Patents by Inventor Lucas B. Graham

Lucas B. Graham 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: 10022723
    Abstract: A bale processor of a type having flail rotor providing an outer support surface with a plurality of flails mounted thereon are mounted for movement therewith around a flail rotor axis for engaging the bale and removing material from the outside of the bale. A plurality of depth control bars are disposed between adjacent flails for controlling the distance that the outer end of the flails extend into the outer surface of the bale. In one embodiment the depth control bars are positioned close to the outer support surface of the flail rotor whereby the depth control bars prevent a buildup of twine or netwrap on the outer support surface of the flail rotor. In another embodiment engagement members rigidly attached to the frame, separate from the depth control bars, are disposed between flails for preventing a buildup of netwrap/twine on the flail rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, Shaun M. Riveland, Philip D. Stam
  • Patent number: 9642312
    Abstract: A bale processor of a type for tearing apart a bale of forage material into filamentary material includes a shredder rotor with blades that remove filamentary portions of the bale and delivers such filamentary material directly to a multiple fan blower for blowing such filamentary material directly to and out of a delivery chute. An independent dual discharge feature permits discharge out of either side and/or one or more blowers placed closer to the shredder rotor can be used independently of the dual discharge feature and the multiple fan blower feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, Luke A. Mushitz, Philip D. Stam
  • Patent number: 9521809
    Abstract: A bale processor with a bale processing bin that has a bale cutter therein and an engagement section on the bale cutter for supporting part of a bale. A conveyor section supports another part of the bale. The bale processor has a load sensor that senses the load, or something that is a function of the load, on the bale cutter and a controller controls feeding of the bale to the bale cutter and/or the position of the engagement section, based on the function of the load on the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventors: Philip D. Stam, Lucas B. Graham
  • Publication number: 20160157436
    Abstract: A bale processor (10) of a type for tearing apart a bale of forage material into filamentary material includes a shredder rotor (13) with blades that remove filamentary portions of the bale and delivers such filamentary material directly to a multiple fan blower (14a/14b) for blowing such filamentary material directly to and out of a delivery chute (15). An independent dual discharge feature permits discharge out of either side and/or one or more blowers placed closer to the shredder rotor can be used independently of the dual discharge feature and the multiple fan blower feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, Luke A. Mushitz, Philip D. Stam
  • Patent number: 9220188
    Abstract: A latch to secure folding implements in a transport configuration. The latch is constructed so as to permit selective disengaging of the latch to allow the folding implement to be configured for operation. A latching mechanism with a pivoting portion engages a crossbar in latching. One of the latching mechanism or pivoting portion is suspended on an extension bar which is cantilevered and suspended from either a main frame or a folding arm. The latching system tolerates misalignment of the main frame and folding arms through the suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FORAGE INNOVATIONS B.V.
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, David W. Jahraus, Tyler G. Schiferl, Michael Kindley
  • Patent number: 9173348
    Abstract: A bale processor (10) of a type that efficiently processes both round and square bales. A bale processor chamber (12) has at least one moveable wall (12b) adjustable between a mostly vertical position suitable to process round bales and at least one less vertical position suitable to process square bales. A floor conveyor (16) is provided at the bottom of the bale processor chamber (12) and is oriented at an angle of eight to sixteen degrees from horizontal to move a bale and bale parts toward a rotor (14) which tears the bale into smaller pieces and throws the smaller pieces out of the bale processor (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Lucas B. Graham
  • Publication number: 20150090817
    Abstract: A bale processor with a bale processing bin that has a bale cutter therein and an engagement section on the bale cutter for supporting part of a bale. A conveyor section supports another part of the bale. The bale processor has a load sensor that senses the load, or something that is a function of the load, on the bale cutter and a controller controls feeding of the bale to the bale cutter and/or the position of the engagement section, based on the function of the load on the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Philip D. Stam, Lucas B. Graham
  • Publication number: 20150069158
    Abstract: A bale processor of a type for tearing apart a bale of forage material into filamentary material includes a shredder rotor with blades that remove filamentary portions of the bale and delivers such filamentary material directly to a multiple fan blower for blowing such filamentary material directly to and out of a delivery chute. An independent dual discharge feature permits discharge out of either side and/or one or more blowers placed closer to the shredder rotor can be used independently of the dual discharge feature and the multiple fan blower feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, Luke A. Mushitz
  • Publication number: 20150047312
    Abstract: A latch to secure folding implements in a transport configuration. The latch is constructed so as to permit selective disengaging of the latch to allow the folding implement to be configured for operation. A latching mechanism with a pivoting portion engages a crossbar in latching. One of the latching mechanism or pivoting portion is suspended on an extension bar which is cantilevered and suspended from either a main frame or a folding arm. The latching system tolerates misalignment of the main frame and folding arms through the suspension system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Forage Innovations B.V.
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, David W. Jahraus, Tyler G. Schiferl, Michael Kindley
  • Publication number: 20140239106
    Abstract: A bale processor of a type having flail rotor providing an outer support surface with a plurality of flails mounted thereon are mounted for movement therewith around a flail rotor axis for engaging the bale and removing material from the outside of the bale. A plurality of depth control bars are disposed between adjacent flails for controlling the distance that the outer end of the flails extend into the outer surface of the bale. In one embodiment the depth control bars are positioned close to the outer support surface of the flail rotor whereby the depth control bars prevent a buildup of twine or netwrap on the outer support surface of the flail rotor. In another embodiment engagement members rigidly attached to the frame, separate from the depth control bars, are disposed between flails for preventing a buildup of netwrap/twine on the flail rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Verneer Manfacturing Company
    Inventors: Lucas B. Graham, Shaun M. Riveland, Philip D. Stam