Patents by Inventor Derek A. Litchfield
Derek A. Litchfield 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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Publication number: 20230165180Abstract: An adjustable furrow closing assembly that is used to close a seed furrow formed in the soil during a planting operation. The assembly includes a housing that is pivotally coupled to a planting unit. The housing includes an adjustable carrier that pivots within the housing. The adjustable carrier includes first and second closing wheels that are adapted to engage with the soil to close the seed furrow. The assembly also includes a downforce control lever that extends into the housing and is coupled to the adjustable carrier. The housing includes a gate member that including a plurality of slots. The downforce control lever is configured to be moved from one slot to a next slot of the gate to either increase or decrease downforce that is applied to the closing wheels. The slots formed in the gate to allow the gate position to be adjusted with respect to the housing to calibrate downforce on the closing wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Derek W. ALLENSWORTH, Derek A. LITCHFIELD
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Patent number: 10462959Abstract: A seed furrow closing wheel includes an annular rim and a plurality of teeth carried on the rim for rotation about an axis. The teeth extend radially outward from the rim and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Patrick T. Whalen, Derek A. Litchfield, Derek W. Allensworth
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Publication number: 20180014454Abstract: A seed furrow closing wheel includes an annular rim and a plurality of teeth carried on the rim for rotation about an axis. The teeth extend radially outward from the rim and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Patrick T. WHALEN, Derek A. LITCHFIELD, Derek W. ALLENSWORTH
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Patent number: 8752642Abstract: An implement height adjuster is provided to allow for the adjustment of the height of an implement remotely from the tractor cab without requiring the user to stop the tractor to make individual adjustments. The implement height adjuster is configured to be coupled to a planter unit or other equipment towed behind a tractor and includes a motor, a gear reduction transmission coupled to the motor, and a flexible output shaft, that is coupled to the transmission at a first end and to the implement to be adjusted at a second end. The flexible output shaft allows the motor of the implement height adjuster to be mounted in various positions on the equipment. The gear reduction transmission or motor includes a position sensor that allows the operator of the tractor to know the position of a particular implement without requiring a visual inspection of the implement. A control panel is used to manage the vertical adjustment of one or a series of implements.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Patrick Whalen, Derek Litchfield, Derek Allensworth
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Publication number: 20110247843Abstract: An implement height adjuster is provided to allow for the adjustment of the height of an implement remotely from the tractor cab without requiring the user to stop the tractor to make individual adjustments. The implement height adjuster is configured to be coupled to a planter unit or other equipment towed behind a tractor and includes a motor, a gear reduction transmission coupled to the motor, and a flexible output shaft, that is coupled to the transmission at a first end and to the implement to be adjusted at a second end. The flexible output shaft allows the motor of the implement height adjuster to be mounted in various positions on the equipment. The gear reduction transmission or motor includes a position sensor that allows the operator of the tractor to know the position of a particular implement without requiring a visual inspection of the implement. A control panel is used to manage the vertical adjustment of one or a series of implements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Derek Litchfield, Derek Allensworth
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Patent number: 7832345Abstract: An apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row or closes a furrow while causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field or close a furrow. The discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed or for closing a furrow.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Patrick Whalen, Stephen E. Cerven, Derek A. Litchfield
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Publication number: 20080314301Abstract: A soil treatment dispensing assembly that is provided with a frame and a coulter wheel coupled to the frame that is adapted to engage the soil to form a trench. The soil treatment dispensing assembly is also provided with a support arm having a leading edge adapted to engage the soil. The support arm includes a tubular applicator that is coupled to the lower portion of the support arm. The applicator includes a tapered forward region, a dispensing opening and an internal cavity formed in the applicator. The soil treatment dispensing assembly also includes an application conduit arranged to terminate within the internal cavity of the applicator. The application conduit is connectable to a source of treating product, such as fertilizer, and communicates the treating product directly into the internal cavity of the applicator. Treating product within the internal cavity exits the opening formed in the applicator to treat the soil.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Don Bunnell, Jim Lascelles, Lonnie Lucas, Derek Litchfield, Derek Allensworth
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Patent number: 7240627Abstract: A residue coulter apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row, causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept shark type teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a double beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field. The clearing discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two clearing discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed. The clearing discs are angled toward each other so that the leading edges of the clearing discs are pointed in a toe-in orientation. The present design effectively removes crop debris without over discharge and causes minimal soil disturbance.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Patrick Whalen, Stephen E. Cerven, Derek A. Litchfield
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Publication number: 20070131153Abstract: An apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row or closes a furrow while causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field or close a furrow. The discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed or for closing a furrow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2007Publication date: June 14, 2007Applicant: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Patrick Whalen, Stephen Cerven, Derek Litchfield
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Patent number: D663326Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Yatter Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Derek Allensworth, Jim Lascelles, Derek Litchfield
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Patent number: D801396Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Patrick T. Whalen, Derek A. Litchfield, Derek W. Allensworth
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Patent number: D987693Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Derek Allensworth, Derek Litchfield