Patents Examined by Julia C Tran
  • 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11832555
    Abstract: A harvester includes a feed system operable at a feed speed and configured to feed a crop towards a blade. The blade is configured to cut the crop into crop billet and is operable at a cutting speed. The harvester further includes an optical sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to a length of the crop billet and a control system with a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The control system is configured to receive the signal and programmed to adjust one or both of the cutting speed or the feed speed based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander C. Reiners, John A. Dighton, Ana E. Carbunaru
  • Patent number: 11812687
    Abstract: A leaf mulcher includes a carriage, a plurality of wheels rotatably secured to the carriage, and a main housing having a front and a rear. A scoop is removably coupled to the front of the main housing and configured to direct leaves into the main housing to be mulched. The leaf mulcher also includes an impeller housing having an entry and an exit, where the entry of the impeller housing is coupled to a rear of the housing. In addition, the leaf mulcher includes a bag having an intake conduit coupled to the exit of the impeller housing and is configured to receive mulched leaves, and an impeller is within the impeller housing and has an insert and nut. A motor is coupled to the impeller and is configured to spin the impeller to create a vacuum to draw leaves into the impeller housing where the leaves are mulched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Ash Gilpin
  • Patent number: 11812690
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a blade assembly configured to perform a cutting function, a deck formed with an accommodating space for accommodating at least part of the blade assembly and a power mechanism configured to drive the blade assembly to rotate about a rotation axis. The blade assembly includes a cutting blade and a chopping device. The cutting blade is configured to be driven by the power mechanism to rotate about the rotation axis, and the cutting blade includes a cutting edge. The chopping device includes a chopping body, a plurality of chopping teeth, and a plurality of branching ports provided between two adjacent ones of the plurality of chopping teeth. The chopping body is configured to be driven by the power mechanism to rotate and the chopping teeth extend upward or downward from the chopping body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinari Yamaoka, Tianliang Liu
  • Patent number: 11785886
    Abstract: A lawn mower front wheel positioning system that provides adjustment of lateral positioning of a front wheel of the mower. The front wheel positioning system includes a wheel support arm, a wheel support member, and a wheel positioning arm having an adjustable length. The wheel positioning arm having a proximal end that couples to the wheel support member and a distal end that couples to the wheel support arm. A first end of the wheel support arm couples to the front wheel. A second end of the support arm couples to the support member by way of a support arm wheel pivot that defines a wheel pivot axis. The wheel support arm and the front wheel rotate about the wheel pivot axis responsive to adjustment of the length of the wheel positioning arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bad Boy Mowers, LLC
    Inventors: Kenny Cox, Charles Bradley Covington
  • Patent number: 11785890
    Abstract: A corn head corn head includes a first wing segment and a center segment. A corn head adjustment system includes a first fold actuator; a first deck plate actuator mounted on at least one of the first wing segment frame or the center frame and configured to reposition at least one of the first deck plate rod or the center deck plate rod; and corn head hydraulics. During a fold process, the corn head hydraulics is configured to actuate the first fold actuator in order to fold the first wing segment relative to the center segment and to actuate the first deck plate actuator in order to decouple the first deck plate rod from the center deck plate rod. During an unfold process, the corn head hydraulics is configured to actuate the first fold actuator in order to unfold the first wing segment relative to the center segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Todd M. Verhoef, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Troy M. Heims, Mitchel J. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 11778944
    Abstract: A power head comprises a motor assembly, an energy device and a housing. The motor assembly comprises a motor base and a motor fixed on the motor base. The housing assembly comprises a casing that is assembled with the motor base. The top of the casing is provided with an air inlet that is inclined backward and downward and an air inlet cavity connected to the air inlet. The air inlet and the air inlet cavity are provided with two. The air inlet cavity is a U-shaped structure with an upper opening, and the casing covers the top of the air inlet cavity to form a sealed airflow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yu Xiao
  • Patent number: 11778949
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle and connected mower having a number of mowing units suitable for cutting a standing crop, 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 having conveyor units to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receives a plurality of signals, representing the location of the mower combination and a direction of operation of each of the conveyor units, compares the signals to a predetermined set of values and as required, adjusts the direction of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Fillep, Ronnie Kinast
  • Patent number: 11758842
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a mower connected to an abdomen of a running machine body via lifting links, a lifting interlocking link mechanism provided below the machine body for moving the mower up/down, and a link stopper connected to an adjustment dial and acting on the lifting interlocking link mechanism to change a cutting height of the mower. The adjustment dial is arranged on a seat support panel that supports an operator seat, and the link stopper, connected to the adjustment dial by a wire, is arranged below the machine body. A lifting lever for raising/lowering the mower is provided on one side of the left and right sides of the machine body, and a parking lever is arranged on the seat support panel on the other side. The adjustment dial is arranged between the parking lever and fenders covering rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ISEKI & CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Tsuduki
  • Patent number: 11744182
    Abstract: A cotton harvester estimates the mass of cotton as it is harvested using sensor devices and compares the mass of each module against the estimated mass of the module as determined by the sensors so that a calibration factor may be determined and actively updated for more accurate crop yield determination. The mass flow for a specific module is accumulated and processed during harvesting using a base calibration factor and the module is weighed and compared against the expected mass using the base calibration factor to develop a candidate updated calibration factor. The base calibration factor is selectively replaced by the candidate updated calibration factor for processing a subsequent module based on machine feedback information relating to the operation of the harvester. Harvested crop data determined using the calibration factor is used to generate highly accurate yield maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brandon C. Carlson, Jeffrey S. Wigdahl, Nicholas W. Vanlaningham, Kurt D. Gustafson, Jeffrey C. Askey