Patents by Inventor Ethan C. Conrad
Ethan C. Conrad 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: 11248687Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes first and second conditioning rolls, adjustment assembly, and a linkage. The adjustment assembly includes a first member having a first helical surface and a second member having a second helical surface in contact with each other. The linkage is coupled between the at least one adjustment assembly and the first conditioning roll. The rotation of the at least one adjustment assembly about a pivot axis causes the first conditioning roll to move via the linkage, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Patent number: 11248688Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a mower-conditioner may include first and second conditioning rolls, at least one eccentric, and a linkage having a lever. The first and second conditioning rolls are spaced apart a distance. The at least one eccentric is coupled to the mower-conditioner. The lever is coupled between the eccentric assembly and the first conditioning roll. The rotation of the at least one eccentric about a pivot axis causes the first conditioning roll to move via the lever, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Patent number: 10912255Abstract: A forming shield arrangement configured for a windrowing work vehicle is supported for movement by a support structure. The forming shield arrangement is configured to at least partly shape a windrow of a crop material. A method of operating the forming shield arrangement includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored position setting that corresponds to a position of the forming shield arrangement relative to the support structure. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a positioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored position setting. Moreover, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the position of the forming shield arrangement according to the positioning control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Mitchell R. Usasz, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Publication number: 20200408286Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a mower-conditioner may include first and second conditioning rolls, at least one eccentric, and a linkage having a lever. The first and second conditioning rolls are spaced apart a distance. The at least one eccentric is coupled to the mower-conditioner. The lever is coupled between the eccentric assembly and the first conditioning roll. The rotation of the at least one eccentric about a pivot axis causes the first conditioning roll to move via the lever, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: DAVID V. ROTOLE, ETHAN C. CONRAD
-
Publication number: 20200408285Abstract: A mower-conditioner includes first and second conditioning rolls, adjustment assembly, and a linkage. The adjustment assembly includes a first member having a first helical surface and a second member having a second helical surface in contact with each other. The linkage is coupled between the at least one adjustment assembly and the first conditioning roll. The rotation of the at least one adjustment assembly about a pivot axis causes the first conditioning roll to move via the linkage, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: DAVID V. ROTOLE, ETHAN C. CONRAD
-
Patent number: 10813287Abstract: A windrowing work vehicle with a swath flap arrangement is disclosed. The swath flap arrangement includes a swath flap that is supported for movement by a support structure between a raised position and a lowered position. The swath flap is configured to at least partially shape a windrow of a crop material. A method includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored position setting that corresponds to a position of the swath flap relative to the support structure. The method further includes processing, by the processor, a positioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored position setting. Also, the method includes moving, with an actuator, the swath flap relative to the support structure between the raised position and the lowered position according to the positioning control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Mitchell R. Usasz
-
Patent number: 10806078Abstract: A harvesting work vehicle includes a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material. A method of operating the work vehicle includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored conditioning setting for a variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a conditioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored conditioning setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement according to the conditioning control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Mitchell R. Usasz, Kellen B. Hill
-
Patent number: 10801592Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a mower-conditioner may include first and second conditioning rolls, at least one eccentric assembly, and a linkage. The first and second conditioning rolls are spaced apart a distance. The at least one eccentric assembly is coupled to the mower-conditioner. The linkage is coupled between the eccentric assembly and the first conditioning roll. The movement of the at least one eccentric assembly causes the first conditioning roll to move via the linkage, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Patent number: 10772257Abstract: A crop forming assembly having a top plate with a first side and a second side, an arc-shaped cutout defined through the top plate, a forming shield pivotally coupled to the top plate and positioned on the second side, and a motor removably coupled to the top plate and configured to engage the forming shield. Wherein, the motor engages the forming shield to reposition the forming shield along the arc-shaped cutout.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Publication number: 20180328470Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a mower-conditioner may include first and second conditioning rolls, at least one eccentric assembly, and a linkage. The first and second conditioning rolls are spaced apart a distance. The at least one eccentric assembly is coupled to the mower-conditioner. The linkage is coupled between the eccentric assembly and the first conditioning roll. The movement of the at least one eccentric assembly causes the first conditioning roll to move via the linkage, which adjusts the distance between the first and second conditioning rolls.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: DAVID V. ROTOLE, ETHAN C. CONRAD
-
Publication number: 20180325031Abstract: A harvesting work vehicle includes a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material. A method of operating the work vehicle includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored conditioning setting for a variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a conditioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored conditioning setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the conditioning arrangement according to the conditioning control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Mitchell R. Usasz, Kellen B. Hill
-
Publication number: 20180325029Abstract: A windrowing work vehicle with a swath flap arrangement is disclosed. The swath flap arrangement includes a swath flap that is supported for movement by a support structure between a raised position and a lowered position. The swath flap is configured to at least partially shape a windrow of a crop material. A method includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored position setting that corresponds to a position of the swath flap relative to the support structure. The method further includes processing, by the processor, a positioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored position setting. Also, the method includes moving, with an actuator, the swath flap relative to the support structure between the raised position and the lowered position according to the positioning control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Mitchell R. Usasz
-
Publication number: 20180325032Abstract: A work vehicle system includes at least one harvesting work vehicle with a harvesting arrangement. The harvesting arrangement is one of a conditioning arrangement configured to condition a crop material and a windrowing arrangement configured to form a windrow of the crop material. A method includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored setting for a variable parameter of the harvesting arrangement. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a control signal based, at least in part, on the stored setting. Furthermore, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the variable parameter of the harvesting arrangement according to the control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad, Kellen B. Hill, Mitchell R. Usasz
-
Publication number: 20180325024Abstract: A crop forming assembly having a top plate with a first side and a second side, an arc-shaped cutout defined through the top plate, a forming shield pivotally coupled to the top plate and positioned on the second side, and a motor removably coupled to the top plate and configured to engage the forming shield. Wherein, the motor engages the forming shield to reposition the forming shield along the arc-shaped cutout.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: David V. Rotole, Ethan C. Conrad
-
Publication number: 20180325028Abstract: A forming shield arrangement configured for a windrowing work vehicle is supported for movement by a support structure. The forming shield arrangement is configured to at least partly shape a windrow of a crop material. A method of operating the forming shield arrangement includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored position setting that corresponds to a position of the forming shield arrangement relative to the support structure. The method also includes processing, by the processor, a positioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored position setting. Moreover, the method includes changing, with an actuator, the position of the forming shield arrangement according to the positioning control signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: David V. Rotole, Mitchell R. Usasz, Ethan C. Conrad