Patents by Inventor Matthew Wilhelmi

Matthew Wilhelmi 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).

  • Publication number: 20250204302
    Abstract: A seed to ground system for a row unit of an agricultural planting implement includes a housing. An impeller-like member is rotated in the housing to move seed from an upper end to a lower end. A series of floors are vertically spaced to control the speed of the seed moved by the rotating impeller as well. The seed is delivered to a rotating wheel at a lower end of the housing. The rotating wheel is rotated at a speed to substantially match the ground speed of the planting implement so that the seed that is delivered to and from the wheel will be dispensed with substantially zero net horizontal velocity into a furrow in the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2024
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Ryan Veatch
  • Patent number: 12102032
    Abstract: A row unit for an agricultural implement has a mounting device with a rail portion for sliding engagement with a seed delivery device to facilitate quick and easy installation and removal of the seed delivery device without the use of tools. A seed meter is mounted to the underside of a cover such that as the cover is opened the seed meter moves with the cover away from the seed delivery device to provide convenient access to both the seed meter and the seed delivery device. A cam and pawl arrangement selectively retains the cover in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dean Martin, David A. Stauffer, Chris McElvain, Gary Newell, Dalton McDowell
  • Publication number: 20240260500
    Abstract: An electrically operated agricultural planting implement is used with an agricultural vehicle. The planting implement may include a generator to generate electric power to power electronic components located on the row units of the planting implement as well as to power other functionality of the planting implement such as lifting and/or pivoting. Operating the planting implement via electric power rather than hydraulic power eliminates the need for hydraulic plumbing. A wireless data communication and control system is used with an agricultural planting implement and an agricultural vehicle. The system provides for bidirectional data communication and control between a control unit and the planting implement. The system eliminates the need for wiring and also provides the ability to communicate with and control the planting implement remotely. A user can wirelessly and remotely control the planting implement by inputting commands into the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Phil Jennings, Philip Willis, Gary Newell, Steve Nolte, Jamie Shults, Jay Grimes
  • Publication number: 20240196784
    Abstract: A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Robert Blackwell, Dan Killpack, Dalton McDowell, Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11937533
    Abstract: A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Blackwell, Dan Killpack, Dalton McDowell, Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Publication number: 20230345860
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. A seed meter provides seeds one at time to a seed carrier, such as a brush wheel. The brush wheel may move the seeds one at a time to a seed conveyor by directly moving seeds along a curved portion of a seed disc in the seed meter. The seed conveyor may be a flighted belt, and the velocity of the seeds when transferred from the seed carrier may match the velocity of the flighted belt. The seed conveyor conveys the seeds to a position near the bottom of a furrow, and ejects the seeds with little or no horizontal velocity relative to the bottom of the furrow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dustan Hahn, Philip Willis, Dean Martin, Dalton McDowell, Gary Newell
  • Patent number: 11730079
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. A seed meter provides seeds one at time to a seed carrier, such as a brush wheel. The brush wheel may move the seeds one at a time to a seed conveyor by directly moving seeds along a curved portion of a seed disc in the seed meter. The seed conveyor may be a flighted belt, and the velocity of the seeds when transferred from the seed carrier may match the velocity of the flighted belt. The seed conveyor conveys the seeds to a position near the bottom of a furrow, and ejects the seeds with little or no horizontal velocity relative to the bottom of the furrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dustan Hahn, Philip Willis, Dean Martin, Dalton McDowell, Gary Newell
  • Publication number: 20230247933
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement uses an air seed meter to meter and singulate seeds before directing them towards the field for planting. The air seed meter includes a seed disc that interacts with the seed to aid in planting the seeds at the desired manner so as to provide best spacing between subsequent seeds. To aid the metering and singulation of the seeds, the seed disc includes ramps positioned generally adjacent seed cell apertures. The ramps interact with tufts of a brush singulator to aid in orienting the seed relative to the seed cell aperture to position the seed at the cell and to mitigate multiple seeds from collecting at one or more of the seed cell apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Brad Kruse, Matthew Wilhelmi, Stephen Eckert
  • Publication number: 20230063276
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement having a number of row units includes a voltage converter configured to receive an input voltage and produce an output voltage that is different than the input voltage. The voltage converter is configured to receive power directly from an agricultural vehicle configured to tow the agricultural planting implement. The voltage converter can be selectively enabled and/or disabled to supply the requisite power to electronic components located on the row units, wherein the electronic components are configured to perform at least one agricultural function. Different electronic components often require a power supply of differing voltage levels. The voltage converter provides a means to supply differing power supplies to different electronic components wherein all electrical power supplied to the electronic components originates from a power source located on the agricultural vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Jamie Shults, Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Publication number: 20220260747
    Abstract: A display unit is connected to an agricultural implement to provide inputs and operational controls, as well as status and set up, of the implement. The display unit can be a touchscreen or other device that can receive inputs to set up, control, store information, and recall information associated with the operation of the agricultural implement. The display unit can provide a number of different types of inputs to allow for the control of the various components of the implement. Information shown, tracked, managed, communicated, or otherwise used by the system can be selected and set up by a user to customize the experience and to provide additional information useful for agricultural operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Schoon, Ryan McMahan, Matthew Moeller, Matthew Achen, Bryton Hayes, Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Publication number: 20220087095
    Abstract: A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Blackwell, Dan Killpack, Dalton McDowell, Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11252856
    Abstract: A row unit of an agricultural planter includes a seed meter. The seed meter includes a seed disk within a seed meter housing. The seed disk is positioned in the seed meter housing such that the disk rotates and includes a seed release point. A drive member is operatively connected to the seed disk such that the drive member selectively rotates the disk. The seed disk is angularly positioned and is a conical-shaped member with a central axis and includes seed cells radially positioned about an outer portion. The seed disk is substantially non-perpendicular to the central axis. An air pressure source also is included to adhere seed to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dustan Hahn
  • Patent number: 11224153
    Abstract: Agricultural planting implements, as well as other ground-engaging implements, can utilize supplemental force assemblies to provide up and/or down force at the row or rows of the implements. The force can be used to overcome changing field conditions, obstructions, as well as changing particulate amounts and weights carried by the rows of the implements, and the implement itself. The up force can be set at system pressure, or can include control valves at each of the row units to control the amount of up force provided. The down force can be controlled by control valves at each of the row units, and can be used to overcome the up pressure or provide a designated amount of down force to the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Leimkuehler, Steve Nolte, Robert Blackwell, Matthew Wilhelmi, David Schulte, Paul Zinnel
  • Publication number: 20220000012
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement is used to plant seed in a field. The implement includes an electrically-driven seed meter that is spaced on a toolbar of the implement. The seed meter, or other metering member, is a precision meter that is used to control the volume, spacing, and location of a seed that is delivered from a meter to the field. A seed source, such as a seed cart or hopper, is attached to the seed meters to provide an on-demand amount of seed to the meters for planting in the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventor: Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11212957
    Abstract: A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Blackwell, Dan Killpack, Dalton McDowell, Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11147208
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement is used to plant seed in a field. The implement includes an electrically-driven seed meter that is spaced on a toolbar of the implement. The seed meter, or other metering member, is a precision meter that is used to control the volume, spacing, and location of a seed that is delivered from a meter to the field. A seed source, such as a seed cart or hopper, is attached to the seed meters to provide an on-demand amount of seed to the meters for planting in the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Wilhelmi
  • Publication number: 20210212252
    Abstract: A row unit for an agricultural implement has a mounting device with a rail portion for sliding engagement with a seed delivery device to facilitate quick and easy installation and removal of the seed delivery device without the use of tools. A seed meter is mounted to the underside of a cover such that as the cover is opened the seed meter moves with the cover away from the seed delivery device to provide convenient access to both the seed meter and the seed delivery device. A cam and pawl arrangement selectively retains the cover in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dean Martin, David A. Stauffer, Chris McElvain, Gary Newell, Dalton McDowell
  • Publication number: 20210037699
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. A seed meter provides seeds one at time to a seed carrier, such as a brush wheel. The brush wheel may move the seeds one at a time to a seed conveyor by directly moving seeds along a curved portion of a seed disc in the seed meter. The seed conveyor may be a flighted belt, and the velocity of the seeds when transferred from the seed carrier may match the velocity of the flighted belt. The seed conveyor conveys the seeds to a position near the bottom of a furrow, and ejects the seeds with little or no horizontal velocity relative to the bottom of the furrow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dustan Hahn, Philip Willis, Dean Martin, Dalton McDowell, Gary Newell
  • Patent number: 10842072
    Abstract: An agricultural planting implement includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. A seed meter provides seeds one at time to a seed carrier, such as a brush wheel. The brush wheel may move the seeds one at a time to a seed conveyor by directly moving seeds along a curved portion of a seed disc in the seed meter. The seed conveyor may be a flighted belt, and the velocity of the seeds when transferred from the seed carrier may match the velocity of the flighted belt. The seed conveyor conveys the seeds to a position near the bottom of a furrow, and ejects the seeds with little or no horizontal velocity relative to the bottom of the furrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Wilhelmi, Dustan Hahn, Philip Willis, Dean Martin, Dalton McDowell, Gary Newell
  • Publication number: 20200146205
    Abstract: A planter includes a seed a delivery system for delivering seed from one or more hoppers to one or more row units of the planter. The seed delivery system includes a number of seed entrainers. The seed entrainers receive seed from the one or more hoppers. The seed is combined with a fluid, such as air, which moves the seed through the seed entrainer and towards one or more row units of the planter. The entrainer includes one or more outlets, with the outlets corresponding to different row units, and the outlets can be varied based upon the need of seed delivery for the planter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Robert Blackwell, Dan Killpack, Dalton McDowell, Matthew Wilhelmi