Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Smith

Kevin M. Smith 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: 11280482
    Abstract: A directionally manipulatable view enhancement apparatus including a fixed base, a rotatable support supported on the fixed base and rotatable about a pan axis, a yoke disposed on and pivotable with respect to the rotatable support about a tilt axis substantially perpendicular to the pan axis, a pan motor that rotates the rotatable support and yoke about the pan axis, a tilt motor that rotates the yoke about the tilt axis, and a first clutch between the rotatable support and the pan motor permitting the rotatable support to rotate relative to the fixed base independently of the pan motor or a second clutch between the yoke and the tilt motor allowing the yoke to rotate relative to the rotatable support independently of the tilt motor. The yoke retains an electrical component and the pan motor and tilt motor are in electrical communication with a controller remote from the fixed base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: WHELEN ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Sousa, Kevin M. Smith, Sean Brown, Tomasz J. Walczak
  • Patent number: 11266053
    Abstract: A system for de-plugging ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement includes a ground engaging tool. A fluid nozzle is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source such that pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source is flowable to the fluid nozzle. The fluid nozzle is oriented towards the ground engaging tool. Thus, pressurized fluid from the fluid nozzle is flowable towards, next to and/or against the ground engaging tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Kevin M. Smith, Joshua David Harmon
  • Patent number: 11234355
    Abstract: A system for managing material accumulation relative to an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging tool supported on an agricultural implement and an infrared sensor having a field of view directed towards the ground engaging tool. The infrared sensor may be configured to generate data indicative of a temperature gradient of field materials at the ground engaging tool. A controller of the system may be communicatively coupled to the infrared sensor. The controller may monitor the data received from the infrared sensor and determine a presence of material accumulation relative to the ground engaging tool based at least in part on the temperature gradient of the field materials at the ground engaging tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Joshua David Harmon
  • Patent number: 11206753
    Abstract: A system for controlling an implement during a tillage operation may include a frame and a ground-engaging tool pivotally coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. An actuator may be configured to bias the ground-engaging tool towards the extended position during the tillage operation. An adjustable valve may be configured to permit flow out of the actuator when a fluid pressure of the actuator exceeds a reset pressure such that the actuator allows the ground-engaging tool to pivot towards the retracted position. A controller may be configured to determine at least one of an actuator position or a load value indicative of a force applied by the ground-engaging tool against the soil during the tillage operation and adjust the reset pressure based on the at least one of the actuator position or the load value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, John H. Posselius, Christopher A. Foster, Joshua David Harmon, Bruce Anderson
  • Patent number: 11202403
    Abstract: A system for detecting the operational status of a seed-planting implement. The system includes a row unit including a frame and a residue removal device coupled to the frame. The residue removal device is configured to remove residue from a path of the row unit. The system further includes a sensor configured to capture data indicative of at least one of a position or an acceleration of the residue removal device. The system further includes a controller configured to monitor the data received from the sensor and compare at least one monitored value associated with the at least one of the position or the acceleration of the residue removal device to a predetermined threshold value set for the residue removal device. The controller is further configured to identify the residue removal device as being plugged when the at least one monitored value differs from the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210390284
    Abstract: A system for identifying objects present within a field across which an agricultural vehicle is traveling includes a transceiver-based sensor configured to capture point cloud data associated with a portion of the field present within a field of view of the transceiver-based sensor as the agricultural vehicle travels across the field. Additionally, the system includes a display device and a controller communicatively coupled to the transceiver-based sensor and the display device. The controller, in turn, is configured to analyze the captured point cloud data to create a sparse point cloud identifying at least one of a crop row or a soil ridge located within the portion of the field present within the field of view of the transceiver-based sensor. Furthermore, the controller is configured to initiate display of an image associated with the sparse point cloud on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Luca Ferrari, Aditya Singh, Trevor Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11197402
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for detecting plugging of an agricultural implement may include a disc rotatably coupled to a frame member, with the disc configured to rotate relative to soil within a field as the implement is moved across the field. The system may also include a disc scraper coupled to the frame member, with the disc scraper configured to remove the soil from the disc as the disc rotates relative to the soil. Furthermore, the system may include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of an acceleration of the disc scraper relative to frame member. Additionally, a controller of the system may be configured to monitor the acceleration of the disc scraper relative to the frame member based on data received from the sensor moreover. The controller may be further configured to determine when the disc is plugged based on the monitored acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11199845
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for distributing crop material for ensilage may include determining, with a computing device, a storage volume for the crop material. The method may also include dividing, with the computing device, the determined storage volume into a plurality of planes. Each plane of the plurality of planes may be spaced apart from each other plane of the plurality of planes along a vertical direction. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of at least one of a work vehicle or an associated implement in a manner that distributes a portion of the crop material on a given plane of the plurality of planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, John H. Posselius, Cory Douglas Hunt, Christopher A. Foster, Joshua David Harmon
  • Publication number: 20210360857
    Abstract: A crop conditioning device for an agricultural harvesting machine. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll connected to the frame, and a second conditioning roll connected to the frame such that the second conditioning roll is movable relative to the first conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension mechanism connected to the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a roll-gap mechanism connected to the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a controller which is configured for automatically setting at least one of an initial tension force and an initial roll gap dependent upon at least one of a type of crop material and at least one operational setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin Steidinger, Jeffrey B. Fay, II, Kevin M. Smith, Jeffrey Laux
  • Patent number: 11168874
    Abstract: A spotlight controller including a housing having a first control axis, a fixed base configured to mate with the housing, the housing rotatable relative to the base about a second control axis substantially perpendicular to the first control axis, a handle configured to engage the housing and pivot about the first control axis, a housing sensor arranged to detect the position of the housing relative to the base and generate a housing position signal, a handle sensor arranged to detect the position of the handle relative to the housing and generate a handle position signal, and a controller operatively connected to the housing sensor and the handle sensor, wherein the controller receives the housing position signal and the handle position signal and generates spotlight control signals based on the housing position signal and the handle position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: WHELEN ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Sousa, Kevin M. Smith, Sean Brown, Tomasz J. Walczak
  • Patent number: 11135915
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for providing implement-based speed control for a work vehicle may include a planter controller provided in operative association with a planter towed by the work vehicle and a vehicle controller provided in operative association with the work vehicle. The planter controller may be configured to access an input associated with at least one predetermined threshold value for an operating parameter of the planter and monitor the operating parameter relative to the predetermined threshold value(s) as the planter is being towed at a current ground speed of the work vehicle. In addition, when the operating parameter differs from the predetermined threshold value(s), the planter controller may be configured to adjust a speed control request transmitted to the vehicle controller to cause the current ground speed of the work vehicle to be automatically increased or decreased between predetermined maximum and minimum speed values set for the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Czapka, Kevin D. McKee, Kevin M. Smith, Robert J. Longua, Keith W. Wendte, Marvin A. Prickel
  • Publication number: 20210283642
    Abstract: A system for actuating a sensor of an agricultural sprayer may include a boom assembly and a sensor assembly supported on a portion of the boom assembly. The sensor assembly may include a field sensor movable relative to the portion of the boom assembly between an extended position and a retracted position, where the field sensor generates data indicative of one or more field conditions when in the extended position. The sensor assembly may further include a sensor actuator that moves the field sensor between the extended and retracted positions, and a controller that controls the sensor actuator to move the field sensor between the extended and retracted positions. The field sensor is spaced relative to the portion of the boom assembly by a larger distance when in the extended position than when in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11110470
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlling the operation of agricultural sprayers may a vision-based sensor configured to capture data indicative of one or more features within a field across which an agricultural sprayer is traveling. A controller of the system may be configured to identify the one or more features within the field based on the data received from the vision-based sensor and determine a position of a boom component of the agricultural sprayer relative to the one or more identified features. Furthermore, the controller may also be configured to initiate a control action to adjust the position of the boom component when it is determined that the relative position between the boom component and the one or more identified features is offset from a predetermined positional relationship defined for the boom component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Trevor Stanhope
  • Publication number: 20210239303
    Abstract: A directionally manipulatable view enhancement apparatus including a fixed base, a rotatable support supported on the fixed base and rotatable about a pan axis, a yoke disposed on and pivotable with respect to the rotatable support about a tilt axis substantially perpendicular to the pan axis, a pan motor that rotates the rotatable support and yoke about the pan axis, a tilt motor that rotates the yoke about the tilt axis, and a first clutch between the rotatable support and the pan motor permitting the rotatable support to rotate relative to the fixed base independently of the pan motor or a second clutch between the yoke and the tilt motor allowing the yoke to rotate relative to the rotatable support independently of the tilt motor. The yoke retains an electrical component and the pan motor and tilt motor are in electrical communication with a controller remote from the fixed base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: David J. SOUSA, Kevin M. SMITH, Sean BROWN, Tomasz J. WALCZAK
  • Patent number: 11076626
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for compressing crop material for ensilage may include monitoring, with a computing device, a location of a work vehicle within a silage heap as the work vehicle traverses a layer of crop material within the silage heap. The method may also include determining, with the computing device, a current density of the layer of crop material as the work vehicle traverses the layer of crop material. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of the work vehicle based on the monitored location and the determined current density such that the work vehicle compresses the layer of crop material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, John H. Posselius, Christopher A. Foster, Joshua David Harmon
  • Publication number: 20210219482
    Abstract: A system for identifying plugging within an agricultural implement is provided. The system includes a ground engaging tool configured to be supported by the agricultural implement. A fluidic actuator is coupled to the ground engaging tool. The fluidic actuator is operable to adjust the ground engaging tool between a lifted position and a ground engaging position. A pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure of fluid supplied to the fluidic actuator. A controller is communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive, from the pressure sensor, a signal that corresponds to the pressure of fluid supplied to the fluidic actuator. The controller is further configured to determine when the ground engaging tool is plugged based at least in part on the signal from the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Trevor Stanhope, Joshua David Harmon, James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20210153420
    Abstract: A system for preventing material accumulation relative to an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging tool supported on an agricultural implement and a controller configured to determine a presence of excessive residue across a forward portion of the field forward of the ground engaging tool based at least in part residue data associated with an amount of residue across a forward portion of the field. The controller may initiate a control action associated with adjusting an operating parameter of the ground engaging tool such that the amount of residue incorporated into the field by the ground engaging tool is reduced across a section of the field having excessive residue to reduce a likelihood of material accumulation relative to the ground engaging tool as it passes across the section of the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210136990
    Abstract: A system for de-plugging ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement includes a ground engaging tool. A fluid nozzle is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source such that pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source is flowable to the fluid nozzle. The fluid nozzle is oriented towards the ground engaging tool. Thus, pressurized fluid from the fluid nozzle is flowable towards, next to and/or against the ground engaging tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Kevin M. Smith, Joshua David Harmon
  • Publication number: 20210127546
    Abstract: ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system for managing material accumulation relative to an agricultural implement may include a ground engaging tool supported on an agricultural implement and an infrared sensor having a field of view directed towards the ground engaging tool, The infrared sensor may be configured to generate data indicative of a temperature gradient of field materials at the ground engaging tool. A controller of the system may be communicatively coupled to the infrared sensor. The controller may monitor the data received from the infrared sensor and determine a presence of material accumulation relative to the ground engaging tool based at least in part on the temperature gradient of the field materials at the ground engaging tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Joshua David Harmon
  • Patent number: D921259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: WHELEN ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, David J. Sousa, Sean Brown, Tomasz J. Walczak