Patents by Inventor Brett Gutknecht
Brett Gutknecht 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).
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Publication number: 20220000029Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle includes: a header frame; at least one crop remover carried by the header frame; a plurality of row dividers pivotably carried by the header frame; and at least one divider lifter coupled to at least one of the row dividers and configured to activate in order to pivot the coupled at least one row divider relative to the header frame. The at least one divider lifter is configured to be selectively activated by a remote controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2019Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Brett Gutknecht, Nate McGraw, Adam L. Hession
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Patent number: 11051452Abstract: A method for operating an agricultural vehicle. The method includes an initial step of providing the agricultural vehicle which includes a feeder housing and a header. The header includes at least one row unit, which has a pair of deck plates, and a deck plate adjustment system. The deck plate adjustment system includes at least one actuator connected to the deck plates, an electronic control unit operably connected to the at least one actuator, and at least one sensor. The method includes the further steps of pivoting the feeder housing to raise the header, sending, by the at least one sensor, a signal to the electronic control unit, and cycling the deck plates, by the electronic control unit actuating the at least one actuator to move the deck plates, for removing a buildup of material on the deck plates.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Brett Gutknecht, Dan L. Garland, Jonathan E. Ricketts
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Patent number: 10701854Abstract: An agricultural implement includes: a center frame defining a travel axis; a tool bar connected to the center frame and extending transversely to the travel axis; a first row unit having a first parallel linkage defining a first linkage angle relative to the tool bar; a first angle sensor associated with the tool bar and the first parallel linkage and configured to output a first linkage angle signal corresponding to the first linkage angle; an actuator linked to the first row unit and configured to adjust the first linkage angle; and a controller operationally coupled to the first angle sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to: determine the first linkage angle; compare the first linkage angle to a preset linkage angle; and activate the actuator to adjust the first linkage angle to the preset linkage angle if the first linkage angle deviates from the preset linkage angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Brett Gutknecht
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Patent number: 10694667Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a frame, a pair of spreader discs carried by the frame, and a material deflector. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. The material deflector includes at least one deflector arm and a vertical pivoting mechanism interconnecting the at least one deflector arm with the frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2015Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLCInventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Brett Gutknecht, Justin L. Montenguise, Nicholas S. Shane
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Patent number: 10674652Abstract: A harvester and associated method for adjusting a first row divider and a second row divider of the harvester, the first row divider having a first adjustable divider tip defining a first divider angle relative to a travel axis of the harvester and the second row divider having a second adjustable divider tip defining a second divider angle relative to the travel axis. The method includes detecting a turn of the harvester and activating at least one actuator to adjust the first divider angle by a first amount and the second divider angle by a second amount that is different from the first amount responsively to the detecting the turn.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jonathan Ricketts, Brett Gutknecht, Nate McGraw, Adam Hession
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Publication number: 20200170187Abstract: A method for operating an agricultural vehicle. The method includes an initial step of providing the agricultural vehicle which includes a feeder housing and a header. The header includes at least one row unit, which has a pair of deck plates, and a deck plate adjustment system. The deck plate adjustment system includes at least one actuator connected to the deck plates, an electronic control unit operably connected to the at least one actuator, and at least one sensor. The method includes the further steps of pivoting the feeder housing to raise the header, sending, by the at least one sensor, a signal to the electronic control unit, and cycling the deck plates, by the electronic control unit actuating the at least one actuator to move the deck plates, for removing a buildup of material on the deck plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Brett Gutknecht, Dan L. Garland, Jonathan E. Ricketts
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Patent number: 10551832Abstract: In one aspect, a method is disclosed for transporting an autonomous agricultural vehicle and an operator-driven agricultural vehicle from a first agricultural work site to a second agricultural work site. Each of the vehicles may have respective front ends and rear ends, and each of the respective rear ends may include a respective hitch. The method may include arranging the autonomous agricultural vehicle and the operator-driven agricultural vehicle such that the rear end of the autonomous agricultural vehicle faces the rear end of the operator-driven agricultural vehicle. The method may include coupling the hitch of the autonomous agricultural vehicle with the hitch of the operator-driven agricultural vehicle. The method may include towing the autonomous agricultural vehicle behind the operator-driven agricultural vehicle with the rear end of the autonomous agricultural vehicle facing a forward travel direction of the operator-driven agricultural vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Michael Berggren, Brett Gutknecht
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Publication number: 20190230843Abstract: The disclosure relates to a harvester and associated method for adjusting a first row divider and a second row divider of the harvester, the first row divider having a first adjustable divider tip defining a first divider angle relative to a travel axis of the harvester and the second row divider having a second adjustable divider tip defining a second divider angle relative to the travel axis. The method includes detecting a turn of the harvester and activating at least one actuator to adjust the first divider angle by a first amount and the second divider angle by a second amount that is different from the first amount responsively to the detecting the turn.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jonathan Ricketts, Brett Gutknecht, Nate McGraw, Adam Hession
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Publication number: 20190064795Abstract: In one aspect, a method is disclosed for transporting an autonomous agricultural vehicle and an operator-driven agricultural vehicle from a first agricultural work site to a second agricultural work site. Each of the vehicles may have respective front ends and rear ends, and each of the respective rear ends may include a respective hitch. The method may include arranging the autonomous agricultural vehicle and the operator-driven agricultural vehicle such that the rear end of the autonomous agricultural vehicle faces the rear end of the operator-driven agricultural vehicle. The method may include coupling the hitch of the autonomous agricultural vehicle with the hitch of the operator-driven agricultural vehicle. The method may include towing the autonomous agricultural vehicle behind the operator-driven agricultural vehicle with the rear end of the autonomous agricultural vehicle facing a forward travel direction of the operator-driven agricultural vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: MICHAEL BERGGREN, BRETT GUTKNECHT
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Publication number: 20190021211Abstract: An agricultural implement includes: a center frame defining a travel axis; a tool bar connected to the center frame and extending transversely to the travel axis; a first row unit having a first parallel linkage defining a first linkage angle relative to the tool bar; a first angle sensor associated with the tool bar and the first parallel linkage and configured to output a first linkage angle signal corresponding to the first linkage angle; an actuator linked to the first row unit and configured to adjust the first linkage angle; and a controller operationally coupled to the first angle sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to: determine the first linkage angle; compare the first linkage angle to a preset linkage angle; and activate the actuator to adjust the first linkage angle to the preset linkage angle if the first linkage angle deviates from the preset linkage angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Brett Gutknecht
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Publication number: 20160374267Abstract: A spreader arrangement for an agricultural harvester includes a frame, a pair of spreader discs carried by the frame, and a material deflector. The spreader discs are generally horizontally arranged and rotatable in a counter rotating manner. The material deflector includes at least one deflector arm and a vertical pivoting mechanism interconnecting the at least one deflector arm with the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLCInventors: Clay A. Reinecke, Brett Gutknecht, Justin L. Montenguise, Nicholas S. Shane