Patents Examined by Tara Mayo
  • Patent number: 11832545
    Abstract: A system for limiting plugging within an agricultural implement. The system includes a ground engaging tool configured to be supported by the agricultural implement. An actuator is coupled to the ground engaging tool. The actuator is operable to apply a down pressure on the ground engaging tool. A soil moisture sensor is positioned forward of the ground engaging tool. The soil moisture sensor is configured to measure a soil moisture forward of the ground engaging tool. A controller is communicatively coupled to the soil moisture sensor. The controller is configured to receive, from the soil moisture sensor, a signal that corresponds to the soil moisture forward of the ground engaging tool. The controller is further configured to adjust the down pressure on the ground engaging tool applied by the actuator based at least in part on the signal from the soil moisture sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Dean A. Knobloch
  • Patent number: 11825762
    Abstract: An agricultural row unit adapted to be moved over soil by an agricultural planter to clear crop residue includes a residue clearing disk or brush. The row unit may include a motor to drive rotation of a crop residue disk or brush. The agriculture row unit may also include a controller configured to adjust the operating speed of the motor in response to factors internal and/or external to the agricultural row unit. The factors may include at least one of a speed of the agricultural planter along the row, a height of crop residue disk or brush the relative to a surface of the soil, a height of the crop residue disk or brush relative to a surface of the soil, amount of crop residue in the row, and a downforce pressure on the row unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Cary S. Hubner, Grant J. Wonderlich, Mark E. Barker
  • Patent number: 11812678
    Abstract: An implement operating apparatus has a U-shaped drive frame supported on drive wheels, each pivotally mounted about a vertical wheel pivot axis. A steering control selectively pivots each drive wheel. A power source is connected through a drive control to rotate the drive wheels in either direction. First and second implements are configured to perform implement operations and to rest on the ground and when the drive frame is maneuvered to an implement loading position with respect to each implement, the implement is connectable to the drive frame and movable to an operating position supported by the drive frame. When the implement is in the operating position, the steering and drive controls are operative to move and steer the drive frame and implement along a first travel path or a second travel path oriented generally perpendicular to the first travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DOT Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Norbert Beaujot
  • Patent number: 11807793
    Abstract: A sand fixing agent derived from palm tree frond comprises poly-(acrylamide) grafted carboxymethyl cellulose and a carbon alkanal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mohamed Gouda Abdel-Halim, Hany Mohamed Abd El-Lateef Ahmed, Mai Mustafa Khalaf Ali
  • Patent number: 11800861
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for providing variable rate application of applicants to discrete field locations. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a control device having software modules to allow for the execution of irrigation and chemical spray patterns according to specific prescriptions for each crop being sprayed. According to further preferred embodiments, the control device may use data from a variety of image sensors to create a selective, variable rate application of applicants. Using the imaging data, the system of the present invention may use a primary applicant system to broadly deliver a first selected application (e.g. water or the like) and use a separate system to deliver targeted applicants for specific plants or areas of a given field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventors: John Kastl, Jacob L. LaRue
  • Patent number: 11785871
    Abstract: An adjustment assembly configured to be coupled with a longitudinal support assembly of a cultivator assembly is disclosed. The adjustment assembly includes a swing arm rotationally coupled to the longitudinal support assembly, a first gang unit rotationally coupled with the swing arm and a second gang unit spaced apart from the first gang unit and rotationally coupled with the swing arm. A first gang adjustment mechanism rotates the first gang unit with respect to the longitudinal support assembly and a second gang adjustment mechanism rotates the second gang unit with respect to the longitudinal support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TH Fabrication, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Hostetler
  • Patent number: 11788249
    Abstract: A cutting tool adapter for creating an underpinning structure and method of creating the underpinning structure are provided. In some examples, the cutting tool adapter may connect a cutting tool to a working machine arm to enable the cutting tool to cut and dislodge soil below an existing foundation or structure. As the soil is cut and dislodged, it is mechanically mixed with an additive, such as a cementitious material, via the cutting tool. The mixed soil and additive may then harden in the area below the existing structure or foundation to create an underpinning structure to provide additional support for the existing structure or foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Schnabel Foundation Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Niermann, Walter W. Trail, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11770988
    Abstract: A row unit of an agricultural implement includes an opening system configured to engage soil to form a furrow, sensors configured to detect a soil tightness, soil conditions, operational conditions, or a combination thereof, and a closing system configured to close the furrow. The closing system includes a first closing disc configured to engage the soil and close the furrow and a second closing disc configured to engage the soil and close the furrow. The row unit also includes a controller configured to receive feedback from the sensors and to control a position, an orientation, or both, of the first closing disc, the second closing disc, or both, in response to feedback from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Trevor Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11761757
    Abstract: A system for detecting plugging of ground-engaging tools of agricultural implements includes an aft sensor(s) configured to capture data indicative of a post-worked residue coverage of a portion of a field aft of a ground-engaging tool(s). The system includes a controller configured to monitor the data received from the aft sensor(s) and determine the post-worked residue coverage for the portion of the field. The controller is configured to identify when the ground-engaging tool(s) is experiencing a plugged condition based at least in part on the determined post-worked residue coverage for the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11761167
    Abstract: A system for uncovering a desired and pre-planned trench. A trenching machine is equipped with sensors, including visual imaging sensors. The sensors detect the inclination of the ground and movement of the trenching machine, as well as the angle of a trenching boom. Using this information, and a pre-determined preferred trench grade, a processor commands the trenching boom to adjust its angle to maintain the preferred trench grade. Surface irregularities may therefore be accounted for along the length of the trench to maintain a constant grade at the trench bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor D. Cámara Puerto, Benjamin Ryan Travers
  • Patent number: 11753793
    Abstract: A treatment method for a river system in a reservoir area, comprising: S1. determining whether a time from a current date to the rainy season is less than a preset duration; S2. moving a pressure sensor upward; S3. determining whether the pressure data meets corresponding conditions; S4. determining whether a duration of the pressure data is less than the preset duration; S5. determining whether an interval between the current time and the time for collecting pressure/nitrogen and phosphorus is greater than a preset number of days; S6. acquiring an image information of a river bottom, and sending it to neural network model for identification to obtain a depth of a sludge; S7. determining whether the depth of a sludge has reached a dredging depth, if so, starting a sludge pump to clean up; S8. collecting nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, and removing nitrogen and phosphorus when the concentration exceeds a standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research
    Inventors: Wei Huang, Xiaobo Liu, Zhuowei Wang, Yuan Si, Leixiang Wu, Chenguang Xiang, Likang Wang, Xingchen Liu
  • Patent number: 11746518
    Abstract: A hydrovac unit with a mud tank and water tank arranged symmetrically, so that the center of gravity does not substantially shift forwards or backwards during operation. The mud tank may be located inside the water tank. The mud tank may be supported and reinforced by external ribs, which may be fixed to the mud tank. The water tank may be formed by a rear face attached to the mud tank and a cylinder portion, the mud tank and rear face sliding into the cylinder portion for assembly and secured in place. The contents of the hydrovac unit may be dumped by tilting using a hoist. The tank assembly may be heated and insulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Robert Carl Rajewski
  • Patent number: 11739637
    Abstract: A self-propelled towing simulator for a hydraulic lift system carries a gyro pose control system and a six-degree-of-freedom (DOF) platform to control the overall pose of the simulator, so that the simulator simulates six-DOF motion states including swaying, surging, yawing, rolling, pitching and heaving generated by a mining vessel under the combined action of waves and flows and required by the experimental working conditions; interventions in the pose of the simulator may be positive or negative, so that the simulator may be applied to the uncontrollable natural water bodies so as to approximate to the working conditions of the experimental requirements. The simulator may carry out experiments in open natural water bodies by use of its own autonomous sailing capability under remote wireless control and may acquire parameters such as dynamic characteristics and spatial configuration and the like of a deep-sea mining hydraulic lift subsystem in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SHANDONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Linjing Xiao, Yu Wang, Yulong Zhang, Yanxin Li, Qinghui Song, Qiang Liu
  • Patent number: 11739487
    Abstract: A configurable modular dam gate hoist system is disclosed. The dam gate hoist system includes a first hoist support frame, second hoist support frame, first side segment with a first adjustable hoist drum, second side segment with a second adjustable hoist drum, a hoist drive assembly, and optionally a middle segment. The middle segment, when utilized, is constructed of pre-made components with set lengths in the factory, with the length of the middle segment being varied by using components with different set lengths. Both the first and second side segments include an adjustment slot or keyway that receives adjustment bolts (preferably including standard square keys) of the first and second adjustable hoist drum to allow the position of the drums to be adjusted and secured in the desired location on the tube to correspond with the desired fleet angle of the gate chain, cable, or wire rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Lemke Industrial Machine LLC
    Inventors: David C. Pflieger, Micheal H. Sprague
  • Patent number: 11730074
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a lifting mechanism to control at least one of a height and a posture of a work machine connected to the work vehicle. The lifting mechanism is able to control at least one of the height and the posture by using a hydraulic drive. The work vehicle includes an oil-temperature acquirer to acquire an oil temperature to be used for the hydraulic drive, a maximum oil amount setter to set a maximum oil amount according to the oil temperature acquired by the oil-temperature acquirer, the maximum oil amount being a maximum value of a supply amount of oil used to drive the hydraulic drive, and a hydraulic drive controller to control the hydraulic drive below the maximum oil amount set by the maximum oil amount setter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamaguchi, Takudai Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11716917
    Abstract: In some implementations, an agricultural row unit assembly can include a pair of tine assemblies each having at least one tine mounted to a hub, said hub adapted to rotate about a first axis, where rotation of said pair of tine assemblies fractures soil and forms a pair of outer edges of a tilled row with a row width. In some embodiments, the device can include a rolling cultivator adapted to form a generally flat profile to said tilled row. In some embodiments, the device can include a seedbed cultivator adapted to work through said soil in the area defined by the row width. In some embodiments, the device can include a pair of gauge wheels fastened to each end of the shaft such that said gauge wheels are located outside said pair of outer edges of a tilled row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: William E. Preller, Eric C. Ragar, Michael J. Grossen
  • Patent number: 11716923
    Abstract: A row cleaning/closing wheel having debris removing and/or furrow closing performance with complimentary left and right cleaning/closing wheel pairs having a sloped body portion at an angle relative to a hub base for cleaning and/or closing operation during row planting. The sloped body portion and the hub base may form a continuous curve from the center of the hub base to a set of teeth on the outer edge of the sloped body portion. The row cleaning wheel for use with a floating row cleaner and/or closing arm assemblies attached to a row planter during planting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Ronald Steve Martin, Asghar Rezasoltani
  • Patent number: 11719095
    Abstract: A device and method for collecting sample fluids from an underground source which includes sample wells terminating in a corrugated conduit and sieve. The sampling regions for each sample well is separated by a grout or expanding seal barrier. Negative pressure is optionally applied to extract fluids from the underground matrix for sampling. The device can also be used for remediating an environmental contaminant from soil or aquifers. Upon identification of at least one environmental contaminant, a remediation composition is injected into the soil or aquifer using the sampling wells of the device. The remediation fluids can be directed to specific locations by selectively utilizing one or more sampling wells to inject the remediation fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: En RX Chemical, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance I. Robinson, Erik R. Piatt
  • Patent number: 11711994
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the condition of a seedbed within a field may include a seedbed tool configured to ride along a seedbed floor as an implement frame is moved across the field. The system may also include an actuator configured to adjust the position of the seedbed tool along a lateral direction relative to the implement frame such that the seedbed tool traverses a lateral swath of the seedbed floor along the lateral direction. Furthermore, the system may include a seedbed floor sensor configured to detect the position of the seedbed tool relative to the implement frame. The position of the seedbed tool may be indicative of a profile of the lateral swath of the seedbed floor as the seedbed tool rides along the seedbed floor with movement of the implement frame in the forward travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan Forbes, James W. Henry, Robert A. Zemenchik
  • Patent number: 11713833
    Abstract: A system and method for securely cradling a subsea pipeline is claimed that lands on one side of the pipeline, is embedded into the sea floor, reaches under the pipeline, positions the cradling structure, and then lifts the pipeline. The system typically comprises a gravity driven pile based device, comprising a pile tower, a roller carriage assembly, and a jacking assembly that engages the roller carriage assembly and pile tower rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Gregory Restivo, Kinton Lowell Lawler, Donald C Nelson, Nikunj C Patel, Jason Ray Pollick