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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 9080596
    Abstract: A double ended extendable driveshaft (106) comprises a first shaft portion (152, 154) that has a proximal end and a distal end; a first shaft coupler (110, 112) fixed to the distal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a first rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) supported for rotation on the proximal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a second shaft portion (152, 154) having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154) is slidingly coupled to the proximal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a second shaft coupler (110, 112) fixed to the distal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154); a second rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) supported for rotation on the proximal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154); and an actuator (158) coupled to the first rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) and the second rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) to extend and retract the first shaft portion (152, 154) with respect to the second shaft portion (152, 154).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Brian Busath, Austin Hughes
  • Patent number: 9072221
    Abstract: A sectional driveshaft arrangement of a corn head comprises a first row unit that is driven by a first driveshaft. The first row unit in turn drives a second driveshaft that drives a second row unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Matthew R. White
  • Patent number: 9043954
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104) disposed on the front of the self-propelled vehicle (102); a driveshaft (114), the driveshaft (114) having a proximal end supported for rotation on the feederhouse (104) about an axis of rotation, the driveshaft (114) having a distal end that is extendable from the proximal end; and a first coupler (116) fixed to the distal end, said first coupler (116) being configured for engagement with a second coupler (118), said second coupler (118) being disposed on an agricultural harvesting head (106) to drive a reciprocating knife of the agricultural harvesting head (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventors: Aaron S Ritter, Paul D Marvin
  • Publication number: 20150135675
    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: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, BRUCE A. COERS, BENJAMIN M. LOVETT, BENJAMIN J. SCHLESSER
  • Patent number: 8973342
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a load on an agricultural harvester (100) comprising a first sensor (124, 126, 128, 130) to sense a first load, a second sensor (132, 134, 136, 138) to sense a second load, an electronic control unit (200) coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, the electronic control unit (200) being configured to determine a difference between the first load and the second load, and to either (a) raise a harvesting head (102) or (b) stop the agricultural harvester (100), or (c) both, when the difference exceeds a threshold load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron S Ritter, John A Schraeder, Bruce A Coers
  • Patent number: 8973344
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Aaron S Ritter
  • Publication number: 20150059307
    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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, BENJAMIN M. LOVETT, BRUCE A. COERS, DENNIS P. SILVER, BENJAMIN J. SCHLESSER
  • Publication number: 20150013795
    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: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, BENJAMIN M LOVETT, BRUCE A COERS
  • Publication number: 20150000237
    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 a means (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 elongat
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, AUSTIN HUGHES
  • Publication number: 20140378236
    Abstract: A double ended extendable driveshaft (106) is provided comprising: a first shaft portion (152, 154) that has a proximal end and a distal end; a first shaft coupler (110, 112) fixed to the distal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a first rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) supported for rotation on the proximal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a second shaft portion (152, 154) having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154) is slidingly coupled to the proximal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a second shaft coupler (110, 112) fixed to the distal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154); a second rotary coupler (160, 160, 162) supported for rotation on the proximal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154); and an actuator (158) coupled to the first rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) and the second rotary coupler (160, 160?, 162) to extend and retract the first shaft portion (152, 154) with respect to the second shaft portion (152,
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, BRIAN BUSATH, AUSTIN HUGHES
  • Publication number: 20140283490
    Abstract: A sectional driveshaft arrangement of a corn head comprises a first row unit that is driven by a first driveshaft. The first row unit in turn drives a second driveshaft that drives a second row unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, MATTHEW R. WHITE
  • Patent number: 8833044
    Abstract: A harvesting head (104) with conveyor drive system comprising a frame (106), on which are mounted a first conveyor deck (108) and a second conveyor deck (110) includes a plurality of hydraulic fluid flow control elements that are configured to reduce hydraulic fluid flow through at least one conveyor belt drive motor (124, 130) while shifting at least one conveyor deck (108, 110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Daniel Hoffman, Douglas J. Bollin, Aaron S. Ritter
  • Publication number: 20140250849
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a load on an agricultural harvester (100) comprising a first sensor (124, 126, 128, 130) to sense a first load, a second sensor (132, 134, 136, 138) to sense a second load, an electronic control unit (200) coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, the electronic control unit (200) being configured to determine a difference between the first load and the second load, and to either (a) raise a harvesting head (102) or (b) stop the agricultural harvester (100), or (c) both, when the difference exceeds a threshold load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: AARON S. RITTER, JOHN A. SCHRAEDER, BRUCE A. COERS
  • Publication number: 20140237971
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104) disposed on the front of the self-propelled vehicle (102); a driveshaft (114), the driveshaft (114) having a proximal end supported for rotation on the feederhouse (104) about an axis of rotation, the driveshaft (114) having a distal end that is extendable from the proximal end; and a first coupler (116) fixed to the distal end, said first coupler (116) being configured for engagement with a second coupler (118), said second coupler (118) being disposed on an agricultural harvesting head (106) to drive a reciprocating knife of the agricultural harvesting head (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Paul D. Marvin
  • Publication number: 20140237970
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Aaron S. Ritter
  • Patent number: 8726621
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for an agricultural harvesting head comprises a sensor attached to a cutter bar in the place of a skid shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Douglas J. Bollin