Patents by Inventor Craig Elwyn Murray

Craig Elwyn Murray 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: 9556938
    Abstract: A speed select shift mechanism for a belt drive assembly to be installed on a shaft capable of shifting between high, low and neutral speeds is disclosed. The shift mechanism includes a shift collar that is enclosed within an enclosure to prevent debris from contacting the inner operations of the shift mechanism and thereby reduce wear and tear of the shift mechanism along with down time for maintenance of the device. The shift mechanism includes a shaft, a first pulley, a shift collar, a second pulley and a shifter. The shift collar further includes dowels that cooperatively engage corresponding apertures on the pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Nicholas Laufenberg, Scott Hogan, Orlin Wayne Johnson
  • Patent number: 8920227
    Abstract: A counter knife bank assembly of a chopper assembly for an agricultural combine is provided that can pass obstructions without damaging the knife blades of the knife blade assembly. The counter knife bank assembly includes a knife bank and a lever assembly connected to the knife bank. The knife bank is moveable between a first position and a second position relative to a stationary frame of the chopper assembly. The lever assembly includes an extension member having a first end connected to the knife bank, a biasing member connected to the extension member, and an abutment member. The abutment member is engaged with the biasing member and is biased against a stationary support member of the counter knife bank assembly for articulation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Nicholas Stephen Shane
  • Publication number: 20140187298
    Abstract: A counter knife bank assembly of a chopper assembly for an agricultural combine is provided that can pass obstructions without damaging the knife blades of the knife blade assembly. The counter knife bank assembly includes a knife bank and a lever assembly connected to the knife bank. The knife bank is moveable between a first position and a second position relative to a stationary frame of the chopper assembly. The lever assembly includes an extension member having a first end connected to the knife bank, a biasing member connected to the extension member, and an abutment member. The abutment member is engaged with the biasing member and is biased against a stationary support member of the counter knife bank assembly for articulation therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Nicholas Stephen Shane
  • Publication number: 20140148286
    Abstract: A speed select shift mechanism for a belt drive assembly to be installed on a shaft capable of shifting between high, low and neutral speeds is disclosed. The shift mechanism includes a shift collar that is enclosed within an enclosure to prevent debris from contacting the inner operations of the shift mechanism and thereby reduce wear and tear of the shift mechanism along with down time for maintenance of the device. The shift mechanism includes a shaft, a first pulley, a shift collar, a second pulley and a shifter. The shift collar further includes dowels that cooperatively engage corresponding apertures on the pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Nicholas Laufenberg, Scott Hogan, Orlin Wayne Johnson
  • Patent number: 8622792
    Abstract: A sieve adjustment mechanism including a rack gear, a pivot handle, and an actuator, to mitigate lost motion/play in pivot link sieve assembly. The rack gear is movable between a first and a second position and connectable to a first sieve segment for moving the first sieve segment between a first sieve position and a second sieve position. The pivot handle includes a pinion gear at a first end of the pivot handle for operatively engaging the rack gear for moving the rack gear between the first and second positions and a second end opposite the first end. The pinion gear is rotatable about a first axis. The actuator is connected to the second end of the pivot handle for pivoting the pivot handle about the first axis to move the rack gear between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Craig Elwyn Murray
  • Publication number: 20120047861
    Abstract: A system for use with the combine comprises a plurality of sensors to detect the uniformity of crop material being conveyed running threshing portion of the combine to including system into combine. Methods and systems are provided that utilize this plurality of sensors to provide substantially automatic control of combine parameters that mitigate the non-uniformity of a grain bed in the cleaning system. The system may also inform an operator of a suggested manual adjustments to mitigate the non-uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Dale R. Tanis, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 8118649
    Abstract: A system for use with the combine comprises a plurality of sensors to detect the uniformity of crop material being conveyed running threshing portion of the combine to including system into combine. Methods and systems are provided that utilize this plurality of sensors to provide substantially automatic control of combine parameters that mitigate the non-uniformity of a grain bed in the cleaning system. The system may also inform an operator of a suggested manual adjustments to mitigate the non-uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Dale R. Tanis, James W. Minnihan