Patents by Inventor Gerald F. Richards

Gerald F. Richards 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).

  • Crop conditioner roll structure
    Patent number: 4075822
    Abstract: A novel combination of a resilient upper roller having circumferentially spaced rib formations and a rigid lower roller having complementary rib formations. The formations are spiral or herringbone-like and register rib-to-rib while the conditioner provides a crushing action. The rolls are driven in timed synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Warner M. Heckley, Gerald F. Richards
  • Drive system for hay harvesting and conditioning machine
    Patent number: 4068453
    Abstract: A tractor-drawn and powered hay harvester and conditioner has a box-type frame to which a pair of wheels are rigidly attached. The frame supports a sickle bar cutter and journals both a pick-up reel and a pair of ribbed crop conditioner rolls which crimp and flatten the stems of the hay cuttings, thereby facilitating curing and drying. A novel power drive subsystem is featured which enables both control of cutter bar height above ground and automatic adjustment of the spacing between the crop conditioner rolls as a function of crop density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventors: Amos Hill, Warner M. Heckley, Gerald F. Richards