Patents by Inventor John C. Endsley

John C. Endsley 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: 11259454
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for detecting ground engaging tool float for an agricultural implement may include an implement having a ground engaging tool pivotally coupled to a frame and a biasing element coupled between the frame and the ground engaging tool. The biasing element may be configured to bias the ground engaging tool to a predetermined ground engaging tool position relative to the frame. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of the ground engaging tool relative to the frame. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor the current position of the ground engaging tool based on measurement signals received from the sensor and identify a time period across which the ground engaging tool is displaced from the predetermined ground engaging tool position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Kovach, Christopher Barrick, John C. Endsley, James W. Henry, Tracey D. Meiners, Klint J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11252860
    Abstract: An agricultural product control system for an agricultural implement includes an actuator configured to control a penetration depth of an agricultural product application system within soil, a sensor positioned above a surface of the soil and configured to output a sensor signal indicative of agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and a controller including a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and output a control signal to the actuator indicative of instructions to adjust the penetration depth of the agricultural product application system based on the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: David Long, John C. Endsley, Paul A. Hurtis
  • Patent number: 10912245
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for regulating the flow of fluid supplied to actuators of an agricultural implement may include a tool and a fluid-driven actuator configured to actuate the tool relative to a surface. The system may also include a pump configured to supply fluid to the fluid-driven actuator and a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid supplied to the fluid-driven actuator. Furthermore, the system may include a first sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a first pressure upstream of the valve and a second sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a second pressure downstream of the valve. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors, with the controller configured to determine a pressure differential across the valve based on measurement signals received from the first and second sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Stovall, Michael Freisleben, Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Michael Glennon, Kevin D. McKee
  • Patent number: 10820471
    Abstract: A hydraulic system including a supply line, an implement-based control valve, an override valve supported by the implement, and a bypass line. The control valve is fluidly coupled to the supply line and configured to regulate a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied through a downstream actuator line to a hydraulic actuator of the implement. The override valve is fluidly coupled to the actuator line downstream of the control valve and includes a supply position at which the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the control valve passes through the override valve to the hydraulic actuator. The override valve is actuatable to at least one override position at which the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the control valve is cut-off. The bypass line is fluidly coupled between the supply line and the override valve such that a portion of the pressurized hydraulic fluid flows to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Michael Glennon, Kevin D. McKee
  • Patent number: 10820470
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a supply line, at least one implement-based control valve, an implement-based pressure regulating valve, and a load sensing circuit. The implement-based control valve(s) is fluidly coupled to the supply line and configured to regulate a flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied through at least one downstream actuator line to at least one hydraulic actuator of the implement. The implement-based pressure regulating valve is fluidly coupled to the supply line upstream of the control valve(s) and configured to regulate a fluid pressure to be equal to or greater than a minimum fluid pressure. The load sensing circuit is fluidly coupled to the pressure regulating valve and provides a line or load pressure to the pressure regulating valve. The pressure regulating valve is configured to regulate the supply of the pressurized hydraulic fluid based on the line pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Michael Glennon, Kevin D. McKee
  • Patent number: 10813269
    Abstract: A system for remotely controlling hydraulic component of an agricultural implement towed by a work vehicle may include a vehicle-based valve assembly that selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to one or more supply lines of the implement. Specifically, a first supply line may be fluidly coupled to an implement-based valve assembly that regulates the supply of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator through a first actuator line. A second supply line may be fluidly coupled to the first actuator line downstream of the implement-based valve assembly such that when a user provides a control input at a remote interface, the vehicle-based valve assembly may instead regulate the supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator. The supply of the hydraulic fluid through the supply lines may additionally be controlled by first and second override valves fluidly coupled to the first and second supply lines, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Timothy R. Blunier, John C. Endsley
  • Patent number: 10752237
    Abstract: A method for automatically leveling an agricultural implement being towed by a work vehicle includes monitoring a vehicle inclination angle via at least one vehicle-based sensor supported on the work vehicle, monitoring an implement inclination angle via at least one implement-based sensor supported on the implement, and determining that the work vehicle has begun to travel across an inclined surface based on the vehicle inclination angle. The method further includes initially adjusting a position of a hitch of the work vehicle in a first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within a predetermined angular inclination range as the vehicle travels across the inclined surface and adjusting the position of the hitch in a second direction opposite the first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within the predetermined angular inclination range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Klint J. Peterson, Christopher Barrick, John C. Endsley, James W. Henry, Tracey D. Meiners
  • Publication number: 20200187407
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for regulating the flow of fluid supplied to actuators of an agricultural implement may include a tool and a fluid-driven actuator configured to actuate the tool relative to a surface. The system may also include a pump configured to supply fluid to the fluid-driven actuator and a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid supplied to the fluid-driven actuator. Furthermore, the system may include a first sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a first pressure upstream of the valve and a second sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a second pressure downstream of the valve. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors, with the controller configured to determine a pressure differential across the valve based on measurement signals received from the first and second sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Stovall, Michael Freisleben, Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Michael Glennon, Kevin D. McKee
  • Publication number: 20200146207
    Abstract: An agricultural product control system for an agricultural implement includes an actuator configured to control a penetration depth of an agricultural product application system within soil, a sensor positioned above a surface of the soil and configured to output a sensor signal indicative of agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and a controller including a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil, and output a control signal to the actuator indicative of instructions to adjust the penetration depth of the agricultural product application system based on the sensor signal indicative of the agricultural product above the surface of the soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: David Long, John C. Endsley, Paul A. Hurtis
  • Patent number: 10645857
    Abstract: An implement control system includes an automatic control valve assembly configured to utilize fluid from a supply conduit to cause a cylinder to raise a ground engaging tool relative to a soil surface and to utilize the fluid flow from the supply conduit to cause the cylinder to lower the ground engaging tool relative to the soil surface while an automatic control mode is active. The implement control system also includes a controller configured to control the automatic control valve assembly based on a position of the ground engaging tool relative to the soil surface to control the position of the ground engaging tool relative to the soil surface while the automatic control mode is active. The controller is also configured to deactivate the automatic control mode in response to fluid pressure within a first manual control conduit exceeding a threshold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Glennon, Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Christopher Stovall
  • Publication number: 20200060064
    Abstract: A hydraulic system including a supply line, an implement-based control valve, an override valve supported by the implement, and a bypass line. The control valve is fluidly coupled to the supply line and configured to regulate a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied through a downstream actuator line to a hydraulic actuator of the implement. The override valve is fluidly coupled to the actuator line downstream of the control valve and includes a supply position at which the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the control valve passes through the override valve to the hydraulic actuator. The override valve is actuatable to at least one override position at which the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the control valve is cut-off. The bypass line is fluidly coupled between the supply line and the override valve such that a portion of the pressurized hydraulic fluid flows to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Michael Glennon, Kevin D. McKee
  • Publication number: 20200060066
    Abstract: A system for remotely controlling hydraulic component of an agricultural implement towed by a work vehicle may include a vehicle-based valve assembly that selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to one or more supply lines of the implement. Specifically, a first supply line may be fluidly coupled to an implement-based valve assembly that regulates the supply of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator through a first actuator line. A second supply line may be fluidly coupled to the first actuator line downstream of the implement-based valve assembly such that when a user provides a control input at a remote interface, the vehicle-based valve assembly may instead regulate the supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator. The supply of the hydraulic fluid through the supply lines may additionally be controlled by first and second override valves fluidly coupled to the first and second supply lines, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy R. Blunier, John C. Endsley
  • Publication number: 20200060063
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a supply line, at least one implement-based control valve, an implement-based pressure regulating valve, and a load sensing circuit. The implement-based control valve(s) is fluidly coupled to the supply line and configured to regulate a flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied through at least one downstream actuator line to at least one hydraulic actuator of the implement. The implement-based pressure regulating valve is fluidly coupled to the supply line upstream of the control valve(s) and configured to regulate a fluid pressure to be equal to or greater than a minimum fluid pressure. The load sensing circuit is fluidly coupled to the pressure regulating valve and provides a line or load pressure to the pressure regulating valve. The pressure regulating valve is configured to regulate the supply of the pressurized hydraulic fluid based on the line pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Michael Glennon, Kevin D. McKee
  • Publication number: 20200029485
    Abstract: An implement control system includes an automatic control valve assembly configured to utilize fluid from a supply conduit to cause a cylinder to raise a ground engaging tool relative to a soil surface and to utilize the fluid flow from the supply conduit to cause the cylinder to lower the ground engaging tool relative to the soil surface while an automatic control mode is active. The implement control system also includes a controller configured to control the automatic control valve assembly based on a position of the ground engaging tool relative to the soil surface to control the position of the ground engaging tool relative to the soil surface while the automatic control mode is active. The controller is also configured to deactivate the automatic control mode in response to fluid pressure within a first manual control conduit exceeding a threshold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael W. Glennon, Duqiang Wu, John C. Endsley, Christopher Stovall
  • Publication number: 20190126912
    Abstract: A method for automatically leveling an agricultural implement being towed by a work vehicle may generally include monitoring a vehicle inclination angle via at least one vehicle-based sensor supported on the work vehicle, monitoring an implement inclination angle via at least one implement-based sensor supported on the implement, and determining that the work vehicle has begun to travel across an inclined surface based on the vehicle inclination angle. Additionally, the method may include initially adjusting a position of a hitch of the work vehicle in a first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within a predetermined angular inclination range as the vehicle travels across the inclined surface and adjusting the position of the hitch in a second direction opposite the first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within the predetermined angular inclination range as at least one ground-engaging component of the implement travels across the inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: KLINT J. PETERSON, CHRISTOPHER BARRICK, JOHN C. ENDSLEY, JAMES W. HENRY, TRACEY D. MEINERS
  • Publication number: 20180310466
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for detecting ground engaging tool float for an agricultural implement may include an implement having a ground engaging tool pivotally coupled to a frame and a biasing element coupled between the frame and the ground engaging tool. The biasing element may be configured to bias the ground engaging tool to a predetermined ground engaging tool position relative to the frame. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of the ground engaging tool relative to the frame. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor the current position of the ground engaging tool based on measurement signals received from the sensor and identify a time period across which the ground engaging tool is displaced from the predetermined ground engaging tool position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michael G. Kovach, Christopher Barrick, John C. Endsley, James W. Henry, Tracey D. Meiners, Klint J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9999171
    Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement with a hydraulic system coupled to actuators of foldable wing sections and to actuators of wheel assemblies associated with each wing section. The hydraulic system having a wing sensor detecting an inner wing section being folded and at least one valve coupled to the wing sensor. The valve being activated by the wing sensor enabling a hydraulic fluid flow to the actuators associated with the wheel assemblies of the wing sections causing the wheel assemblies associated with the wing sections to thereby retract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Brice Magarity, Kena Shah, Dean A. Knobloch, John C. Endsley, Matthew R. Sudbrink, Jason E. Andrews, David Schulte
  • Publication number: 20170332543
    Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement with a hydraulic system coupled to actuators of foldable wing sections and to actuators of wheel assemblies associated with each wing section. The hydraulic system having a wing sensor detecting an inner wing section being folded and at least one valve coupled to the wing sensor. The valve being activated by the wing sensor enabling a hydraulic fluid flow to the actuators associated with the wheel assemblies of the wing sections causing the wheel assemblies associated with the wing sections to thereby retract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Brice Magarity, Kena Shah, Dean A. Knobloch, John C. Endsley, Matthew R. Sudbrink, Jason E. Andrews, David Schulte
  • Patent number: 6460333
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure transformer has a port block which is attached to an end cap. The end cap includes a plurality of ports opening at an end face and at least one actuation port opening at or near a peripheral surface. A barrel which is rotatable about an axis includes a second end face and a plurality of cylinders having respective cylinder ports which open at the second end face. A port block disposed between the first end face and the second end face is rotatable about an axis and has a first face surface, a second face surface and a plurality of ports extending between the first face surface and the second face surface. The port block includes a radial periphery and at least one vane extending radially outward from the radial periphery to a position adjacent the peripheral surface of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Endsley, Frank J. Raab, David C. Hale
  • Publication number: 20020078686
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure transformer for the conversion of an input hydraulic power to an output hydraulic power, and particularly suitable for use in a work machine having a hydraulic work unit requiring a hydraulic input power, has a port block with improved balanced loading which is attached to an end cap in a simplified manner. The end cap includes an opening having a peripheral surface and a first end face. The end cap further includes a plurality of ports opening at the end face and at least one actuation port opening at or near the peripheral surface. A barrel which is rotatable about an axis includes a second end face and a plurality of cylinders having respective cylinder ports which open at the second end face. A port block is disposed within the end cap opening between the first end face of the end cap and the second end face of the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: John C. Endsley, Frank J. Raab, David C. Hale