Patents by Inventor Donald Lewis Cripps

Donald Lewis Cripps 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: 7788892
    Abstract: A user interface and control system for adjusting the reel of a cutting reel unit includes a frame supported by at least one support element that is supported on, and is movable along, the ground. The system also includes a cutting reel, a bedknife, first and second actuators, a controller, and an operator input station, all carried on the frame. The reel and bedknife define a cutting line therebetween. The first actuator is adjustable to set a clearance between the reel and the bedknife. The second actuator is operatively connected between the frame and the bedknife to adjust the elevation of the cutting line to set a height-of-cut of the cutting reel. The controller is signal-connected to the first and second actuators, to adjust the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark Alvin Schmidt, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, John Michael Flenniken, Ezekiel A. Susman
  • Publication number: 20080184690
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, John Michael Flenniken, Mark Alvin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7377092
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark Alvin Schmidt, Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, John Michael Flenniken
  • Patent number: 7231757
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one actuator operatively connected between the reel and the bedknife, and a sound detector. A controller is signal-connected to the actuator and the sound detector and coordinates the reel-to-bedknife clearance adjustment. During adjustment, reel-to-bedknife clearance is reduced by the actuator until a contact sound between the reel blades and the bedknife is detected and signaled to the controller, which then reverses the actuator and increases the clearance by a pre-selected precise amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Mark Alvin Schmidt, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, J. M. Flenniken
  • Patent number: 7121073
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark Alvin Schmidt, Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, John Michael Flenniken
  • Patent number: 6968264
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a mechanical arm comprises planning a desired path of a mechanical arm. An actual path segment of the mechanical arm is measured. An error is determined between the measured actual path segment and the planned desired path. A corrective force is applied to the mechanical arm based on the determined error to conform to the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Donald Lewis Cripps
  • Publication number: 20040216436
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Alvin Schmidt, Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, J. M. Flenniken
  • Publication number: 20040216439
    Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one actuator operatively connected between the reel and the bedknife, and a sound detector. A controller is signal-connected to the actuator and the sound detector and coordinates the reel-to-bedknife clearance adjustment. During adjustment, reel-to-bedknife clearance is reduced by the actuator until a contact sound between the reel blades and the bedknife is detected and signaled to the controller, which then reverses the actuator and increases the clearance by a pre-selected precise amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Alan Poulson, Donald Lewis Cripps, Mark Alvin Schmidt, Ronald Lee Reichen, Richard David Thier, J. M. Flenniken