Patents by Inventor Jerry R. Merkle

Jerry R. Merkle 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: 20230062893
    Abstract: An example work machine generally includes a main section, a pair of inner wings, a pair of outer wings, a pair of flippers, a work assembly, a ground interface assembly, and a height control assembly. The flippers are pivotable relative to the outer wings about axes that extend in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the work machine. Each flipper includes at least one corresponding work component and at least one corresponding ground interface mechanism. The height control assembly is operable to adjust heights of the work components relative to a ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Shawn J. Becker, Robert T. Casper, Isaac A. Lopez, Jerry R. Merkle, Anthony Sikora, Byron J. Hobart
  • Patent number: 10327373
    Abstract: A harrow attachment for a tillage implement includes a harrow drawbar mounting at least one rank of harrowing tools. A pivot link pivotally couples the harrow rank to the drawbar so it can trip by pivoting upward toward the drawbar from a home position in which the harrow rank is farthest away from the drawbar. A downforce spring is coupled to the drawbar and in a variable length state when the harrow rank is tripped to apply a return biasing force to the harrow rank. An adjustment mechanism couples the spring to the harrow rank and/or the pivot link in one of a plurality of adjustment locations in each of which the harrow rank is in the home position and the spring is in a fixed length state in which the biasing force is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Patent number: 10194573
    Abstract: A harrow attachment for a tillage implement has a harrow drawbar, configured to mount to a frame member of the tillage implement, and at least one harrow rank having a rank bar supporting a plurality of harrowing tools oriented to extend away from the rank bar. An anti-tangle bracket assembly has a first pivot link coupled to the harrow drawbar and a second pivot link pivotally coupled to the at least one harrow rank. The first and second pivot links pivot about pivot axes with respect to one another within a pivotal range of movement of the at least one harrow rank from a first, extended position to a second, tripped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Patent number: 10149423
    Abstract: A drawbar for finishing attachments is arranged to attach to a fore-aft frame member of a tillage implement. The drawbar has a saddle with spaced apart side walls defining a channel configured to receive the frame member. When the frame member is received in the channel, the side walls of the saddle overlap side walls of the frame member and extend in the fore-aft direction rearward of an end of the frame member. The side walls of the saddle and the frame member have mounting openings that align along a lateral direction transverse to the fore-aft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Patent number: 10045475
    Abstract: A finishing attachment for a tillage implement has a support arm configured to mount to the frame so that a long dimension of the support arm extends in a fore-aft direction of the implement. A cross-bar having a long dimension extending transverse to the fore-aft direction is coupled to a free end of the support arm. A roller basket is mounted to the cross-bar for rotation with respect to the cross-bar. A pivot bracket couples the free end of the support arm to the cross-bar. The pivot bracket forms a pivot axis extending substantially in the fore-aft direction of travel about which the roller basket pivots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Publication number: 20170079192
    Abstract: A finishing attachment for a tillage implement has a support arm configured to mount to the frame so that a long dimension of the support arm extends in a fore-aft direction of the implement. A cross-bar having a long dimension extending transverse to the fore-aft direction is coupled to a free end of the support arm. A roller basket is mounted to the cross-bar for rotation with respect to the cross-bar. A pivot bracket couples the free end of the support arm to the cross-bar. The pivot bracket forms a pivot axis extending substantially in the fore-aft direction of travel about which the roller basket pivots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Publication number: 20170079190
    Abstract: A harrow attachment for a tillage implement includes a harrow drawbar mounting at least one rank of harrowing tools. A pivot link pivotally couples the harrow rank to the drawbar so it can trip by pivoting upward toward the drawbar from a home position in which the harrow rank is farthest away from the drawbar. A downforce spring is coupled to the drawbar and in a variable length state when the harrow rank is tripped to apply a return biasing force to the harrow rank. An adjustment mechanism couples the spring to the harrow rank and/or the pivot link in one of a plurality of adjustment locations in each of which the harrow rank is in the home position and the spring is in a fixed length state in which the biasing force is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Publication number: 20170079189
    Abstract: A harrow attachment for a tillage implement has a harrow drawbar, configured to mount to a frame member of the tillage implement, and at least one harrow rank having a rank bar supporting a plurality of harrowing tools oriented to extend away from the rank bar. An anti-tangle bracket assembly has a first pivot link coupled to the harrow drawbar and a second pivot link pivotally coupled to the at least one harrow rank. The first and second pivot links pivot about pivot axes with respect to one another within a pivotal range of movement of the at least one harrow rank from a first, extended position to a second, tripped position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno
  • Publication number: 20170079197
    Abstract: A drawbar for finishing attachments is arranged to attach to a fore-aft frame member of a tillage implement. The drawbar has a saddle with spaced apart side walls defining a channel configured to receive the frame member. When the frame member is received in the channel, the side walls of the saddle overlap side walls of the frame member and extend in the fore-aft direction rearward of an end of the frame member. The side walls of the saddle and the frame member have mounting openings that align along a lateral direction transverse to the fore-aft direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Jerry R. Merkle, Bryan D. Blauwet, Luc Janelle, Jeremy Nefzger, Shawn J. Becker, Humberto Moreno