Patents by Inventor Alexander Heitkamp

Alexander Heitkamp 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: 20230284555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutting mechanism (4) for attaching to a harvesting machine (2), comprising a frame (6) that is connected to a plurality of rocker arms (16) spaced apart from one another, facing in the working direction (A) and are movable vertically. In each case, a plurality thereof being configured at least in some portions as a leaf spring assembly (20) includes a plurality of leaf springs (22), and the front ends of these rocker arms (16) are connected in each case via a connecting component to knife angle bracket profiles (24), the cutting elements (18) of the cutting mechanism (4) being fastened thereto. For mounting of the knife angle bracket profiles (24), a connecting joint (26) with attachment means (28) on its sides facing transversely to the working direction (A) in order to connect an adjacent knife angle bracket profile (24) to connecting joint (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Alexander HEITKAMP, Christoph HARTMANN, Hans PÜTTER, Steffen SUDHUES
  • Publication number: 20230172110
    Abstract: A draper head has a draper head frame and an attachment frame for connection to a feeder housing of a harvester. The draper head frame is connected to swing arms facing in working direction and having front ends movable vertically. The front ends of the swing arms are connected to a blade angle section provided with cutting elements. A center draper belt frame is pivotably arranged at the draper head frame and has a center draper belt disposed thereat. Transverse conveyor belts convey crop transversely to the working direction to the center draper belt which conveys crop rearwardly toward a discharge opening of the draper head. A rotary conveyor is arranged upstream of the discharge opening for conveying the crop toward the discharge opening. A rotation axis of a rearward shaft of the center draper belt and a rotation axis of the center draper belt frame are concentrically arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Steffen Sudhues, Christoph Hartmann, Alexander Heitkamp, Dirk Webermann
  • Publication number: 20220408644
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting mechanism (4) for installing onto a harvesting machine (2), comprising a frame (6) that has rocker arms (14) which point in the working direction and the front ends of which are secured to cutting elements (16) in order to cut the harvested crops, said rocker arms (14) together with the cutting elements (16) secured thereto being vertically movable relative to the frame (6). The aim of the invention is to provide an improved support for moving conveyor surfaces. This is achieved in that one or more support elements (20) are placed on the rocker arms (14), said support elements supporting conveyor surfaces (22) located above the rocker arms (14), and at least one of the support elements (20) is connected to the rocker arm (14) in a longitudinally movable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Steffen Sudhues, Alexander Heitkamp, Michael Pokriefke
  • Publication number: 20220338415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting mechanism (4) for installing on a harvesting machine (2). The aim of the invention is to provide a cutting mechanism which comprises a mounting for the cutting elements and which adapts easily to the soil contour without thereby tilting into an uncontrolled swing. This is achieved in that multiple or all of the rocker arms (16) are designed as a respective leaf spring assembly (20) composed of multiple leaf springs (22), multiple or all of the leaf springs (22) lying flatly one on top of the other as a leaf spring assembly (20) are held together on the frame (6) between clamping elements (24) at the frame-side leaf spring ends, and only one or multiple leaf springs (22) arranged in the upper region of the leaf spring assembly (20) are connected to the cutting elements (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Steffen Sudhues, Alexander Heitkamp, Andre Hemmesmann, Michael Pokriefke