Patents Examined by Julia C Tran
  • Patent number: 11968926
    Abstract: A forage harvester that includes a cutterhead assembly and two frame parts between which the cutterhead assembly is rotatably suspended. The forage harvester assembly is held on both frame parts by a clamp bearing that defines a rotary axis. Contact points between an element on the frame part side and an element on the assembly side of the clamp bearing lie on a spherical surface centered on the rotary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Look, Jochen Rathjens
  • Patent number: 11968930
    Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester having a shear bar adjustably mounted on a housing. A chopper drum is supported from the housing and mounted for rotation about an axis and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports to which at least one chopper knife can be adjustably secured. In use the chopper knives cooperate with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface. The adjustment apparatus also includes at least one shear bar alignment surface on one or more of the location elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Tschirdewahn, Markus Uhl, Burkhard Freiburg-Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 11957076
    Abstract: A method for controlled activation of cutting discs of row dividers of a machine for harvesting tall, stalky plants, such as sugarcane and sorghum. The method is used in a harvester machine including an operating cabin, at least one row divider equipped with at least one lollipop activated rotationally, and at least one cutting disc activated rotationally. The method includes steps of measuring a workload of the lollipops, comparing the workload of the lollipops with a predefined workload threshold in order to, thus, determine whether to reinitiate the measurement of the workload or to activate the at least one cutting disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: João Augusto Marcolin Lucca
  • Patent number: 11950531
    Abstract: A trimmer attachment for use with a lawn mower includes a deck mounting plate configured for attachment to the lawn mower, one or more mounting tabs extending up from the deck mounting plate, a curved pivoting arm rotatably coupled to the one or more mounting tabs, a pivoting motor for rotating the pivoting arm, and a trimmer head coupled to the pivoting arm. Rotation of the pivoting arm by the pivoting motor causes the trimmer head to rotate between a stowed position and an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: CoJa Industries, LLC
    Inventors: James Patrick, Cody Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11950532
    Abstract: A mower combination having an agricultural vehicle and a number of mowing units suitable for cutting a standing crop connected to the agricultural vehicle, including a front mowing unit and two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit, each of the lateral mowing units being provided with conveyor units to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receives a plurality of signals, representing the location of the mower combination, a displacement of each of the conveyor units and/or a direction of operation of each of the conveyor units. The control unit receives the plurality of signals and compares them against a predetermined set of values and as required adjusts the displacement or direction of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Fillep, Ronnie Kinast
  • Patent number: 11944027
    Abstract: A header that includes at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that includes an actuator mechanism configured to actuate a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels, the swivel movement being configured to bring the wheel assembly to or from a position wherein the axle is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the header. The wheel assembly is equipped with a drawbar that is deployable from a storage position to a deployed position, wherein the movement of the drawbar between the positions is synchronized with the swivel movement of the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America, LLC
    Inventors: Dré W. J. Jongmans, Bart M. A. Missotten, Kenneth De Ceunynck, Sam Reubens, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Michiel Desmyter
  • Patent number: 11944024
    Abstract: A combination sod cutting and sprinkler cap removal tool includes a socket having a cavity and outer surface extending between proximal and distal ends, a cutting means disposed circumferentially about the distal end, an internal gear formed within the cavity, and a removable rotating means insertable into the cavity and configured to rotatably engage and be axially arrested by the internal gear whether the rotating means is inserted through the proximal end or the distal end. Interior gear teeth of the internal gear have both inner and outer engagement surfaces. When inserted through the proximal end, the rotating means engages the outer engagement surfaces to configure the distal end of the tool for cutting sod by rotation of the cutting means. When the rotating means engages the internal gear through the distal end, the proximal end of the tool is configured for removing a sprinkler cap by engaging the inner engagement surfaces with gripping surfaces of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Kody J. Ketterling
  • Patent number: 11937546
    Abstract: A header including a front and rear wheel assembly, each assembly having an axle and two wheels. Each wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system having an actuator mechanism for actuating a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels to bring the wheel assembly to or from a road transport position. The front and rear wheel assemblies are equipped with tie rod arrangements for steering the header when it is transported on the road. The wheels of the wheel assemblies are operated as caster wheels. The tie rod arrangement of the front wheel assembly is coupled to a pivotable base connected to, or connectable to, a drawbar. The wheel assemblies have respective actuators which are synchronized so as to synchronize the position of the front and rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Dré W. J. Jongmans, Bart M. A. Missotten, Kenneth De Ceunynck, Sam Reubens, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Michiel Desmyter
  • Patent number: 11942301
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for lawn mower security systems provide the ability to safeguard ride-on style lawn mowers against unauthorized cranking of its engine if the mowers have push/pull mower deck or power-takeoff (PTO) switch technology. Security components secured to a PTO or mower deck switch to prevent the ability to position such switch in a disengaged position. Therefore, existing safety and interlock features of the existing ride-on mower otherwise prevent someone from being able to crank the mower, which helps to guard against unauthorized use and/or theft of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JENDYK MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Bryant F. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11917942
    Abstract: Mower (1), has a plurality of mowing elements (2), forming a mower bar (3), a roller conditioner (4), behind the mower bar (3), and an upper conditioning roller (5) and a lower conditioning roller (6), the lower conditioning roller (6) is rotatable about a lower, positionally fixed axis of rotation (8), wherein the upper conditioning roller (5) is rotatable about an upper, shiftable axis of rotation (9) that, as a result of shifting the upper axis of rotation (9), a gap (7) between the conditioning rollers (5, 6) is changeable, wherein the lower conditioning roller (6) and the upper conditioning roller (5) are coupled to each other via a scissors-like transmission (10), and wherein first and second transmission parts (11,12) are coupled to the lower conditioning roller (6) and the upper conditioning roller (5) respectively and are operatively connected to each other and are shiftable in a scissors-like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Siegfried Epp
  • Patent number: 11910748
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a cutting deck assembly and a grounds maintenance vehicle that includes such assembly. The assembly includes a top surface and a sidewall extending from the top surface. The top surface and the sidewall partially surround a first cutting chamber and a second cutting chamber. The assembly further includes a channel disposed adjacent a rear portion of the sidewall and extending along a channel axis between a first end and a second end of the channel, where the first end of the channel is connected to an outlet of the first cutting chamber; and a ramp disposed at least partially within the channel and adjacent the second end of the channel. The ramp includes a directing surface that is adapted to deflect at least a portion of clippings that enter the channel from the outlet of the first cutting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert L. Anderson, Jeffrey W. Stern, Curtis E. Wersal
  • Patent number: 11903338
    Abstract: Systems and method for linearly displacing an object, such as a cutter or other component, in response to a rotation of a pivotable arm are disclosed. The systems and method encompass one or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, to pivot a pivotable arm pivotable about an axis. A flexible component coupled to an end of the pivotable arm is displaced in response to the rotational motion of the pivotable arm. Movement of the flexible component in response to rotation of the pivotable arm is converted into linear motion via curved surface on which the flexible component rides. The pivotable arm is rotated in response to actuation of one or more actuators, such as one or more hydraulic cylinders, coupled to the pivotable arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Moline, IL
    Inventors: Todd M. Verhoef, Curt A. Elpers, Logan K. Trueblood
  • Patent number: 11889790
    Abstract: A hydraulically powered implement is designed for use in connection with a tractor that has a hydraulic pump that supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to the implement. The implement includes a variable displacement hydraulic motor, an operative element driven by the hydraulic motor, a speed sensor configured to measure the rotational speed of the operative element and output a speed signal representative of the measured speed, a shift module that adjusts the displacement of the hydraulic motor in response to a shift command signal, and a controller. The controller sends the shift command signal to the shift module in response to speed signal output by the speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Dougherty Forestry Manufacturing, Ltd. Co.
    Inventors: Patrick Devon Dougherty, James Andrew Dougherty
  • Patent number: 11889786
    Abstract: A mower with one or more wing decks that includes one or more manual lifting mechanisms for the one or more wing decks. The manual lifting mechanism may shift between retracted and extended positions, where in the extended position a handle can be positioned further away from the wing deck. When the handle is in the extended position, a user can manually engage the handle and lift the wing deck from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration, using less force than would be required if the handle was in the retracted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Nebel, Thomas J. Gaeddert, Philip Lowell Hochstetler
  • Patent number: 11882790
    Abstract: An agricultural apparatus including an agricultural vehicle together with a front work unit and two lateral work units located behind and to the sides of the front work unit. The front work unit has a connection to the front of the agricultural vehicle and the lateral work units share a connection to the rear of the agricultural vehicle. Each of the work units deposits cut crop as a swath. One or more sensors determine a height of the rear connection above the ground surface. A control unit is provided for controlling the height of the connections above the ground surface, such that if the height of the rear connection is determined to deviate from a predetermined value, the control unit causes the height of the rear connection to be adjusted towards the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Fillep, Ronnie Kinast
  • Patent number: 11882792
    Abstract: A work vehicle for cutting crops includes a header a supported by a chassis of the work vehicle. The header includes a cutter assembly having a cutter bar frame supporting a series of rotary cutters arranged in a lengthwise direction. A gear train, having a first gear and a second gear, is coupled to the series of rotary cutters to transfer power thereto. A cutter control system includes a first motor coupled to the first gear of the gear train and a second motor coupled to the second gear of the gear train. A controller, including a processor and memory architecture, is operably connected to the first motor and the second motor to control operation thereof. The cutter control system drives the first gear at a first speed via the first motor and drives the second gear at a second speed via the second motor. The second speed is different than the first speed to pre-load the gear train into enmeshing engagement with each other in one rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kraus, Austin J. Karst
  • Patent number: 11856884
    Abstract: A header includes: a header frame; a cutter carried by the header frame; a roll disposed rearwardly of the cutter and configured to convey cut crop material rearwardly in a crop flow stream; a swath gate coupled to the header frame and movable between a spreading position and a converging position; a spreader coupled to the swath gate and configured to laterally spread the crop flow stream as the crop flow stream flows across the spreader; and a converger coupled to the swath gate and configured to converge the crop flow stream toward a centerline of the swath gate as the crop flow stream flows across the converger. The spreader and the converger are configured to not be in the crop flow stream at the same time, depending on the position of the swath gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Ritchey, Jeffrey B. Fay, II, Scott Wangsgard, Terry S. Moyer, Kevin Cordes, Jeffrey A. Eavenson, Garin R. Ingalls
  • Patent number: 11856886
    Abstract: A cutting deck lifting device for adjusting the height of the cutting deck of a mower includes a cutting deck having at least one cutting blade mounted thereto, a pedal assembly including a pedal switched between locking and unlocking states for adjusting the height of the cutting deck, a connecting assembly connecting the pedal assembly to the cutting deck and an adjusting assembly connected to the pedal assembly for positioning the cutting deck to a position with a desired height when the pedal is switched between locking and unlocking states. The cutting deck lifting device can conveniently and quickly adjust the cutting deck between the first position and the second position. Simultaneously, the cutting deck lifting device has a simple structure, a low manufacturing cost, and easy installation, and can be applied to a variety of garden tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Qunli Wei, Xiaolei Qiu, Qin Ji, Dongdong Shi
  • Patent number: 11849669
    Abstract: A flexible mower deck includes a center deck with a plurality of rotary cutting blades rotated by a belt engaging a driven pulley for each blade. A first wing deck and a second wing deck are pivotably attached to a first end and a second end of the center deck. Each of the wing decks are pivotable between a lowered mowing position and a raised transport position. A height of cut mechanism on each of the first and second wing decks raises and lowers the wing deck and includes a four bar caster wheel level mechanism holding a caster wheel sleeve in front of the wing deck in vertical alignment at any height of cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Chad C. Steen
  • Patent number: 11844308
    Abstract: A lawn mower may include a cutter propulsion unit, a transmission axle that may have a longitudinal extension and may be adapted to be rotated by the cutter propulsion unit. The lawn mower may further include a cutting disc that may have a radial extension (R) that runs between a center and an outer edge, where the cutting disc may include one or more cutting edges that may be adapted to cut grass when the cutting disc may be brought into a rotational motion by means of the transmission axle. The cutting disc may further include a connection portion which may be adapted to receive a coupling member, which may be included in the transmission axle, in at least two different mounting positions that may be adapted to position the connection portion in mutually separated positions along the longitudinal extension (L, L?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Jonathan Björn