Patents Examined by Thomas B. Will
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Patent number: 8794867Abstract: An asphalt milling machine control is provided for an asphalt milling machine of the type which mills an asphalt pavement surface over which the machine travels. The machine has a milling machine body, and a rotatable milling drum mounted on the lower portion of the milling machine body, the bottom surface of the milling drum contacting the asphalt pavement surface to mill the surface to a design elevation. The machine further includes a plurality of machine body supports which are adjusted to raise or lower the height of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum with respect to the asphalt pavement surface. This defines the elevation of the surface that results from milling with the drum. The control includes a floating plate, mounted to the side of the milling machine and the rotatable milling drum, or a pair of floating plates mounted to either side of the machine, for sliding over the surface adjacent to the area to be milled.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventors: Jeroen Snoeck, Richard Paul Piekutowski
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Patent number: 7448196Abstract: A hay baler provided with a tubular duct within which charges of crop material are prepared before being stuffed into the baling chamber has a windrow pickup device at its front end to lift crop materials off the ground as the baler advances. The effective operating width of the pickup is wider than the inlet to the duct so that the stream of crop materials lifted off the ground must be converged centrally into alignment with the inlet before entering the same. A pair of lower stub augers on opposite sides of the inlet are assisted by a pair of upper stub augers rotating in opposite directions relative to the lower augers to accomplish such convergence. A windguard overlies the incoming crop flow as well as the consolidation zone between left and right sets of the stub augers so as to maintain effective control over the flow at all times.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Kurt Graber, Ryan A. Zecha
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Patent number: 7407016Abstract: The present invention provides a grading boot attachment which when attached to a roadway grading moldboard allows for more accurate and uniform grade cutting or leveling with the moldboard. The attachment includes amounting plate for mounting to the moldboard, a winged section and an adjustable leveling gate which may be adjusted to the appropriate angular position for any desired task. A compressive strut retains the leveling gate in an operable position.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Inventor: Corey A. Kvalo
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Patent number: 7401457Abstract: A finger for a crop gathering auger of a grain header for an agricultural combine, including a tether which spans a failure region of the finger and will retain a free end of the finger in connection with a mounting end thereof when the failure region is broken, and which is preferably additionally operable for automatically retracting the broken off free end into an auger drum and retaining it therein during subsequent rotation of the drum for limiting potential damage from the broken end and preventing entry of the broken end into crop handling equipment of the combine.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: CNH America LLCInventors: Gary L. Bich, Daniel J. Klein, Benjamin W. Ditchcreek, James F. Rayfield
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Patent number: 7377092Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Mark Alvin Schmidt, Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, John Michael Flenniken
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Patent number: 7373767Abstract: This row unit utilizes an improved multi-zone, multi-functional stalk roll, which contains a novel revolving entry window to improve entry and increase engagement of the fluted portion of the stalk roll flutes with the corn stalk. The stalk rolls described are multi-sectional and contain multi-length variable flutes. The number of flutes described for each zone may vary as well as whether the flutes are meshing or non-meshing and angled or non-angled. The stalk rolls described allow a constant speed drive shaft to create lower and/or higher effective circumferential contact speeds within each zone of the stalk roll. The invention provides that the rotating transport vanes located on the helical nose cone at the entry area to the stalk roll flutes lock the corn stalk into a revolving entry window. This novel row unit contains a multi-zone, multi-functional stripper plate that ensures minimal ear wedging and maximum discharge of material other than ears.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2003Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Inventor: Marion Calmer
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Patent number: 7370459Abstract: An agricultural machine fitted with a chopping device. The chopping device includes a guard, at least three chopping members disposed above the guard and that are linked thereto to pivot around a shaft directed upwards, and transmission elements that rotate the chopping members around the respective shafts. Among the chopping members at least two adjacent chopping members rotate in opposite directions converging towards the front. The distance separating the rotary shafts of two adjacent chopping members rotating in opposite directions converging towards the front is greater than at least a distance separating the rotary shafts of two adjacent chopping members having directions of rotation that do not converge towards the front. The arrangement of the chopping members in this manner can be used advantageously to improve the removal of the chopped product towards the rear of the chopping device.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Kuhn S.A.Inventor: Horst Neuerburg
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Patent number: 7370458Abstract: In a lawnmower engine speed control system having an actuator moving a throttle valve and a controller controlling operation of the actuator such that the engine speed becomes equal to a predefined desired engine speed, it is determined whether the lawnmower is under a mowing operation based on a value indicative of a load of the engine including an operation rate or output of the engine, the desired engine speed is changed based on a result of determination, thereby enabling to lower noise, to boost fuel efficiency, and to simplify operation by making manual regulation of engine speed unnecessary, while ensuring stable operation free from engine speed variance.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hayato Matsuda, Tomoki Fukushima
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Patent number: 7370463Abstract: A reel for a cutting system for harvesting machines has a central carrier body (1) defining a longitudinal axis (2). The reel central carrier body has an outer face (7) between a first axial end A and a second axial end B. Several support elements (20) are arranged along the longitudinal axis (2) on the carrier body (1) distanced from each other and supporting tine carriers (21) arranged on a circle around the longitudinal axis (2). Clamping sleeves (3) have inner faces (6) adapted to the outer face (7) of the carrier body (1). The clamping sleeves enclose the outer face (7) in a circumferential direction and leave an axially extending slot (8) between a first circumferential end (9) and a second circumferential end (10), which ends delimit the slot (8). The support elements (20) are mounted on the clamping sleeves. A clamping mechanism (18) is arranged on each of the clamping sleeves (3) close to the first circumferential end (9) and the second circumferential end (10) of the clamping sleeve (3).Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Inventors: Gustav Schumacher, Friedrich-Wilhelm Schumacher
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Patent number: 7370460Abstract: One or two conventional picking units are mounted on a two-wheel, high clearance running gear or frame. A two-point hitch is coupled to the draft links of a tractor or an equal-angle hitch is coupled to the tractor drawbar. Hitch and tongue interface on the harvester facilitates sharp turn angles between the implement and the tractor through use of a pivoting member containing the driveline powering the units from the tractor. A center pivot tongue allows offset for appropriate row alignment and provides improved maneuverability and implement steering on headlands and turn rows. A hydraulic cylinder connected to the tongue or a crossed four-bar linkage structure controls tongue angle. A basket is supported at the rear of the frame and the row units are located forwardly of the frame to provide counterbalancing forces about the wheel axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Mark Samuel Philips, Jeffrey Robert Fox, Daniel John Johannsen, Kent Cleo Mckee
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Patent number: 7367406Abstract: A hydraulic system for an attachment for a tractor is disclosed. The hitch has a frame having a top member and a bottom member. The top and bottom members are joined together by a pair of side members forming a structure with an orifice. Each of the top and bottom members are hollow in a cross section, as are each of the side members so that a fluid contained in the members can flow from one member to another.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Inventors: Thomas B. White, Bruce A. Peterson
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Patent number: 7367407Abstract: A towed snowplow includes a frame which is carried by at least one wheel. The frame includes at least one moldboard and is arranged to be towed behind a vehicle and movable from a transport position directly behind the vehicle to a deployed position in which the frame extends diagonally from the vehicle to enable plowing of pavement alongside and to the rear of the towing vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Cives CorporationInventor: Robert Glenn Lannert
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Patent number: 7367174Abstract: A rotary walk behind lawn mower has a wheeled cutting deck with a downwardly facing cutting chamber. A rotatable cutting blade is contained inside the cutting chamber above a lower edge of a peripheral sidewall and beneath a central hub, an annular channel being formed between the sidewall and the hub of the cutting chamber for receiving grass clippings from the cutting blade. A portion of the peripheral sidewall of the cutting chamber above the level of the cutting blade and a portion of a top wall of the cutting chamber form a pivotal mulch door for opening and closing the annular channel in which the grass clippings are moving.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventor: Stephen J. Grimwade
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Patent number: 7367880Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for monitoring a flow path having plurality of different solid components flowing therethrough. For example, in the harvesting of a plant material, many factors surrounding the threshing, separating or cleaning of the plant material and may lead to the inadvertent inclusion of the component being selectively harvested with residual plant materials being discharged or otherwise processed. In accordance with the present invention the detection of the selectively harvested component within residual materials may include the monitoring of a flow path of such residual materials by, for example, directing an excitation signal toward of flow path of material and then detecting a signal initiated by the presence of the selectively harvested component responsive to the excitation signal. The detected signal may be used to determine the presence or absence of a selected plant component within the flow path of residual materials.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLCInventors: Reed L. Hoskinson, John M. Svoboda, William F. Bauer, Gracy Elias
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Patent number: 7363734Abstract: The invention relates to a trench wall cutter comprising a bearing shield, on which at least one cutting wheel is supported in a rotatable manner. Between the cutting wheel and the bearing shield at least one sealing member is provided. For the lubrication of the sealing member a lubricating device is provided, which has a lubricant inlet port arranged above the cutting wheel.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Bauer Maschinen GmbHInventors: Maximilian Arzberger, Ignaz Seitle
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Patent number: 7360312Abstract: A bush cutter has a driving bevel gear housed in a first box constituting a part of a gearbox, and a driven bevel gear housed in a second box and engaging the driving bevel gear. The driving bevel gear is rotatably retained in a first bearing. The first bearing is screw-fitted into the first box movably in an axially longitudinal direction of the driving bevel gear. Rotation of the first bearing causes the driving bevel gear to move in the axially longitudinal direction to finely adjust the engagement of the driving bevel gear with the driven bevel gear.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Warashina, Hideshi Sasaki
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Patent number: 7360352Abstract: A side discharge mower comprises, a mower deck having a top wall, a front wall depending from the top wall, at least one side wall, a rear wall depending from the top wall, and a discharge opening formed laterally of the mower deck, a first shaft supported by the mower deck and extending vertically, and a second shaft disposed closer than the first shaft to the discharge opening, a first blade rotatable about an axis of the first shaft so that distal ends thereof define a first circular path, a second blade rotatable about an axis of the second shaft so that distal ends thereof define a second circular path, a rear baffle disposed in a rear region of the mower deck, and an intermediate baffle extending from the rear baffle forward through an area adjacent a boundary between the first circular path and the second circular path, the intermediate baffle extending from the rear baffle forwardly beyond a line connecting the first shaft and the second shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Masatoshi Yamaguchi
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Patent number: RE40604Abstract: A mower conditioner includes a rotary style cutter bed and a pair of laterally extending crop conditioning rolls spaced rearwardly from the cutter bed. Crop flow is improved in the machine by a laterally extending conveying roller located between the cutter bed and the nip defined by the conditioning rolls. In particular, the conveying outer roller serves to lift cut crop up from the cutter bed and convey the crop rearwardly to the nip. This ensures that the cut crop moves in a steady stream from the cutter bed to the conditioning rolls, and thereby reduces the risk of cut crop being thrown forwardly by the cutters. A downwardly open area is preferably defined between the conveying roller and the cutter bed to provide a space through which dirt and debris can drop out of the machine. The conveying roller preferably has a rotational axis that is lower than the rotational axis of the lower conditioning roll and generally vertically aligned with the substantially planar cutting zone defined by the cutter bed.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Martin E. Pruitt, Kurt Graber, Cecil L. Case, Michael L. O'Halloran
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Patent number: RE40611Abstract: A harvester which uses a rotary style cutter bed has a series of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual upright axes. Part of the cutter bed is a flat gear case containing a train of intermeshed spur gears that serve to distribute power between the cutters above the gear train. Each end of the gear case has a hollow, gearless extension welded thereto which supports at least one additional outboard cutter that receives its driving power exteriorally of the gear case. One embodiment uses a mechanical drive to bring power to the upright shaft of the cutter having the first spur gear so that the cutters with gears receive all their power from the driven cutter.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Michael L. O'Halloran, Cecil L. Case, Martin E. Pruitt, David P. Fritz
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Patent number: RE40614Abstract: A crop harvester of the rotary cutter bed type has a series of rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual upright axes. The cutter bed extends in opposite directions beyond the ends of a central discharge opening to the conditioner rolls. Cutters located outboard of the opening direct cut crop materials along the front of the cutter bed until the opposite extremities of the discharge openings are reached, whereupon pairs of cooperating, oppositely rotating cutters in front of the opening function to propel the crop material rearwardly with the main flow of cut materials. Alternative forms of conveying means are provided in association with the outboard cutters for moving the cut crop centrally without the use of augers or other additional gathering mechanism behind the row of cutters.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2004Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Raymond F. Schmitt, Cecil L. Case, Martin E. Pruitt, Michael L. O'Halloran