Patents by Inventor Larry M. Conrad

Larry M. Conrad 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: 12171156
    Abstract: A system for dispensing crop input products from multiple meters per crop row, including: a) a georeferencing module configured to receive and process georeferenced location information; b) a prescriptive control module configured to receive the processed georeferenced location information from the georeferencing module and utilize the georeferenced location information to generate specific prescriptive rate information for individual meters in the field; and, c) a meter controller module operatively connected to the prescriptive control module. The meter controller module is configured to utilize the specific prescriptive rate information to individually control multiple meters per crop row, to simultaneously dispense crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric G. Wintemute, John J. Richardson, Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad, Rex A. Rysdam, Nathaniel R. Claussen, Richard M. Porter
  • Patent number: 12048265
    Abstract: A system for dispensing low rate agricultural products, includes a syringe-based agricultural product metering system, at least one agricultural product tube, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to a source of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tube is operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Woodruff, Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 12004445
    Abstract: A system for dispensing agricultural products includes an agricultural product container having a memory circuit associated therewith for storing data, the stored data including data unique to the container and the quantity of material dispensed including specific rates of application. An application rate meter device is operatively connected to the agricultural product container and is configured to dispense the agricultural product from the agricultural product container. Precision placement equipment includes a placement tube assembly operatively connected to the application rate meter device to place the agricultural products in the desired locations for efficient activity of the agricultural product. Each placement tube assembly is mounted between depth wheels of a depth control wheel assembly of a planter for placement of product in-furrow between the depth wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Rex A Rysdam, Nathaniel R. Claussen, Richard M. Porter
  • Patent number: 11991945
    Abstract: A system for dispensing liquid agricultural products with seed includes a control system; a seed transport mechanism; an agricultural product supply system; and, a seed brush assembly. The seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense agricultural products in response to an output signal from the control system. A brush housing structure of the seed brush assembly receives seed from the seed transport mechanism. A brush of the seed brush assembly has bristles positioned within the brush housing structure. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense the liquid agricultural products onto the bristles. The bristles are configured to minimize the resistance associated with the passage of seed past the wetted bristles. The liquid agricultural product is transferred from the brushes onto the seed as the seed is dispensed prior to the seed hitting the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 11740111
    Abstract: A supply tube assembly for measuring a liquid agricultural product application rate. An upstream portion of a supply tube has an upstream portion outlet end. A downstream portion has a downstream portion inlet end. The sensor body assembly includes a sensor body, a first sensing plate, and a second sensing plate. The sensor body has a sensor inlet end positioned to receive an inlet flow of the liquid agricultural product from the upstream portion and a sensor outlet end positioned to receive an outlet flow of the liquid agricultural product. The sensor body is an enclosure having a cross sectional area larger than the cross sectional area of the upstream portion of the supply tube and the downstream portion of the supply tube. Electronic components are configured to measure the liquid agricultural product application rate between the first sensing plate and the second sensing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Richard L. Rice
  • Publication number: 20220142066
    Abstract: A supply tube assembly for measuring a liquid agricultural product application rate. An upstream portion of a supply tube has an upstream portion outlet end. A downstream portion has a downstream portion inlet end. The sensor body assembly includes a sensor body, a first sensing plate, and a second sensing plate. The sensor body has a sensor inlet end positioned to receive an inlet flow of the liquid agricultural product from the upstream portion and a sensor outlet end positioned to receive an outlet flow of the liquid agricultural product. The sensor body is an enclosure having a cross sectional area larger than the cross sectional area of the upstream portion of the supply tube and the downstream portion of the supply tube. Electronic components are configured to measure the liquid agricultural product application rate between the first sensing plate and the second sensing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, RICHARD L. RICE
  • Patent number: 11231305
    Abstract: A flow sensor apparatus for monitoring a directed stream of an agricultural product from an application port of a supply tube. The directed stream has a target directed portion and an off-target portion. A sensor housing includes a conical flow receiving element and a sensor body. The receiving element has an inlet orifice at a first end and a receiving element outlet at a second end. The first end is smaller than the second end. The sensor body has a sensor inlet end positioned to receive a target directed portion of the directed stream from the receiving element outlet of the conical flow receiving element wherein an off-target portion of the directed stream is not sensed. The sensor housing and sensor element are positioned external to the application port and thus positioned to provide measurement, targeting, and timing of the agricultural product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Richard L. Rice
  • Patent number: 11122730
    Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products, includes a syringe-based agricultural product metering system, a number of agricultural product tubes, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to sources of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tubes are operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith Woodruff, Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 11058046
    Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products that includes a multiple low rate agricultural (MLRA) product application device configured to cooperate with a planting equipment monitor assembly positioned to sense a seed being discharged from high speed planting equipment. Each MLRA product application device comprises a common housing for a number of low rate agricultural product input assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Richard L. Rice, Keith Woodruff
  • Publication number: 20210199481
    Abstract: A flow sensor apparatus for monitoring a directed stream of an agricultural product from an application port of a supply tube. The directed stream has a target directed portion and an off-target portion. A sensor housing includes a conical flow receiving element and a sensor body. The receiving element has an inlet orifice at a first end and a receiving element outlet at a second end. The first end is smaller than the second end. The sensor body has a sensor inlet end positioned to receive a target directed portion of the directed stream from the receiving element outlet of the conical flow receiving element wherein an off-target portion of the directed stream is not sensed. The sensor housing and sensor element are positioned external to the application port and thus positioned to provide measurement, targeting, and timing of the agricultural product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, RICHARD L. RICE
  • Patent number: 11026362
    Abstract: A system for dispensing liquid agricultural products with seed includes a control system; a seed transport mechanism; an agricultural product supply system; and, a seed brush assembly. The seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense agricultural products in response to an output signal from the control system. A brush housing structure of the seed brush assembly receives seed from the seed transport mechanism. A brush of the seed brush assembly has bristles positioned within the brush housing structure. The agricultural product supply system is configured to dispense the liquid agricultural products onto the bristles. The bristles are configured to minimize the resistance associated with the passage of seed past the wetted bristles. The liquid agricultural product is transferred from the brushes onto the seed as the seed is dispensed prior to the seed hitting the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 10948323
    Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Robert J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20200363244
    Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Robert J. Weber
  • Patent number: 10806073
    Abstract: A system for dispensing agricultural products includes an agricultural product container having a memory circuit associated therewith for storing data, the stored data including data unique to the container and the quantity of material dispensed including specific rates of application. An application rate meter device is operatively connected to the agricultural product container and is configured to dispense the agricultural product from the agricultural product container. Precision placement equipment includes a placement tube assembly operatively connected to the application rate meter device to place the agricultural products in the desired locations for efficient activity of the agricultural product. Each placement tube assembly is mounted between depth wheels of a depth control wheel assembly of a planter for placement of product in-furrow between the depth wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Rex A. Rysdam, Nathaniel R. Claussen, Richard M. Porter
  • Patent number: 10739173
    Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: AMERICAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Robert J. Weber
  • Patent number: 10517206
    Abstract: A system for dispensing crop input products from multiple meters per crop row, including: a) a georeferencing module configured to receive and process georeferenced location information; b) a prescriptive control module configured to receive the processed georeferenced location information from the georeferencing module and utilize the georeferenced location information to generate specific prescriptive rate information for individual meters in the field; and, c) a meter controller module operatively connected to the prescriptive control module. The meter controller module is configured to utilize the specific prescriptive rate information to individually control multiple meters per crop row, to simultaneously dispense crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric G. Wintemute, John J. Richardson, Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad, Rex A. Rysdam, Nathaniel R. Claussen, Richard M. Porter
  • Patent number: 10492357
    Abstract: A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed. A seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit having a seed metering system, operating at a high speed configured to dispense seed. The seed transport mechanism is configured to provide a seed release speed at which the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism, the seed release speed being varied in a manner proportional to the variation in the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling to optimize accurate placement of seed and chemical granule agricultural product at varying ground speeds of the seed planter row unit. In the various embodiments, the agricultural product is directed away from moving parts after the seed leaves the seed metering system of the seed planter row unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Richard L. Rice, Rex A. Rysdam, Richard M. Porter
  • Patent number: 10470356
    Abstract: A system for dispensing multiple low rate agricultural products, includes an agricultural product metering system, a number of agricultural product tubes, and an agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is operably connected to sources of low rate agricultural products. The agricultural product tubes are operatively connected to the agricultural product metering system. The agricultural product metering system is configured to dispense liquid low rate agricultural products at a low rate defined as below 3.7 fluid ounces per 1000 row feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard L. Rice, Larry M. Conrad, Keith Woodruff
  • Patent number: 10440878
    Abstract: A system for dispensing agricultural products includes: a master controller, sets of agricultural product containers, meter devices, and secondary controllers. The meter devices are operatively connected to the product containers and configured to dispense products from the containers to rows in a field wherein each of the sets of containers is associated with a respective row in the field. The secondary controllers actuate the meter devices. Each secondary controller receives command data from the master controller and controls the meter devices for dispensing in response to the command data. Agricultural product from each product container is dispensed in accordance with operator defined instructions to the master controller. The instructions are capable of being provided to the master controller during the planting allowing the dispensing of individual containers to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AMVAC CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Rex A. Rysdam, Nathaniel R. Claussen, Richard M. Porter
  • Publication number: 20190285448
    Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Larry M. Conrad, Robert J. Weber