Patents by Inventor Charles T. Graham

Charles T. Graham 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: 10091927
    Abstract: A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm defines a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation. The ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section can extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Jacob D. Salowitz, Kamalakannan Natarajan, Mark Underwood, Drew Whitcomb, Charles T. Graham, Dnyanesh Dhobale
  • Publication number: 20180098489
    Abstract: A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm defines a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation. The ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section can extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Jacob D. Salowitz, Kamalakannan Natarajan, Mark Underwood, Drew Whitcomb, Charles T. Graham, Dnyanesh Dhobale
  • Patent number: 9883626
    Abstract: A variable is sensed that is indicative of a performance of a machine. A rate of change of the sensed variable is determined, and a control signal is generated for controlling an agricultural vehicle, based upon the rate of change in the value of the sensed variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Brianna L. Heim, Charles T. Graham, James R. Peterson, Donald Landphair, James Z. Liu
  • Patent number: 9839178
    Abstract: A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm defines a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation. The ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section can extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm. Also, in some constructions the rearmost section of the ground-facing surface defines a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical height that is no less than 1.2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Jacob D. Salowitz, Kamalakannan Natarajan, Mark Underwood, Drew Whitcomb, Charles T. Graham, Dnyanesh Dhobale
  • Patent number: 9744817
    Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a method comprising determining a change in configuration of a mobile machine, and in response to determining the change in configuration, initiating adjustment of a pressure of at least one tire of the mobile machine is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald Landphair, Charles T Graham
  • Publication number: 20170094894
    Abstract: A variable is sensed that is indicative of a performance of a machine. A rate of change of the sensed variable is determined, and a control signal is generated for controlling an agricultural vehicle, based upon the rate of change in the value of the sensed variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Brianna L. Heim, Charles T. Graham, James R. Peterson, Donald Landphair, James Z. Liu
  • Publication number: 20170086360
    Abstract: A seed firmer for pressing seeds into soil during planting. The seed firmer includes a mount for attachment to a row unit of a planting machine. An arm defines a ground-facing surface having at least one point of contact with the ground, including a rearmost ground contact point with respect to a direction of forward travel during planting operation. The ground-facing surface has a transition section directly trailing a rearmost ground contact point, the transition section can extending upwardly from the rearmost ground contact point with a radius no less than 25 mm. Also, in some constructions the rearmost section of the ground-facing surface defines a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical height that is no less than 1.2:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Jacob D. Salowitz, Kamalakannan Natarjan, Mark Underwood, Drew Whitcomb, Charles T. Graham, Dnyanesh Dhobale
  • Patent number: 9179594
    Abstract: A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Charles T. Graham
  • Patent number: 8948980
    Abstract: A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is described which is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Kelby J. Krueger, Donald K. Landphair, Charles T. Graham
  • Patent number: 8942894
    Abstract: A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is described which is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Charles T. Graham
  • Publication number: 20140165890
    Abstract: A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is described which is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Charles T. Graham
  • Patent number: 8196534
    Abstract: A volumetric meter for seed or fertilizer having a plurality of roller segments driven by a common drive shaft is provided with clutch mechanisms radially between each roller segment and the drive shaft to enable the roller segments to be individually shut-off to provide section or swath control to the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Bradley J. Meyer, Keith L. Felton, Charles T. Graham
  • Publication number: 20110132244
    Abstract: A volumetric meter for seed or fertilizer having a plurality of roller segments driven by a common drive shaft is provided with clutch mechanisms radially between each roller segment and the drive shaft to enable the roller segments to be individually shut-off to provide section or swath control to the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Bradley J. Meyer, Keith L. Felton, Charles T. Graham