Patents Examined by Joel F Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11944028
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an installation status of shank attachment members of agricultural implements may include a shank assembly. The shank assembly may have a shank and at least one mounting element configured to couple the shank to a portion of an agricultural implement. The system may further include a shank attachment member coupled to the shank and a signal transmission device provided in operative association with the shank attachment member. The system may further include an antenna provided in operative association with the shank assembly, where the antenna is configured to receive wireless signals transmitted by the signal transmission device. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the antenna and configured to determine an installation status of the shank attachment member based at least in part on the wireless signals received by the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Scott Glovier
  • Patent number: 11933018
    Abstract: A blade control device includes: a corrected design surface generation unit that generates a corrected design surface connecting a first surface existing in front of a work vehicle and a second surface having a different slope from a slope of the first surface on an initial design surface indicating a target shape of an excavation object to be excavated using a blade of the work vehicle; and a blade control unit that outputs a control command to control a height of the blade based on the corrected design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ishihara, Daichi Noborio, Yutaka Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11926988
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting the pitch of a work implement attached to a work vehicle, wherein the work implement has adjustable wings. The system and method include moving materials with a blade having an adjustable wing located at one end of a center portion of the blade. blade operatively connected to the work vehicle is positionable with respect to the work vehicle in response to an operator command. A commanded position of the blade is identified based on a blade positioning signal received from the operator command transmitted by an operator control device. An inclined position of the adjustable wing with respect to the center portion of the blade is identified. A pitch of the blade with respect to the work vehicle based is automatically adjusted based on the identified commanded position of the blade and the identified inclined position of the adjustable wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Giovanni A. Wuisan, Jeffrey M. Stenoish, Patrick J. Mulligan, Michael R. Tigges, Ryan R. Neilson, Nathan J. Horstman, Cory J. Brant, Timothy M. Post
  • Patent number: 11910735
    Abstract: A two-way soil clearing device for single-ridge grapevine and a construction machine for mounting the device, comprising a frame part, a soil clearing mechanism, a distance measuring sensor, an expansion and contraction device and a control unit; the frame comprises a left side frame and a right side frame; the left side frame and the right side frame are provided with a soil clearing mechanism respectively and expansion and contraction devices; the distance measuring sensor is provided in front of the soil clearing mechanism; and the control unit is respectively connected with the distance measuring sensor and the expansion and contraction device. The present invention can flexibly remove the covering soil between the piles of the grapevine and the covering soil at the side of the grapevine at one time, and can operate on both sides of the same soil ridge at the same time during work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qizhi Yang, Mingsheng He, Xiaoqi Zhao, Aiping Shi, Wen Li, Lei Shi, Guangyu Du, Wenxuan Du
  • Patent number: 11903336
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ring elevator for lifting root crops in a root crop harvester, including a first and a second pair of endless carrying strips, each pair arranged in parallel and drivable over a closed path; first and second parallel transverse elements attached between and to, respectively, the first and second strips; flexible support elements, each attached to a first transverse element and to a second transverse element. The first strips can be arranged around the second strips at a distance which varies along the paths between a minimum distance (dmin) and a maximum distance (dmax), and in an ascending part equals a carrier distance (c), such that the flexible support elements form baskets for receiving the root crops. The useful volume (Vu) in the baskets takes up at least 50% of the total volume (Vt) delimited by the transverse elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Dewulf NV
    Inventors: Joeri Van Iseghem, Gert De Boe
  • Patent number: 11885098
    Abstract: A wear member comprises a shank portion defining a longitudinal axis, a free end and a perimeter, at least one flat surface on the perimeter extending to the free end and a cross-hole defining a cross-hole axis along which the cross-hole extends through the at least one flat surface perpendicularly, and a wear portion extending downwardly axially from the shank portion, the wear portion including a polygonal configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruno Parzynski, Jr., Thomas Marshall Congdon
  • Patent number: 11882778
    Abstract: A disk for use with a tillage machine includes a body portion rotatable about an axis of rotation. The body portion has a circumferential edge and a concavity with a first radius defined from a point on the axis of rotation. A hub portion is continuous with the body portion and presents an abutment face having a concavity with a second radius defined from a point on the axis of rotation. An aperture extends through the abutment face and is centered about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Luc Janelle, David L. Steinlage, Jacob W. Cross, Greg T. Buse, Rohit Bartakke
  • Patent number: 11882797
    Abstract: An automatic detection and recovery device for residual agricultural mulch film, and a method of using the device, comprising a quadcopter, a wheeled robot (9), and a host computer (8); the quadcopter is provided with a controller (1), a near infrared water content analyzer, and a WiFi module that are used to measure water content in soil and communicate with the host computer; the wheeled robot (9) comprises a water sprinkling device (2), a soil grabbing device (3), a sifting device (4), a delivery device (5), a recognition device (6), and a sorting device (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NANTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Liang Hua, Zeguang Zhang, Jiahan You, Yisheng Huang, Ping Lu
  • Patent number: 11864498
    Abstract: A roll forming mechanism can include a passive roll-up mechanism that initiates the roll and an active roll-up mechanism that completes the roll. The active roll-up mechanism can include an upper conveyor that is rotated in different directions. The upper conveyor can initially be rotated in a direction opposite that of an inclined conveyor to cause a forming roll to advance along the inclined conveyor. The rotation of the upper conveyor can then be reversed to cause the roll to be completed. Then, the upper conveyor can again be rotated in the direction opposite that of the inclined conveyor to cause the completed roll to be transferred towards the stacking conveyor. The amount by which the upper conveyor is rotated in the reverse direction can be based on a detected length of a tail of the forming roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FireFly Automatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Aposhian, Eric E. Aston, William M. Decker, Mark C. LeBlanc, Austin J. Neuner, Seth W. Jeppson
  • Patent number: 11864481
    Abstract: A harrow has a frame, tines pivotal on the frame and each a lower arm with a soil surface under the harrow. An actuator on the frame can shift a bar frame shiftable horizontally on the frame. Respective spring biasing units above the axes each have a guide element connected to the bar frame and displaceable therewith through a predetermined displacement path, a connecting element connected to respective upper arms of the tines, a first compression spring bearing on both of the elements and biasing the other element away from the one element so as to press the lower arm downward into the soil surface during movement of the respective guide element through the path, and a second compression spring bearing continuously on one of the elements and engageable with the other of the elements after displacement of the respective spring-biasing unit only through a part of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Juergen Schoels
  • Patent number: 11849656
    Abstract: Farming tool systems may include a handle shaft and a farming tool that detachably connects to the handle shaft via a locking bit and a locking port that includes a socket. In some embodiments, a multi-head attachment may include one or more farming tools that slide laterally along a rail (perpendicular to the shaft length) and another farming tool that does not slide along the rail. In some embodiments, the farming tool(s) is a hoe. The farming tool(s) may be in the form of a wire that includes flat portions located inside a crimp to prevent the wire from rotating within the crimp and a forward portion that may be, for example, generally triangular in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Neversink Tools
    Inventors: Carson McNeal, Conor Crickmore
  • Patent number: 11818974
    Abstract: An aeration tine includes a mounting portion removably connectable to an aeration apparatus and defining a central axis; and a curved blade portion that extends longitudinally from the mounting portion to a tip of the aeration tine and that is operable to fracture soil and form an aeration pocket. The curved blade portion includes a concave first edge and an opposed convex second edge, wherein the concave first edge includes (i) a proximal first edge portion, (ii) a distal first edge portion proximal the tip of the aeration tine, and (iii) a middle first edge portion between the proximal first edge portion and the distal first edge portion, the middle first edge portion closer to the central axis than both the proximal first edge portion and the distal first edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: PlanetAir Turf Products, LLC
    Inventor: David R. Maas
  • Patent number: 11818983
    Abstract: A harvester for harvesting guayule shrubs from the soil in which they are grown. The harvester can include a wheeled frame, a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls on the frame, a front conveyor positioned between the pair of laterally spaced sidewalls, a forward projecting digger blade positioned forward of the front conveyor, and an agitator for separating residual soil from uprooted guayule shrubs. Processes for harvesting guayule shrubs using the harvester to uproot the guayule shrubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Jody Scott
  • Patent number: 11812679
    Abstract: Adapter (27) of an agricultural implement, having a first, cylindrically contoured section (27a), the external diameter of which is designed to couple the agricultural implement to a US quick-hitch attachment system of an agricultural support vehicle, and having a second, spherically contoured section (27b), the external diameter of which is designed to couple the agricultural implement to a European lower-link attachment system of an agricultural support vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Siegfried Epp
  • Patent number: 11805721
    Abstract: Work machines, control systems for work machines, and methods of operating work machines are disclosed. A work machine includes a frame structure, a work implement, and a control system. The work implement is coupled to the frame structure and includes at least one ground engagement tool that is configured for movement in response to interaction with an underlying surface in use of the use work machine. The control system is coupled to the frame structure and includes a sensor mounted to the at least one ground engagement tool and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam D. Sporrer, Ricky B. Theilen, Jeremy D. Krantz, Lucas B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 11793097
    Abstract: A quick-attachment system may be used for attaching an agricultural planter to a strip till. A frame is initially installed on a strip till and may remain permanently attached to the strip till so that the strip till may be separately used in normal operation with the frame attached but without a planter attached. For combination tilling and planting operations, a planter may be attached by completing a three-point hitch attachment to the frame so that a tractor may be used to pull the combination of strip till and planter. Hydraulic cylinders connected to the frame and to the planter may be used to lift and lower the planter relative to the strip till.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: James Wade Helms
  • Patent number: 11788251
    Abstract: An adapter board defines an upper adapter board attachment portion, and a lower tool bit attachment portion. The upper adapter board attachment portion includes a first peak surface and a second peak surface, the first peak surface and the second peak surface forming a first valley between the first peak surface and the second peak surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruno Parzynski, Jr., Thomas Marshall Congdon, Susan Marie Graham
  • Patent number: 11785872
    Abstract: A stabilizer wheel arrangement is actively damped when remotely positioning a stabilizer wheel of a towable agricultural implement by detecting an onset of ground-induced vibration and automatically introducing a phase-shifted vibration-countering or cancelling/damping modulation pattern into a signal that simultaneously and cooperatively controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from both the rod and base ends of the bore of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, to hold the piston of the hydraulic cylinder at a target position determined from a desired position input signal corresponding to a desired position of the stabilizer wheel with respect to a frame of the agricultural implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Yong Deng, Timothy R. Blunier
  • Patent number: 11767655
    Abstract: A cutting assembly for mounting cutting tips on a mouldboard of a motor grader has a cutter body including a forward mounting face for mounting along a rear face of the mouldboard simultaneously with a continuous blade body supported along the front face of the mouldboard. A row of sockets in the cutter body are arranged to support cutting tips respectively therein. The cutter body is configured to support the cutting tips on the mouldboard such that (i) the cutting tips are raised relative to the lower blade edge of the blade body in a normal working position of the mouldboard, and (ii) the cutting tips protrude below the lower blade edge of the blade body in a cutting position of the mouldboard in which the lower blade edge of the blade body is tilted about the tilt axis upwardly and forwardly in relation to the normal working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Chad Killniak
  • Patent number: 11751498
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a toolbar system having a toolbar frame, an elevator assembly, and a first wing on one side of the toolbar frame. The first wing may be coupled to the elevator and pivotable about a first vertical axis of rotation between an extended and a folded position. Tools may be coupled to the first wing and rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the first wing from an operating position below the first wing to a transport/shipping position above the first wing. Further, the first wing may be adapted to be moveable to position the first wing higher than a wheel of the agricultural implement on the same side of the toolbar frame in the folded position. Subsequently, the tools may be circularly rotated and the middle wing and tools pushed down to reduce the overall width and height of the implement for transporting or shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill, Ryan J. Fleshner, Ronald J. Schlimgen