Patents by Inventor Blaine A. Schwalbe

Blaine A. Schwalbe 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: 20190135066
    Abstract: A swingarm includes a first swingarm leg oriented along a first horizontal plane, a main body extending upward and outward from a second end of the first swingarm leg, and a second swingarm leg extending from a second end of the main body along a second horizontal plane. The swingarm also includes a first bearing holder coupled to a first end of the first swingarm leg and a second bearing holder coupled to a second end of the second swingarm leg. The first bearing holder includes a cavity oriented horizontally to form a first pivot axis. The second bearing holder includes a cavity oriented vertically to form a second pivot axis. The first and second bearing holders are of the same construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian J. Pilney, Roy A. Bittner, Kevin L. Weihing
  • Publication number: 20190133021
    Abstract: A boom center section for an agricultural machine includes a bulkhead haying a first end and a second end, at least one bulkhead opening located adjacent at least one of the first and the second ends of the bulkhead, and at least one connection assembly disposed within the at least one bulkhead opening. Each bulkhead opening is formed through a first wall of the bulkhead. Each connection assembly includes a plurality of connectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian J. Pilney
  • Publication number: 20190135345
    Abstract: A chassis frame including a top plate, a bottom plate spaced apart from the top plate, a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate, a plurality of mounting tabs extending from at least one of the top plate and the bottom plate and being integrally formed therewith, and a plurality of mounting brackets permanently coupled to at least one of the top plate and the plurality of side plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian J. Pilney, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10266209
    Abstract: An engine compartment side panel is configured for toolless mounting and includes a main body having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a bottom edge. The side panel further includes at least one tab disposed at a location along a length of the bottom edge of the main body. In addition, a handrail is coupled to an outer surface of the main body at a plurality of handrail mounting locations and at least one mounting arm is coupled to an inner surface of the main body at a respective one of an at least one mounting arm mounting locations. Each mounting arm is configured to be removably coupled to an engine compartment support frame. Further, each of the at least one mounting arm mounting location is aligned with a respective one of the plurality of handrail mounting locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Ross Christiansen, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10226965
    Abstract: An agricultural machine such as a high clearance sprayer is provided with a frame capable of supporting wheels at a variable tread width. The frame includes a pair of cross members, both of which have slider receivers. The machine also includes a first axle slider for a first side and a second axle slider for a second side. The machine may also have a slider to frame connection arrangement that includes a reduced friction zone at the slider receivers that facilitate telescopic movement of the axle sliders. The slider to frame connection may also have at least one fixed slider wear pad in a fixed position within the reduced friction zone and at least one movable slider wear pad movably arranged within the reduced friction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Brian Pilney
  • Publication number: 20190059351
    Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural sprayer can be configured with a spray boom, adjustable width wheels and rear wheel spray nozzles arranged over rear wheels of the adjustable width wheels, so that the rear wheel nozzles ensure proper coverage of an agricultural field behind the rear wheels according to location. A control system can determine front wheel nozzles disposed on the spray boom that are counterpart spray nozzles to the rear wheel nozzles based on a width of the wheels, and implement activation/deactivation states of the rear wheel nozzles based on the counterpart front spray nozzles. The activation/deactivation states of the spray nozzles can be determined by geographic location of the machine using a UPS location. The rear wheel nozzles can be arranged with respect to fenders of the rear wheels, so that the rear wheel nozzles move laterally with the rear wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Steven N. Winkel, Blaine A. Schwalbe
  • Publication number: 20190054959
    Abstract: An engine compartment support arrangement for an agricultural machine includes first and second support rails disposed within an engine compartment, a horizontal platform disposed between the first and second support rails and coupled thereto, and a plurality of engine accessory mounts welded to at least one of the first support rail and the second support rail. The first support rail includes a horizontal portion and an angled portion, wherein a second end of the horizontal portion is aligned with a first end of the angled portion. The second support rail includes a horizontal portion and an angled portion, wherein a second end of the horizontal portion is aligned with a first end of the angled portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Lawrence R. Borucki, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190031245
    Abstract: An engine hood mounting system includes an engine hood having at least one engine hood pivot support disposed on an inner surface thereof, at least one pivot joint located on a chassis frame of the agricultural machine, and at least one pivot bar assembly configured to interfit with a respective pivot joint and engine hood pivot support. The at least one pivot bar assembly includes an outer pivot bar having a first end and a second end and an inner pivot bar disposed within the outer pivot bar having a first end and a second end. The outer pivot bar and the inner pivot bar are coupled to each other via at least one fastener. Further, the at least one pivot bar assembly, its respective engine hood pivot support, and its respective pivot joint are oriented along a rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Lawrence R. Borucki, JR., Ross Christiansen, Steven N. Winkel
  • Publication number: 20190021222
    Abstract: A rinse tank for use with an agricultural machine that has a routing tunnel formed in a tank bottom wall for routing hoses through the routing tunnel between the rinse tank and a frame side-rail associated with the agricultural machine. The routing tunnel allows hoses to be routed from a first end of the agricultural machine to a second end of the agricultural machine. Additionally, brackets can be installed to the top wall of the frame side-rail. The brackets can be used to help locate the rinse tank about the frame as they are configured to fit within the routing tunnel. Additionally, the hoses can be routed through the brackets to prevent the hoses from being misplaced or damaged once the rinse tank is installed onto the frame side-rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Ross Christiansen
  • Publication number: 20190023325
    Abstract: An engine compartment side panel is configured for toolless mounting and includes a main body having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a bottom edge. The side panel further includes at least one tab disposed at a location along a length of the bottom edge of the main body. In addition, a handrail is coupled to an outer surface of the main body at a plurality of handrail mounting locations and at least one mounting arm is coupled to an inner surface of the main body at a respective one of an at least one mounting arm mounting locations. Each mounting arm is configured to be removably coupled to an engine compartment support frame. Further, each of the at least one mounting arm mounting location is aligned with a respective one of the plurality of handrail mounting locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Ross Christiansen, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: 10183542
    Abstract: One or more vehicle sensors can be used in a suspension control system of an agricultural machine to dynamically adjust pistons located proximal to wheels of the machine to substantially control orientation. Such vehicle sensors could include: a speed sensor configured to provide an output indicating a speed of the machine; a turn angle sensor configured to provide an output indicating a turn angle of the machine; and/or an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) configured to detect a chassis-to-horizon angle. The output can be compared to a threshold for determining when to control valves in the suspension system to apply height corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Blaine A. Schwalbe, Nathan P. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20180327025
    Abstract: Electronically controlled hydraulic valves can be directly mounted to rear steering cylinders of a four wheel steering machine to improve steering, reduce space consumption, reduce leak points and allow ease of routing. The valves can receive hydraulic fluid from a pump and release hydraulic fluid to tank, while controlling an amount of hydraulic fluid to the steering cylinder via inlets and outlets in direct contact. The valves can be controlled by a controller that is also in communication with position sensors configured to sense positions of the front and rear steering cylinders, so that the directly mounted valves in the rear can be correspondingly controlled to follow steering in the front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Kerry J. Treinen, Blaine A. Schwalbe, Nathan P. Brooks, Roy A. Bittner, Steven N. Winkel
  • Publication number: 20180327021
    Abstract: A lock system can be provided at each rear wheel assembly of a four wheel steering system to physically lock the rear wheel assemblies in a fixed direction to safely prevent rear wheel steering when such feature is undesirable. The lock system can use an electronically controlled actuator to hydraulically drive or retract a lock cylinder to lock or unlock the rear wheel assemblies, respectively. Sensors can be used to detect whether the lock cylinders are driven or retracted by their respective actuators, so that a controller monitoring the sensors can determine whether four wheel steering is enabled or disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan P. Brooks, Roy A. Bittner, Blaine A. Schwalbe
  • Patent number: 10118650
    Abstract: An engine access door slide track system of an agricultural machine includes a support frame, a first engine access door, and a second engine access door. The support frame includes a plurality of frame members, a top track coupled to one of the plurality of frame members, and a bottom track included in one of the plurality of frame members. The first engine access door includes a top guide configured to interfit with the top track and a bottom guide configured to interfit with the bottom track. The second engine access door is coupled to the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine Schwalbe, Ross Christiansen, Steven N. Winkel
  • Patent number: D837720
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Douglas Montgomery, Ross P. Christiansen
  • Patent number: D837835
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Ross P. Christiansen
  • Patent number: D837836
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Ross P. Christiansen
  • Patent number: D838295
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Karl M. Luebke, Nathan P. Brooks, Douglas Montgomery, Roy A. Bittner, Lawrence R. Borucki, Jr., Steven N. Winkel, Michael Bertotto, Ross P. Christiansen, Andrew D. Jacobson
  • Patent number: D839162
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Steven N. Winkel, Ross P. Christiansen
  • Patent number: D840440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Blaine A. Schwalbe, Nathan P. Brooks, Roy A. Bittner, Steven N. Winkel