Patents Examined by Julianne Cozad
  • Patent number: 7104207
    Abstract: An air seeder has two tanks for holding seed or other particulate matter. Each tank has a metering device at the bottom to meter out the contents of the tanks. A panel is positioned to cover and uncover a hole between the two tanks such that it can direct the contents of one tank into the other and also block off the metering device of the one tank. The panel is connected to a handle that extends outside the tanks so the operator can move the panel without entering the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: William A. Wake, Timothy A. Murray
  • Patent number: 7100703
    Abstract: A golf green roller apparatus that can be hitched to a golf cart or any vehicle utilizing a clevis pin-type coupler. The roller is mounted on an articulated frame. A pair of wheels having tires thereon is also mounted on the frame. An easy-to-operate electric actuator functions to lower or raise the wheels while simultaneously lowering or raising the roller. When the wheels are lowered, the roller is raised to a storage position. Conversely, when the wheels are raised the roller is lowered to contact the surface to be rolled. The electric actuator can be powered by a twelve-volt battery. Connector cables are provided so that the roller apparatus can be easily attached to the battery of a golf cart or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: John D. Etter
  • Patent number: 7100522
    Abstract: A system for and a method of metering product includes an equalizing meter apparatus that more readily equalizes the distribution of product with uneven distribution systems. The metering system includes a meter roller assembly operable to meter granular product delivery between a meter box and a series of product distributors. The meter roller assembly includes a shaft in support of a series of roller sections rotatably mounted on the shaft. The roller sections include at least one fluted metering section having a series of fluted segments configured to meter granular product. The equalizing meter apparatus includes a split ring having a series of protrusions configured to engage the fluted segments of the metering section and enhance equalizing the distribution of granular product from the meter roller assembly. The split ring is operable to detach from and reconnect to the fluted metering section without disassembling the meter roller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Dean J. Mayerle
  • Patent number: 7096805
    Abstract: A liquid fertilizer application system for efficiently dispensing and placing liquid fertilizer within a furrow to minimize germination injury. The liquid fertilizer application system includes a guard with an attached fertilizer tube having an input opening and a discharge opening. The discharge opening of the fertilizer tube is attached in front of the guard used to protect the implement seed tube. The discharge opening of the fertilizer tube forward of the seed tube allows for the application of the fertilizer into the prepared furrow prior to placement of the seed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: Brent W. Wiesenburger
  • Patent number: 7093381
    Abstract: A front equipment mount for attaching a piece of equipment to a front end of a wheeled vehicle having an independent front suspension includes a longitudinal frame and a transverse frame member connected to the longitudinal frame. The longitudinal frame has a forward and end which is positionable proximate the front end of the vehicle and a rearward end which is attachable to the vehicle rearward of the front suspension. The transverse frame member has opposed left and right ends connectable to respective left and right suspension members of the vehicle. The piece of equipment is attachable to the forward end of the longitudinal frame such that the weight of the piece of equipment is supported by the left and right suspension members as unsprung weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Luc Belzile
  • Patent number: 7073604
    Abstract: The transversely extending frame of a machine has a number of hingedly interconnected frame sections that may be raised and lowered by lift cylinders to convert the machine between a wide-spread working position and a folded-up transport position. Two lift cylinders for raising and lowering inner wing frame sections relative to the central main frame section are anchored at their inner ends to a hydraulically operated holding cylinder that effectively adjusts the positions of the anchor points of the lift cylinder in a lateral sense. Thus, when the holding cylinder is fully contracted, the inner wing frame sections may be lowered by their lift cylinders until the lift cylinders are fully extended, but the outer ends of the inner wing frame sections remain tilted upwardly to a certain extent. Thus, outer wing frame sections connected to the outer ends of the inner wing frame sections also remain slightly lifted off the ground until fully unfolded from the inner wing frame sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Morris Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: David Dobson, Dale S. Ryczak
  • Patent number: 7044070
    Abstract: A no-till drill with a novel walking beam assembly that allows the drill to be pulled over severe terrain conditions that include large rocks, fallen limbs and other large obstructions. The inventive walking beam assembly includes two independent pivot points that allow the cutting and opening disks to maintain substantially constant or continuous contact with the ground, such that the length of the furrow formed and seed deposited therein are maximized. A closing disk assembly is suspended from the rear of the drill independently from the walking beam assembly. This independent suspension allows the walking beam assembly to function without interference from the closing disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Kasco Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: P. Philip Kaster, Craig A. Kaster