Patents Examined by Robert Pezzuto
  • Patent number: 9677577
    Abstract: A hydraulic manifold may be used with a dredge. The hydraulic manifold may have a body with a mounting surface, a front surface located opposite the mounting surface, a top surface located between the mounting and front surfaces, a bottom surface located opposite the top surface, and end surfaces located opposite each other and connecting the mounting, front, top, and bottom surfaces. The manifold may also have at least one drain port and at least one supply port in at least one of the end surfaces, at least one valve port in the top surface, at least one consumer port in the top surface, and at least one transponder port in the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ELLICOTT DREDGE ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventor: Rabie E. Khalil
  • Patent number: 9675010
    Abstract: A crop processing and/or conveying element for a forage chopper has a body that can be mounted on a carrier that can be set in rotation and is furnished with a hard material layer that comes into contact with crop during operation. The hard material layer is connected in a form-fitting manner to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick McLawhorn, Joshua D. Bacon
  • Patent number: 9668416
    Abstract: A scale for a collecting pass-through table used in a small fruit harvesting machine has a plate and a stop rim affixed to the plate and extending upwardly above an upper face of the plate. The stop rim has a flexible lip that is elastically deformable. The stop rim extends in a direction outwardly of a free distal end of the plate. The stop rim has height that prevents the small fruit from moving beyond the free distal end of the plate. The stop rim has a forward end portion that is stiff. The stop rim is removably fastened to the plate at the free distal end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: PELLENC (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Roger Pellenc, Christian Rolland
  • Patent number: 9670632
    Abstract: A shovel assembly for use in association with snow, sand, or any other particulate matter for collection and cleaning residing on a flat horizontal surface such as the ground, more specifically the shovel assembly and a method of assembly and use thereof in which the shovel's blade is made of multiple interlocked sections, each having opposite top and bottom edges with different geometries adapted for different purposes, an adjustable composite handle with multiple grips for adaptation to varied user preferences and a dynamic pivot at the base of the handle to easily change the blade's push angle during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: NORDIC AUTO PLOW LLC
    Inventors: Richard Anthony Behan, Paulette Sanders Behan
  • Patent number: 9670648
    Abstract: A breaker tine comprises a front elongated portion, a rear elongated portion, a nose portion extending from the front elongated portion at an opposite end from the rear elongated portion, and a replaceable ground engaging tool coupled to the nose portion of the breaker tine. The breaker tine may include pins for attaching the ground engaging tool to the breaker tine. The breaker tine may further include a first receiving cavity formed in a first side of the nose portion, and a second receiving cavity formed in a second side of the nose portion, wherein the first receiving cavity is opposite the second receiving cavity but do not communicate or connect with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnan Kanniappan, Gregory Seljestad, Kadirvel Muthusamy, Venkatesh Madeshi, Ashok Rajendran, Anuop Udayakumar
  • Patent number: 9670644
    Abstract: A tensioning assembly including a primary rod and a hydraulic jack. The primary rod being positioned adjacent to a center section of the hydraulic jack. The tensioning assembly further including a frame housing anchored to the hydraulic jack. The tensioning assembly also includes a link rod connected to the primary rod and a primary adjusting and a secondary adjusting nut associated with the link rod to adjust the tension of a cable or line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventor: Jason J. Trotnow
  • Patent number: 9668424
    Abstract: A rotor top cover assembly for an axial-flow crop processor in a combine harvester is provided. The cover assembly comprises first and second curved cover plate sections at least one of which sections forming an upper part of a generally cylindrical shaped rotor housing for a crop processing rotor. A curved transition plate nests radially inside, and is fastened to, adjoining respective end regions of the cover plate sections. Helical guide vanes are mounted in an axially spaced relationship along an inner surface of at least one of the cover plate sections. At least one guide vane is mounted directly to the transition plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Mygind Bojsen
  • Patent number: 9663913
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a water storage material from a biomass input material using supercritical or subcritical fluid processing, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid. The apparatus utilizes supercritical fluid processing, subcritical fluid processing, charring, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the apparatus. The apparatus further including a processing station configured to hold the biomass input material, and to use the biomass input material for processing into the water storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Tony S. Pan, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9664249
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling operation of a tractor and/or agricultural implement towed by the tractor is provided. A vibration sensor is mounted to the agricultural implement to detect the magnitude of vibration, or bounce, on the agricultural implement. Because the magnitude of the vibration is a function of several operating parameters including, but not limited to, the speed at which the tractor is travelling and the downward pressure applied to the agricultural implement, one or more additional sensors are provided to monitor these operating parameters. Each of the sensors generates a feedback signal and transmits it to the controller. The controller is configured to generate a reference signal to control an actuator as a function of the magnitude of vibration and the measured operating parameter. The actuator receiving the reference signal is configured to control operation of the tractor or agricultural implement to reduce the magnitude of vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Trevor Kowalchuk
  • Patent number: 9657463
    Abstract: A wear member attachment system for an excavation implement can include a retainer with an abutment that engages a forward side of an opening extending through a lip of the excavation implement, the retainer further including a cam. Rotation of the cam displaces the abutment forward relative to a body of the retainer. Another wear member attachment system can include a retainer with a cam and an abutment. Rotation of the cam displaces the abutment outward relative to a body of the retainer. The abutment displacement is in a direction orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK CAT BLADES, LTD.
    Inventor: John A. Ruvang
  • Patent number: 9655302
    Abstract: A feeder assembly pivotally attached to an implement having a pickup reel wherein the feeder assembly has a continuous belt having a plurality of teeth that is mounted about a pair of rollers. The feeder is angled such that is picks up a windrow of stover from the ground and transports the stover to a raised pickup reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Patent number: 9648806
    Abstract: A brush cutter includes a center deck that is pivotally coupled to a first wing deck and a second wing deck. Each deck has a hydraulic cutting assembly. A mounting portion can be attached to a front carrier portion of a drive vehicle. The brush cutter has a hydraulic manifold operably coupled to each cutting assembly and configured to be operably coupled to a hydraulic system of the drive vehicle. The manifold includes valves that control the flow of drive fluid to the hydraulic cutting assemblies. Sensing arrangements signal the valves to shut off the drive fluid to the wing decks if the wing decks pivot upward from a lowered position to a first angular position. The sensing arrangements can optionally signal the drive vehicle's hydraulic system to reduce the flow of drive fluid to the hydraulic manifold for each wing deck that pivots upward to the angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Crosstech Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Gordon Fulton, David Heiling
  • Patent number: 9648809
    Abstract: A pull-type mower conditioner includes a crop cutting assembly that severs crop material from the ground and a lift mechanism configured to raise and lower the crop cutting assembly to a desired height having at least one lift cylinder and a hydraulic lift circuit supplying hydraulic fluid to the at least one lift cylinder. The mower conditioner also includes a conditioning mechanism receiving the severed crop material from the crop cutting assembly. The conditioning mechanism includes a pair of counter-rotating conditioning rolls to condition the crop material and a tensioning assembly that urges the conditioning rolls relatively toward one another and resists their separation. The tensioning assembly includes a pair of hydraulic tension cylinders and a hydraulic conditioner circuit configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the tension cylinders. The hydraulic tension circuit has a supply line leading to a supply valve, wherein the supply line connects to the lift circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Pruitt, Douglas Ray Treffer, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Patent number: 9648803
    Abstract: A foldable top cover for an agricultural mower that includes first and second generally planar cover portions connected by an intermediately positioned hinge that reduces the required overhead clearance necessary for opening the top cover. The hinge connection axis is offset in a first direction from the from plane of the cover portions and further includes hinge stops on the first and section portions that limit the hinge motion so that the first and second portions are maintained in a generally co-planar arrangement when in an operating position but may be folded in a direction opposite to the offset direction of the hinge connection thereby allowing the top cover to be compactly repositioned for service access to the mower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Melanie W. Harkcom, Todd A. Becker
  • Patent number: 9650764
    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: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ESCO Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Carpenter, Donald M. Conklin, James E. Bearden, Severn D. Durand, Dziugas Radzius
  • Patent number: 9648804
    Abstract: The knife arm assembly for connecting a sickle drive to the knife of a sickle, has a knife arm including a cavity and an opening at one end that holds a bearing for receiving a knife pin of the sickle, and a shoulder extending at least partially about and defining a second opening at an opposite end of the cavity smaller than the first opening, and a plug disposed in the second end of the cavity adjacent the end of the bearing and enclosing the second opening, the plug being configured to be forceably movable through the cavity toward the first opening and against the bearing for forcing the bearing from the knife arm, providing easy serviceability, protection from dirt, dust, and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, George E. Korlinchak
  • Patent number: 9644347
    Abstract: A retention lobe for a ground engaging tip may include a lobe base having a base outline, wherein at least a portion of the base outline may lie in a base plane. The base outline may include a front base edge and a rear base edge opposite the front base edge. The retention lobe may also include a lobe outer surface spaced from the lobe base and extending from the front base edge to the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may include a front lobe outer surface extending from the front base edge obliquely relative to the base plane and toward the rear base edge. The lobe outer surface may further include a rear lobe outer surface extending obliquely relative to the front lobe outer surface, such that the rear lobe outer surface tapers relative to the front lobe outer surface toward the base plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai M. Balan, Douglas Serrurier
  • Patent number: 9644348
    Abstract: A ground engaging tip may include a rear edge including upper and lower rear edges. The ground engaging tip may also include a front edge opposite the rear edge. The ground engaging tip may further include a top outer surface extending from the upper rear edge toward the front edge, and a bottom outer surface extending from the lower rear edge toward the front edge. The bottom outer surface may include a bottom surface front portion extending from the front edge toward the lower rear edge and terminating at a bottom surface transition portion, and a bottom surface rear portion extending from the transition portion toward the lower rear edge. The bottom surface front portion and rear portions may include respective front and rear portion surfaces extending in respective first and second directions defining an angle, such that the bottom surface rear portion extends toward the top outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai M. Balan, Douglas Serrurier
  • Patent number: 9644341
    Abstract: A circle rotator of a motor grader includes a worm, a worm wheel and a shaft. The worm wheel has an inner peripheral portion, an outer peripheral portion enclosing the inner peripheral portion from outside, and a plurality of first clutch discs to be spline-coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral portion. The inner peripheral portion is made of a material harder than a material of which the outer peripheral portion is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Yoshimura, Yutaka Ono, Shintaro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9635797
    Abstract: A rolling basket assembly for use with an agricultural tillage implement having a frame. The rolling basket assembly includes a rolling basket and at least one arm assembly. The arm assembly has a first and second structural member, a biased device, a bracket and an actuator. The first structural member extends from the frame. The biased device is pivotally coupled to the first structural member or the frame. The bracket is coupled to the first structural member and to the biased device. The second structural member is pivotally coupled to the first structural member. The rolling basket is rotationally coupled to the second structural member. The actuator is pivotally coupled to both the second structural member and the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Kovach, Rick L. Gerber