Patents by Inventor Carl M. McHugh

Carl M. McHugh 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: 5170614
    Abstract: A harvester adapted for harvesting low-lying fruit, such as typical with high-density, dwarf trees, includes an intra-loop conveyor for collecting detached fruit relatively close to the ground and elevating same with a single flighted belt. The harvester straddles a single row of the trees and detaches the fruit therefrom by repeatedly impacting the tree canopies are the harvester moves along the row. Spring-loaded deflection plates close around the tree trunks and deflect detached fruit outwardly to interior surfaces of a pair of single-loop conveyors. Baffles cooperating with the interior of each conveyor restrains fruit therein as the conveyor passes overhead to an inverted position. Fruit is discharged from the conveyor elevated segment onto an output conveyor passing beneath the discharge area. The output conveyor includes a multi-segment, foldable conveyor frame over which a single conveyor belt is entrained. The conveyor belt may be folded over the harvester during non-harvesting transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Robert E. Williamson, Carl M. McHugh, Clarence E. Hood
  • Patent number: 4976094
    Abstract: A harvester adapted for harvesting low-lying fruit, such as typical with high-density, dwarf trees, includes an intra-loop conveyor for collecting detached fruit relatively close to the ground and elevating same with a single flighted belt. The harvester straddles a single row of the trees and detaches the fruit therefrom by repeatedly impacting the tree canopies as the harvester moves along the row. Spring-loaded deflection plates close around the tree trunks and deflect detached fruit outwardly to interior surfaces of a pair of single-loop conveyors. Baffles cooperating with the interior of each conveyor restrains fruit therein as the conveyor passes overhead to an inverted position. Fruit is discharged from the conveyor elevated segment onto an output conveyor passing beneath the discharge area. The output conveyor includes a multi-segment, foldable conveyor frame over which a single conveyor belt is entrained. The conveyor belt may be folded over the harvester during non-harvesting transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Robert E. Williamson, Carl M. McHugh, Clarence E. Hood
  • Patent number: 4199913
    Abstract: Orchard fruit handling apparatus for conveying and delivering harvested fruit into a plurality of storage bins comprising a first conveyor for adjustable attachment to a conventional farm tractor for receiving and transporting fruit received thereon in a generally linear direction rearwardly of the tractor, and trailer means for attachment to the tractor containing a second conveyor for receiving harvested fruit from the first conveyor and selectively directing the fruit into a plurality of storage bins carried on the trailer. A plurality of deflecting blades or bars are selectively positionable across the second conveyor to selectively intercept and deflect the fruit into corresponding bin filler mechanisms located along the side of the second conveyor and above corresponding collection bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Clarence E. Hood, Carl M. McHugh, Fletcher G. Hawkins