Patents Examined by Tara Mayo
  • Patent number: 12007222
    Abstract: A system for determining field surface conditions may include a frame member and a ground engaging tool coupled thereto. The ground engaging tool may be configured to engage soil within a field as an agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system may further include a vision sensor having a field of view directed towards a portion of a surface of the field and being configured to capture vision-based data indicative of a field surface condition of the field. The system may also include a secondary sensor coupled to the ground engaging tool and configured to capture secondary data indicative of the field surface condition. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to determine an initial surface condition as a function of the vision-based data and to adjust the initial surface condition based at least in part on the secondary data received from the secondary sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 12000106
    Abstract: Apparatuses for constructing displacement aggregate piers are disclosed. In one example, a mandrel is provided comprising a tamper head that has cutting teeth on the leading edge thereof. In another example, hydrojet nozzles are provided within one or more of the cutting teeth of the tamper head. In yet another example, the mandrel comprises grout tubes (or grout injection lines) and/or grout inspection lines. In yet another example, the mandrel and/or tamper head can comprise cutting teeth, hydrojet nozzles, grout tubes (or gout injection lines), grout inspection lines, and any combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Geopier Foundation Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John Verdin, Kord J. Wissmann
  • Patent number: 12000101
    Abstract: A snow thrower includes a rotor assembly having a first auger, a second auger, and a paddle disposed between the first and second augers. The snow thrower also includes an intake housing having a first interior surface adjacent to the first auger and a second interior surface adjacent to the second auger, where an outer edge of the first auger has a clearance of less than 1 centimeter from the first interior surface across a sweep of at least 120 degrees, and an outer edge of the second auger has a clearance of less than 1 centimeter from the second interior surface across a sweep of at least 120 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Paul Frederick Koltz, Brian Algot Hanson
  • Patent number: 11993904
    Abstract: An automatic moving snow removal device including a moving module, driving a snow blower to move; a working module, including a working motor and a snow throwing mechanism driven by the working motor, the snow throwing mechanism is driven by the working motor to collect accumulated snow and inclusions on the ground and throw out of the snow throwing mechanism; and a control module, configured to control a rotary speed of the working motor to cause a speed when the inclusions depart from the snow throwing mechanism is not higher than 41 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Don Zhendong Gao, Ka Tat Kelvin Wong, Shiping Jiao, Xiahong Zha, Fengli Zhao, Xianfeng Li
  • Patent number: 11991951
    Abstract: An agricultural planting machine includes a seed meter configured to meter seed, a transport mechanism configured to transport the seed to a discharge location, and a loader assembly. The loader assembly includes an element having an actuating surface, a hub configured to rotate relative to the actuating surface, and a compartment supported on the hub and configured to receive the seed from the seed meter and to eject the seed into the transport mechanism, the compartment comprising first and second movable elements that are movably coupled to the hub and configured to engage the actuating surface and move relative to the hub based on rotation of the hub relative to the actuating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Dnyanesh Dhobale
  • Patent number: 11988093
    Abstract: An inflatable folding tunnel reinforcement structure and a construction method thereof are provided. The inflatable folding tunnel reinforcement structure includes an inflation port, an airbag, a water blocking net, a steel plate, a scissor folding mechanism, a vertical support plate, an arc-shaped support plate, drainage channels, an upper support rod, a lower support rod, a locking pin, a threaded steel rod, a rolling connection pin, and an induction motor, where the upper support rod and the lower support rod are unfolded in opposite directions to a preset position through the steel rod; and the drainage channels are configured to perform water guidance and resistance for a leakage-proofing purpose. The construction method includes: preparation before construction, device fixation, on-site construction, structural inspection, and site cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Hangzhou City University
    Inventors: Gang Wei, Tianbao Xu, Xin Li, Tianyu Zhu, Shuangyan Lin, Luju Liang, Chengbao Hu, Xiao Wang
  • Patent number: 11980112
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlling an operation of a tillage implement being towed across a field by a work vehicle may include a tillage tool configured to engage soil and crop material present within a field as the tillage implement is being towed across the field by the work vehicle. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input associated with crop material present within the field and determine a location of a crop row relative to the tillage tool based on the received input. Additionally, the controller may be configured to control a direction of travel of the tillage implement based on the determined location of the crop row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Nicholas Nahuel Andrejuk, Joshua David Harmon
  • Patent number: 11980117
    Abstract: A method for treating expansive soils includes excavating a hole in a superficial expansive soil layer from an excavation site to form the hole and provide an expansive soil material. Further, the expansive soil material is mixed with an inert material, at least two chemical additives, and a binder to form an additive soil material. The additive soil material is further poured into the hole in the excavation site to form an additive soil layer. The inert material is a sand, the chemical additives are a sulfur and a silica fume, and the binder is a dicyclopentadiene. The sand and the sulfur are present in the additive soil material in an amount from 30 wt. % to 40 wt. % and 12 wt. % to 25 wt. %, respectively, based on a total weight of the additive soil material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
    Inventor: Tahar Ayadat
  • Patent number: 11974513
    Abstract: A method for a cylindrical device includes semi-helically oriented teeth, knives, or blades radially outward from an outer surface of the cylindrical device or rotor is provided. Each tooth, knife, or blade is part of a row of teeth, knives, or blades. Each row is oriented with an offset angle such that the spirally orientation completes angular offset of about 90° or less. The knives may have sharpened edges that are oriented to cut on different planes as the cylindrical device rotates. The knives may be held in place by holders that have configurations to oriented the knives at certain angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: ENTERPRISE EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Mark G. Bowling
  • Patent number: 11963484
    Abstract: A covering soil mulching apparatus according to an embodiment includes a soil scattering part at the rear end of the agricultural machine and including a scattering part frame and a scattering unit provided on a lower end side of the scattering part frame and scattering soil on a floor, a mulching film laying part including a laying part frame connected to a rear end side of the soil scattering part and a mulching film holding part having a mulching film wound around the mulching film holding part and spreading the mulching film on the floor, an oscillating plate above the mulching film holding part and guiding the scattered soil to be transported to a rear side and laid on an upper surface of the mulching film, and a soil oscillating part including oscillator for oscillating the oscillating plate to prevent formation of a soil wall on the oscillating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GREEN AND SEED CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sung-jin Choe
  • Patent number: 11963470
    Abstract: An agricultural device for soil processing with two sets of working rollers comprises a supporting frame, which comprises a central part, a left wing and a right wing. The left and right wings are rotatably attached to the central part. At least two rows of working units are attached to the supporting frame. The working units are arranged in regular distances in every row. A left set of rollers is attached to the left wing and a right set of rollers is attached to the right wing. The sets of rollers are divided into front rollers and rear rollers and provided with attachments and discs. The discs on the sets are located between these attachments. The number of discs of rear rollers differs exactly by one disc from the number of discs of front rollers. The distances between individual discs are the same along the whole width of the agricultural device. The discs of front rollers are located in the same plane as the working units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BEDNAR FMT s.r.o.
    Inventors: Jakub Sigut, Pavel Syrovatka, Jan Bednar
  • Patent number: 11953041
    Abstract: A machine for rotary driving screw anchors into underlying ground and related. The machine has a mast with a rotary driver and a mandrel driver oriented on a common axis. The mandrel driver passes a mandrel through the rotary driver and the screw anchor to allow the mandrel to be actuated ahead of the screw anchor while the rotary driver drives the screw anchor into the ground. Alternatively, the mandrel driver may also drive a hammering drill through the screw anchor to clear a path ahead of it through subsurface rocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ojjo, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Almy, Johann Karkheck, Tyrus Hudson, David Warner, Jack West, David Mar
  • Patent number: 11952751
    Abstract: A shroud retention system for a work tool is disclosed. The shroud retention system may have an adapter attached to the work tool. The shroud retention system may also have a shroud that slidably engages with the adapter. The shroud may have a retainer slot. Further, the shroud retention system may have a spring assembly disposed in the shroud. The spring assembly may have a block that slidably moves relative to the adapter. The spring assembly may also have a resilient member disposed between the adapter and the block. In addition, the spring assembly may have a retainer disposed in the retainer slot. The retainer may engage with the block. The retainer may have at least one recess disposed on the retainer front face or on the retainer rear face. The recess may extend partway toward the other of the retainer front face or the retainer rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bjerke, Scott A. Schick, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 11952744
    Abstract: A ditch forming apparatus having: a frame; a primary ditch forming assembly having: a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material; and b) a second subassembly for directing separated ground material away from a ditch being formed; and a ground treatment assembly to facilitate delivery of ground material to the second subassembly and having a ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis. At least one of: a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame; b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame; c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame; d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis; and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis, can be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Crary Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Richard, Rachelle Radi
  • Patent number: 11944026
    Abstract: An agricultural implement has implement settings for soil engaging tools that are controlled based on measured temporal and long-term soil properties in a field. A controller receives data from various soil and optical sensors and provides decision support for adjusting the implement settings. The soil sensors include a square or modified square electrical array that includes two independent, isolated disk coulters running side-by-side followed by two independent, isolated soil engaging runners. One runner has an optical sensor for organic matter, and the other runner has a temperature and moisture sensor. Above-ground optical sensors can be used to measure soil and plant material ahead of and behind the soil engaging tool. The controller can provide real time alerts to an operator that adjustments to the implement settings are needed, or the adjustments can be made automatically based on operator set thresholds, factory settings, or historical individual or global grower adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Veris Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Lund, Chase Maxton, Kyle Jensen, Tyler Lund, Paul Drummond
  • Patent number: 11937525
    Abstract: A combination of a tractive machine and plow, has a driver assistance system having an input/output unit. The plow is adjustable with machine parameters, wherein a portion is manually adjustable and/or automatically adjustable by means of the tractive machine. A plow adjust assistant determines in a dialog with an operator in a plurality of dialog steps, optimized machine parameters of the plow and/or of the tractive machine that are to be adjusted. The plow adjust assistant automatically adjusts a portion of the machine parameters determined in the first dialog step and/or gives the operator a portion for adjusting and determines further optimized machine parameters of the plow based on these machine parameters and gives these further optimized machine parameters of the plow to the operator for adjustment of the plow in a second dialog step and/or automatically adjusts them at the plow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Jona Pieper, Christian Birkmann, Jens Heydekorn
  • Patent number: 11930728
    Abstract: A control system for a double-acting air cylinder of an agricultural implement includes a valve assembly configured to control a base end air pressure and a rod end air pressure of the double-acting air cylinder. The control system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the valve assembly. The controller is configured to determine a target base end air pressure and a target rod end air pressure based on a target force of the double-acting air cylinder and a target damping factor of the double-acting air cylinder. The controller is also configured to control the valve assembly such that a first difference between the base end air pressure and the target base end air pressure is less than a first threshold value and a second difference between the rod end air pressure and the target rod end air pressure is less than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad Michael Johnson, Trevor Phillip Stanhope, Michael Christopher Conboy, Grant Thomas Macdonald
  • Patent number: 11926989
    Abstract: A blade assembly includes an adapter board including a lower tool bit attachment portion, terminating in a lower adapter board free end, the lower adapter board free end defining a bottom surface defining a plurality of shank receiving bores. A plurality of bushings are disposed in a corresponding one of the plurality of shank receiving bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruno Parzynski, Jr., Thomas Marshall Congdon, Tobias James Toennies
  • Patent number: 11882780
    Abstract: An agricultural system comprising a plough. The plough comprising: a plough body; a stone-trip-mechanism that is configured to be tripped when the plough body encounters a stone or other obstruction; and a trip-sensor configured to provide trip-data in response to the stone-trip-mechanism being tripped. The agricultural system also includes a location-determining-system associated with the plough, wherein the location-determining-system is configured to provide location-data that is representative of a location of the plough; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive the trip-data; and store location-data provided by the location-determining-system as a trip-location based on the trip-data, wherein the trip-location is a location of the plough at the time that the stone-trip-mechanism is tripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Hertzog, Bengt Per-Inge Linderson, Per Dennis Wallin, Carl Ola Fredrik Nilsson, Robert Svensson, Rickard Karl Gustav Nåhdin
  • Patent number: 11882782
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit of an agricultural planter. The row unit includes a trench depth adjustment assembly configured to modify the furrow depth. In one embodiment, the depth adjustment assembly may include a gear box having one or more gears which engage with a gear rack. The gear box may be pivotally connected to a depth adjustment body supporting a rocker that adjusts upward travel of gauge wheel arms. In another embodiment, the depth adjustment assembly may include a depth adjustment arm having a screw receiver that cooperates with a driven screw that adjusts the position of the depth adjustment arm acting on the gauge wheels to adjust trench depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Dillon Sloneker, Jeremy Hodel