Patents by Inventor Fritz Lauer

Fritz Lauer 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: 8079900
    Abstract: A combine (10) comprises a crop processing device (26) having a straw outlet (62), a beater (64) assigned to the straw outlet (62) of the crop processing device (26) and a straw chopper (60). An overshot drum conveyor (68) follows the beater (64). A single, pivotable flap (80) is located downstream the drum conveyor (68) and movable between a chopping position in which it deflects the straw downward into the straw chopper (60) and a swath laying position in which it lets the straw pass to a slope (88) behind the straw chopper (60). The flap (80) is pivoted at its forward end adjacent and above the drum conveyor (68) and has a shape matching to the circumference of the drum conveyor (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Oliver Klein, Dirk Weichholdt, Rico Priesnitz, Fritz Lauer, Chad A. Dow, Joel D. Ferris
  • Publication number: 20100184494
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a combine (10) that comprises a crop processing device (26) having a straw outlet (62), a beater (64) assigned to the straw outlet (62) of the crop processing device (26) and a straw chopper (60). An overshot drum conveyor (68) follows the beater (64). A single, pivotable flap (80) is located downstream the drum conveyor (68) and movable between a chopping position in which it deflects the straw downward into the straw chopper (60) and a swath laying position in which it lets the straw pass to a slope (88) behind the straw chopper (60). The flap (80) is pivoted at its forward end adjacent and above the drum conveyor (68) and has a shape matching to the circumference of the drum conveyor (68).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Oliver Klein, Dirk Weichholdt, Rico Priesnitz, Fritz Lauer, Chad A. Dow, Joel D. Ferris
  • Publication number: 20060246965
    Abstract: The invention concerns a combine harvester, with a separating mechanism from which a first crop stream can go optionally to a straw chopper in a chopping operating mode or bypass the straw chopper in a straw deposit mode and be placed as a swath on the ground of a field, a cleaning mechanism, from which a second crop residue stream in the chopping mode and in the straw deposit mode can be taken to the straw chopper, and a guide mechanism that is arranged downstream from the straw chopper and can move optionally between a straw depositing position and a chopping position. It is proposed that the guide mechanism be oriented so that in its straw depositing position it deflects downward a portion of the second crop stream oriented in the direction of the first crop stream being ejected, and in its chopping position it does not significantly deflect the flow of the two crop streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Fritz Lauer, Rico Priesnitz, Dirk Weichholdt
  • Publication number: 20060185337
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a harvesting machine, including a bearing configured to couple a rotatable shaft with a chassis of the harvesting machine, a first element coupled with the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith, and a second element coupled with the chassis of the harvesting machine. Additionally, at least a portion of the second element is substantially concentrically enclosed by the first element and the first and second elements cooperate to define a contactless seal configured to substantially prevent contamination of the bearing. The shaft is coupled with a product treating element, such as a crop feeding and/or processing element that is driven or idle rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Manfred Engel, Joseph Teijido, Claus-Josef Vogelgesang, Fritz Lauer, Wolfram Elsner, Rainer Schafer, Joshua Bacon
  • Patent number: 7074126
    Abstract: A crop discharge device for discharging crop from a harvesting machine, comprising a rotatatable rotor mounted in a housing having a movable a bottom. The bottom can be put into a reciprocating motion in order to convey the crop to be discharged to the crop discharge device. Chaff from a cleaning shoe is directed by an oscillating bottom to the bottom. The discharge device may comprise a straw chopper which discharges chaff and straw from the harvesting machine in the chopping mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dirk Weichholdt, Klaus Braunhardt, Fritz Lauer
  • Publication number: 20060073861
    Abstract: A rotor for a straw chopper includes a rotor body, a mount disposed on the rotor body, at least one copper blade suspended, detachably, in a swinging fashion on the mount with a fastening element, and a fan blade element detachably connected to the mount by way of the fastening element. The fan blade element is attached in a rigid manner to the rotor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventor: Fritz Lauer
  • Patent number: 6866580
    Abstract: A combine having an axial separator and a discharge beater adjacent the outlet of the axial separator is provided with a pivotable straw guide element. The discharge beater is arranged to feed crop material other than grain into a straw chopper. The straw guide element is arranged between the outlet of the discharge beater and the inlet of the straw chopper. The straw guide element is pivotable between a chopping position in which the crop material other than grain reach the straw chopper and a long straw deposition position in which the crop material other than grain are deposited on the ground and not chopped. The pivot axis of the straw guide element is coaxial with the rotation axis of the discharge beater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dirk Weichholdt, Fritz Lauer
  • Publication number: 20040204210
    Abstract: A crop discharge device for discharging crop from a harvesting machine, comprising a rotatatable rotor mounted in a housing having a movable a bottom. The bottom can be put into a reciprocating motion in order to convey the crop to be discharged to the crop discharge device. Chaff from a cleaning shoe is directed by an oscillating bottom to the bottom. The discharge device may comprise a straw chopper which discharges chaff and straw from the harvesting machine in the chopping mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Dirk Weichholdt, Klaus Braunhardt, Fritz Lauer
  • Publication number: 20040132517
    Abstract: A combine having an axial separator and a discharge beater adjacent the outlet of the axial separator is provided with a pivotable straw guide element. The discharge beater is arranged to feed crop material other than grain into a straw chopper. The straw guide element is arranged between the outlet of the discharge beater and the inlet of the straw chopper. The straw guide element is pivotable between a chopping position in which the crop material other than grain reach the straw chopper and a long straw deposition position in which the crop material other than grain are deposited on the ground and not chopped. The pivot axis of the straw guide element is coaxial with the rotation axis of the discharge beater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Dirk Weichholdt, Fritz Lauer
  • Patent number: 6579172
    Abstract: A sieve for a harvester thresher which consists of a frame and adjustable louvers that are mounted therein and can be adjusted by a motor-driven adjusting drive, wherein the sieve consists of at least two sieve elements that are arranged in the same plane and are respectively provided with a frame. In order to prevent the play of the adjusting drive and to adjust the louvers of the sieve elements independently of one another, separate adjusting drives are assigned to the sieve elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Fritz Lauer
  • Publication number: 20020128054
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a sieve for a harvester thresher which consists of a frame and adjustable louvers that are mounted therein and can be adjusted by means of a motor-driven adjusting drive, wherein the sieve consists of at least two sieve elements that are arranged in the same plane and are respectively provided with a frame. In order to prevent the play of the adjusting drive and to adjust the louvers of the sieve elements independently of one another, the invention proposes to assign separate adjusting drives to the sieve elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventor: Fritz Lauer
  • Patent number: 6244955
    Abstract: A rotary conveyor being disposed above the straw walkers of a combine is provided with a rotating body and disappearing tines. The rotary conveyor is an undershot conveyor and is designed to more aggressively loosen threshed crop material passing over the straw walkers. The tines are eccentrically supported in bearings. The tines can move radially in through tines guides that are located in recessed regions of the rotating body. The recessed regions being parallel to the transverse axis of the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lutz Bischoff, Fritz Lauer