Patents Examined by Jamie L. McGowan
  • Patent number: 11774434
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and implements for sensing, analyzing, and displaying different soil parameters. A soil sensing system includes a mechanical component of an agricultural implement and at least one sensor disposed on the mechanical component. The sensor generates an electromagnetic field through a region of soil as the agricultural implement traverses a field. The sensor comprises at least one radar transmitter and at least one radar receiver and the sensor measures different soil parameters including a soil dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Ben L. Schlipf
  • Patent number: 11773551
    Abstract: A clearing strip for the clearing shield of a snow plow has a front steel plate and a rear steel plate between which an elastic rubber layer with at least one hard material body embedded in the rubber compound thereof is incorporated by vulcanization. The hard material body is movable relative to the steel plates with elastic deformation of the rubber compound. To better secure the hard material bodies embedded in the rubber compound against uncontrolled fall-out from the clearing strip upon overheating, each individual hard material body is anchored within the clearing strip by an additional anchoring device that does not limit the movability of the hard material bodies relative to the steel plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Kueper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Roland Kueper
  • Patent number: 11732430
    Abstract: A snow plow-blower operates as a snow plow, snow blower/thrower or as a snow plow-blower combination. The snow plow-blower includes a plow head blade and at least one blower door. The cavity contains a snow moving means, single, dual, or multi staged, for moving snow, ice and other materials out through at least one discharge chute and/or at least one opening. The blower door is adapted to move to a partially open configuration to expose the cavity, and from the partially open configuration to a partially closed configuration to thereby decrease snow, ice and other material ingress into the snow blower unit. Preferably, at least one retractable and extendable wing is located on the plow head blade to advantageously provide varying closed and open extended position configurations or positions for the removal of snow, ice or other material and debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Paul Favorito, Franceso Marino
  • Patent number: 11723297
    Abstract: In the case of a soil cultivation device with multiple harrow tines, the harrow tines are fastened to levers, which are mounted to pivot on tie bars of the supporting frame via carriers. The operating position of the harrow tines is defined by the levers being adjacent to tie bars, and the harrow tines are prestressed into the operating position by springs assigned to them in the form of pneumatic cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: THOMAS HATZENBICHLER AGRO-TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Leopold, Daniel Koglek, Thomas Hatzenbichler
  • Patent number: 11718974
    Abstract: A grader includes a chassis and a work implement assembly. The work implement assembly has a draft frame pivotally coupled to the chassis, a circle frame coupled to the draft frame for rotation relative thereto to adjust an angular orientation of a moldboard supported by the circle frame, and a mount kit to pivotally retain the circle frame to the draft frame. The draft frame includes a platform having a first side that faces the moldboard, a second side arranged opposite the first side that faces away from the moldboard, and an opening extending through the first and second sides. The circle frame is arranged in confronting relation to the first side of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: John Gundupalli, Basuraj Hippargi
  • Patent number: 11718963
    Abstract: A machine for profiling and distributing ballast of a track, having a frame supported on on-track undercarriages and lateral ballast pick-up devices which are adjustably fastened to the frame, wherein each ballast pick-up device is actuated by a conveyor drive. In this, the machine is designed in such a way that, in an inoperative position, the upper contours of the machine are arranged below a delimiting plane which slopes downward in the working direction and extends through a field of vision of a driver's cabin of a rail vehicle to be coupled to the machine at the rear end thereof. Thus, the machine can be employed as a leading wagon of the rail vehicle, wherein sufficient visibility from the driver's cabin to the track is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Max-Theurer, Manfred Brunninger, Herbert Woergoetter
  • Patent number: 11718975
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprising a material management system using moldboard gates. A sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a ground feature and a location of the ground feature. A moldboard is coupled to the work vehicle and is configured to move a ground material. A gate is coupled to the moldboard and a gate actuator is coupled to the gate. The gate actuator is configured to move the gate to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between. A controller which is in communication with the sensor is configured to receive the signal indicative of the ground feature and the location and control the gate actuator to move the gate based on the ground feature and the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Companv
    Inventor: David A Veasy
  • Patent number: 11716922
    Abstract: A horizontally foldable toolbar includes opposite wings having flex joints which can be selectively locked to prevent flexing of the joints when the wings are in a transport position and unlocked to permit flexing of the joints when the wings are in a field position. The lock assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder with an extendable and retractable arm. Operation of the hydraulic cylinder can be controlled by an operator remotely, such as from a tractor cab. The stroke of the hydraulic cylinder can be adjusted to accommodate wear on the wing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Harvest International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Sivinski
  • Patent number: 11716916
    Abstract: A turf aerator includes a retracting tine assembly and an input mechanism. The tine assembly includes a plurality of tines, a pair of swing arms, and a linkage for selectively moving the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position. The pair of swing arms support the plurality of tines and are configured to rotate the plurality of tines between an operating position to a retracted position. The input is coupled to the linkage and the input is operable to active the linkage to move the pair of swing arms and the plurality of tines from the operating position to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon King, William Coates
  • Patent number: 11711993
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for an agricultural implement. The agricultural equipment includes a laterally-extending toolbar with one or more agricultural tools extending from the toolbar. The wheel assembly comprises a wheel configured to rotate along a ground surface. The wheel assembly additionally comprises a base bracket configured to be rigidly secured to the toolbar. The wheel assembly further comprises a wheel bracket adjustably engaged with the base bracket. Adjustment of the wheel bracket with respect to the base bracket causes a corresponding lateral shifting of the wheel with respect to the toolbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Ranjit Patwardhan
  • Patent number: 11711999
    Abstract: A seed delivery apparatus having a seed meter configured to entrain seeds on a seed disc and to release said entrained seeds at a seed release location; a seed conveyor having an upper end disposed to receive released seeds from said seed meter and a lower end through which the released seeds are discharged proximate a soil surface; and a loading wheel rotatably disposed at said upper end of said seed conveyor to introduce the released seeds from said seed meter into said seed conveyor, wherein said loading wheel has a plurality of radial fingers with each of said radial fingers having a sinusoidal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Ian Radtke, Todd Swanson
  • Patent number: 11708672
    Abstract: A multi-position snowplow blade, a snowplow incorporating the blade and a method of use thereof. The blade includes left and right wings that each having a trip edge pivotally engaged therewith. Each trip edge includes a lower section of a moldboard, a cutting edge, and a snow shield. A biasing assembly biases the trip edge into alignment with an upper section of the moldboard. The trip edges trip when the blade strikes an obstacle on a surface being plowed. When the trip edge trips, it pivots about a horizontal axis and relative to the associated upper section. Each snow shield pivotally engages the lower section of the associated trip edge and pivots relative thereto when the trip edge trips. The pivotal motion of the two snow shields widens a gap therebetween and helps to reduce the possibility of damage to the pivoting trip edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: VENTURE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11702816
    Abstract: A coupler for securing an attachment to an earth working machine. The coupler comprises a coupler body that presents a receptacle having a capture region. A pin of an attachment can move into and out of the capture region. A retainer can capture the pin in the capture region but the retainer can be moved by a hydraulically driven driver to a position to allow release of the pin from the capture region. A trigger that the pin will strike when the pin moves into or out of the capture region, decouples the driver from the retainer and the retainer is then allowed to be biased back to its retaining position by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: WEDGELOCK EQUIPMENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Andre Richard Anderson, Marshall Andrew Stewart Hanlon, Garth Colin Keighley, Andrew James Phillip Rider, Michael Hugh James Rider
  • Patent number: 11702808
    Abstract: The snow-removing vehicle may comprise a snow collector, a vacuum, a tank, a steam chamber, and a vehicle. As the vehicle drives through snow, the snow collector may remove the snow from a roadway and may direct the snow towards a vacuum hose. The vacuum may draw the snow from the snow collector, through the vacuum hose, and into the tank. The snow may be heated while in the tank and may melt into water. The heating may turn the water into steam. The steam may collect in the steam chamber before being expelled from the vehicle via one or more exhaust fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Marton Forbes
  • Patent number: 11702807
    Abstract: A snow blower including an auger housing, an auger rotatably positioned within the auger housing and configured to blow snow, a shaft attached to the auger and the auger housing, a chute attached to the auger housing and configured to direct the snow blown by the auger away from the snow blower, and at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a rotational speed of the auger or the shaft and a load, torque, and/or thrust on the shaft or the auger housing. The data collected by the at least one sensor is used to determine an instantaneous flow rate of snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Wei, Grant Flaharty, Matthew Chang
  • Patent number: 11697911
    Abstract: A V-blade for a snowplow, a snowplow incorporating the V-blade and a method of use thereof. The blade includes left and right wings engaged with one another. A trip edge is provided on each wing and includes a lower section of moldboard, a cutting edge, and a snow shield. Each trip edge engages an upper section of the associated moldboard via a biasing assembly. The biasing assembly biases the trip edge into alignment with the moldboard's upper section and also biases the trip edge towards a central vertical axis. When the V-blade strikes an obstacle on the surface during snow removal, the trip edges individually pivot about a horizontal axis extending along a shaft of the associated biasing assembly. The trip edges subsequently translate linearly along the horizontal axis and away from the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: VENTURE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11697922
    Abstract: An adapter includes a first leg, a second leg, and a throat portion that define a slot defining a direction of assembly onto a work implement assembly, a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the direction of assembly, and a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the direction of assembly and the lateral direction. The throat portion further includes a first throat side surface disposed along the lateral direction and a second throat side surface disposed on the opposite side of the throat portion along the lateral direction. The first throat side surface defines a first adapter cover receiving recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric T. Sinn, Douglas C. Serrurier, Rammagy Yoeu
  • Patent number: 11686057
    Abstract: A snow plow is pivotally mounted to a tractor by a compound mount allowing for multiple blade positions. The mount has an inner portion pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis to the front of the tractor and an outer portion pivotally mounted about a vertical axis to the inner portion. The plow blade is pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis to the outer portion. Deicer nozzles spray liquid and a spreader distributes salt and other materials in front of the front wheels of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas M. Rich
  • Patent number: 11684002
    Abstract: A sway adjustment apparatus includes a casing, a fastener positioned within an interior of the casing, a first seal positioned near a first end of the casing between the fastener and the casing, a second seal positioned near a second end of the casing between the fastener and the casing, a cover positioned at a first end of the fastener, and end member positioned at a second end of the fastener. A first set of external threads on the fastener cooperate with internal threads in the casing. The first set of external threads and the internal threads are positioned between the first seal and the second seal. Rotating the fastener in a first direction extends the fastener from the casing. Rotating the fastener in a second direction retracts the fastener into the casing. The end member maintains the position of the fastener within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kalyani Dadasaheb Desai, Amol Hanmant Jagtap
  • Patent number: 11686068
    Abstract: A retrofit assembly used to substitute a remotely controlled cylinder for a furrow closing standard spring on agricultural equipment. The retrofit assembly includes a cylinder mount including a cylinder mount tab and a cylinder mount fixture. The cylinder mount is connected to the furrow mount. The cylinder bracket 30 is mounted to the agricultural equipment. A remotely controlled fluid cylinder is mounted between the cylinder mounting assembly and the cylinder mounting bracket. A standard spring for a furrow closing assembly on agricultural equipment can be replaced with a remotely control fluid cylinder allowing the furrow closing assembly to be controlled remotely by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AG FOCUS LLC
    Inventors: Bruce W. Freed, Brian E. Freed