Patents by Inventor Eric L. Walker
Eric L. Walker 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: 20240049638Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes: a harvester frame; an agricultural header coupled with the harvester frame, the agricultural header including a plurality of deck plates; and a control system operatively coupled with the harvester frame and the agricultural header, the control system including: at least one sensor coupled with the agricultural header and configured for: detecting a crop material condition associated with a harvesting operation, the crop material condition being a crop material diameter; outputting a crop material condition signal corresponding to the crop material condition; a controller operatively coupled with the at least one sensor and configured for: receiving the crop material condition signal; determining an operative parameter of the plurality of deck plates based at least in part on the crop material condition signal and at least one offset condition signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Eric Fredricks, Matthew D'Amicantonio, Bryan B. Finley, Eric L. Walker, Lane Darrow
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Patent number: 11737392Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame and at least one row unit supported by the frame. The at least one row unit including has at least one deck assembly. The at least one deck assembly has a plurality of plates defining an outer periphery for contacting a crop material. Adjacent ones of the plurality of plates at least partially overlap and are movable with respect to one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20230189709Abstract: A cleaning system for an agricultural harvester includes: at least one sieve; a cleaning blower directed at the at least one sieve and configured to supply a cleaning air flow directed at the at least one sieve; and a conveyor assembly configured to supply crop material to the at least one sieve. The conveyor assembly includes: a conveyor frame; a shaker coupled to the conveyor frame and configured to shake the conveyor frame; and an endless conveyor carried by the conveyor frame and including a conveyor loop with a substantially solid surface and a conveyor driver coupled to the conveyor loop, the conveyor driver being configured to selectively rotate the conveyor loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Justin Becker, Robert Garrett, Michael Wenger, Eric L. Walker, Zachary Harmon, Brian Abreu
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Publication number: 20230180661Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a frame and a crop cleaning assembly supported on the frame. The crop cleaning assembly, in turn, includes an oscillating component configured to oscillate relative to the frame in a manner that conveys crop material across the oscillating component. Furthermore, the agricultural harvester includes a RADAR sensor configured to emit an output signal directed at the crop material present on the oscillating component and detect an echo signal reflected by the crop material present on the oscillating component. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the RADAR sensor. In this respect, the computing system is configured to determine a thickness of the crop material present on the oscillating component based on detected echo signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Eric L. Walker, Cory Douglas Hunt, Bart Lenaerts
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Publication number: 20230072664Abstract: An embodiment includes a combine having a grain sample sensor for detecting frequencies of impacts of separated grain on the grain sample sensor, a grain loss sensor for detecting frequencies of impacts of residue and lost grain on the grain loss sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from the grain sample sensor, the frequencies of the impacts of the separated grain, receive, from the grain loss sensor, the frequencies of the impacts of the residue and the lost grain, set a detection frequency band based on the frequencies of the impacts of the separated grain, filter the frequencies of the impacts of the residue and the lost grain based on the detection frequency band, determine, from the filtered frequencies, grain loss information, and indicate the grain loss information to an operator of the combine, or control the combine based on the grain loss information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Eric L. WALKER, Matthew D'AMICANTONIO, Ericson SANTOS
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Patent number: 11369060Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including at least one threshing rotor and an auger bed located underneath the at least one threshing rotor. The auger bed has a working position and a cleaning position. The auger bed includes a frame, a plurality of augers rotatably coupled to and supported by the frame, and a trough portion moveably connected to the frame. In the working position the bottom surface of the trough portion is positioned underneath the plurality of augers and in the cleaning position the entire trough portion is moved relative to the frame so that the bottom surface of the trough portion is not positioned underneath at least a portion of the plurality of augers, creating an open space underneath the portion of the plurality of augers for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Andrews V. Lauwers, Robert S. Boyd, III, Eric L Walker
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Patent number: 11032969Abstract: A crop dividing device for an agricultural header including a hood and a divider connected to the hood. The divider includes a base member pivotally connected to the hood. The base member includes a receiving section. The divider also includes an ear dam member receivable in the receiving section. The ear dam member is positionable in between a first position for increasing an overall slope of the divider and a second position for decreasing the overall slope of the divider. The ear dam member is connected to the receiving section in the first position, and the ear dam member is connected to one of the hood and base member in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Eric L. Walker, Kyle Lauff, Brian P. Crow, John P. Roeder
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Patent number: 11013177Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle includes: a header frame; at least two row dividers carried by the header frame and defining a gap therebetween; and a crop material saver disposed in the gap and including a pair of saver flaps, each of the saver flaps being positioned such that the saver flaps co-act as a one-way pass-through to allow crop material flow past the saver flaps in an admission direction and inhibit crop material flow past the saver flaps in an inhibited direction opposite the admission direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20200323132Abstract: A crop dividing device for an agricultural header including a hood and a divider connected to the hood. The divider includes a base member pivotally connected to the hood. The base member includes a receiving section. The divider also includes an ear dam member receivable in the receiving section. The ear dam member is positionable in between a first position for increasing an overall slope of the divider and a second position for decreasing the overall slope of the divider. The ear dam member is connected to the receiving section in the first position, and the ear dam member is connected to one of the hood and base member in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Eric L. Walker, Kyle Lauff, Brian P. Crow, John P. Roeder
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Patent number: 10716257Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle including a header frame, and at least one row unit supported by the header frame. The at least one row unit including a pair of gatherers configured for conveying a crop material. Each gatherer including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain. The plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion for receiving and transporting a dislodged crop material and an outer periphery for gathering the crop material.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20200221640Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame and at least one row unit supported by the frame. The at least one row unit including has at least one deck assembly. The at least one deck assembly has a plurality of plates defining an outer periphery for contacting a crop material. Adjacent ones of the plurality of plates at least partially overlap and are movable with respect to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Eric L. Walker
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Patent number: 10687466Abstract: An agricultural vehicle comprises a chassis, a header carried by the chassis, an actuator system including a plurality of actuators linked to a frame of the header and configured to adjust an orientation of the header, a GPS device configured to output a GPS position of the vehicle, and a controller. The header includes a frame and one or more sensors carried by the frame. The controller is electrically coupled to the one or more sensors, the actuator system, and the GPS device. The controller is configured to receive from a memory a final orientation of the header associated with a GPS position at a second location on a last pass that is closest in distance to a GPS position at an upcoming location on the current pass, and activate one or more actuators to re-orient the header before the vehicle arrives at the upcoming location.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Daniel Reed, Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20200170188Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle includes: a header frame; at least two row dividers carried by the header frame and defining a gap therebetween; and a crop material saver disposed in the gap and including a pair of saver flaps, each of the saver flaps being positioned such that the saver flaps co-act as a one-way pass-through to allow crop material flow past the saver flaps in an admission direction and inhibit crop material flow past the saver flaps in an inhibited direction opposite the admission directionType: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20200037505Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle including a header frame, and at least one row unit supported by the header frame. The at least one row unit including a pair of gatherers configured for conveying a crop material. Each gatherer including a chain and a plurality of plates connected to the chain. The plurality of plates at least partially overlap to define a conveying floor that has a continuous upper portion for receiving and transporting a dislodged crop material and an outer periphery for gathering the crop material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2018Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Eric L. Walker
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Publication number: 20190254234Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including at least one threshing rotor and an auger bed located underneath the at least one threshing rotor. The auger bed has a working position and a cleaning position. The auger bed includes a frame, a plurality of augers rotatably coupled to and supported by the frame, and a trough portion moveably connected to the frame. In the working position the bottom surface of the trough portion is positioned underneath the plurality of augers and in the cleaning position the entire trough portion is moved relative to the frame so that the bottom surface of the trough portion is not positioned underneath at least a portion of the plurality of augers, creating an open space underneath the portion of the plurality of augers for allowing an unwanted material to pass therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Curtis F. Hillen, Herbert M. Farley, Andrews V. Lauwers, Robert S. Boyd, III, Eric L Walker
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Publication number: 20190230855Abstract: An agricultural vehicle comprises a chassis, a header carried by the chassis, an actuator system including a plurality of actuators linked to a frame of the header and configured to adjust an orientation of the header, a GPS device configured to output a GPS position of the vehicle, and a controller. The header includes a frame and one or more sensors carried by the frame. The controller is electrically coupled to the one or more sensors, the actuator system, and the GPS device. The controller is configured to receive from a memory a final orientation of the header associated with a GPS position at a second location on a last pass that is closest in distance to a GPS position at an upcoming location on the current pass, and activate one or more actuators to re-orient the header before the vehicle arrives at the upcoming location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Daniel Reed, Eric L. Walker
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Patent number: 10334783Abstract: An agricultural harvester row unit has side-by-side stalk rolls oriented to receive crop stalks. Each of the stalk rolls have a forward section with an annular base tapered towards the forward end and spiral auger flights that overlap one another and cooperate with adjacent bases to positively move crop stalks in an aft direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Eric L. Walker, Brian P. Crow, Dariusz Adamczyk, Eric Fredricks, Jonathan E. Ricketts
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Patent number: 10159188Abstract: A corn harvester that includes a corn head including a plurality of dividers. Each divider includes a top surface, first and second side surfaces, a proximal end and a distal end. One of the first or second side surfaces includes a recessed area formed therein. The corn harvester includes a tall corn attachment mounted to the hood and configured to be positioned in a stored position or a working position. In the stored position, the tall corn attachment is received within the recessed area of the hood. In the working position, the tall corn attachment extends from the top surface of the hood. The tall corn attachment includes a latching mechanism for locking the tall corn attachment in the stored position or the working position.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: James Michael Gessel, Eric L. Walker, Michael Lee Berggren, Brian Patrick Crow
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Patent number: 10130035Abstract: A row unit of a corn head assembly for an agricultural harvester capable of reducing grain loss is provided. The row unit includes a frame and first and second spaced apart row unit arms mounted to the frame, and a top plate. The top plate is positioned about a rear end of the frame and includes an outer surface having a retaining structure configured to inhibit a flow of grain in a forward direction along the outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLCInventors: Brian Patrick Crow, Eric L. Walker, James Michael Gessel
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Patent number: 10058027Abstract: A row unit system for a corn header of an agricultural harvester, the row unit system including a plurality of row units and a plurality of chopper assemblies. A first row unit and an adjacent second row unit are each coupled to the corn header, with each row unit having a first and second leg. The first and second legs are substantially a mirror image of each other. The chopper assemblies are positioned proximate to the legs of the row units and include a chopper assembly nested between the second leg of the first row unit and the first leg of the second row unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: James M. Gessel, Joel T. Cook, Eric L. Walker, Michael L. Berggren, Brian P. Crow