Patents by Inventor Aaron S. Ritter

Aaron S. Ritter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240032474
    Abstract: A control system controls the operation of a harvester and/or receiving vehicle so that the receiving vehicle can travel adjacent the harvester, behind a harvesting head on the harvester, during a breakthrough pass in the harvesting operation. The control system can include an interlock system which generates an interlock signal when unloading during breakthrough harvesting is not desired. The control signal can include a monitoring system that generates a control signal during the breakthrough pass, and a logistics system that identifies a desired location for the breakthrough pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Corwin M. Puryk, Bradley K. Yanke
  • Publication number: 20230189714
    Abstract: Pickup belt headers may include a ramp disposed in a gap formed between a first endless belt of a pickup belt assembly and a second endless belt of a transfer belt assembly. Fingers may be provided on the first endless belt, and the fingers may be deflected, such as by pivoting or bending, in response to engagement between the fingers and the ramp to avoid contact between the fingers and the second endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: SNEHALRAO JADHAV, GLENN E. POPE, Aniruddha Patankar, DUANE M. BOMLENY, AARON S. RITTER, BRADLEY K. YANKE
  • Publication number: 20230136518
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural work vehicle including a feeder house is provided, with the header operable to move crop material in a forward feed direction during a crop processing operation and in a reverse feed direction during a declogging operation. The header includes a frame configured to be coupled to the feeder house, a pickup belt assembly coupled to the frame and including a movable pickup belt configured to convey crop material, a transfer belt assembly coupled to the frame and including a movable transfer belt arranged to convey crop material from the pickup belt assembly to the feeder house in the forward feed direction, an actuator coupled to the frame that pivots the pickup belt assembly relative to the frame, and a discharge zone through which crop material is conveyed in the reverse feed direction during the declogging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Snehalrao Jadhav, Glenn E. Pope, Aaron S. Ritter, Duane M. Bomleny, Bradley K. Yanke, Aniruddha Patankar
  • Publication number: 20230039607
    Abstract: Example grain carts have movable doors to provide access to an interior cavity. Grain carts may have more than one door, and the one or more doors are movable between an open position to expose one or more openings and a closed position to conceal one or more openings formed in one or more sides of a bin of the grain cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Snehalrao Jadhav
  • Patent number: 11553650
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Publication number: 20200170190
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Patent number: 10602667
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Publication number: 20180352746
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Patent number: 9723785
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for securing a header to an agricultural vehicle has latching pins located on opposite sides of a centerline of the vehicle. The latching pins are movable between latched and unlatched positions from the same side of the machine. As one example, the harvester is an agricultural combine harvester and the header mounts to a feederhouse. The latching mechanism can be mounted to the feederhouse and moved into and out of engagement with the header to retain or remove the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Aaron S. Ritter
  • Patent number: 9668412
    Abstract: A harvesting head height control circuit (162) for controlling the height of an articulated harvesting head (104) that is supported on a combine harvester (102) during harvesting in an agricultural field includes an ECU (164) configured to raise and lower the portions of the articulated harvesting head. The ECU (164) receives signals indicating the magnitude of a rearward force acting upon the articulated harvesting head and automatically changes the commanded operating height of the articulated harvesting head (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S Ritter, Bruce A Coers, Dustin D Deneault
  • Publication number: 20160316624
    Abstract: A harvesting head height control circuit (162) for controlling the height of an articulated harvesting head (104) that is supported on a combine harvester (102) during harvesting in an agricultural field includes an ECU (164) configured to raise and lower the portions of the articulated harvesting head. The ECU (164) receives signals indicating the magnitude of a rearward force acting upon the articulated harvesting head and automatically changes the commanded operating height of the articulated harvesting head (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, BRUCE A. COERS, DUSTIN D. DENEAULT
  • Patent number: 9468148
    Abstract: A feederhouse for attaching a header to an agricultural combine has a sill plate that supports a support beam of the header during operation of the header. A mounting hook with a hooked end is supported for forward and rearward movement with respect to the sill plate. A locking pin is configured to lock the mounting hook at either of a first position and a second position with respect to the sill plate. When the support beam is supported by the sill plate and the mounting hook is locked in the first position, the header is disposed at a first angle with respect to the feederhouse. When the support beam is supported by the sill plate and the mounting hook is locked in the second position, the header is disposed at a second angle with respect to the feederhouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Ryan P. Mackin
  • Patent number: 9357696
    Abstract: A drive coupler (102, 104) for coupling a reciprocating knife (106) to a drive member (112, 114) is provided, wherein the reciprocating knife (106) includes at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182) having a longitudinal extent and fixed to a plurality of blades (138), wherein the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182) is supported on support members (140) that constrain the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182) to reciprocate in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182), the drive coupler (102, 104) comprising: a first elongate strap (146, 162) configured to be attached to the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182); a second elongate strap (146, 162) configured to be attached to the at least one elongate bar (120, 122, 180, 182); and an arrangement (152, 164, 187, 189, 193, 200) for (i) flexing the first elongate strap (146, 162) with respect to the second elongate strap (146, 162), (ii) for flexing the first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S Ritter, Austin Hughes
  • Publication number: 20160057930
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for securing a header to an agricultural vehicle has latching pins located on opposite sides of a centerline of the vehicle. The latching pins are movable between latched and unlatched positions from the same side of the machine. As one example, the harvester is an agricultural combine harvester and the header mounts to a feederhouse. The latching mechanism can be mounted to the feederhouse and moved into and out of engagement with the header to retain or remove the header.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Aaron S. Ritter
  • Publication number: 20160057935
    Abstract: An feederhouse is disclosed for attaching a header to an agricultural combine. A sill plate is attached to the feederhouse, wherein the sill plate supports a support beam of the header during operation of the header. A mounting hook with a hooked end is supported for forward and rearward movement with respect to the sill plate. A locking pin is configured to lock the mounting hook at either of a first position and a second position with respect to the sill plate. When the support beam is supported by the sill plate and the mounting hook is locked in the first position, the header is disposed at a first angle with respect to the feederhouse. When the support beam is supported by the sill plate and the mounting hook is locked in the second position, the header is disposed at a second angle with respect to the feederhouse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Ryan P. Mackin
  • Patent number: 9265199
    Abstract: A control system (210) is provided for an agricultural harvester (200), the agricultural harvester (200) having an agricultural harvesting vehicle (202) and a harvesting head (204) mounted thereon, the harvesting head (204) further comprising a left side endless belt conveyor (214) driven by a left conveyor motor (312), a right side endless belt conveyor (218) driven by a right conveyor motor (310) and a center endless belt conveyor (220) driven by a center conveyor motor (314), the control system (210) comprising an electronic controller (300) configured to receive an electronic signal indicative of a roll angle of the harvesting head (204), and to electronically change a relative speed of at least one of the right conveyor motor (310) and the left conveyor motor (312) based at least upon the electronic signal indicative of a roll angle of the harvesting head (204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S Ritter, Bruce A Coers, Benjamin M Lovett, Benjamin J Schlesser
  • Patent number: 9198349
    Abstract: A ground force control circuit (162) for an articulated harvesting head is provided that comprises, an ECU (164); and a first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) driven by the ECU (164), wherein the first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) is coupled to at least one actuator (158, 160) and is configured to maintain a constant pressure in the at least one actuator (158, 160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Benjamin M Lovett, Bruce A Coers
  • Patent number: 9198353
    Abstract: A hinged row crop harvesting head (100) has two frame sections (110, 112, 114) coupled together with at least one hinge (186, 188) that permits the two frame sections (110, 112, 114) to pivot with respect to each other as the hinged row crop harvesting head (100) travels through a field harvesting crops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S Ritter, Benjamin M Lovett, Bruce A Coers, Benjamin J Schlesser, Michael L Vandeven, Austin Hughes, Duane M Bomleny
  • Patent number: 9144199
    Abstract: An articulated harvesting head load sensor arrangement is provided that includes two harvesting head sections (102, 104, 106) that are coupled with a first pivot pin (162) that is a load pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Benjamin M Lovett, Bruce A Coers, Dennis P Silver, Benjamin J Schlesser
  • Publication number: 20150195992
    Abstract: A stripper roller (103, 105) for a draper header (100) comprises an elongate tubular member (124, 128, 130) defining at least one elongate slot (132, 134); at least one elongate cleat (136, 138) disposed inside the elongate tubular member (124, 128, 130) and is configured to be extended and retracted from the at least one elongate slot (132, 134); and a reciprocating drive (142) that is coupled to the at least one elongate cleat (136, 138) and is configured to extend and retract the at least one elongate cleat (136, 138) as the stripper roller (103, 105) rotates about its central rotational axis (154).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: CHANCE M CORUM, AARON S RITTER