Patents by Inventor Benjamin M. Lovett

Benjamin M. Lovett 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: 8555607
    Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Bruce A. Coers, Kyle A. Meeske, John Andrios, Benjamin M. Lovett, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Publication number: 20130263566
    Abstract: A draper header (102) is provided having the elongate laterally extending frame (104) and two forwardly extending crop dividers (116, 118) at each end. A gear box (120, 122) is mounted on the front of each crop divider (116, 118). The gearbox (120, 122) has two output shafts (148, 152), a first shaft (148) that is coupled to and drives an elongate reciprocating knife (112) extending across the leading edge of the draper header (102) and a second shaft (152) that is coupled to and drives a crop divider knife (128, 129). The crop divider knife (128, 129) includes a quick coupling (144) that engages a quick coupling (154) mounted on the second shaft (152).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Lovett, Steve A. Coon, Shane Marty Anderson
  • Patent number: 8544250
    Abstract: A draper platform (100) has a center endless belt conveyor (118) that is supported on and between first and second adjacent support arms (246A, 246B). The center endless belt conveyor (118) is releasable from a first support arm (246A) of the two adjacent support arms to pivot downward away from the first support arm of the two adjacent support arms a distance sufficient to slidably remove an endless conveyor belt (134) from the center endless belt conveyor in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation of the rolls (300, 302) that support the endless conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Lovett, Benjamin J. Schlesser, Bruce A. Coers, Austin William Hughes
  • Publication number: 20130239537
    Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Bruce A. Coers, Kyle A. Meeske, John Andrios, Benjamin M. Lovett, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Patent number: 8438823
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine including a flexible cutterbar and associated draper belts for carrying cut agricultural material to a center location. The belts are guided by a drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller for each belt is pivotable about an axis generally at 90 degrees to the axis of the belt and the drive roller for each belt is translatable axially to minimize diagonal stresses caused by flexing of the elongated endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Chad A. Dow, William P. Conrad, Jeffrey A. Nelson, Benjamin M. Lovett, Amy C. Berg, Eric D. Taflinger
  • Publication number: 20130097986
    Abstract: A draper platform (100) has a center endless belt conveyor (118) that is supported on and between first and second adjacent support arms (246A, 246B). The center endless belt conveyor (118) is releasable from a first support arm (246A) of the two adjacent support arms to pivot downward away from the first support arm of the two adjacent support arms a distance sufficient to slidably remove an endless conveyor belt (134) from the center endless belt conveyor in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation of the rolls (300, 302) that support the endless conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Lovett, Benjamin J. Schlesser, Bruce A. Coers, Austin William Hughes
  • Publication number: 20130008142
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine including a flexible cutterbar and associated draper belts for carrying cut agricultural material to a center location. The belts are guided by a drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller for each belt is pivotable about an axis generally at 90 degrees to the axis of the belt and the drive roller for each belt is translatable axially to minimize diagonal stresses caused by flexing of the elongated endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Chad A. Dow, William P. Conrad, Jeffrey A. Nelson, Benjamin M. Lovett, Amy C. Berg, Eric D. Taflinger
  • Patent number: 8347594
    Abstract: A draper platform (100) has a knife drive (250) for driving a knife assembly (140) that is supported on and between two adjacent support arms (246) that pivot with respect to each other and with respect to the frame (102, 104, 106) of the draper platform (100) to which the two adjacent support arms (246A, 246B) are pivotally connected. two resilient mounts couple opposing sides fo he sub-frame to the two adjacent support arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Lovett, Benjamin J. Schlesser, Bruce A. Coers, Austin William Hughes
  • Patent number: 8336280
    Abstract: A draper platform (100) has a center endless belt conveyor (118) that is supported on and between two adjacent support arms (246A, 246B) that pivot with respect to each other and with respect to the frame (102, 104, 106) of the draper platform (100) to which the two adjacent support arms (246A, 246B) are pivotally connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Lovett, Benjamin J. Schlesser, Bruce A. Coers, Austin William Hughes
  • Patent number: 8322520
    Abstract: A conveyor belt hold down for a draper platform comprises a planar portion having a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein one of the left and the right edges defines a first slot or groove structure, and the other of the left and the right edges defines a first tongue structure, wherein the first tongue structure is configured to be engaged in a second slot or groove structure of a similar hold down disposed immediately adjacent to the first tongue structure, and wherein the first slot or groove structure is configured to receive a second tongue structure of a similar hold down disposed immediately adjacent to the first slot or groove structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Chad A Dow, Benjamin M. Lovett, Ryan S. Herlyn, Todd N. Signer, Corwin M. Puryk, Joshua Ryan Pierson
  • Publication number: 20120291412
    Abstract: A draper platform (100) has a center endless belt conveyor (118) that is supported on and between two adjacent support arms (246A, 246B) that pivot with respect to each other and with respect to the frame (102, 104, 106) of the draper platform (100) to which the two adjacent support arms (246A, 246B) are pivotally connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Lovett, Benjamin J. Schlesser, Bruce A. Coers, Austin William Hughes
  • Patent number: 8281561
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine including a flexible cutterbar and associated draper belts for carrying cut agricultural material to a center location. The belts are guided by a drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller for each belt is pivotable about an axis generally at 90 degrees to the axis of the belt and the drive roller for each belt is translatable axially to minimize diagonal stresses caused by flexing of the elongated endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Chad A. Dow, William P. Conrad, Jeffrey A. Nelson, Benjamin M. Lovett, Amy C. Berg, Eric D. Taflinger
  • Publication number: 20120042617
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine including a flexible cutterbar and associated draper belts for carrying cut agricultural material to a center location. The belts are guided by a drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller for each belt is pivotable about an axis generally at 90 degrees to the axis of the belt and the drive roller for each belt is translatable axially to minimize diagonal stresses caused by flexing of the elongated endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Chad A. Dow, William P. Conrad, Jeffrey A. Nelson, Benjamin M. Lovett, Amy C. Berg, Eric D. Taflinger
  • Publication number: 20120043185
    Abstract: A conveyor belt hold down for a draper platform comprises a planar portion having a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein one of the left and the right edges defines a first slot or groove structure, and the other of the left and the right edges defines a first tongue structure, wherein the first tongue structure is configured to be engaged in a second slot or groove structure of a similar hold down disposed immediately adjacent to the first tongue structure, and wherein the first slot or groove structure is configured to receive a second tongue structure of a similar hold down disposed immediately adjacent to the first slot or groove structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Chad A. Dow, Benjamin M. Lovett, Ryan S. Herlyn, Todd N. Signer, Corwin M. Puryk, Joshua Ryan Pierson
  • Patent number: 8065865
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine including a flexible cutterbar and associated draper belts for carrying cut agricultural material to a center location. The belts are guided by a drive rollers and idler rollers. The idler roller for each belt is pivotable about an axis generally at 90 degrees to the axis of the belt and the drive roller for each belt is translatable axially to minimize diagonal stresses caused by flexing of the elongated endless belt. A spring assembly is positioned on a frame for the machine and acts to yieldably urge the drive rollers in an aft condition to alleviate stresses for an extended period of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Chad A. Dow, William P. Conrad, Jeffrey A. Nelson, Benjamin M. Lovett, Joshua R. Pierson
  • Publication number: 20110154794
    Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce A. Coers, Kyle A. Meeske, John Andrios, Benjamin M. Lovett, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Patent number: 7866132
    Abstract: A harvesting head (104) for an agricultural combine (100) includes a hydraulic height control circuit for controlling the height of the reel (122). The hydraulic height control circuit includes at least two closed hydraulic circuits (124, 134 and 128, 138).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dale H Killen, Gordon L. Salley, Benjamin M. Lovett
  • Publication number: 20100293914
    Abstract: A harvesting head (104) for an agricultural combine (100) includes a hydraulic height control circuit for controlling the height of the reel (122). The hydraulic height control circuit includes at least two closed hydraulic circuits (124, 134 and 128, 138).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Dale H Killen, Gordon L. Salley, Benjamin M. Lovett
  • Patent number: 7788891
    Abstract: A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvester includes at least one platform section. Each platform section includes a frame, a cutterbar assembly defining a leading edge of the platform section, an endless belt, and a plurality of float arms pivotally attached to the frame. The cutterbar assembly is movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions. At least one float arm carries a roller which supports the endless belt and is positioned within a loop of the endless belt. Each roller is pivotable or removable relative to the corresponding float arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Corwin M. Puryk, Bruce A. Coers, Benjamin M. Lovett
  • Patent number: 7690500
    Abstract: A connector assembly for a draper belt in a harvesting machine having first and second connecting bars on opposite first and second sides of belt end flanges and a flat belt splice along the leading or trailing edge of the draper belt. By providing a flat belt splice along the leading edge, the draper belt can be located underneath a belt cover to prevent grain from leaking out onto the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Bruce A. Coers, Sheldon J. Grywacheski, Benjamin M. Lovett, Corwin Marcus Raymond Puryk