Patents by Inventor Justin C. Freehill

Justin C. Freehill 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: 11758850
    Abstract: A harvesting assembly for harvesting a crop includes a frame, a cutting knife configured to cut crop, a feed drum, a draper assembly, a first auger assembly, and a second auger assembly. The draper assembly and the auger assemblies are configured to move the cut crop toward the feed drum. The auger assemblies each include a first auger, a second auger, and a mounting unit coupled to the frame and coupled between the first auger and the second auger to support the first auger and the second auger during rotation of the augers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Sumit Kumar, Eric Hans Pierre Pellegrini, Justin C. Freehill, Bryan R. Yanke, Duane M. Bomleny, Joshua R. Pierson, Lawrence F. Kane, Balaji Parthasarathy
  • Publication number: 20230070185
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a cutter head having a cutter bar for cutting crop from a ground surface and a rotatable reel located above the cutter bar. Reel arms of the reel each include a plurality of fingers thereon to engage the crop. The cutter head also has an actuator configured to adjust a pitch of the fingers with respect to the reel arms. A controller is operably connected with the cutter head and is configured to receive an input on a cutter head posture relative to the ground surface, with the input on the posture of the cutter head including one or more of a height of the cutter head or an angle of the cutter head relative to the ground surface. The controller operates the actuator to automatically control the pitch of the plurality of fingers based on the received input on the posture of the cutter head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel S. Hoffman, Cristiano Engelmann, Anthony J. Knepper, Justin C. Freehill, Duane M. Bomleny, Corwin M. Puryk
  • Patent number: 11483977
    Abstract: A harvesting head for a collection machine that harvests material. The head includes conveyor belts to transport material towards the collection machine, and blower heads to help prevent material from falling off the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts can include a feed belt that feeds material towards the collection machine, and a side belt that carries material towards the feed belt. Blower heads can blow across the side belt and towards the center of the feed belt. Blower heads can be located below the side belt. Blower heads can be located near the front of the feed belt and blow towards the collection machine. A feed drum can move material towards the collection machine, and blower heads can blow across the feed drum and towards the feed belt or collection machine. Blower heads can be movable, or have adjustable flow rate, velocity, direction or spread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew R. White, Corwin M. Puryk, Daniel S. Hoffman, Justin C. Freehill, Shreyas Modak, Bryan R. Yanke
  • Publication number: 20220240449
    Abstract: An agricultural header comprises a first frame, a second frame, an endless side draper belt supported by the first frame, an endless center draper belt positioned in register with the side draper belt to receive cut crop laterally therefrom, an inter-frame flexible seal coupled to the first frame and the second frame. The first frame is coupled for movement relative to the second frame. The flexible seal underlies the side draper belt to receive cut crop that falls from the side draper belt and is arranged relative to the center draper belt to guide fallen crop toward the center draper belt. The flexible seal is configured to flex to accommodate movement of the first frame relative to the second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew R. White, Duane M. Bomleny, Bryan R. Yanke, Justin C. Freehill
  • Patent number: 11224167
    Abstract: Example draper heads may include an endless belt conveyor and a catch pan disposed adjacent to the endless belt conveyor to collect crop material and defining a uniform gap formed between at least a portion of the catch pan and a portion of an endless belt of the endless belt conveyor located adjacent to the catch pan. A cleat formed on the endless belt cooperates with the catch pan to transport the collected crop material onto the endless belt. The catch pan may include a contoured end that conforms to a shape formed by the endless belt at an end of the endless belt conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. White, Daniel S. Hoffman, Corwin M. Puryk, Justin C. Freehill, Shreyas Modak, Bryan R. Yanke
  • Publication number: 20210204479
    Abstract: A harvesting head for a collection machine that harvests material. The head includes conveyor belts to transport material towards the collection machine, and blower heads to help prevent material from falling off the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts can include a feed belt that feeds material towards the collection machine, and a side belt that carries material towards the feed belt. Blower heads can blow across the side belt and towards the center of the feed belt. Blower heads can be located below the side belt. Blower heads can be located near the front of the feed belt and blow towards the collection machine. A feed drum can move material towards the collection machine, and blower heads can blow across the feed drum and towards the feed belt or collection machine. Blower heads can be movable, or have adjustable flow rate, velocity, direction or spread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew R. White, Corwin M. Puryk, Daniel S. Hoffman, Justin C. Freehill, Shreyas Modak, Bryan R. Yanke
  • Publication number: 20210092902
    Abstract: A harvesting assembly for harvesting a crop includes a frame, a cutting knife configured cut crop, a feed drum, a draper assembly, a first auger assembly, and a second auger assembly. The draper assembly and the auger assemblies are configured to move the cut crop toward to the feed drum. The auger assemblies each include a first auger, a second auger, and a mounting unit coupled to the frame and coupled between the first auger and the second auger to support the first auger and the second auger during rotation of the augers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Sumit Kumar, Eric Hans, Pierre Pellegrini, Justin C. Freehill, Bryan R. Yanke, Duane M. Bomleny, Joshua R. Pierson, Lawrence F. Kane, Balaji Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 10806081
    Abstract: Harvesting machines and agricultural harvesting heads for harvesting machines are disclosed herein. A harvesting machine includes a frame, an elongate reciprocating knife, a conveyor system, a drum conveyor, and a crop deflector. The elongate reciprocating knife is coupled to a forward edge of the frame and configured to cut crop material adjacent to the ground. The conveyor system is supported by the frame and configured to carry cut crop material toward a central portion of the frame and rearward therefrom. The drum conveyor is located directly behind at least a portion of the conveyor system, and the drum conveyor includes an elongate cylindrical drum supported for rotation on the frame about a drum axis and a plurality of elongate fingers that at least partially extend through an outer wall of the cylindrical drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jody I. Eyestone, Justin C. Freehill
  • Publication number: 20190075730
    Abstract: Harvesting machines and agricultural harvesting heads for harvesting machines are disclosed herein. A harvesting machine includes a frame, an elongate reciprocating knife, a conveyor system, a drum conveyor, and a crop deflector. The elongate reciprocating knife is coupled to a forward edge of the frame and configured to cut crop material adjacent to the ground. The conveyor system is supported by the frame and configured to carry cut crop material toward a central portion of the frame and rearward therefrom. The drum conveyor is located directly behind at least a portion of the conveyor system, and the drum conveyor includes an elongate cylindrical drum supported for rotation on the frame about a drum axis and a plurality of elongate fingers that at least partially extend through an outer wall of the cylindrical drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Jody I. Eyestone, Justin C. Freehill
  • Patent number: 9750192
    Abstract: An integrated fan and axle arrangement for an agricultural machine having a an impeller may include a front axle assembly and a fan housing. The front axle assembly supports one or more front wheels of the agricultural vehicle. The impeller rotates within the fan housing to provide an air flow within the agricultural vehicle. A laterally extending portion of the fan housing may form part of the front axle assembly, such that the laterally extending portion of the fan housing may provide structural rigidity to the front axle assembly for the support of the one or more front wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ryan P. Mackin, Justin C. Freehill, Mark L. Pearson, Jared R. Suster
  • Patent number: 8827069
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly (26) includes a first frame (50) supporting a first conveyor (28) for feeding material in a first conveying direction. The conveyor assembly (26) also includes a second frame (60) supporting a second conveyor (30) for feeding material in a second conveying direction parallel to the first conveying direction. The second frame (60) is movable with respect to the first frame (50) along the second conveying direction between a retracted position and an extended position. A side shield (70) is connected to a side of the second frame (60) and shields the second conveyor (30) laterally. An elongate, flexible seal (94) is mounted to the side shield (70), the flexible seal (94) bridging a gap between the side shield (70) and the second frame (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Justin C Freehill, Douglas G Temple, Bruce A Coers, Shane Marty Anderson
  • Patent number: 8187064
    Abstract: A chopper for an agricultural combine has blades with an overload release mechanism that permits them to pivot out of the way when the chopper is obstructed and experiences an overload condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Schlesser, Justin C. Freehill
  • Publication number: 20110070932
    Abstract: A chopper for an agricultural combine has blades with an overload release mechanism that permits them to pivot out of the way when the chopper is obstructed and experiences an overload condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Schlesser, Justin C. Freehill