Patents by Inventor Curtis F. Hillen
Curtis F. Hillen 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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Patent number: 11771007Abstract: A sieve assembly for use within an agricultural harvester may generally include a sieve, a crop material sheet, and at least one support element. The sieve extends along a length defined between a first sieve end and a second sieve end and processes a flow of harvested crop material. The sieve also defines a plurality of openings through which cleaned crop material of the flow of crop material is directed. The crop material sheet extends along a length defined between a first sheet end and a second sheet end and receives the cleaned crop material directed through the sieve's openings. The crop material sheet then directs the flow of cleaned crop material towards a separate component of the crop processing system. In addition, the support element(s) is directly coupled between the sieve and the crop material sheet and structurally connects the sieve to the crop material sheet.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank Rik Duquesne, Curtis F. Hillen, Todd Cannegieter, Kevin N. Scotese
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Patent number: 11369060Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including at least one threshing rotor and an auger bed located underneath the at least one threshing rotor. The auger bed has a working position and a cleaning position. The auger bed includes a frame, a plurality of augers rotatably coupled to and supported by the frame, and a trough portion moveably connected to the frame. In the working position the bottom surface of the trough portion is positioned underneath the plurality of augers and in the cleaning position the entire trough portion is moved relative to the frame so that the bottom surface of the trough portion is not positioned underneath at least a portion of the plurality of augers, creating an open space underneath the portion of the plurality of augers for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Andrews V. Lauwers, Robert S. Boyd, III, Eric L Walker
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Patent number: 11317559Abstract: The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
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Patent number: 11272668Abstract: A cleaning system for a combine harvester includes a fan, at least one duct having an interior passageway that is positioned to receive an air stream from the fan, and a surface defined within the interior passageway of the at least one duct that is configured to restrict a volume of the flow of air passing through the at least one duct and increase a pressure of the air stream passing through the duct.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Curtis F. Hillen, Michiel Vanderstichele
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Publication number: 20210007285Abstract: A sieve assembly for use within an agricultural harvester may generally include a sieve, a crop material sheet, and at least one support element. The sieve extends along a length defined between a first sieve end and a second sieve end and processes a flow of harvested crop material. The sieve also defines a plurality of openings through which cleaned crop material of the flow of crop material is directed. The crop material sheet extends along a length defined between a first sheet end and a second sheet end and receives the cleaned crop material directed through the sieve's openings. The crop material sheet then directs the flow of cleaned crop material towards a separate component of the crop processing system. In addition, the support element(s) is directly coupled between the sieve and the crop material sheet and structurally connects the sieve to the crop material sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Frank Rik Duquesne, Curtis F. Hillen, Todd Cannegieter, Kevin N. Scotese
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Patent number: 10827683Abstract: A sieve assembly for use within an agricultural harvester may generally include a sieve, a crop material sheet, and at least one support element. The sieve extends along a length defined between a first sieve end and a second sieve end and processes a flow of harvested crop material. The sieve also defines a plurality of openings through which cleaned crop material of the flow of crop material is directed. The crop material sheet extends along a length defined between a first sheet end and a second sheet end and receives the cleaned crop material directed through the sieve's openings. The crop material sheet then directs the flow of cleaned crop material towards a separate component of the crop processing system. In addition, the support element(s) is directly coupled between the sieve and the crop material sheet and structurally connects the sieve to the crop material sheet.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank Rik Duquesne, Curtis F. Hillen, Todd Cannegieter, Kevin N. Scotese
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Patent number: 10721869Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis and including at least one threshing rotor mounted in a longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester; a grain pan carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating system, the grain pan being configured to shake in a fore-to-aft direction and a lateral direction; and a cleaning system carried by the chassis supplied with crop material from the grain pan, the cleaning system including at least one sieve configured to shake in the lateral direction out of phase with the grain pan.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley, Curtis F. Hillen, Bart Derynck, Daniel Turner, Karl Linde
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Publication number: 20200084971Abstract: A cleaning system for a combine harvester includes a fan, at least one duct having an interior passageway that is positioned to receive an air stream from the fan, and a surface defined within the interior passageway of the at least one duct that is configured to restrict a volume of the flow of air passing through the at least one duct and increase a pressure of the air stream passing through the duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Curtis F. Hillen, Michiel Vanderstichele
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Patent number: 10588262Abstract: An auger bed for a threshing and separation system of an agricultural harvester includes a bed having a trough and two augers positioned in the trough for conveying material along the trough.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Jonathan E. Ricketts
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Publication number: 20190335667Abstract: A sieve assembly for use within an agricultural harvester may generally include a sieve, a crop material sheet, and at least one support element. The sieve extends along a length defined between a first sieve end and a second sieve end and processes a flow of harvested crop material. The sieve also defines a plurality of openings through which cleaned crop material of the flow of crop material is directed. The crop material sheet extends along a length defined between a first sheet end and a second sheet end and receives the cleaned crop material directed through the sieve's openings. The crop material sheet then directs the flow of cleaned crop material towards a separate component of the crop processing system. In addition, the support element(s) is directly coupled between the sieve and the crop material sheet and structurally connects the sieve to the crop material sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Frank Rik Duquesne, Curtis F. Hillen, Todd Cannegieter, Kevin N. Scotese
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Patent number: 10398085Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly is driven in fore and aft oscillation by an eccentric rotation device while permitting side to side movement. A drive arm to the sieve assembly has a connection interface to the eccentric rotation device permitting side to side movement during fore and aft oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Curtis F. Hillen, Dieter Neirynck, Daniel T. Turner, Bart Derynck, Karl R. Linde, Raf De Smet
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Publication number: 20190254234Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including at least one threshing rotor and an auger bed located underneath the at least one threshing rotor. The auger bed has a working position and a cleaning position. The auger bed includes a frame, a plurality of augers rotatably coupled to and supported by the frame, and a trough portion moveably connected to the frame. In the working position the bottom surface of the trough portion is positioned underneath the plurality of augers and in the cleaning position the entire trough portion is moved relative to the frame so that the bottom surface of the trough portion is not positioned underneath at least a portion of the plurality of augers, creating an open space underneath the portion of the plurality of augers for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Andrews V. Lauwers, Robert S. Boyd, III, Eric L Walker
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Publication number: 20190104676Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
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Publication number: 20190082604Abstract: An auger bed for a threshing and separation system of an agricultural harvester includes a bed having a trough and two augers positioned in the trough for conveying material along the trough.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Jonathan E. Ricketts
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Patent number: 10172280Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
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Patent number: 10111386Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing crop material onto a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine. The method includes providing a sensor in connection with a controller, the sensor senses information representative of grain associated with a crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor, and outputs signals representative of grain associated with a crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor to the controller. The method provides the crop material distributor for distributing crop material from a threshing system onto a sieve. The controller determines information representative of grain associated with a crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with at least one of the crop material distributor and the combine. The method includes outputting signals for operable control of operating parameters associated with the crop material distributor and the sieve.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Herbert M. Farley, Curtis F. Hillen
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Patent number: 10104839Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a sieve. The sieve is driven in fore and aft oscillation while permitting side to side movement by a pair of cast members interconnected each having three mounting points. Two of the mounting points of the members are interconnected by flexible rubber bushings and the third mounting point of one of the members receives fore and aft oscillating movement and the third mounting point on the second of the members pivotally interconnects to the sieve to drive it into fore and aft oscillation while permitting side to side movement.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Tyler L. Nelson, Craig E. Murray, Curtis F. Hillen, Clay A. Reinecke, Kevin S. Schwinn
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Publication number: 20180279557Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis and including at least one threshing rotor mounted in a longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester; a grain pan carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating system, the grain pan being configured to shake in a fore-to-aft direction and a lateral direction; and a cleaning system carried by the chassis supplied with crop material from the grain pan, the cleaning system including at least one sieve configured to shake in the lateral direction out of phase with the grain pan.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Herbert M. Farley, Curtis F. Hillen, Bart Derynck, Daniel Turner, Karl Linde
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Patent number: 10076078Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a grain processing section having a crop material handling assembly. The crop material handling assembly is driven in fore and aft oscillation by a device while permitting side to side movement. A pivotal link mechanism structurally connected to the crop material handling assembly midway between its side members and to the agricultural harvester chassis drives linear side to side movement of the crop material handling assembly while permitting fore and aft movement thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Willem De Coninck, Michiel J. Vanderstichele, Frank R. G. Duquesne, Jonas F. G. Deprauw
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Patent number: 9999176Abstract: A tailings conveyance including a housing having a front plate, a back plate, and a wall, and is adapted to recycle tailings through a cleaning system of a combine using at least one impeller. The wall of the housing describes an arc near the impeller paddles over a segment of a circle described by the circumference of the impeller. The wall further continues on a tangent away from the circle at a point of tangency. A sensor is positioned proximate to the point of tangency, and senses whether a space between the front plate and the back plate directly adjacent to the sensor is obscured by tailings as the impeller rotates. A controller or control system connected to the sensor calculates an amount or percentage of time the space between the front plate and the back plate directly adjacent to the sensor is obscured by tailings as the impeller rotates.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Arno Leenknegt, Dré Waltherus Joachim Jongmans, Glenn Aesaert, Richard P. Strosser, Jeffrey D. Thomas, Curtis F. Hillen