Patents by Inventor James M. Oepping

James M. Oepping 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: 7168636
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for applying a biologically active or chemical substance to a relatively large volume harvested or pre-harvested crop includes relatively small container of a mixture biologically active or chemical substance and water in fluid communication with fluid conduit. A pump moves mixture from the bottle through the conduit. A source of pressurized air is in fluid communication with the conduit to aerate the mixture. The aerated mixture is expelled through a nozzle at distal end of the conduit. In one aspect, the controller can monitor speed of the pump by monitoring operating voltage of the pump. Speed of the pump can be adjusted to adjust application rate. In one aspect, a process combines a flow of air through an orifice with the metering of a low volume of additive, such as an aid to preservation, to a crop as it is being cut or harvested to provide for even distribution of the additive to the crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Lebeda, James M. Oepping, Jeffrey S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6848627
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for spraying forage additives on harvested agricultural crops and includes a container of concentrated additive, an atomizing spray nozzle, a metering pump for supplying the forage additive to the spray nozzle and an electrical control for actuating the metering to provide a supply of concentrated additive to the spray nozzle as desired. In a preferred embodiment, the forage additive container is of a sufficiently small size that it contains less than three thousand milliliters of the concentrated additive for spraying on the harvested crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Oepping, Joseph R. Lebeda, Gabi Oetjen, Ralf Oetjen, Barbara Ruser, Jakob Kleinmans, Siegfried Dopp
  • Publication number: 20030201333
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for spraying forage additives on harvested agricultural crops and includes a container of concentrated additive, an atomizing spray nozzle, a metering pump for supplying the forage additive to the spray nozzle and an electrical control for actuating the metering to provide a supply of concentrated additive to the spray nozzle as desired. In a preferred embodiment, the forage additive container is of a sufficiently small size that it contains less than three thousand milliliters of the concentrated additive for spraying on the harvested crop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: James M. Oepping, Joseph R. Lebeda, Gabi Oetjen, Ralf Oetjen, Barbara Ruser, Jakob Kleinmans, Siegfried Dopp
  • Publication number: 20020124541
    Abstract: A forage additive application system of the present invention is adapted to apply a additive onto forage without first mixing the concentrated additive with a large volume of water. The application system includes a separate water tank and additive container. As water is pumped through a nozzle, the forage additive is injected into the water at a rate dependent upon the desired additive application rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: James M. Oepping, Jeffrey S. Roberts
  • Patent number: D409303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Oepping