Patents by Inventor Eric L. Bortner

Eric L. Bortner 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).

  • Publication number: 20260191137
    Abstract: A crop loss correction system receives one or more crop loss sensor signals that are indicative of crop lost by a harvesting machine. A correction component receives geographic context information from a set of geographic context sensing components to identify a geographic context of the harvesting machine. The correction component corrects the crop loss sensor signals, based upon the geographic context information, to obtain a corrected loss signal indicative of the sensed crop loss, corrected based on the mobile machine context. The corrected loss signal is output to an output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Eric L. BORTNER, Regent W. ERICKSON
  • Publication number: 20260191136
    Abstract: A crop loss signal is received from a crop loss sensor. A plurality of context characteristics are detected and a combined context signal is generated based on the plurality of context characteristics. The loss signal is corrected based on the combined context signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Eric L. BORTNER, Regent W. ERICKSON, Bradley K. YANKE
  • Publication number: 20260191139
    Abstract: An example method of calibrating grain loss on an agricultural machine harvesting crop may include initiating a grain loss calibration process on the agricultural machine at a location in a field and receiving grain loss sensor signals from sensors on the agricultural machine. The method may also include identifying the location in the field by a geographic location sensor and sending a communication from a control system on the agricultural machine to perform a grain loss measurement. The method may further include receiving the grain loss measurement based on an inspection of grain loss at the location in the field and determining a grain loss calibration value based on the grain loss sensor signals and the grain loss measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen R. Corban, Andrew W. Keenan, Matthew T. Wold, Eric L. Bortner
  • Publication number: 20260191138
    Abstract: An example method of calibrating grain loss on an agricultural machine harvesting crop may include initiating a first calibration process of a grain loss monitoring system on the machine and executing the first calibration process by receiving sensor signals from sensors on the agricultural machine and a grain loss measurement based on an analysis of a harvested area in the field. The method may also include adjusting a machine setting on the agricultural machine based on an output of the first calibration process and monitoring grain loss after the setting is adjusted to evaluate the effect on grain loss of adjusting the setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Stephen R. Corban, Andrew W. Keenan, Matthew T. Wold, Eric L. Bortner
  • Publication number: 20260000022
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting grains in a material stream containing grains and non-grain components in a combine harvester may include a sampling device configured to collect a sample from the material stream; a separation device configured to separate the sample into grains and non-grain constituents; and a sensor system configured to sense the grains separated from the non-grain constituents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2025
    Publication date: January 1, 2026
    Inventors: Marco Broschart, Thomas Fell, Martin Rittershofer, Eric L. Bortner, Matthew T. Wold
  • Patent number: 12457939
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of feed accelerators of agricultural harvesters include one or more convertible sections that are convertible between two or more types of agitator assemblies. The feed accelerators may include a cylindrical body that may form one or more facets, and the feed accelerators may include an exterior wall and a plurality of paddles distributed along the exterior wall. The plurality of paddles may be arranged in a plurality of rows. The agitator assemblies may include a first type that includes an agitator having sidewalls that for a geometrical shape, such as a chevron that extends from the exterior wall. A second type of agitator may include one or more paddles that may align with one or more rows formed on the exterior wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric L. Bortner, Balaji Parthasarathy, Mark L. Mattson, Manish Singh, Michael T. Meschke, Nithin Chaithanya Reddy Choudary
  • Publication number: 20230157211
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of feed accelerators of agricultural harvesters include one or more convertible sections that are convertible between two or more types of agitator assemblies. The feed accelerators may include a cylindrical body that may form one or more facets, and the feed accelerators may include an exterior wall and a plurality of paddles distributed along the exterior wall. The plurality of paddles may be arranged in a plurality of rows. The agitator assemblies may include a first type that includes an agitator having sidewalls that for a geometrical shape, such as a chevron that extends from the exterior wall. A second type of agitator may include one or more paddles that may align with one or more rows formed on the exterior wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: ERIC L. BORTNER, BALAJI PARTHASARATHY, MARK L. MATTSON, MANISH SINGH, MICHAEL T. MESCHKE, NITHIN CHAITHANYA REDDY CHOUDARY
  • Patent number: 11553650
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Patent number: 11510369
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically establishing a gap between a concave and a rotor of a rotary crop processing system are disclosed. Establishing the gap may include displacing the concave towards the rotor until contact is detected therebetween. Contact may be detected using a sensor configured to detect contact between the rotor and the concave. The sensor may be a knock sensor. The concave is displaced away from the rotor when contact is detected until contact between the rotor and the concave is no longer detected. One or more actuators may be coupled to the concave to move the concave relative to the rotor. In some implementations, the actuators may be operated in sequence to form the gap between the rotor and the concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric L. Bortner, Kevin P. Hurley, Michael Meschke
  • Publication number: 20210282328
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically establishing a gap between a concave and a rotor of a rotary crop processing system are disclosed. Establishing the gap may include displacing the concave towards the rotor until contact is detected therebetween. Contact may be detected using a sensor configured to detect contact between the rotor and the concave. The sensor may be a knock sensor. The concave is displaced away from the rotor when contact is detected until contact between the rotor and the concave is no longer detected. One or more actuators may be coupled to the concave to move the concave relative to the rotor. In some implementations, the actuators may be operated in sequence to form the gap between the rotor and the concave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: ERIC L. BORTNER, KEVIN P. HURLEY, MICHAEL MESCHKE
  • Publication number: 20200170190
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Patent number: 10602667
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner
  • Publication number: 20180352746
    Abstract: A concave assembly for an agricultural machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a structural component and a concave connected to the frame. The frame includes a trunnion having a front end and a rear end. A front arm and a rear arm are connected to the trunnion. A crossbar extends between the front arm and the rear arm. A rotating member rotatably connected to the crossbar. The concave includes a first outer support and a second outer support. An inner support is positioned between the first outer support and the second outer support. A plurality of separator bars extend between the first outer support and the second outer support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Kevin P. Hurley, David Rix, Jonathan M. Kingett, Eric L. Bortner