Patents Examined by Joan D Misa
  • Patent number: 10939615
    Abstract: A mower deck can include a linkage that enables adjusting the height of the mower deck with a single action. The mower deck can include a rolling mechanism support arm at each corner and a coupling mechanism that extends between the front and rear rolling mechanism support arms on each side of the mower deck. A shaft can extend between the two front rolling mechanism support arms and can be rotated via an actuator. When the shaft is rotated, the front rolling mechanism support arms will rotate in unison, and the coupling mechanisms will cause the rear rolling mechanism support arms to also rotate in unison. In this way, a single action can cause the height of the mower deck to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: FireFly Automatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Aposhian, Eric E. Aston, William M. Decker, Samuel H. Drake
  • Patent number: 10905047
    Abstract: A grass mower includes a blade shaft for rotating a blade within a mower deck supported to a vehicle body, a power transmission mechanism for supplying rotational power to the blade shaft, a duct for air-conveying cut grass pieces from the mower deck to the grass collecting bag and a flow boosting device incorporated in the duct. The flow boosting device increases a speed of air flow inside the duct by feeding air through a nozzle opening adjacent an inner circumferential face of the duct along a flow direction of the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Walden
  • Patent number: 10897844
    Abstract: Mower unit mountable to a traveling vehicle body and being configured to suppress generation of turbulence. The mower includes a mower deck, a plurality of blades, a rear vacuum plate that includes a plurality of arcuate portions and a convexly curved portion curved to extend into a triangular gap portion formed between two adjacent rotational locus circles. The convex curved portion bridges opposed ends of two adjacent arcuate portions at two inflection points (IP) of the rear vacuum plate. The triangular gap is defined by a distance (S) between the two inflection points (IP) and a top point (TP) located at a distance (L) from a reference straight line connecting center points of the two adjacent rotational locus circles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Morris, Phillip Smith
  • Patent number: 10874050
    Abstract: A chopping blade for a straw chopper comprises a fastening opening, two side faces, and cutting edges arranged on one or both ends of the side faces. At least one of the side faces is equipped with means for reducing the frictional resistance of the chopping blade relative to the air and/or the chopping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Oliver Klein, Martin Bueermann, Dirk Weichholdt
  • Patent number: 10874049
    Abstract: A mower blade assembly attaches to a rotatable spindle and includes a mounting plate which defines a first pin aperture. The mounting plate and a retaining plate are attached to the rotatable spindle. The retaining plate defines a second pin aperture. A movable pin plate comprises a pin. A blade is selectively attachable to the mounting plate. The blade defines a retaining plate aperture and a third pin aperture. A biasing member urges the movable pin plate from a disengaged position to an engaged position. The pin is engageable with the pin apertures for mounting and retaining the cutting blade to the mounting plate. The blade is attached by moving the blade over the retaining plate aperture, urging the movable pin plate to the disengaged position, rotating the blade, and releasing the movable pin plate. Another embodiment includes a force finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: MTD PRODUCTS INC
    Inventors: Timothy Ladd, Jr., Gary Hobrath, Axel Schaedler, Brian Milliff
  • Patent number: 10863674
    Abstract: A tine device for an impeller apparatus is disclosed. The tine device comprises at least one tine element having a first end configured to be rotatably coupled to a central rotor of the impeller apparatus. The tine element additionally comprises a second end positioned on a first side of a radial line extending through the first end, and a curved portion located on an opposite second side of the radial line between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Faust, Charles Scott Sloan
  • Patent number: 10849270
    Abstract: A lawn care device may include a cutting deck housing at least one blade, a rotatable shaft, and a blade coupler operably coupled to the rotatable shaft. The blade coupler may define a blade channel configured to at least partially enclose four sides of a blade inserted therein. The blade coupler may include a support base and a sleeve that is movable relative to the support base based on a compression state of a biasing element. The blade may be insertable into the blade channel by orienting the blade to apply a force to sidewalls of the sleeve to shift the biasing element to a compressed state and rotating the blade proximate to the support base to enable the biasing element to shift to an extended state in which sidewalls of the sleeve define sidewalls of the blade channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Jörgen Johansson, Eric Lennings
  • Patent number: 10842079
    Abstract: A combine for harvesting chick peas includes a first rotatable shaft having components that cut a crop and pass the cut crop in a rearward direction, and a drum that includes an outer shell with stationary threshers and a cut crop opening, a rotatable central mount, a plurality of rotatable threshers. Each of the rotatable threshers is attached to the central rotatable mount and in line with a stationary thresher. A plurality of cutters is attached to the outer shell, a flame source projects a flame into the drum, and a water source projects water into the drum. The cut crop passes into the cut crop opening, to be further cut by the plurality of cutters and threshed by the plurality of rotatable threshers, such that the flame and water are projected onto the cut crop, resulting in a processed crop and detritus that is separated from the processed crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: Samir A. Danou
  • Patent number: 10827679
    Abstract: An apparatus for automating the process of bunching straw in a farming operation is disclosed. The straw buncher is a towable implement that includes one or more rakes mounted on a rotatable axle. The rakes gather straw. Rotation of the rake assembly is prevented by a stop mechanism that holds a rake in position using a resistive force until sufficient straw has gathered in front of the rake and the drag created by the straw overcomes the resistive force. At this point the rake begins to rotate, a cam on the rake assembly engages a drive system that turns the rake assembly until the next rake is in position. The implement works automatically and does not require monitoring by an operator to have straw bunches of a desired size be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventor: Ryan Dennis
  • Patent number: 10820518
    Abstract: A self-adaptive throwing device for stalks cutting and discharging in the longitudinal axial flow combine harvesters comprises a longitudinal axial flow stalk discharging and guiding device, a stalks remnant shredding device, a wind direction and wind speed detection device, a reaping region identification device, an operating speed sensor, a shredding revolution speed sensor, a width adjustable throwing device, a self-adaptive throwing real-time control system. The throwing width is self-adaptive based on the machine operating speed, wind speed, wind direction, the position of the region having been cut and the region waiting to be cut, so as to achieve the full width throwing of the stalks remnant. An arc stalk guiding plate and a flow separating bar are mounted in the longitudinal axial flow stalk guiding device to make the shredding load more even.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Jiangsu University
    Inventors: Lizhang Xu, Yang Li, Yaoming Li
  • Patent number: 10820500
    Abstract: A mower deck dual wedge system uses a dual wedge configuration to funnel vine like material for cutting to prevent interference with a spindle shaft. The system includes a mower deck having an upper wall and a peripheral. A spindle shaft extends through the upper wall. Each of a pair of wedges is coupled to and extends from the upper wall of the mower deck. Each of the wedges has a pair of lateral sides extending from a tip. The wedges are positioned on opposite sides of the spindle shaft such that the tip of each the wedge faces away from the spindle shaft. A cutting disc is coupled to the spindle shaft and the wedges are positioned between the cutting disc and the upper wall of the mower deck. The cutting disc is rotated by the spindle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Diamond Mowers, LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Wood
  • Patent number: 10813283
    Abstract: A swathing unit (12) for an agricultural mower (4) includes at least one side deflector plate (14) that defines one side of a discharge opening (18) and is adjustable between a wide swath configuration and a narrow swath configuration. The side deflector plate (14) is attached to a pivot mechanism (30) and is angularly adjustable about a pivot axis (X) between an inner position and an outer position. The side deflector plate (14) comprises a first plate element (20) that is attached to the pivot mechanism and a second plate element (22) that is attached to the first plate element and is adjustable to adjust the overall length of the side deflector plate. The second plate element is attached to a control element (32) that cooperates with a guide element (42) to control adjustment of the length and the angular position of the side deflector plate. Movement of the control element relative to the guide element causes simultaneous adjustment of the length and the angular position of the side deflector plate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: KVERNELAND GROUP KERTEMINDE AS
    Inventor: Peter Jespersen
  • Patent number: 10806080
    Abstract: A harvesting machine comprising a shaking mechanism operable to shake fruit or nuts from a tree or bush; a deflection plate for directing the fruit or nuts to an area away from the base of the tree or bush; and a device for moving fruit or nuts from the base of the tree or bush to the area away from the base of the tree or bush. The deflection plate may be positioned at an angle of between 0° to about 75° relative to the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventors: Mike Flora, Brandon Eller, Seth Richmond
  • Patent number: 10798875
    Abstract: A discharge guard assembly for a mower includes a cutter housing having an opening for discharging cuttings. A guard is hingedly attached to the housing so that the guard can move between a closed position and an open position. A latch contacts a stop on the guard to hold the guard in the closed position to allow the mower to operate in a mulching configuration. The latch is movable to an unlatched position in which the guard is free to rotate to the open position to allow cuttings to be discharged through the opening in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Kaskawitz, Teegan L Kelly, Surender Kumar
  • Patent number: 10794060
    Abstract: The snow rake for removing snow from a roof is disclosed. The snow rake includes an elongated extension pole comprising a plurality of pole sections which may be connected together in an end-to-end manner. First and second rake members are pivotally connected together by a base plate so as to be able to be positioned in a straight position or a V-shaped position. The first and second rake members are also movable to a third position wherein the first and second rake members are positioned so that the inner sides of the rake members face one another. The inner side of the base plate also has extension pole section receptacles formed therein which enable the ends of the pole sections to be positioned therein for shipment or storage purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Mark C. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 10785916
    Abstract: A threshing concave frame assembly for crop separating operations in a combine harvester is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the concave frame includes a first side member and a second side member opposing each other, wherein the first and second side members each have an interior surface and exterior surface. In addition, an elongated threshing bar member is disposed between the interior surface of the first side and second side members of the concave frame. In particular, the elongated threshing bar member includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are secured to the interior surface of the first and second side members of the concave frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Brian G. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10787795
    Abstract: An improved crushing tool for the processing of aggregates, and a heat treatment method for metals used in the fabrication of such tools, is provided. The crushing tool may comprise an attachment portion having a relatively low material hardness and a crushing portion having, in comparison to the attachment portion, a relatively high material hardness. For example, the hardness of the attachment portion may be in the range of 20-35 HRC, and that of the crushing portion may be in the range of 50-60 HRC. Use of tool-grade steel, such as AISI S7 steel, may thereby result in a tool offering a compromise between the hardness (wear-resistance) of the crushing portion and the toughness of the attachment portion. A heat treatment process for the tool-grade steel may involve distinct heating, quenching, and tempering cycles in order to achievable desirable material properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Wear-Tech Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Darryl Anthony George
  • Patent number: 10779470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (2) for harvesting stalk-like stem crops, having a number of picking units (4) which are arranged alongside one another on the frame (6) of the device (2) and each have picking plates (12), laterally delimiting a picking gap (14), and picking rotors (16) located therebeneath, conveying units which are assigned to the respective picking units (4), are configured as continuous conveyors (22) that are driven in circulation, are arranged on opposite sides above a picking gap (14) and are configured with drivers (18) fastened to the circulating elements, and a transverse conveying device (8) arranged downstream of the conveying units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Geringhoff GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reimer Tiessen, Andre Hemmesmann, Martin Beumker, Thomas Gersmann, David Scharmann
  • Patent number: 10774501
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator tool adapted to be secured to the distal working end of an excavator boom including a main tool assembly with a tool framework, a spaced apart pair of connection flanges fast with the tool framework, and, a structural tubular casing integral with the tool framework extending across and through the tool framework and through the flanges, plus a rotary hydraulic actuator within the tubular casing extending between the connection flanges and providing a rotational drive motion to a drive axle extending between the connection flanges adapted to provide a controlled rotary drive motion of the axle adjacent the connection flanges, and a working tool framework fast to the axle adjacent each of the connection flanges for relative controlled rotation of the working tool framework about the drive axle between the tool framework and a working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: AMI Attachments Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Oscar Frey, Dwight Colin Myer
  • Patent number: 10774498
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator tool adapted to be secured to the distal working end of an excavator boom including a main tool assembly with a tool framework, a spaced apart pair of connection flanges fast with the tool framework, and, a structural tubular casing integral with the tool framework extending across and through the tool framework and through the flanges, plus a rotary hydraulic actuator within the tubular casing extending between the connection flanges and providing a rotational drive motion to a drive axle extending between the connection flanges adapted to provide a controlled rotary drive motion of the axle adjacent the connection flanges, and a working tool framework fast to the axle adjacent each of the connection flanges for relative controlled rotation of the working tool framework about the drive axle between the tool framework and a working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: AMI Attachments Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Oscar Frey, Dwight Colin Myer