    Abstract: A cotton picker unit lift structure having a first frame, a second frame slidably coupled to the first frame about a pivot axis with a plurality of sliding joints. Wherein, the pivot axis is spaced from the second frame and extends in a fore-aft direction and the second frame is pivotal about the pivot axis in a first direction and a second direction relative to the first frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin J. Goering, John O. Rumohr, Barrett D. Reed
  • Patent number: 10517215
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting header includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion moveably connected to the first frame portion. An upper control arm is pivotally connected to the first frame portion and pivotally connected to the second frame portion. A lower control arm pivotally connected to the first frame portion and pivotally connected to the second frame portion. The connection between the first frame portion, second frame portion, upper control arm, and a lower control arm forms a roll center positioned at or below ground level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Alex Brimeyer, Joshua R. Pierson, Bryan R. Yanke, Daniel S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10512218
    Abstract: A quick connect hose adapter connects a flexible transfer hose from a mower deck to an inlet tube on a container for storing debris. The adapter includes a first cylindrical portion fixed in the discharge end of the flexible hose, and a second portion with a clamp assembly that clamps to the inlet tube. The clamp assembly has first and second semi-cylindrical segments connected together on one side by a continuous hinge, and at least one latch for latching the other side of the semi-cylindrical segments together to cause the clamp assembly to be clamped to the inlet tube. When the latch is released, the second semi-cylindrical segment can be moved from a closed position to an open position. In the open position, the adapter is easily removable from the inlet tube. A seal ring provides a smooth inner surface and seal between the adapter and the inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Bruce Fullerton
  • Patent number: 10512215
    Abstract: A trenching and edging attachment for a riding lawn mower or compact utility tractor preferably includes a base frame, a cutter drive, a pair of pivoting height wheels and a cutter cover. The base frame preferably includes a lengthwise support member, a cutter support member, two support wheel extensions, a drive support extension, a pivot extension member and two attachment yokes. The pivot extension extends outward from the lengthwise support member and includes at least one retention hook. Each pivoting height wheel includes a wheel roller, a wheel yoke, and a height adjustment device. The wheel yoke is pivotally retained in the support wheel extension. The cutter drive preferably includes a cutter driven shaft, a right angle gearbox, a chain drive and a cutter drive shaft. A drive hub is attached to substantially an end of the cutter driven shaft to retain a trenching blade or an edger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Inventor: Daniel S. Henneberry
  • Patent number: 10512216
    Abstract: The combine harvester includes a harvest frame that receives grain culms cut by a reaping device and a rake-in auger disposed within the harvest frame so as to be rotatable about a rotary axis extending in a right/left direction of the harvester body. The rake-in auger conveys the grain culms inside the harvest frame in a right/left direction of the harvester body and rakes in the grain culms toward the rear of the harvester body. The combine harvester further includes a feeder that is communicatively connected to a rear wall of the harvest frame, and that conveys the grain culms raked in by the rake-in auger toward the rear of the harvester body. A grain culm sensor that detects the presence of the grain culms when coming in contact with the grain culms is disposed at a grain culm feed port in the feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Mao Ueda, Kazuhiro Takahara, Katsuhide Kato
  • Patent number: 10512213
    Abstract: A double deck boot attachment for a lawn maintenance tool includes a smaller deck boot and a larger deck boot including an interior volume. The smaller deck boot is an attachment for at least one first lawn maintenance tool and the larger deck boot is an attachment for at least one second lawn maintenance tool. At least a portion of the smaller deck boot is configured to slide within the interior volume of the larger deck boot from a separated position to an assembled position and the double deck boot is configured to be stored and shipped as one deck boot with one stock keeping unit code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Gerald Hobrath, Anthony Harrison, Robert L. Jira, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10485167
    Abstract: A control assembly for controlling the mode of all-wheel-drive walk-behind mower is provided. The control assembly includes a casing and a pair of levers extending from opposing lateral sides of the casing, wherein both of the levers are rotatable between a first operative position and a second operative position relative to the casing. Rotating both of the levers to the second operative position switches the control assembly to an all-wheel-drive mode in which a front transmission and a rear transmission are both in an engaged state resulting in the front and rear wheels of the lawn mower to be rotated by the transmissions. When both levers are in the second operative position, the levers are releasably attached to each other and can be maintained in the second operative position by the user continually grasping only one of the levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Philip B. Smith
  • Patent number: 10485170
    Abstract: A debris removal system for an agricultural harvester may include an extractor having an extractor housing defining a central airflow channel for directing debris through the extractor from a central inlet to a central outlet. The extractor housing may further define an outer airflow channel surrounding the central airflow channel. The outer airflow channel may define a flow path between an outer housing inlet and an outer airflow outlet. Additionally, the extractor housing may include an internal divider wall extending between the central and outer airflow channels. Moreover, the system may include at least one flow-generating device provided in operative association with the housing. The flow-generating device(s) may be configured to generate an airflow directed through the outer airflow channel, wherein the airflow generates a negative pressure within the central airflow channel that draws the debris into the extractor housing via the central airflow inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Fabio Nicora, Joao Augusto Marcolin Lucca
  • Patent number: 10477774
    Abstract: A mower-conditioner assembly of a self-propelled windrower includes a frame, a cutting mechanism coupled to the frame for cutting crop, a conditioner rotatably coupled to the frame at a location rearward of the cutting mechanism, and a fluffer assembly rotatably coupled to the frame at a location rearward of the conditioner. The fluffer assembly includes at least an elongated roll and a crop moving element. The conditioner crimps the crop after it is cut, and the fluffer assembly fluffs or moves the crop during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kellen B. Hill, David V. Rotole, Thomas A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 10477770
    Abstract: A draper platform for mounting on a feeder house of an agricultural combine may include a frame, a center belt conveyor to carry cut crop material rearwardly towards a center opening in the frame through which crop may be fed into a feeder house, a left side belt conveyor to carry cut crop material to the center belt conveyor, a right side belt conveyor to carry cut crop material to the center belt conveyor, at least one elongate reciprocating knife assembly extending along a front edge of each of the center belt conveyor, the left side belt conveyor and the right side belt conveyor, a conveyor drum above the center belt conveyor and a central roller baffle. The central roller baffle may include a rotatable support rotatably supported above the conveyor drum and a crop driver removably mounted to the rotatable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shreyas P. Modak, Duane M. Bomleny, Daniel S. Hoffman, Bryan R. Yanke
  • Patent number: 10477765
    Abstract: A reel arm for a header of an agricultural harvester comprising a rotatable coupler, a first linkage assembly and a second linkage assembly is disclosed. The rotatable coupler has a central rotational axis and includes a control shaft extending therethrough parallel to the central rotational axis. The first linkage assembly includes a first end connected to the control shaft about a first lateral side of the rotatable coupler and a second end opposite the first end for connection to a reel tine bar of a first reel assembly of the header. The second linkage assembly includes a first end connected to the control shaft about a second lateral side of the rotatable coupler and a second end opposite the first end for connection to a reel tine bar of a second reel assembly of the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Joel Cook
  • Patent number: 10477767
    Abstract: A draper platform for mounting on a feeder house of an agricultural combine may include a frame, a center belt conveyor to carry cut crop material rearwardly towards a center opening in the frame through which crop may be fed into a feeder house, a left side belt conveyor to carry cut crop material to the center belt conveyor, a right side belt conveyor to carry cut crop material to the center belt conveyor, at least one elongate reciprocating knife assembly extending along a front edge of each of the center belt conveyor, the left side belt conveyor and the right side belt conveyor, a left side top cross auger above the left side belt conveyor, the left side top cross auger having a right inner end, a right side top cross auger above the right side belt conveyor, the right side top cross auger having a left inner end opposite to and spaced from the right inner end and a conveyor drum above the center belt conveyor below a space between the right inner end and the left inner end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shreyas P. Modak, Duane M. Bomleny, Daniel S. Hoffman, Bryan R. Yanke