Patents by Inventor J. Bradley Lukac

J. Bradley Lukac 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: 8562059
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for a movable seat for use on a bi-directional work vehicle that laterally shifts the lower seating surface as it is pivoted between raised and lowered positions to increase clearance adjacent to the seat to improve operator ingress and egress to the vehicle operator platform. The incorporation of a biasing mechanism enables the seat mechanism to automatically reposition the seat for maximum ingress/egress clearance when the vehicle operator rises from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, John C. Campbell, Kyle J. Brenner, Matthew A. McCullough
  • Publication number: 20130038106
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for a movable seat for use on a bi-directional work vehicle that laterally shifts the lower seating surface as it is pivoted between raised and lowered positions to increase clearance adjacent to the seat to improve operator ingress and egress to the vehicle operator platform. The incorporation of a biasing mechanism enables the seat mechanism to automatically reposition the seat for maximum ingress/egress clearance when the vehicle operator rises from the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: J. BRADLEY LUKAC, John C. Campbell, Kyle J. Brenner, Matthew A. McCullough
  • Patent number: 7645190
    Abstract: A method and a system for varying the rotational fan speed of a combine cleaning system in response to the amount of crop entering the combine cleaning system. Increases and decreases in crop material entering the cleaning system are sensed prior to their arrival at the cleaning system, and cleaning fan speed is adjusted appropriately and contemporaneously with the crop material's presence in the cleaning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin S. Schwinn, J. Bradley Lukac
  • Publication number: 20070281764
    Abstract: A method and a system for varying the rotational fan speed of a combine cleaning system in response to the amount of crop entering the combine cleaning system. Increases and decreases in crop material entering the cleaning system are sensed prior to their arrival at the cleaning system, and cleaning fan speed is adjusted appropriately and contemporaneously with the crop material's presence in the cleaning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin S. Schwinn, J. Bradley Lukac
  • Patent number: 7238113
    Abstract: A tubular telescoping drive shaft for transmitting rotation from a rotating power source to an element to be rotated thereby, including at least one inner member or shaft telescopically receivable in an outer tubular shaft and including a universal joint such as a Hooke's joint having pivotal yokes connected with a cross link, all of which are at least substantially received within the outer tubular shaft in a fully retracted position and are rotatably pivotable therein for accommodating misalignment of the rotating power source and element rotated thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: J. Bradley Lukac
  • Patent number: 7207890
    Abstract: A tubular telescoping drive shaft for transmitting rotation from a rotating power source to an element to be rotated thereby, including at least one inner member or shaft telescopically receivable in an outer tubular shaft and including a universal joint such as a Hooke's joint having pivotal yokes connected with a cross link, all of which are at least substantially received within the outer tubular shaft in a fully retracted position and are rotatably pivotable therein for accommodating misalignment of the rotating power source and element rotated thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: J. Bradley Lukac
  • Patent number: 7181896
    Abstract: A multi-rotor blower fan assembly for a cotton picker utilizes a plurality of separate fan enclosures each containing a fan for supplying an individual air flow to a picker unit of the picker, the fans being mounted on a common shaft for rotation therewith, with a unitary removable or openable cover or hood covering access openings of the fan enclosures. One or more of the fan assemblies can be mounted on the picker, for instance, on an existing platform on the picker chassis just rearward of the operator cab, in end-to-end relation, and rotatably driven using a common drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, Scott W. TenBrink, Steven C. Shillington
  • Patent number: 7168228
    Abstract: A multi-rotor blower fan assembly for a cotton picker utilizes a plurality of separate fan enclosures each containing a fan for supplying an individual air flow to a picker unit of the picker, the fans being mounted on a common shaft for rotation therewith, with a unitary removable or openable cover or hood covering access openings of the fan enclosures. One or more of the fan assemblies can be mounted on the picker, for instance, on an existing platform on the picker chassis just rearward of the operator cab, in end-to-end relation, and rotatably driven using a common drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, Scott W. TenBrink, Steven C. Shillington
  • Publication number: 20040253916
    Abstract: A multi-rotor blower fan assembly for a cotton picker utilizes a plurality of separate fan enclosures each containing a fan for supplying an individual air flow to a picker unit of the picker, the fans being mounted on a common shaft for rotation therewith, with a unitary removable or openable cover or hood covering access openings of the fan enclosures. One or more of the fan assemblies can be mounted on the picker, for instance, on an existing platform on the picker chassis just rearward of the operator cab, in end-to-end relation, and rotatably driven using a common drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, Scott W. TenBrink, Steven C. Shillington
  • Patent number: 6514303
    Abstract: A rotary screen assembly rotatable about a rotational axis for filtering air entering an air inlet of a work machine, the screen assembly having an axially facing screen surface including an outer circumferential edge disposed around the rotational axis in radially spaced relation thereto, an elongate brush having bristles disposed along a longitudinal extent thereof in contact with the axially facing screen surface for brushing collected material and contaminants therefrom, the longitudinal extent or axis of the brush forming a chord of the outer circumferential edge spaced a distance from the rotational axis or being skewed relative to the rotational axis such that when the screen is rotated about the rotational axis in a predetermined direction a force is imparted to the collected material and contaminants by the bristles of the brush sufficient to move the collected material and contaminants radially outwardly past the circumferential edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, Jesse H. Orsborn, Michael J. Horejsi, Richard J. Crabb, Derryn W. Pikesh
  • Patent number: 6494471
    Abstract: Apparatus for sensing an angular position of a steerable wheel of a vehicle, such as a work machine or the like, about a steering axis thereof. The apparatus includes a support frame having an upper arm and a lower arm defining a space through which the steering axis passes, and a wheel hub located in the space for supporting the wheel. The steering axis extends through a predetermined bottom axial surface portion of the wheel hub, and a lower kingpin is mounted in a passage through the lower arm and supports the wheel hub in the space for rotation about the steering axis. The lower kingpin includes an axial passage therethrough extending between an upper axial opening facing the bottom axial surface portion of the wheel hub and an externally located bottom opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Bradley Lukac
  • Publication number: 20020088208
    Abstract: A rotary screen assembly rotatable about a rotational axis for filtering air entering an air inlet of a work machine, the screen assembly having an axially facing screen surface including an outer circumferential edge disposed around the rotational axis in radially spaced relation thereto, an elongate brush having bristles disposed along a longitudinal extent thereof in contact with the axially facing screen surface for brushing collected material and contaminants therefrom, the longitudinal extent or axis of the brush forming a chord of the outer circumferential edge spaced a distance from the rotational axis or being skewed relative to the rotational axis such that when the screen is rotated about the rotational axis in a predetermined direction a force is imparted to the collected material and contaminants by the bristles of the brush sufficient to move the collected material and contaminants radially outwardly past the circumferential edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: J. Bradley Lukac, Jesse H. Orsborn, Michael J. Horejsi, Richard J. Crabb, Derryn W. Pikesh
  • Publication number: 20020089142
    Abstract: Apparatus for sensing an angular position of a steerable wheel of a vehicle, such as a work machine or the like, about a steering axis thereof. The apparatus includes a support frame having an upper arm and a lower arm defining a space through which the steering axis passes, and a wheel hub located in the space for supporting the wheel. The steering axis extends through a predetermined bottom axial surface portion of the wheel hub, and a lower kingpin is mounted in a passage through the lower arm and supports the wheel hub in the space for rotation about the steering axis. The lower kingpin includes an axial passage therethrough extending between an upper axial opening facing the bottom axial surface portion of the wheel hub and an externally located bottom opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: J. Bradley Lukac