Patents by Inventor Eugene H. Schmidt
Eugene H. Schmidt 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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Patent number: 8776701Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an apparatus for use in applying fertilizer in the ground adjacent to a row line of seeds being planted by a planter the apparatus comprising a frame mounted to the planter, and having at least one mount structure extending from a forward end of the frame, a disk structure mounted to each of the mount structures and configured to be horizontally pivotable about a selected one of multiple forwardly located pivot points on the mount structure, the disk structure being horizontally pivotably attached to the mount structure at one of the pivot points, the disks forming a V shaped opening in the ground during forward movement, a fertilizer applying structure mounted to the apparatus for delivering a fertilizer into the V shaped opening, wherein each of the multiple pivot points delivers fertilizer into the V shaped opening at predetermined lateral distances from the row line of seeds being planted by the planter.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20120261149Abstract: A debris clearing apparatus for use with a farm implement tool bar with at least one trailing planter row unit, includes a frame extension connectable to the row unit and having a forward projecting mounting point relative to a direction of travel, the mounting point including first and second pivot mounts defining transverse pivot points. A parallelogram linkage has two arms, each arm having a first pivot connection for attachment to one of the first and second mounts and an opposite second pivot connection. A debris clearing module is attachable to the opposite second pivot connections behind the mounting point in the direction of travel, the module having a foot structure for supporting at least one disk mount having at least one clearing disk. The parallelogram linkage enables the debris-clearing module to generally float behind the mounting point as the implement is pulled in the direction of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: October 18, 2012Inventor: Eugene H. Schmidt
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Patent number: 8256526Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a pull type farm implement has an elongated tongue being drawn by a motor vehicle having a vehicle hitch on the rear end thereof configured for attachment to the tongue, the apparatus including a hydraulic hitch mechanism configured to have one end portion attached to the vehicle hitch and an opposite end portion configured to be attached to the tongue of the implement in a non-pivoting manner, the hitch mechanism having at least one hydraulic cylinder for selectively adjusting the lateral position of the front end of the tongue. An optional GPS is operable to detect the position of the tool bar relative to the desired path and repeatedly generate position signals and apparatus for controlling the hydraulic hitch mechanism to adjust the lateral position of the tongue so that the implement follows the desired path of movement in response to the GPS signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Eugene H. Schmidt, Marlin W. Unruh
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Publication number: 20120137942Abstract: Embodiments are directed to an apparatus for use in applying fertilizer in the ground adjacent to a row line of seeds being planted by a planter the apparatus comprising a frame mounted to the planter, and having at least one mount structure extending from a forward end of the frame, a disk structure mounted to each of the mount structures and configured to be horizontally pivotable about a selected one of multiple forwardly located pivot points on the mount structure, the disk structure being horizontally pivotably attached to the mount structure at one of the pivot points, the disks forming a V shaped opening in the ground during forward movement, a fertilizer applying structure mounted to the apparatus for delivering a fertilizer into the V shaped opening, wherein each of the multiple pivot points delivers fertilizer into the V shaped opening at predetermined lateral distances from the row line of seeds being planted by the planter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2010Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: A.I.L., INC.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Patent number: 8109070Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus for selectively inverting one or more windrows of crop material on the ground as the apparatus is moved in a forward direction, each of the windrows having a lower surface and a generally defined width, the apparatus comprising, a frame for attachment to a vehicle, a first transport mechanism for picking up the crop material of a windrow, moving the crop material in a rearward direction, turning the crop material through a generally horizontal arc and depositing the turned crop material in an inverted condition, the first transport mechanism being movable between a raised non-operating position and a lowered operating position, a second transport mechanism having substantially the same structure and functionality as the first transport mechanism, and a hydraulic control system selectively moving the transport mechanisms between the raised and lowered positions and for driving the transport mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Eugene H. Schmidt, Lawrence E. Kuhlmann
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Publication number: 20120023888Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus for selectively inverting one or more windrows of crop material on the ground as the apparatus is moved in a forward direction, each of the windrows having a lower surface and a generally defined width, the apparatus comprising, a frame for attachment to a vehicle, a first transport mechanism for picking up the crop material of a windrow, moving the crop material in a rearward direction, turning the crop material through a generally horizontal arc and depositing the turned crop material in an inverted condition, the first transport mechanism being movable between a raised non-operating position and a lowered operating position, a second transport mechanism having substantially the same structure and functionality as the first transport mechanism, and a hydraulic control system selectively moving the transport mechanisms between the raised and lowered positions and for driving the transport mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: A.I.L., INC.Inventors: Eugene H. Schmidt, Lawrence E. Kuhlmann
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Publication number: 20100006308Abstract: Embodiments are directed to apparatus for positioning a pull type farm implement which has an elongated tongue being drawn by a motor vehicle having a vehicle hitch on the rear end thereof configured for attachment to the tongue, the apparatus comprising a hydraulic hitch mechanism configured to have one end portion attached to the vehicle hitch and an opposite end portion configured to be attached to the tongue of the implement in a non-pivoting manner, the hitch mechanism having at least one hydraulic cylinder for selectively adjusting the lateral position of the front end of the tongue, a GPS operable to detect the position of the tool bar relative to the desired path and repeatedly generate position signals and means for controlling the hydraulic hitch mechanism to adjust the lateral position of the tongue so that the implement follows the desired path of movement in response to the GPS signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2008Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Eugene H. Schmidt, Marlin W. Unruh
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Patent number: 7623952Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a system for positioning a drawn implement having a transverse tool bar being pulled by a vehicle traveling generally along a desired path of movement, the vehicle having a mounting hitch on the rear end thereof where a system hitch is configured to adjust its angular orientation and that of the tool bar relative to the vehicle mounting hitch and a global positioning system having an antenna mounted on the system hitch operable to detect the position of the tool bar of the implement relative to the desired path as the vehicle moves generally along the desired path and generate a signal that is indicative of the lateral position of the implement relative to the desired path and means for controlling the hitch means to adjust the angular orientation of the hitch means and the tool bar so that the implement follows the desired path of movement in response to the global positioning system signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Marlin W. Unruh, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Patent number: 7490678Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a system for positioning a drawn implement being pulled by a vehicle traveling generally along a desired path of movement, the vehicle having a mounting hitch on the rear end thereof where a system hitch is configured to adjust its angular orientation relative to the vehicle mounting hitch and a global positioning system receiver operable to detect the position of the implement relative to the desired path as the vehicle moves generally along the desired path and generate a signal that is indicative of the lateral position of the implement relative to the desired path and means for controlling the hitch means to adjust the angular orientation of the hitch means so that the implement follows the desired path of movement in response to the global positioning system signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Marlin W. Unruh, Eugene H. Schmidt, Lee F. Nikkel, Lawrence E. Kuhlmann, David R. Long
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Patent number: 6354429Abstract: An apparatus for inverting a windrow of agricultural crop material on the ground as the apparatus moves along the windrow in a first direction has a lifting mechanism for lifting the crop material from the ground substantially without destroying the integrity of the windrow as the apparatus moves in the first direction. In addition, a transporting mechanism receives the crop material from the lifting mechanism and positively transports the crop material along a generally semicircular path substantially also without destroying the integrity of the windrow so that the crop material is positively transported generally in the first direction when it reaches an exit location where the crop material is dropped to the ground. The continued movement of the crop material by the transporting mechanism results in the crop material passing the exit location so that a lower surface of the windrow is repositioned to a top of the windrow.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1999Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: A.I.L. Inc.Inventors: Lawrence E. Kuhlmann, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20010042364Abstract: An apparatus for inverting a windrow of agricultural crop material on the ground as the apparatus moves along the windrow in a first direction has a lifting mechanism for lifting the crop material from the ground substantially without destroying the integrity of the windrow as the apparatus moves in the first direction. In addition, a transporting mechanism receives the crop material from the lifting mechanism and positively transports the crop material along a generally semicircular path substantially also without destroying the integrity of the windrow so that the crop material is positively transported generally in the first direction when it reaches an exit location where the crop material is dropped to the ground. The continued movement of the crop material by the transporting mechanism results in the crop material passing the exit location so that a lower surface of the windrow is repositioned to a top of the windrow.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 1999Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventors: LAWRENCE E. KUHLMANN, EUGENE H. SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 6279666Abstract: A debris clearing apparatus for use in agricultural operations. It includes a pair of rotatable concave disks arranged in a generally V-shaped orientation to spread debris encountered during forward movement. The disks have a plurality of relatively deep backswept notches.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1997Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Patent number: 5752453Abstract: A fertilizer applying apparatus for agricultural row crops applies fertilizer at a predetermined depth and lateral distance relative to a row line. A castering pair of disks are sized and oriented to part the soil adjacent the row line in a manner which minimizes soil fracturing which distorts the seed bed.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: A.I.T. Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Patent number: 5732780Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to form a series of angled depressions with raised sides in the row space between adjacent row lines of a row crop. The depressions and raised mounds between them are oriented at an acute angle relate to the row line, to present a generally uniform surface for subsequent farming operation which minimizes machine and operator jostling, while effectively retaining water where it falls, and nutrients, herbicides and the like where they are applied.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1996Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: A.I.L. Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt, David R. Long
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Patent number: 5582255Abstract: An adjustable row following guidance device for a tractor drawn row crop implement, includes a main support member disposed substantially transverse to the direction of travel of the implement as pulled by the tractor and having a first side and a second side, a first crank arm-assembly being releasably attachable to either of the first side and the second side, a second crank arm assembly being releasably attachable to either of the second side and the first side, the attachment of the crank arm assemblies to the main support member forming a generally inverted U-shape, each crank arm assembly including a laterally offset configuration, so that when the first crank arm assembly is attached to the first end, and the second crank arm assembly is attached to the second end, the device has a first implement width, and when the first and second crank arm assemblies are reversed on the main support member, the device has a second implement width, each crank arm assembly further including a forward portion with a tType: GrantFiled: March 9, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt
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Patent number: 5524525Abstract: A guidance control system for trailing implements attached to a tractor is disclosed. The system can function to steer the implement in a row crop, for example, and can also steer the tractor. A proportional servo valve having a rotatable spool is disclosed, which valve can be controlled to operate in an open center or closed center modes of operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: A.I.L. Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt, Marlin W. Unruh
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Guidance control system for farm tractor/implement combination having improved turnaround capability
Patent number: 5240079Abstract: A guidance system is disclosed for the combination of a farm tractor and trailing implement, wherein the guidance system is of the type where the implement is attached to a 3-point hitch mechanism that can be angularly oriented in a horizontal plane by extending one side relative to the other to change the angle of the hitch relative to the drive axle of the tractor. Another embodiment operates with an implement that is attached with a single pull hitch. The system operates in a turn around mode for the pull hitch embodiment where the implement swings outwardly during turning to minimize the turning radius for the combination of the tractor and the implement. Another embodiment of the system for a 3-point hitch attachment causes the implement to be centered behind the tractor for a farming operation where no crops or furrows are present.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1992Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventor: Eugene H. Schmidt -
Patent number: 5170849Abstract: A guidance system for the combination of a farm tractor and trailing implement, wherein the guidance system is of the type where the implement is attached to a 3-point hitch mechanism that can be angularly oriented in a horizontal plane by extending one side relative to the other to change the angle of the cross bar relative to the drive axle of the tractor. An alternate embodiment operates with an implement that is attached with a single pull hitch. The system includes circuitry which provides for warning of improper operation and delay means for sounding a warning, provides correction of the position of the implement without over-shooting or hunting by the system. The system utilizes Hall effect sensors for determining the angular position of a wand and or either the implement tool bar or the hitch that is attached to the 3-point hitch of the tractor.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1991Date of Patent: December 15, 1992Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Lee F. Nikkel, Eugene H. Schmidt, Marlin W. Unruh
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Patent number: 5156219Abstract: Apparatus for guiding a drawn agricultural implement of the type which has a transverse tool bar and a pull hitch. The apparatus controls the horizontal angular orientation of the tool bar relative to the pull hitch to guide the implement.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1991Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Assignee: A.I.L., Inc.Inventors: Eugene H. Schmidt, Lee F. Nikkel
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Patent number: RE34080Abstract: A row following guidance device connecting the right and left ends of the forward portion of a row crop implement to a tractor will adjust the length of each left and right connection as the tractor deviates laterally from alignment with the crop rows to correctively guide the implement in alignment with the crop rows. A row following wheel signals a steering valve upon any lateral deviation of the implement from crop row alignment, the steering valve correcting the deviation by lengthening one connection between the tractor and the implement and shortening the other. The row following wheel is mounted for movement independent of the implement so that the implement may be raised or lowered without affecting the operation of the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1987Date of Patent: September 29, 1992Assignee: New Tek Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Eugene H. Schmidt