Patents by Inventor Eric D. Windsor

Eric D. Windsor 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: 11570950
    Abstract: A crop head for a harvester includes a folding frame having a first frame portion and a second frame portion configured to be folded in a transport state and unfolded in a harvesting state. The first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding. A plurality of crop dividers is supported by the first frame portion. The plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion. The crop head also includes a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder. The piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions and is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric D. Windsor, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Dennis P. Silver, Andrew J. Braet, Todd M. Verhoef
  • Patent number: 11490568
    Abstract: row crop heads and pivoting assemblies associated with the row crop heads operable to displace a crop divider of the row crop heads during folding of a portion of the row crop head are disclosed. In some implementations, a pivoting assembly may include a first bracket coupled to a center frame of a row crop head, a second bracket coupled to a wing frame of the row crop head, and a rotatable locking component rotatably coupled to the first bracket. The rotatable locking component is operable to lock a row divider disposed at an interface between the wing frame and the center frame when the wing frame is moved from an unfolded position to a folded position relative to the center frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric D. Windsor, Eric H. Stone, Steve A. Coon, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Scott E. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 11324166
    Abstract: Frame assemblies for a corn row head formed from components formed from different materials may include a frame portion having a first beam leg and a second beam leg formed of a first material and a skid plate attached to each of the first beam leg and the second beam leg formed from a second material different than the first material. The first material may be aluminum, and the second material may be steel. In some implementations, a breast plate joining the first beam leg and the second beam leg may be formed from the first material and may be welded to the first beam leg and the second beam leg. In other implementations, the breast plate may be formed from the second material and may be adhesively bonded to the first and second beam legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Sanjeev Hallale, Mohamad S. El-Zein, Hema V. Guthy, Sankaran Subramaniam, Hector Portillo, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Eric D. Windsor, Nathan F. Tortorella, Daniel J. Cox, Daniel A. Hartschuh, Christopher J. McKelvey, Amol M. Sawale, Ryan M. Gneiting
  • Publication number: 20220015293
    Abstract: A crop head for a harvester includes a folding frame having a first frame portion and a second frame portion configured to be folded in a transport state and unfolded in a harvesting state. The first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding. A plurality of crop dividers is supported by the first frame portion. The plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion. The crop head also includes a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder. The piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions and is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Eric D. Windsor, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Dennis P. Silver, Andrew J. Braet, Todd M. Verhoef
  • Publication number: 20210282320
    Abstract: row crop heads and pivoting assemblies associated with the row crop heads operable to displace a crop divider of the row crop heads during folding of a portion of the row crop head are disclosed. In some implementations, a pivoting assembly may include a first bracket coupled to a center frame of a row crop head, a second bracket coupled to a wing frame of the row crop head, and a rotatable locking component rotatably coupled to the first bracket. The rotatable locking component is operable to lock a row divider disposed at an interface between the wing frame and the center frame when the wing frame is moved from an unfolded position to a folded position relative to the center frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: ERIC D. WINDSOR, ERIC H. STONE, STEVE A. COON, NATHAN E. KREHBIEL, SCOTT E. FAULKNER
  • Publication number: 20210112720
    Abstract: Frame assemblies for a corn row head formed from components formed from different materials are disclosed. For example, a frame assembly may include a frame portion having a first beam leg and a second beam leg formed of a first material and a skid plate attached to each of the first beam leg and the second beam leg formed from a second material different than the first material. The first material may be aluminum, and the second material may be steel. In some implementations, a breast plate joining the first beam leg and the second beam leg may be formed from the first material and may be welded to the first beam leg and the second beam leg. In other implementations, the breast plate may be formed from the second material and may be adhesively bonded to the first and second beam legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: SANJEEV HALLALE, MOHAMAD S. EL-ZEIN, HEMA V. GUTHY, SANKARAN SUBRAMANIAM, HECTOR PORTILLO, NATHAN E. KREHBIEL, ERIC D. WINDSOR, NATHAN F. TORTORELLA, DANIEL J. COX, DANIEL A. HARTSCHUH, CHRISTOPHER J. MCKELVEY, AMOL M. SAWALE, RYAN M. GNEITING
  • Patent number: 10897846
    Abstract: A harvester includes a main frame, first side frame, and a second side frame. The first and second side frames are rotatable about the main frame between a deployed position and a stowed position. A first crop divider is rotatable with respect to the first side frame to change an angle between the first crop divider and the ground. A first biasing member biases the first crop divider into the raised position. A second crop divider is rotatable with respect to the second side frame to change an angle between the second crop divider and the ground. A second biasing member biases the second crop divider into the raised position. During movement of the first and second side frames into the stowed position, the first and second crop dividers are moved into the lowered position against the biasing force of the respective biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Troy M. Heims, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Steve A. Coon, Dennis P. Silver, Eric D. Windsor, Eric H. Stone
  • Publication number: 20200128747
    Abstract: A harvester includes a main frame, first side frame, and a second side frame. The first and second side frames are rotatable about the main frame between a deployed position and a stowed position. A first crop divider is rotatable with respect to the first side frame to change an angle between the first crop divider and the ground. A first biasing member biases the first crop divider into the raised position. A second crop divider is rotatable with respect to the second side frame to change an angle between the second crop divider and the ground. A second biasing member biases the second crop divider into the raised position. During movement of the first and second side frames into the stowed position, the first and second crop dividers are moved into the lowered position against the biasing force of the respective biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Troy M. Heims, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Steve A. Coon, Dennis P. Silver, Eric D. Windsor, Eric H. Stone