Patents by Inventor Jacob R. Riffel

Jacob R. Riffel 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).

  • Publication number: 20230371420
    Abstract: A distribution tower comprising an upright conduit for pneumatically conveying particulate material in a primary stream. The tower additionally includes a distribution head at the upper end of the conduit, with the distribution head comprising a plenum chamber for receiving the primary stream of particulate material from the conduit. The distribution head further comprises a plurality of discharge outlets for directing particulate material out of the plenum chamber by splitting the primary stream into a plurality of secondary streams. Each of the secondary streams is discharged from the distribution head via one of the discharge outlets. The tower additionally includes a flow adjustment system configured to adjust a distribution of particulate material between the secondary streams without completely restricting the flow of any of the secondary streams through their respective discharge outlet. The tower further includes a control system for controlling operation of said flow adjustment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Gregory W. Arnett, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Patent number: 11751502
    Abstract: A distribution tower comprising an upright conduit for pneumatically conveying particulate material in a primary stream. The tower additionally includes a distribution head at the upper end of the conduit, with the distribution head comprising a plenum chamber for receiving the primary stream of particulate material from the conduit. The distribution head further comprises a plurality of discharge outlets for directing particulate material out of the plenum chamber by splitting the primary stream into a plurality of secondary streams. Each of the secondary streams is discharged from the distribution head via one of the discharge outlets. The tower additionally includes a flow adjustment system configured to adjust a distribution of particulate material between the secondary streams without completely restricting the flow of any of the secondary streams through their respective discharge outlet. The tower further includes a control system for controlling operation of said flow adjustment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Gregory W. Arnett, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Publication number: 20200045877
    Abstract: A distribution tower comprising an upright conduit for pneumatically conveying particulate material in a primary stream. The tower additionally includes a distribution head at the upper end of the conduit, with the distribution head comprising a plenum chamber for receiving the primary stream of particulate material from the conduit. The distribution head further comprises a plurality of discharge outlets for directing particulate material out of the plenum chamber by splitting the primary stream into a plurality of secondary streams. Each of the secondary streams is discharged from the distribution head via one of the discharge outlets. The tower additionally includes a flow adjustment system configured to adjust a distribution of particulate material between the secondary streams without completely restricting the flow of any of the secondary streams through their respective discharge outlet. The tower further includes a control system for controlling operation of said flow adjustment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Gregory W. Arnett, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Patent number: 9781875
    Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob R. Riffel
  • Patent number: 9031749
    Abstract: When the operator of a cultivation air seeder shifts the tractor valve to raise the cultivators and openers from the ground as the seeder prepares to turn around at the end of a field, the operating and control system of the seeder causes the cultivators to be raised first, followed in sequence by the trailing openers. The seed meter turns off as soon as the cultivators leave their lowered position, but the blower stays on so that seeds in the conduits downstream from the meter continue to be delivered to and deposited into the ground by the openers until the cultivators reach their raised position, whereupon the openers are raised. Depending upon the particular seeding mode selected by the operator, the cultivators and openers either lower simultaneously as the operator shifts the tractor valve to the lowering position when starting down the next pass, or the cultivators are lowered first, followed in sequence by the openers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Great Plaines Manfacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Verne A. Hubalek, Jacob R. Riffel
  • Publication number: 20150107502
    Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Jacob R. Riffel
  • Patent number: 8955445
    Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob R. Riffel
  • Patent number: 8903545
    Abstract: An agricultural seeding implement has a seed hopper that is weighed continuously during field operations as the seed volume in the hopper progressively diminishes. The weight information is used to perform ongoing control functions on the implement. One embodiment uses the weight information to reduce the down pressure on compaction wheels of a wing section of the machine as a function of the diminishing weight of the hopper on the main section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Patent number: 8656848
    Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. As seeds enter the head of the tower in an upward vertical direction through an inlet at the bottom of the head, they are scattered 360° in a horizontal direction by an inverted, overhead distribution cone. The inlet through which the seeds enter the distribution head has an eased configuration to reduce turbulence and promote laminar flow within the head during the dramatic transition from vertical to horizontal movement. Sensitive components such as tram line valves, solenoid actuators, and blockage sensors are protectively housed within the interior of the distribution head to avoid exposure to hostile environmental elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Verne A. Hubalek, Jacob R. Riffel
  • Patent number: 8616139
    Abstract: A cultivation air seeder has an ornamental facing around three sides of its large, metallic bulk seed hopper to enhance the appearance of the hopper and provide environmental protection for sensitive mechanical, electronic and hydraulic components. A front section of one facing panel on each side of the machine is hinged about a generally upright axis to allow the panel section to be opened and closed like a door for operator access to the components behind it. The facing can be stylishly molded from a synthetic resinous material or other non-metallic substance to facilitate manufacture and is disposed to conceal unsightly weld lines and other imperfections on the exterior surface of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Publication number: 20130319305
    Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder has a distribution head that splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. The outlets through which the secondary streams exit the head are constructed as modules that can be individually installed and replaced without disassembling the entire head. Shut-off valves and/or flow sensors may or may not be incorporated into certain or all of the modules to provide optimum user flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GREAT PLAINS MANUFACTURING, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jacob R. Riffel
  • Publication number: 20120312211
    Abstract: The seed distribution tower of an air seeder splits a single, primary stream of conveying air and seeds into a plurality of secondary streams for delivery to openers that deposit the seeds into the ground as the seeder advances. As seeds enter the head of the tower in an upward vertical direction through an inlet at the bottom of the head, they are scattered 360° in a horizontal direction by an inverted, overhead distribution cone. The inlet through which the seeds enter the distribution head has an eased configuration to reduce turbulence and promote laminar flow within the head during the dramatic transition from vertical to horizontal movement. Sensitive components such as tram line valves, solenoid actuators, and blockage sensors are protectively housed within the interior of the distribution head to avoid exposure to hostile environmental elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GREAT PLAINS MANUFACTURING, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Verne A. Hubalek, Jacob R. Riffel
  • Publication number: 20120316673
    Abstract: An agricultural seeding implement has a seed hopper that is weighed continuously during field operations as the seed volume in the hopper progressively diminishes. The weight information is used to perform ongoing control functions on the implement. One embodiment uses the weight information to reduce the down pressure on compaction wheels of a wing section of the machine as a function of the diminishing weight of the hopper on the main section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GREAT PLAINS MANUFACTURING, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Publication number: 20120312210
    Abstract: A cultivation air seeder has an ornamental facing around three sides of its large, metallic bulk seed hopper to enhance the appearance of the hopper and provide environmental protection for sensitive mechanical, electronic and hydraulic components. A front section of one facing panel on each side of the machine is hinged about a generally upright axis to allow the panel section to be opened and closed like a door for operator access to the components behind it. The facing can be stylishly molded from a synthetic resinous material or other non-metallic substance to facilitate manufacture and is disposed to conceal unsightly weld lines and other imperfections on the exterior surface of the hopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GREAT PLAINS MANUFACTURING, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jacob R. Riffel, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Publication number: 20120316736
    Abstract: When the operator of a cultivation air seeder shifts the tractor valve to raise the cultivators and openers from the ground as the seeder prepares to turn around at the end of a field, the operating and control system of the seeder causes the cultivators to be raised first, followed in sequence by the trailing openers. The seed meter turns off as soon as the cultivators leave their lowered position, but the blower stays on so that seeds in the conduits downstream from the meter continue to be delivered to and deposited into the ground by the openers until the cultivators reach their raised position, whereupon the openers are raised. Depending upon the particular seeding mode selected by the operator, the cultivators and openers either lower simultaneously as the operator shifts the tractor valve to the lowering position when starting down the next pass, or the cultivators are lowered first, followed in sequence by the openers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: GREAT PLAINS MANUFACTURING, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Verne A. Hubalek, Jacob R. Riffel