Patents Examined by Robert E. Pezzuto
  • Patent number: 10842066
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a ground treatment, such as aeration or dethatching, is provided. The apparatus includes a base frame component to which a pair of angled side frame components are pivotally mounted. Each angled side frame can include first and second ends that are oriented to form a central angle. A first end of an angled side frame can be pivotally attached to a wheel and/or the base frame component, while the second end can include a mechanism for mounting a ground treatment component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Innovative Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Eden T. Smith, Todd M. Smith
  • Patent number: 10842078
    Abstract: A dual powered riding lawn mower including a riding mower. The riding mower includes a mowing deck having at least one mowing blade therein. The mower blade is connected to a blade shaft. The blade shaft is connected to a clutch and gear box. The gear box will enable a user to switch between manual power and a battery powered motor. The manual power will include a set of pedals that will spin the blade shaft and propel the riding lawn mower forward. When the electric motor is engaged the pedals are used to charge the battery via an alternator connected to the gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Inventor: Jovan Goings
  • Patent number: 10842077
    Abstract: A verge-cutting mower device (20, 30), for example for maintaining roadside verges, has at least one frame (16) intended to be mounted on an automotive agricultural machine (10) and on which there is mounted a piece of cutting/grinding equipment (20) intended to mow or grind plants. The cutting/grinding equipment (20) is actuated using an electric motor (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: ROUSSEAU
    Inventors: Guillaume Daudre, Mathieu Courtine
  • Patent number: 10842080
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming plant material includes a rotatable tumbler through which the plant material is to be axially propagated while rotationally tumbling, and a plurality of cutting reel systems adjacent the tumbler. The plurality of cutting reel systems includes a first cutting reel system adjacent the tumbler, and a second cutting reel system adjacent a landing zone of the rotatable tumbler. The landing zone is an angular range about the axis of the tumbler within which plant material tends to land on the tumbler after tumbling through a central volume of the tumbler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Eteros Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Ingram, Aaron McKellar, Joe Heywood, Rudi Klossok
  • Patent number: 10834869
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a lift assembly for a lawnmower can include a mower housing configured to house blades for cutting vegetation. A frame can be located above the mower housing, the frame including two longitudinal extending frame members, and at least one pivot bar extending between the two longitudinal extending frame members. A linear actuator can be located adjacent the frame members and connected to the pivot bar such that actuation of the linear actuator causes the pivot bar to rotate about a rotational axis of the pivot bar. At least one cam can be connected to the pivot bar so as to rotate with the pivot bar, the cam including a mower housing attachment element that supports the mower housing such that rotation of the cam varies a distance between the frame and the mower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Christopher Todd Walker
  • Patent number: 10829912
    Abstract: A wear assembly for excavating equipment which includes a wear member and a base each with upper and lower stabilizing surfaces that are offset and at overlapping depths to reduce the overall depth of the assembly while maintaining high strength and a stable coupling. The nose and socket each includes a generally triangular-shaped front stabilizing end to provide a highly stable front connection between the nose and wear member for both vertical and side loading. The lock is movable between hold and release positions to accommodate replacing of the wear member when needed, and secured to the wear member for shipping and storage purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Carpenter, Donald M. Conklin, James E. Bearden, Severn D. Durand, Dziugas Radzius, Ray J. Morris
  • Patent number: 10827662
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an agricultural tillage disk blade includes providing a substantially circular-shaped disk body with an outer peripheral edge and a central opening that defines a rotation axis, the outer body being disposed within a first plane. A plurality of waves is formed in a predetermined pattern in the outer peripheral edge of the disk body, and the outer peripheral edge is sharpened to form a plurality of teeth such that at least a portion of the sharpened outer peripheral edge is disposed within a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. The method also includes machining a plurality of relief portions in each of the plurality of waves at a location radially inward of the plurality of teeth, and heat treating the disk body after the sharpening and machining steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jarrod R. Ruckle, Shawn J. Becker, David L. Steinlage
  • Patent number: 10827680
    Abstract: A plant seed harvesting device comprises a multi-layer net unit; the multi-layer net unit comprises collecting net, intermediate layer net and bottom layer net; the collecting net, the intermediate layer net and the bottom layer net are all plate-like structure having a plurality of meshes; the peripheral edge of the plate-like structure is a net frame, area with the meshes is net face; The collecting net, the intermediate layer net and the bottom layer net are arranged closely in the axial direction to form the multi-layer net unit; mesh sizes on the collecting net, the intermediate layer net and the bottom layer net are configured to be successively and gradually decreased; plant seeds can pass through the meshes of the collecting net; air but not plant seeds can pass through the meshes of the bottom layer net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY NEW TECHNOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY
    Inventors: Wei Li, Lijuan Cui, Zhiguo Dou, Xinsheng Zhao, Si Yang, Manyin Zhang, Changjun Gao, Yinuo Zhu
  • Patent number: 10830335
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a frame, a prime mover supported by the frame, and a header connected to the frame. The header includes at least one drive line, at least one transmission, at least one rotating cross shaft, and at least one gearbox operably connected to the at least one rotating cross shaft. The at least one gearbox includes a housing connected to the header and configured for housing a working fluid. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and an end. The at least one gearbox also includes a gear train housed within the housing and an auxiliary sump connected to the end of the housing and fluidly coupled to the inlet and the outlet of the housing such that the working fluid circulates through the housing and the auxiliary sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Dan L. Garland, Matthew Flannery, Nathaniel Smith, Nicholas J. Laufenberg, Herbert M. Farley, Thamilselvan Karuppannan
  • Patent number: 10827664
    Abstract: A pair of mower deck lifting ramps are mounted to a top surface of a mower deck for supporting a pair of tractor tires to ride over belts and pulleys on one side of the deck. A first carrier engagement member and a second carrier engagement member are attached to each drive-over ramp. The first and second carrier engagement members engage the upper and lower parts of a carrier attached to a lift arm of a loader to raise and turn the mower deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Robert Simpson, Samuel Gantt, Giovanni Santoro, Rishika Shekhawat
  • Patent number: 10820463
    Abstract: An earth cutting apparatus comprising a plurality of articulated elements including at least a first element having a mounting structure thereon and an adjacent second element hingedly connected to the first element. An earth cutting member is provided including a proximal end which is pivotally mounted to the mounting structure of the first element and an earth cutting end. The earth cutting member is slidably connected to the adjacent second element and moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, such that hinged movement of the adjacent second element relative to the first element causes the earth cutting member to slidably extend from the adjacent second element to the extended position for operatively cutting earth. Hinged movement of the adjacent second element in an opposite direction causes the earth cutting member to slidably retract to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Agrirevolution
    Inventors: Jacobus du Toit Stofberg, Lodewyk Christoffel De Lange
  • Patent number: 10820505
    Abstract: A self-learning grain sensing system for an agricultural harvester includes a first grain sensor having a first sensing surface responsive to first impacts of grain upon the first sensing surface, wherein the first grain sensor generates first electrical pulses in response to the first impacts; a second grain sensor having a second sensing surface responsive to second impacts of grain upon the second sensing surface, and wherein the second grain sensor generates second electrical pulses in response to the second impacts; and a control system configured to receive the first electrical pulses from the first grain sensor, derive control parameters from the first electrical pulses, and apply those control parameters to the second electrical pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nathan R. Vandike, Bradley K. Yanke, Volker Fuchs
  • Patent number: 10820506
    Abstract: A method for controlling crop material speed through a rotor/cage assembly of an agricultural combine. The method includes the steps of monitoring a grain loss of the combine and adjusting an orientation of a vane coupled to the cage responsive to the grain loss, a cleaning system load and/or a straw length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley, Wayne T. Flickinger, Brecht Vanmullem, Arno Leenknegt, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Glenn Aesaert
  • Patent number: 10820521
    Abstract: A combine harvester tailings return system includes a tailings conveyor and an ejection channel for depositing tailings upstream of a cleaning system. A proximity sensor is mounted to the ejection channel and is configured to sense the height of a layer of tailings during transit through the returns system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Dan Hermann, Morten Leth Bilde
  • Patent number: 10820477
    Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle of a work vehicle system is provided that includes at least one controller including a memory and a processor. The at least one controller is configured to determine an attitude of a working surface of an implement relative to a field. In addition, the at least one controller is configured to generate evenly spaced swaths of the field, each swath having a center line. Further, the at least one controller is configured to determine target altitudes for points along the center line for a respective swath. Even further, the at least one controller is configured to adjust a depth of the working surface of the implement relative to the field to meet the target altitudes at respective points while the work vehicle moves along the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Peter John Dix
  • Patent number: 10820467
    Abstract: A suspension for a mower includes a stationary part, a movable part, and at least one cutting unit. The moveable part is connected to the stationary part via a hydraulic actuator such that an actuation of the hydraulic actuator displaces the movable part in relation to the stationary part. Displacement of the movable part includes a vertical component of displacement of the movable part. At least one cutting unit is mechanically connected to the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Launy Luckmann
  • Patent number: 10820472
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for determining soil parameters of a field across which an agricultural implement is being moved may include a sensor mounted on a ground engaging member. As such, the sensor may be configured to capture data indicative of a soil parameter of soil within the field. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input indicative of a selected planting depth for the field. Moreover, the controller may be configured to control an operation of an actuator in a manner that adjusts the penetration depth of the ground engaging member such that the sensor is positioned at the selected planting depth. Additionally, the controller may be configured to determine the soil parameter of the soil within the field at the selected planting depth based on the data received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Trevor Stanhope, Christopher Barrick
  • Patent number: 10820514
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a crop merger system for a harvester. The system includes a frame, first and second rollers mounted to the frame, and a belt disposed over the first and second rollers. The system includes a motor operably coupled to and configured to rotate the second roller. The system includes a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt. The system includes a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jon M. McKinnis, Jr., Gregory Fasick, Madhu Pankaj, Robert Fackler
  • Patent number: 10820507
    Abstract: A harvesting vehicle including a cleaning section including a blower and at least one sieve. The sieve is configured to transport a layer comprising a mixture of grain kernels and residue material towards an exit edge of the sieve so that kernels fall through openings of the sieve and the residue remains on the sieve until it is ejected from the sieve by crossing the exit edge. The sieve may be subject to a grain loss, including a sieve-off loss and a blowout loss. The cleaning section further includes a sensor configured to determine whether the blowout loss or the sieve-off loss is a highest contributor to the grain loss. The cleaning section may also include a grain loss detector configured to measure the sieve-off loss and at least a portion of the blowout loss and a blowout sensor mounted above the sieve for measuring the blowout loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Aesaert, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Patent number: 10820511
    Abstract: A harvesting system includes a header pivotably attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotably attached. A wing locking system of the harvesting system includes first and second engageable states that enable dynamic wing behavior and reduce structural load. The first state corresponds to a harvesting configuration of the header in which the wings are allowed to pivot to allow the header to follow changes in terrain. The second state corresponds to a configuration in which the header is elevated relative to the ground. In the second state, the ability of the wings to pivot is minimized as compared to the first state, which allows the header to be maintained in a substantially flat configuration while minimizing the amount of dynamic load imparted by the header on the combine during non-harvesting transport of the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Alex Brimeyer, Joshua R. Pierson, Michael L. Vandeven, Austin M. Laugen, Paul D. Marvin