Patents by Inventor James W. Minnihan

James W. Minnihan 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: 20120047861
    Abstract: A system for use with the combine comprises a plurality of sensors to detect the uniformity of crop material being conveyed running threshing portion of the combine to including system into combine. Methods and systems are provided that utilize this plurality of sensors to provide substantially automatic control of combine parameters that mitigate the non-uniformity of a grain bed in the cleaning system. The system may also inform an operator of a suggested manual adjustments to mitigate the non-uniformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Dale R. Tanis, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 8118649
    Abstract: A system for use with the combine comprises a plurality of sensors to detect the uniformity of crop material being conveyed running threshing portion of the combine to including system into combine. Methods and systems are provided that utilize this plurality of sensors to provide substantially automatic control of combine parameters that mitigate the non-uniformity of a grain bed in the cleaning system. The system may also inform an operator of a suggested manual adjustments to mitigate the non-uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Craig Elwyn Murray, Dale R. Tanis, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 7390252
    Abstract: A rotor for a threshing system of an agricultural combine, the rotor having a sequence of four inlet impellers disposed around an inlet section thereof at predetermined angularly spaced positions around a rotational axis therethrough, the impellers being oriented and configured for conveying crop material along generally helical flow paths, respectively, about the inlet section to a threshing section of the rotor when rotated and the crop material is fed thereto, and three rasp bars configured for threshing the crop material disposed in axially offset relation in a row extending circumferentially about the threshing section, including a first rasp bar at a first axial position adjacent to an end of the second inlet impeller of the sequence, a second rasp bar at a second axial position adjacent to an end of the third impeller of the sequence, and a third rasp bar at a third axial position and axially spaced from the first impeller of the sequence defining a crop material flow path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Dale R. Tanis, James W. Minnihan, Craig E. Murray
  • Patent number: 6969315
    Abstract: A foldable extension for an unloading door of a cotton receiving receptacle of cotton harvester which, when in a deployed position, increases the overall length of the door and directs cotton conveyed over the extension in a downward direction so as to facilitate more precise placement in a receiving receptacle. The extension does not have to be folded to its stored position each time the unloading door is closed, and when folded into its stored positions, does not increase the overall height of the harvester or interfere with telescopic operation of upper and lower portions of the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin S. Richman, Lyle P. Mangen, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 5615989
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying granular material includes a first conveyor (such as an auger) feeding a second conveyor. In the improvement, the first conveyor feeds granular material into a cone-like converging member. Such converging member defines an area which generally decreases in the direction of material movement. Such converging member may have any of several shapes and a truncated cone shape is preferred for effectiveness, ease of fabrication and the like. In specific applications of the new apparatus on a grain combine, the volume of corn conveyed by the apparatus increased 15% or more when using the converging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Matousek, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 5192246
    Abstract: A combine with a rotor assembly having an impeller at a forward end and a cylindrical drum axially extending from the impeller. The rotor assembly is provided with a series of thresher elements secured about the circumference of the rotor in generally helical arrays and is provided with a plurality of linearly extended thresher elements each having a smooth outer material engaging surface and which are secured about that end of the drum adjacent the impeller. When the rotor assembly is operated, the plurality of linearly extended thresher elements form a paddle like mechanism which extends to a forward end of the rotor assembly to offer enhanced control over the abundance of material being threshed at a forward end of the rotor assembly while simultaneously minimizing damage to the crop thereby maximizing the farmer's profit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Francis, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 5192245
    Abstract: A thresher element adapted for securement to a combine rotor for threshing crop materials. The thresher element has a generally L-shaped configuration including first and second portions which angle away from each other. The second portion of each thresher element is configured to impact with crop materials moving therepast while the first portion deflects crop material from impacting with thresher element mountings on the rotor. The first and second portions of the thresher elements are each provided with a smooth outer material engaging surface extending thereover to inhibit abrading action between the crop material and the thresher elements. The smooth outer material engaging surface extending over the second portion of the thresher element preferably has a curved configuration. A smooth spike can extend outwardly from the second portion of the thresher element to facilitate handling of crop material during the threshing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Francis, James W. Minnihan