Patents by Inventor David V. Rotole
David V. Rotole 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: 10806078Abstract: A harvesting work vehicle includes a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material. A method of operating the work vehicle includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored conditioning setting for a variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a conditioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored conditioning setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement according to the conditioning control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Mitchell R. Usasz, Kellen B. Hill
-
Patent number: 10801592Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a mower-conditioner may include first and second conditioning rolls, at least one eccentric assembly, and a linkage. The first and second conditioning rolls are spaced apart a distance. The at least one eccentric assembly is coupled to the mower-conditioner. The linkage is coupled between the eccentric assembly and the first conditioning roll. The movement of the at least one eccentric assembly causes the first conditioning roll to move via the linkage, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Patent number: 10793185Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Thomas D Bebernes, Thomas A Nichols, Kyle R Teach
-
Publication number: 20200305348Abstract: A float cylinder is coupled to an accumulator by a first hydraulic fluid conduit. The float cylinder and accumulator are coupled to apply a float force on a header main frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Austin J. Karst, David V. Rotole, Tyler J. Bouslog
-
Patent number: 10772257Abstract: A crop forming assembly having a top plate with a first side and a second side, an arc-shaped cutout defined through the top plate, a forming shield pivotally coupled to the top plate and positioned on the second side, and a motor removably coupled to the top plate and configured to engage the forming shield. Wherein, the motor engages the forming shield to reposition the forming shield along the arc-shaped cutout.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Patent number: 10766526Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
-
Publication number: 20200260638Abstract: A ground contour sensing system and method for a vehicle with a mowing head. The system includes a sensor system that measures a ground contour in front of the mowing head, and generates contour measurement signals; and a controller that determines whether to move the mowing head based on the contour measurement signals, and generates movement commands for the mowing head when it determines to move the mowing head. The mowing head can include tilt and lift cylinders, and the controller can determine whether to move the mowing head using the tilt or lift cylinders. The sensor system can include a pivot arm that moves in response to changes in the ground contour, and an angle sensor that measures an angle of the pivot arm. There can be one or more sensor systems positioned between the right and left sides of the mowing head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventor: David V. Rotole
-
Patent number: 10661831Abstract: A steering system is provided for an agricultural vehicle having steerable wheels of a first wheel set, first and second steerable wheels of a second wheel set, and a steering input device configured to receive a manual steering input for the wheels of the first wheel set. The steering system includes first and second hydraulic steering devices coupled to the first and second steerable wheels of the second wheel set; a valve assembly configured to hydraulically control the hydraulic steering devices to steer the wheels of the second wheel set; and a controller configured to determine steering commands and provide the steering commands to the valve assembly. In a rear stability mode, the valve assembly is configured to selectively dampen fluid flow between the first and second hydraulic steering devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventor: David V. Rotole
-
Publication number: 20200128717Abstract: A work machine that has an implement coupled to the work machine and a first sensor coupled to the implement. The first sensor identifies the orientation of the implement along more than one axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventor: DAVID V. ROTOLE
-
Patent number: 10518804Abstract: A steering system and method for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels has rear hydraulic steering device that may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command from a controller. In a manual steering mode, the controller does not determine a rear steering command for the rear valve assembly such that the rear wheels are freely rotatable. In a rear steering assist mode, the controller determines the rear steering command based upon, at least in part, the manual steering input.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright, Eric R. Lang, Mitchell R. Usasz
-
Patent number: 10477774Abstract: A mower-conditioner assembly of a self-propelled windrower includes a frame, a cutting mechanism coupled to the frame for cutting crop, a conditioner rotatably coupled to the frame at a location rearward of the cutting mechanism, and a fluffer assembly rotatably coupled to the frame at a location rearward of the conditioner. The fluffer assembly includes at least an elongated roll and a crop moving element. The conditioner crimps the crop after it is cut, and the fluffer assembly fluffs or moves the crop during operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Kellen B. Hill, David V. Rotole, Thomas A. Nichols
-
Patent number: 10398083Abstract: A windrower with a frame at a front end of the windrower and a cab coupled to the frame. The cab has a plurality of controls disposed in the cab for controlling the windrower. The windrower also has a lift arm with a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the lift arm includes a transverse bend defined at a location between the first and second ends. A first coupler is coupled to the second end of the lift arm and a second coupler coupled to the lift arm between the first and second ends. The first coupler is configured to couple the frame to a rotary-style head and the second coupler is configure to couple the frame to a draper-style head.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Kyle R. Teach, Kyle A. Shipley
-
Patent number: 10356980Abstract: A work vehicle for working a swath of crop has at least one ground-engaging wheel or track mounted to the work vehicle and movable in a travel direction along a tread path. A first redistribution device is mounted to the work vehicle to move crop that is ahead of the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction. A second redistribution device is mounted to the work vehicle to move crop that is behind the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction. The first redistribution device is configured to open the swath of crop along substantially only the tread path ahead of the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction, and the second redistribution device is configured to close the swath of crop along the tread path behind the at least one ground-engaging wheel or track relative to the travel direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Kellen B. Hill, Joshua D. Graeve, Roger D. Stephenson, Stephen K. Parsons
-
Publication number: 20190106148Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: David V. ROTOLE, Thomas D. BEBERNES, Thomas A. NICHOLS, Kyle R. TEACH
-
Patent number: 10207735Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
-
Patent number: 10179606Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels. A rear hydraulic steering device may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command. In a rear steering assist mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a manual steering input received at a steering input device. In an automated steering mode, the rear steering command may be determined based upon a target path of the agricultural vehicle that is determined independently of the manual steering input.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Thomas D Bebernes, Thomas A Nichols, David V Rotole, Walter C Wright, Eric R Lang, Mitchell R Usasz
-
Patent number: 10179604Abstract: A steering system is described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A hydraulic charge pressure circuit may be configured to provide charge pressure to one or more hydraulic components of the vehicle and a hydraulic drive pressure circuit may be configured to provide working pressure to one or more other hydraulic components of the vehicle. Hydraulic machines may rotate front wheels in order to drive the vehicle, and a front valve assembly may control steering of the front wheels by controlling the hydraulic machines. The hydraulic machines may be driven to rotate the front wheels by the working pressure from the hydraulic drive pressure circuit, and the front valve assembly may control the front hydraulic machines to steer the agricultural vehicle by controlling flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charge pressure circuit through the front valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V Rotole, Thomas D Bebernes, Thomas A Nichols, Kyle R Teach
-
Patent number: 10167951Abstract: A method of adjusting a hydraulic drive system includes determining a forward park position value, a reverse park position value, an initial forward position value, and an initial reverse position value of a control device and using these values to calculate a forward buffer value and a reverse buffer value. The forward buffer value and the reverse buffer value are used to determine an adjustment amount for the drive system. The adjustment amount can be used to properly adjust a drive system to avoid system errors.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Tom Morrison, David V. Rotole, Eric M. Thies, Mitchell R. Usasz, Walter Craig Wright
-
Publication number: 20180346020Abstract: A steering system and method is described for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels, and a steering input device for receiving manual steering input. Front and rear hydraulic steering devices may be coupled, respectively, to the front and rear wheels. Front and rear valve assemblies may be configured, respectively, to steer the front and rear wheels. In a manual steering mode, the front valve assembly may be disabled with respect to the front steering device, and the front hydraulic steering device may steer the front wheels based upon the manual steering input. In a rear steering assist mode, a rear steering command may be determined based upon the manual steering input, and the rear wheels steered based upon the rear steering command. In an automated steering mode, the front and rear wheels may be automatically steered based upon a target path of travel for the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright
-
Publication number: 20180334186Abstract: A steering system and method for a vehicle having steerable front and rear wheels has rear hydraulic steering device that may be coupled to one or more of the rear wheels. A rear valve assembly may hydraulically control the rear hydraulic steering device to steer the rear wheels based upon a rear steering command from a controller. In a manual steering mode, the controller does not determine a rear steering command for the rear valve assembly such that the rear wheels are freely rotatable. In a rear steering assist mode, the controller determines the rear steering command based upon, at least in part, the manual steering input.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Thomas A. Nichols, David V. Rotole, Walter C. Wright, Eric R. Lang, Mitchell R. Usasz