Patents by Inventor Douglas S. Prairie

Douglas S. Prairie 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: 7497522
    Abstract: A pavement cutting tool wherein the pitch of the handles relative to the ground surface is relative to, and interlinked, to the pitch of the connected saw blade, so that as the saw blade is raised and/or lowered into the surface to be cut, the handles remain at a predetermined angle of attack (preferably generally horizontal). The pavement-cutting tool further using a limit switch to limit the depth of the cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Thornton, Nathaniel Cody Batement, Douglas S. Prairie, Jeffrey K. Arnswald
  • Publication number: 20080175722
    Abstract: A vacuum pump having components that are subject to wear may be adjusted to compensate for the wear. In some instances, a vacuum pump may include a housing and an impeller disposed at least partially within the housing. A gap between the housing and the impeller may be adjustable to compensate for wear. In some cases, the housing may include a ring that may be moved to adjust a tolerance (or gap) between the ring and the impeller. In some instances, the ring may be rotated to adjust this gap. In other instances, the ring may be translated to adjust the tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: David Muhs, Douglas S. Prairie
  • Patent number: 6644223
    Abstract: The present disc opener assembly for a seed planter is for a single disc opener arrangement and is embodied in several embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 1a illustrate two embodiments of the present disc opener assembly the specifics of each will be described below. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, there is illustrated a disc opener assembly (10) mounted on a tool bar (7) connected to a work vehicle (5) for opening a seed trench (8) in the ground upon which the vehicle (5) moves. A main arm (12) is attached to the tool bar (7) with a disc (14) mounted for rotation on the main arm (12). A depth adjustment mechanism (40) is used to adjust the depth of the disc (14) in the seed trench (8) with a seed placement device (70) positioned in the seed trench (8) for depositing a seed (71) in the seed trench (8). The seed trench (8) having been opened by the disc (14) as the work vehicle (5) moves across the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Case, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas S. Prairie, Michael A. Mewes
  • Patent number: 6640732
    Abstract: The present disc opener assembly for a seed planter is for a single disc opener arrangement and is embodied in several embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 1a illustrate two embodiments of the present disc opener assembly the specifics of each will be described below. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, there is illustrated a disc opener assembly (10) mounted on a tool bar (7) connected to a work vehicle (5) for opening a seed trench (8) in the ground upon which the vehicle (5) moves. A main arm (12) is attached to the tool bar (7) with a disc (14) mounted for rotation on the main arm (12). A depth adjustment mechanism (40) is used to adjust the depth of the disc (14) in the seed trench (8) with a seed placement device (70) positioned in the seed trench (8) for depositing a seed (71) in the seed trench (8). The seed trench (8) having been opened by the disc (14) as the work vehicle (5) moves across the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Case, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas S. Prairie, Michael A. Mewes
  • Publication number: 20030015328
    Abstract: The present disc opener assembly for a seed planter is for a single disc opener arrangement and is embodied in several embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 1a illustrate two embodiments of the present disc opener assembly the specifics of each will be described below. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, there is illustrated a disc opener assembly (10) mounted on a tool bar (7) connected to a work vehicle (5) for opening a seed trench (8) in the ground upon which the vehicle (5) moves. A main arm (12) is attached to the tool bar (7) with a disc (14) mounted for rotation on the main arm (12). A depth adjustment mechanism (40) is used to adjust the depth of the disc (14) in the seed trench (8) with a seed placement device (70) positioned in the seed trench (8) for depositing a seed (71) in the seed trench (8). The seed trench (8) having been opened by the disc (14) as the work vehicle (5) moves across the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas S. Prairie, Michael A. Mewes
  • Publication number: 20020166486
    Abstract: The present disc opener assembly for a seed planter is for a single disc opener arrangement and is embodied in several embodiments. FIGS. 1 and 1a illustrate two embodiments of the present disc opener assembly the specifics of each will be described below. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 1a and 2, there is illustrated a disc opener assembly (10) mounted on a tool bar (7) connected to a work vehicle (5) for opening a seed trench (8) in the ground upon which the vehicle (5) moves. A main arm (12) is attached to the tool bar (7) with a disc (14) mounted for rotation on the main arm (12). A depth adjustment mechanism (40) is used to adjust the depth of the disc (14) in the seed trench (8) with a seed placement device (70) positioned in the seed trench (8) for depositing a seed (71) in the seed trench (8). The seed trench (8) having been opened by the disc (14) as the work vehicle (5) moves across the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Case Corporation.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Prairie, Michael A. Mewes
  • Patent number: 6454019
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a frame, a grow medium manipulation surface configured to manipulate and move a growing medium and at least one elastomeric torsion element coupled to the surface. The growing medium manipulation surface moves between a first growing medium engagement position in which the surface manipulates and moves the growing medium and a second growing medium non-engagement position. The elastomeric torsion element resiliently biases the surface towards the first growing medium engagement position. In one exemplary embodiment, the growing medium engagement surface comprises the surface of a furrow opening device on an agricultural implement. In one exemplary embodiment, the implement additionally includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the elastomeric torsion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas S. Prairie, David J. Keats, Einar M. Skolseg, William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5915312
    Abstract: A pneumatic seed delivery system is provided, including a bin with a plenum at the bottom separated from the bin by a membrane to permit the upward flow of air from the plenum into the bin, and a tube extending through a side wall of the bin to provide fluid communication from an outer surface of the bin to an inner surface of the bin. One end of the tube is disposed inside the bin and adjacent to the screen, and a second open end of the first seed distribution tube is disposed outside the bin. In this manner, seed in the bin can be propelled up the tube by forcing air into the plenum, passing the air through the membrane and through seed located between the membrane and the first open end of the tube. This seed will then move up the tube and be carried to a remote location for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Meyer, Timothy A. Murray, Noel W. Anderson, Douglas S. Prairie