Patents Examined by Árpad Fabian Kovacs
  • Patent number: 11968925
    Abstract: A method for producing seed corn from the corn plants, for use in growing subsequent corn plants, includes measuring a moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field and removing, by a combine harvester, the ears of corn from the corn plants when the moisture content satisfies a threshold moisture content. The method then includes separating the corn kernels from cobs of the ears of corn onboard the combine harvester and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as seed corn, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jarrett Ryan Ceglinski, Jack Glenn Fombelle, David Everett Johnson, Jason W. Knoche, Adam Harold Leek, Kevin M. McAlister, Kirk Murlin Remund, Steven John Swanton, Dustin Mitchell Theis
  • Patent number: 11963479
    Abstract: A knife and blade for agricultural machines, in particular mower knife blades, straw chopper knives, corn header knives, feed mixer knives, loader wagon knives and baler knives, has at least one toothed cutting edge extending from a cutting edge beginning to a cutting edge end on a blade surface. The cutting edge has a straight or curved configuration and the blade surface has a mounting section. The toothing of the cutting edge is varied along its length with regard to the tooth pitch and/or the tooth geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Gebrüder Busatis Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Lutz
  • Patent number: 11950535
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a raking device, and in some implementations, a detachable rake head for raking sand traps and its method of use. The raking device may be configured to be releasably attached to a supporting handle (e.g., a broom handle, 5 golf club, golf ball retriever, or other rod-typed structure).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Janette Miller, Michael Miller
  • Patent number: 11950530
    Abstract: An adjustment apparatus for a forage harvester having a shear bar adjustably mounted on a housing. A chopper drum is supported from the housing and mounted for rotation about an axis and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced knife supports to which at least one chopper knife can be adjustably secured. In use the chopper knives cooperate with the shear bar to chop incoming crop. The adjustment apparatus includes a lateral element, at least one location element and at least one radially inwardly directed guide surface, each radially inwardly directed guide surface describing a desired outer path of an unworn chopper knife. Each guide surface is adjustably located with respect to the lateral element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Tschirdewahn, Markus Uhl, Burkhard Freiburg-Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 11953074
    Abstract: An outdoor robotic tool comprising a first part and a second part, wherein the first part supports the second part through a suspension arrangement. The suspension arrangement comprises a first component, which comprises at least one magnetic member; and a second component, which comprises at least one magnetic member. The first component is attached to the first part, wherein the second component is attached to the second part, wherein at least one of the magnetic members of suspension arrangement is a permanent magnet; and wherein a magnetic member of the first component is positioned so as to magnetically interact with a magnetic member of the second component when in use. A magnetic field sensing unit may be present that comprises a control unit and a magnetic field sensor. A method for detecting the alignment of the first part relative to the second part, wherein the method comprises detecting the magnetic field using the magnetic field sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Lars Ederfors
  • Patent number: 11944044
    Abstract: A device is mounted to the end of a log so that a skid steer may use the log to engage a tree targeted for felling. The device includes implements configured for engaging the target tree to be felled to give the operator of the device control over the target tree. The device is structured to push the target tree over such that the root ball of the target tree rises up out of the ground as the target tree is felled and/or to allow the operator to make cuts to the target tree before the device is use to push the tree in the desired direction of fell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Wayne J. Smith
  • Patent number: 11944040
    Abstract: A cleaning system of a combine harvester includes a fan, a first valve member positioned within a first duct of the fan for throttling the flow of air through the first duct, a second valve member positioned within the second duct of the fan for throttling the flow of air through the second duct, a first actuator for adjusting a position of the first valve member, a second actuator for adjusting a position of the second valve member, first and second sensors for sensing air pressure at first and second sieves, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensed air pressures from the sensors, compare the sensed air pressures with either each other or threshold values, and transmit instructions to one or both of the actuators to adjust the positions of one or both of the valve members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott Wilson, Seth Bich
  • Patent number: 11937544
    Abstract: An electric lawn mower includes an electric motor and battery supported on a wheeled motor deck, a handle mounted on the deck and pivotable between first and second handle positions, and a pivoting failsafe switch system for respectively enabling and disabling powered operation of the electric motor when the handle is in the first and second handle positions. The pivoting switch assembly includes a magnet and a magnet sensor sensing the magnet. The magnet is carried by a turning member that moves when the handle is moved. The magnet sensor respectively generates high and low signals when the handle is located in the first and second handle positions. The sensor signals are transmitted to a motor control unit for respectively enabling and disabling the operation of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyusang Ro
  • Patent number: 11930739
    Abstract: An agricultural header includes a main section and at least one wing section, which is pivotably coupled to the main section. The main section includes a main frame. The at least one wing section includes a wing frame. The header further includes a cutting element, a linkage, and an actuator. The cutting element is supported by the main frame and the wing section. The linkage pivotably couples the at least one wing section to the main section. The linkage includes an upper bar and a lower bar which are both coupled to the main frame and to the wing frame. The actuator is coupled to at least one of the upper bar, the lower bar, and the at least one wing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Joel T. Cook
  • Patent number: 11930740
    Abstract: The combine may include a threshing tank that is configured to store a threshing product obtained by the threshing device and includes a lower tapered portion formed in a bottom portion. A bottom screw is provided inside the lower tapered portion and configured to discharge the threshing product from the threshing tank. A threshing discharge device is connected to the bottom screw and configured to convey the threshing product from the bottom screw and discharge the threshing product in a body outward direction. The threshing tank includes an inspection port formed in a bottom section of the lower tapered portion, and a lid configured to open and close the inspection port, and the lid opens and closes by swinging upward and downward about a swing axis that is not parallel with a screw axis of the bottom screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Shinya, Yusaku Yoshida, Tsuyoshi Kumatori, Takashi Kitahara, Yoshifumi Tango, Ryohei Higashitaki, Toshinari Nishimura, Masakazu Hino, Shota Hayashi, Nobuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 11917946
    Abstract: A hay rake tooth assembly for use with a mounting clip on a hay rake wheel. The hay rake tooth assembly has a tine with a ball-shaped retaining member that is configured to permit a shaft of the tine to move along the length of the difference in diameter between the shaft and a tine opening of the mounting clip in which is the tine is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Rowse Hydraulic Rakes Co Inc
    Inventors: Dannie Dean Rowse, Rodney Dean Rowse
  • Patent number: 11917947
    Abstract: Provided is a threshing cylinder with a threshing processing section provided on the rear side of a raking section. In the threshing processing section, a front support member, an intermediate support member, and a rear support member are supported by a threshing cylinder support shaft. A plurality of front-side divided threshing teeth support members are supported by the front support member and the intermediate support member in a state in which the front-side divided threshing teeth support members are arranged at the same arrangement pitch in the circumferential direction of the threshing processing section. A plurality of rear-side divided threshing teeth support members are supported by the intermediate support member and the rear support member in a state in which the rear-side divided threshing teeth support members are arranged at the same arrangement pitch in the circumferential direction of the threshing processing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Takafumi Mitsui, Fumisato Nakagawa, Toshinari Nishimura, Tsuyoshi Kumatori
  • Patent number: 11917943
    Abstract: Harvesting apparatus (10), namely merger or pickup swather with pickup members (18) designed as pickups for picking up harvested crop, with at least one transverse conveyor device (19) designed as belt conveyor for conveying the picked-up harvested crop in a transverse conveying direction running transversely with respect to a harvesting direction or direction of travel, wherein each pickup member (18) designed as a pickup is mounted pivotably on a respective transverse conveyor device (19) designed as belt conveyor, namely centrally with respect to the respective pickup member (18) via a respective joint (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Boll
  • Patent number: 11910746
    Abstract: Assemblies allowing a repositionable discharge deflector to be added to a mower with a discharge chute are described. These assemblies include a base, a swing bracket, a discharge deflector, a motor, and a switch. The base is attached to the mower, and the motor is attached to the base and includes a rotating output shaft. The swing bracket is rotationally attached to the base and is rotationally coupled to the rotating output shaft of the motor. The discharge deflector is attached to the swing bracket and positionable via rotation of the rotating output shaft so as to at least partially block the discharge chute of the mower. The switch is in electrical communication with the motor and is able to cause the motor to rotate the rotating output shaft. The assemblies allow a user to modify the trajectory of mown material discharged from the discharge chute of the mower with a push of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Jeremiah J. Richards
  • Patent number: 11895949
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating a crop flow on at least one conveying and cleaning unit, particularly a top sieve, of a combine harvester, wherein the conveying and cleaning unit is excited to a longitudinal oscillation and a transverse oscillation. The transverse oscillation is controlled depending on at least one state, wherein least one state for controlling the transverse oscillation is the inclination of the combine harvester, wherein at least one further state for controlling the transverse oscillation is the grain purity, particularly the grain purity of a main crop flow. The transverse oscillation is pre-controlled depending on the inclination of the combine harvester and fine-tuned depending on the grain purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Poelling, Norbert Strieker, Dennis Lutterbeck, Joachim Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 11856893
    Abstract: A rotary thresher for a combine harvester including at least a first concave and a second concave, which may be rotated around a rotor to move to or from a threshing position or one or more of one or more resting positions. The concaves are mounted in a frame that is configured to rotate around the rotor such that the second concave moves during rotation from a first resting position to the threshing position while the first concave is moved from the threshing position to a second resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Mark Biggerstaff, Ivan Rogers
  • Patent number: 11793115
    Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with a conveyance system for transporting crop material discharged by overhead grain separating apparatus to a grain cleaning shoe. The conveyance system comprises a series of oscillating pans which move the grain in a generally longitudinal direction. A return pan conveys the collected material forwardly to a front discharge edge from where the material falls onto a stratification pan below. The stratification pan conveys the collected material rearwardly to a rear discharge edge from where the material falls into the grain cleaning shoe. At least one of the return pan and the stratification pan is non-rectangular and has a non-transverse discharge edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Kenneth Düring Jensen, Morten Leth Bilde
  • Patent number: 11666001
    Abstract: Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The destructor is mounted on a suitable drive shaft within the straw path and the chaff and weed seed material is carried from the rear end of the sieve to the destructor on the straw chopper by one or more fans driving the material through a transfer duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Tritana Intellectual Property Ltd.
    Inventor: Dean Mayerle
  • Patent number: 11589510
    Abstract: A residue management system or method can be implemented for an agricultural harvester that includes a residue processing system. A sensor arrangement can be in communication with one or more components of the residue processing system. The sensor arrangement can be configured to measure indicators of a mass flow rate of the crop residue through the crop residue system across a width of a stream of the crop residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Kevin Shinners, Cyrus Nigon
  • Patent number: 11576309
    Abstract: A method for operating a baler including an initial step of providing a cleaning system that includes a floor plate having a plurality of slots therein, at least one knife tray, at least one actuator operably connected to the at least one knife tray, and a controller operably connected to the at least one actuator. The method further includes the steps of determining whether the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray is retracted, determining whether to conduct a knife tray cleanout procedure for cleaning the floor plate based upon at least one cleaning parameter, and conducting the knife tray cleanout procedure by actuating the at least one actuator for cycling the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray for dislodging debris from the floor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: John R. McClure