Patents by Inventor Bart M. A. Missotten

Bart M. A. Missotten 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).

  • Agricultural harvester including feedback control of chopping parameters
    Patent number: 10130039
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester for harvesting a crop on a field. The harvester includes a chopping assembly configured to chop a crop residue of the harvested crop. The chopping assembly includes an inlet for receiving the crop residue, a rotor provided with one or more cutting tools and configured to chop the crop residue, a drive assembly configured to drive the rotor, and an outlet for outputting the chopped crop residue onto the field. The harvester further includes an image based sensor configured to generate a signal comprising an image of the chopped crop residue and a processing unit configured to receive the signal from the image based sensor, process the signal to derive a geometric parameter indicative of a geometry of the chopped crop residue, and determine a control signal for the drive assembly based on the geometric parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Tom N. N. Somers
  • System and method of controlling a cleaning sieve in an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 10104840
    Abstract: A cleaning section of an agricultural harvester. The cleaning section including a sieve, a plurality of load sensors, and a sieve slope compensating system. The sieve is positioned in the harvester to receive crop material from a threshing section. The plurality of load sensors are coupled to the sieve. The load sensors are configured to produce signals representative of a distributed load of the crop material on the sieve. The sieve slope compensating system is configured to tilt or side shake the sieve dependent upon the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Frederik Tallir, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Cleaning assembly for a harvester
    Patent number: 10070590
    Abstract: A cleaning assembly for a harvester has a fan assembly with a fan and a first fan outlet and a second fan outlet, a first sieve assembly with at least one reciprocable sieve, an upstream end of the first sieve assembly near the first fan outlet such that air from the first fan outlet flows along the first sieve assembly and a direction of crop flow; and a second sieve assembly has at least one reciprocable sieve, an upstream stream end of the second sieve assembly near the second fan outlet such that the air from the second fan outlet flows along the second sieve assembly and the direction of crop flow, the second sieve assembly has a clean grain auger for receiving cleaned grain, and the first sieve assembly has a further clean grain auger arranged for receiving cleaned grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Frank R. G. Duquesne, Tom N. N. Somers
  • Combine harvester with track units equipped with tilt-counteracting actuators
    Patent number: 10065691
    Abstract: A combine harvester comprising a pair of track units at a front of the harvester. The track units are suspended so that a frame of the units is pivotable about a centrally placed pivot axis, the axis dividing the track units between a front and rear portion. For each of the track units, the harvester comprises at least one variable length actuator mounted between the chassis of the harvester and the frame of the track unit, the actuator being mounted so that it is capable of actuating an upward or downward tilting of the front portion of the track unit. The actuator is operated to counteract an excessive downward or upward tilting of the front portion of the unit. The actuator may be operated by a control mechanism working on the basis of measurements performed by suitable sensor arrangements that monitor or predict the downward or upward tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Koen Landuyt
  • Chopper/blower arrangement for a header used on an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 10039230
    Abstract: A header assembly for an agricultural combine harvester includes a plurality of row units, and a plurality of chopper/blower units. Each chopper/blower unit is positioned below a respective row unit and has a discharge outlet. At least two of the chopper/blower units have a discharge chute connected with the discharge outlet, and a deflector positioned at a discharge end of the discharge chute. Each deflector is independently adjustable to direct crop material toward a windrow formed under the combine harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Yannic Vande Ryse, Laurens Nortier, Didier O. M. Verhaeghe, Bart M. A. Missotten
  • Hybrid drive system for a harvester
    Patent number: 10039234
    Abstract: A hybrid drive system for an auxiliary load includes a hydraulic auxiliary power storage. This hydraulic auxiliary power storage has a plurality of hydraulic power storage units. The hybrid drive system further comprises an power exchange control system that selectively connects a predetermined selection of one or more of the hydraulic power storage units to the hydraulic auxiliary power unit; and controls the power exchange of the auxiliary power unit as a function of the operating period by the predetermined selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Guy H. J. Osselaere, Karel C. F. Pauwels, Vincent B. P. Theunynck
  • Combine harvester with adjustable inclination of straw walkers
    Patent number: 10034430
    Abstract: A combine harvester including at least one straw walker extending in a longitudinal direction of the harvester and supported by a front and rear shaft. The shafts are rotatable about respective rotation axes, and each shaft provided with one or more eccentric portions. The straw walker is rotatably mounted on an eccentric portion of the respective front and rear shafts, so that the simultaneous rotation of the shafts actuates a reciprocating motion of the straw walker. The combine further comprises a pivot frame and one or more actuators, configured to adjust the angular position of the frame by pivoting the frame about a pivot axis oriented transversally to the longitudinal direction. The front and rear shafts are configured to rotate with respect to the pivot frame, so that the straw walker's angular position is adjustable while the straw walker executes the reciprocating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Johan A. Van der Haegen, Michiel Vanderstichele, Koen Landschoot
  • Adjustable gathering chain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 10028436
    Abstract: An adjustable gathering chain assembly for a header of an agricultural harvester includes a drive unit, a driven unit spaced from and movable with respect to the drive unit and an endless gathering chain extending between the drive unit and the driven unit. An adjustment unit including an idler member in engagement with the gathering chain is operable to move the idler member with respect to the drive unit in order to move the driven unit between first and second positions relative to the drive unit whereby the header may effectively harvest both standing crop and downed or lodged crop depending on harvesting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Eugene Ricketts, Bart M A Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Eric L. Walker
  • Cleaning assembly for a harvester
    Patent number: 9980433
    Abstract: A cleaning assembly for a harvester operable to clean a crop while moving along a direction of the crop flow and comprising multiple cleaning sub-assemblies has a control system coupled to each of the cleaning sub-assemblies and operable to control the operation of each of the cleaning sub-assemblies in function of separate cleaning sub-assembly control settings for each of the cleaning sub-assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Bart M. A. Missotten, Tom N. N. Somers
  • Sensor arrangement for monitoring an unloading process of an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 9973710
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a forage harvester. The sensor arrangement includes a frame, a CCD or CMOS camera mounted to the frame in a first position, and a time-of-flight camera mounted to the frame in a second position. The CCD or CMOS camera is mounted to the frame in the first position such that, when a filling wagon is located with respect to the forage harvester in a filling position, a first image of at least a portion of the filling wagon is capturable by the first camera. The time-of-flight camera is mounted to the frame in the second position such that, when the filling wagon is located with respect to the forage harvester in the filling position, a second image of a segment of the portion is capturable by the second camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Boydens, Bart M. A. Missotten, Pieter Vanysacker, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Sensor arrangement
    Patent number: 9949440
    Abstract: An agricultural baler having a baling chamber, an intake duct leading into the baling chamber and a stuffer mechanism for transferring slice of crop in the intake duct into the baling chamber, wherein the baler comprises a wall segment positioned substantially in line with an inner wall surface of the baler, the wall segment being suspended from the inner wall surface via at least one load measurement sensor in such a manner that both a load perpendicular to, and a load parallel to the inner wall are derivable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Didier O. M. Verhaeghe
  • Combine harvester cleaning system drive assembly
    Patent number: 9943035
    Abstract: A combine harvester having a cleaning system with at least one cleaner assembly for cleaning the harvested and a drive assembly connected to the cleaning system to drive the cleaning system, thereby driving the at least one cleaner assembly to perform a reciprocating cleaner movement. The drive assembly comprises a variable speed drive assembly with a rotary drive comprising a rotatable output shaft for driving the cleaning system, a transmission to connect the rotatable output shaft to the at least one cleaner assembly, the transmission configured to convert an angular movement of the rotatable output shaft to the reciprocating cleaner movement, and a control unit to control an angular velocity of the rotatable output shaft based on an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Baert, Tom De Smet, Frederik Tallir, Bart M. A. Missotten
  • Controller for a Harvester
    Publication number: 20180098490
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: BART M.A. MISSOTTEN, GLENN AESAERT, MICHAEL CARPENTIER, DRE W.J. JONGMANS, THOMAS MAHIEU, RICARDO MESQUITA, KAREL M.C. VIAENE, BART VROMAN, JOHNNY M.F. SCHERRENS
  • Combine Harvester Improvement
    Publication number: 20180042177
    Abstract: A grain mass flow sensor assembly of an agricultural harvester has a continuously curved sensor plate positioned to receive a grain flow from an exit of the grain elevator. The continuously curved sensor plate is configured to change the direction of the grain flow in order to generate a reaction force for measuring the grain mass flow rate of the grain flow. The continuously curved sensor plate is attached to a sensor plate to load cell mounting bracket. The sensor plate to load cell mounting bracket is attached to a single point load cell torque or moment compensated force transducer at a single mounting point. The single point load cell torque or moment compensated force transducer produces a mass flow sensor signal that is proportionate to the grain mass flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Matthias Baert, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Bart M.A. Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Vandevelde
  • Controller for a harvester
    Patent number: 9877427
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M. C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M. F. Scherrens
  • Dual Header
    Publication number: 20180014462
    Abstract: A Header for an agricultural harvester. The header includes a connector adapted to be connected to a feeder of the agricultural harvester. The header further includes a cutter bar and a first lateral crop transporting mechanism to move crop material towards a first opening at the connector. The header further includes a second lateral crop transporting mechanism provided at a distance from the first lateral crop transporting mechanism. The second lateral crop transporting mechanism is provided to move crop material towards a second opening at the connector, the second opening being different from the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Stijn Borry, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Bart M.A. Missotten, Frederik Tallir
  • Corn header including a kernel sensor and a control unit for controlling desk plates of the corn header
    Patent number: 9867334
    Abstract: A corn header includes a plurality of harvesting units to separate corn ears from corn stalks. Each harvesting unit has a deck plate assembly, and an actuator assembly to adjust a width of a stalk receiving channel by adjusting a position of at least a deck plate of the deck plate assembly. A kernel sensor can generate a signal representative of the presence of kernels detached from the ears during the separation of the corn ears from the corn stalks by the harvesting units and a control unit to receive the signal from the kernel sensor and generate an actuator control signal for controlling the actuator assemblies of the plurality of harvesting units, thereby controlling the width of the stalk receiving channels of the harvesting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Dré W. J. Jongmans, Bart M. A. Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Willem Vandamme, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Harvester Header Support
    Publication number: 20170367266
    Abstract: A header support for supporting a header during road transport of an agricultural harvester. The header support has a header mounted to it in order to reduce a front axle load of the agricultural harvester. During harvesting, a support wheel of the header support is folded upwardly so it does not touch the ground during harvesting. The rotation axis of the support wheel extends in a substantially vertical plane during harvesting. This allows for a simple construction of the header support and reduces the vibration loads on the bearing of the support wheel during harvesting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Rik Vandendriessche, Bart M.A. Missotten, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde
  • Air Sensor System
    Publication number: 20170370959
    Abstract: An air sensor system including a pressure or airflow sensor, a filter housing that defines an air flow path to the air pressure sensor, and a filter in the air flow path. The filter includes a micro filter and a hydrophobic membrane. The hydrophobic membrane is downstream of the micro filter in the air flow path to the pressure or airflow sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Bart M.A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Brecht Vanmullem, Karel M.C. Viaene
  • Combine harvester comprising a straw walker control system
    Patent number: 9814179
    Abstract: A combine harvester has an inclination module coupled to the straw walker control system. The inclination module provides information on the inclination of the combine harvester. The straw walker control system is further configured to control the controllable frequency of the oscillating movement in function of the information on the inclination of the combine harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Bart M. A. Missotten, Tom N. N. Somers, Johan A. Van Der Haegen