Patents by Inventor Blaine R. Noll

Blaine R. Noll 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: 20180177121
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: at least three knife assemblies; and at least three knife drives, each of the knife drives being drivingly coupled to at least one of the at least three knife assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, Joshua Joyce, John J. Conroy, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, James F. Rayfield
  • Publication number: 20180035598
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Wenger, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, James F. Rayfield, John J. Conroy
  • Patent number: 9538703
    Abstract: The knife head mounts to the sickle to hold a plurality of knife sections thereon while allowing removal of the knife sections individually without major disassembly for ease of in field repair and replacement. A knife pin of the knife head connects to a knife arm driven by the sickle drive mechanism and is removable from above also without major disassembly. The knife pin connection provides a vertical self adjustment capability to accommodate sickle wear and vertical misalignment between the sickle and drive. And the knife arm is streamlined for cut plant material flow thereabout and is also adapted for ease of removal and field repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Gary L. Bich, David M. DeChristopher, Andrew R. Wilbert, Blaine R. Noll, Craig D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140230398
    Abstract: The knife head mounts to the sickle to hold a plurality of knife sections thereon while allowing removal of the knife sections individually without major disassembly for ease of in field repair and replacement. A knife pin of the knife head connects to a knife arm driven by the sickle drive mechanism and is removable from above also without major disassembly. The knife pin connection provides a vertical self adjustment capability to accommodate sickle wear and vertical misalignment between the sickle and drive. And the knife arm is streamlined for cut plant material flow thereabout and is also adapted for ease of removal and field repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Gary L. Bich, David M. DeChristopher, Andrew R. Wilbert, Blaine R. Noll, Craig D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7975458
    Abstract: A crop harvesting header for use with a work vehicle includes a shaft extending substantially transverse to a direction of travel of the header, the shaft rotates about its axis in response to a portion of a member contacting a first arm when the header is in the first operating mode. The shaft does not rotate about the shaft axis when the header is in a second operating mode. A second arm rotates about the shaft in response to ground undulations when the header is in the second operating mode. A sensor, operatively connected to the second arm and to a controller, senses when the second arm is located at a predetermined position when the header is in the second operating mode. The sensor communicates with the controller to effect movement of the header with respect to the ground when the header is in the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Blaine R. Noll
  • Publication number: 20080264025
    Abstract: A plurality of elongate mounting brackets mounted in cantilever relation on a frame of a header at sidewardly spaced locations across at least a portion of a width of the header, respectively, support a sensor rod for rotation about its axis. Each of the brackets has a free end including a bearing having a bore therethrough which receives the sensor rod, at least some of the bearings being self-aligning bearings. The self-aligning capability enables accommodating irregularities in the mounting locations for the brackets, and also bends, flexure and other deformities of the header frame and sensor rod, for achieving free rotatability of the sensor rod. This mounting arrangement also facilitates installation by one person, from the bottom side of the header, both initially and in the field. Additionally, the brackets can include features for aligning the bores of the bearings, to facilitate the installation and free rotation of the sensor rod when installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Ditchcreek, Blaine R. Noll, Irwin D. McIlwain