Patents Examined by Robert E. Pezzuto
  • Patent number: 10820516
    Abstract: In one aspect, an agricultural harvester may include a harvesting implement having a belt support assembly configured to support a conveyor belt of the harvesting implement as the conveyor belt moves relative to the belt support assembly. The system may also include a sensor provided in operative association the belt support assembly, with the sensor being configured to detect a parameter indicative of a force exerted on the belt support assembly as the conveyor belt moves relative to the belt support assembly. Furthermore, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, with the controller being configured to monitor the amount of the plant materials entering the harvester based on measurement signals received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Herbert M. Farley, Benjamin D. Kemmerer
  • Patent number: 10820503
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring crop yield is disclosed. The monitoring device is mounted to a housing of a grain elevator of an agricultural work machine proximate a crop conveyor assembly arranged in the housing and has at least one aperture formed therein. A material engagement member is arranged on the mounting structure and is pivotal with respect to the mounting structure about a pivot point. The material engagement member can comprise first end and a second end opposite of the first end. At least one rotational sensor is arranged in the monitoring device and is configured to detect spatial movement or position of the material engagement member. A processing device is coupled to the at least one rotational sensor and is configured to determine an aggregate crop yield based on the detected rotational magnitude of the displacement of the first end or second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Gurmukh H. Advani, Noel W. Anderson, Kevin P. Cowles, Michael L. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 10820466
    Abstract: A wing locking system for a harvesting header is provided. The wing locking system includes an accumulator, a fluid cylinder operably attached to a wing of the harvesting header, a hose fluidly connecting the accumulator and the fluid cylinder, and a valve operably disposed between the accumulator and the fluid cylinder. The valve includes a first selectable position configured to permit a first fluid flow rate between the accumulator and the fluid cylinder and a second selectable position configured to permit a second fluid flow rate from the accumulator to the fluid cylinder. The first fluid flow rate is greater than the second fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Alex Brimeyer, Paul D. Marvin, Alison E. Bergmann, David Eric Renner
  • Patent number: 10820462
    Abstract: A system and method cuts and increases surface area of surface stubble material while contemporaneously mulching, tiling and aerating the soil. A discoidal coulter blade is configured with sharpened areas at the circumference for cutting the surface stubble as well as reducing the downward pressure required for the blade to enter the type and depth of soil desired. The sharpened areas include a first long bevel, a second shorter bevel and an optional opposite counter bevel. The first and second bevels aid in coulter blade lifespan ensuring a self-sharpened blade while the counter-bevel allows mating with a second coulter blade at a sharpened point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Prescription Tillage Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Christie, Ryan J. K. Christie, John D. Nance
  • Patent number: 10815636
    Abstract: A tool changer for a construction machine includes at least one tool retaining portion for holding a tool being mountable to the tool mount, the tool changer being configured to be movably attached to the construction machine. The tool changer also includes and a moving mechanism for moving the tool retaining portion in alignment with the articulated boom of the construction machine to allow for picking of the tool by the tool mount. The construction machine includes an articulated boom with a tool mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward Wagner
  • Patent number: 10813271
    Abstract: A work vehicle incudes a traveling mechanism driven by a rotational power from an engine and an implement for effecting a ground work by the rotational power of the engine. The work vehicle further includes a load ratio calculation section 53 for calculating an engine load ratio indicative of an engine load of the engine, a ground speed calculation section 51 for calculating a ground speed of the vehicle body with using satellite positioning data, a slip ratio calculation section 52 for calculating a slip ratio indicative of slippage of the traveling mechanism relative to a ground surface by using the ground speed, a traveling work control section 4 for creating an appropriate traveling work state by controlling a rotational speed of the engine and a posture of the implement, and a traveling work management section 50 for outputting a state changing command that commands a change of the traveling work state, based on the engine load ratio and the slip ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Shinkai
  • Patent number: 10815642
    Abstract: The invention provides a wheel loader front unit including a frame, the wheel loader front unit further including two hub supporting elements, each hub supporting element being arranged on opposite sides outside of the frame for supporting a respective hub unit, a lift arm for supporting an implement of the wheel loader, the lift arm being arranged to be pivoted around a pivot connection to the frame by a main hydraulic cylinder, and a tilting hydraulic cylinder arranged to actuate a tilting movement of the implement in relation to the lift arm, wherein the wheel loader front unit further includes a slave hydraulic cylinder hydraulically connected to the tilting hydraulic cylinder for controlling the tilting movement of the implement when the lift arm is pivoted by the main hydraulic cylinder, wherein the slave hydraulic cylinder extends between the lift arm and one of the hub supporting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Johan Ohlsson, Norbert Rosenpek
  • Patent number: 10813291
    Abstract: A round baler may include a frame supported by one or more ground engaging devices, a bale forming chamber including sidewalls spaced apart a distance defining a width of the bale forming chamber, a discharge gate selectively operable between a baling position and a discharge position, and a bale forming apparatus, which forms the round bale in the bale forming chamber. The round baler may include a first set of spacers positioned adjacent at least one of the sidewalls reducing the effective width of the bale forming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 10806077
    Abstract: An agricultural combine includes a self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle and a feederhouse extending forward from the vehicle. The combine further includes a rotor and concave arrangement for threshing and separating grain received in the feederhouse. A cleaning shoe is disposed below the rotor and concave arrangement. The combine moreover includes a grain tank for receiving and accumulating grain from the cleaning shoe and an unloading conveyor for conveying grain from the grain tank. An electrostatic grain cleaner is coupled to a distal end of the conveyor for electrostatically cleaning grain from the grain tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kamalakannan Natarajan, Karthikeyan Narayanan, Anupam Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 10806088
    Abstract: An agricultural baler system having a direction of travel and adapted to compile a windrow of crop into a bale, the agricultural baler system having a baler assembly coupled to the work machine and configured to consolidate crop from the underlying windrow into the bale, the baler assembly implementing a wrapping process to maintain the form of the bale and an eject process for ejecting the bale, and a windrow diverter selectively positionable between a divert position and a bypass position. Wherein, when the windrow diverter is in the divert position, the underlying windrow is repositioned as the baler assembly moves in the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Kraus, Dennis Johnston
  • Patent number: 10806092
    Abstract: A baling system including a working component, where the working component has at least one of a pickup assembly, a rotor assembly, or a lifter assembly, a frame supporting the working component, a first drive system configured to drive the working component, a second drive system configured to drive the working component, and a remote controller configured to selectively control the operation of the second drive system when the first drive system is operatively disengaged from the working component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric M. Thies, Gerald Shook, Tyler J. Brown
  • Patent number: 10806079
    Abstract: A method of moving a component of a harvester that includes a topper for cutting top portions of crops, a conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of the crops, a primary hood, and a secondary hood, each of the primary and secondary hoods operable to direct the cut top portions of the crops away from the conveyor. The method includes selecting a cutting mode of operation from the following modes of operation: circular cutting mode and face cutting mode; selecting a crop position from the following crop positions: crop at right and crop at left; selecting at least one component from the following components: the conveyor, the primary hood, or the secondary hood; and in response to selecting at least one component, automatically moving the selected at least one component to one of a first operational position or a second operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Rahul Gunda, Bryan E. Dugas, John A. Dighton, Peter A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10791673
    Abstract: A drive system for a harvesting header of a harvester includes a drive motor, and a drive train connected between the drive motor and one or more driven elements of the harvesting header. The drive train has a variable-displacement hydraulic pump arranged on board the harvester and a hydraulic motor connected in a closed circuit to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic motor is mounted on the harvesting header and detachably connected by hydraulic coupling connections to the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Christoph Schmoening, Stefan Bohrer
  • Patent number: 10791677
    Abstract: A separating and cleaning mechanism for an agricultural combine may include: a return pan. The return pan includes a textured floor, two augers, and two motors coupled to the two augers, respectively, to selectively drive the motors in rotation independently. The textured floor may oscillate in a fore-and-aft direction to move grain toward the two augers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Corwin M. Puryk, Volker Fuchs, Anil Kumar Beeka
  • Patent number: 10791671
    Abstract: A crop harvesting header having a frame mounted on a propulsion vehicle has a cutter bar carrying a sickle knife and a draper transport. The draper is guided at its front edge by a longitudinally extending rail mounted on the frame for movement therewith. The cutter bar is mounted on the frame at spaced positions by spring blades attached to a fixed beam at the rear which allow up and down flexing movement of the cutter bar relative to the draper engagement member. At the center discharge the cutter bar is carried on shorter blades which are carried on a beam in front of the front draper roller. The small amount of flexing of the cutter bar combines with a balanced three piece header frame to provide effective ground following.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Robert Shearer
  • Patent number: 10794060
    Abstract: The snow rake for removing snow from a roof is disclosed. The snow rake includes an elongated extension pole comprising a plurality of pole sections which may be connected together in an end-to-end manner. First and second rake members are pivotally connected together by a base plate so as to be able to be positioned in a straight position or a V-shaped position. The first and second rake members are also movable to a third position wherein the first and second rake members are positioned so that the inner sides of the rake members face one another. The inner side of the base plate also has extension pole section receptacles formed therein which enable the ends of the pole sections to be positioned therein for shipment or storage purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Mark C. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 10791676
    Abstract: A modular axle assembly for supporting wheels of an agricultural vehicle, such as a combine harvester. The modular axle assembly includes a first tube, a second tube parallel to the first tube, and at least one bracket connecting the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Reyburn, Joseph Russell Woelfling, Kenneth Allan Ellis, Scott Woytera, Patrick Piens
  • Patent number: 10785910
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for attachment underneath a screen of a combine harvester is provided with a plurality of sensor units having sensor elements, a plurality of which sensor units are arranged one behind the other within a hollow profile which extends in the longitudinal direction of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Nathan R. Vandike, Volker Fuchs, Hans W. Schaeffer, Wentao W. Yu, Stephan Kirstein, Sebastian Müller, Thomas Herlitzius, Christian Korn
  • Patent number: 10787793
    Abstract: A tagged excavation element, including an excavation element body and a tagging device securable to the excavation element body. The tagged excavation element is characterized in that the tagging device includes a man-made radioactive source. Typically, but not exclusively, the excavation element body comprises a shroud or tooth of an excavation bucket of a ground excavation tool (GET). A method is provided for manufacturing the tagged excavation element, and for detecting the tagged excavation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (SOC) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andries Elias Hills, Jacobus Daniël Adendorff
  • Patent number: 10785914
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a swathboard control system, comprising: a header comprising fore and aft a cutting assembly and a conditioning system; a forming shield assembly; a swathboard located between the conditioning system and the forming shield assembly, the swathboard pivotably adjustable about a transverse axis; a position sensor configured to sense a position of the swathboard; and a computing system operably coupled to the position sensor, the computing system configured to provide an indication of the position of the swathboard based on feedback from the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas R. Treffer, Brendon C. Nafziger, Dane Austin Mosel, Mark M. Glade