Patents by Inventor Michael A. Conrad

Michael A. 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: 10231381
    Abstract: A combine including a frame, power unit and a crop gathering and processing device. A grain tank is mounted on the frame. An elongated closed end tube is vertically oriented within the grain tank and has a plurality of uniformly spaced openings along its length. A pneumatic pump pressurizes the interior of the tube. A pressure sensor senses the interior pressure of the elongated tube, so that grain building up therein selectively covers the plurality of openings to cause a proportionate increase in air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Edmund N. Holt, II, Michael A. Conrad, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Bart M. A. Missotten
  • Patent number: 9949435
    Abstract: A grain tank level sensing system for a combine which harvests grain. The combine includes an upwardly open grain tank fillable with harvested grain and a cover that is displaceable for closing off the open grain tank. An actuator displaces the cover between an open and close position and either single or dual ultrasonic sensors continuously detect the level of grain in the tank and generate a signal proportional to the level of grain in the grain tank. A control system receives the signal from the ultrasonic sensors and generates an indication of the level in the tank to a monitor and/or disables the actuator to initiate the closing function when the grain tank is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clayton E. Banks, Jr., Michael A. Conrad, William M. McCully
  • Publication number: 20170112062
    Abstract: A combine including a frame, power unit and a crop gathering and processing device. A grain tank is mounted on the frame. An elongated closed end tube is vertically oriented within the grain tank and has a plurality of uniformly spaced openings along its length. A pneumatic pump pressurizes the interior of the tube. A pressure sensor senses the interior pressure of the elongated tube, so that grain building up therein selectively covers the plurality of openings to cause a proportionate increase in air pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Edmund N. Holt, II, Michael A. Conrad, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Bart M.A. Missotten
  • Patent number: 9462751
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester residue handling selection method having the steps of: selecting a chop/swath residue handling mode resulting in a mode selection; setting a chopper speed range for a chopper in a residue handling section dependent upon the mode selection; and positioning a windrow door dependent upon the mode selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chase Patterson, Mark D. Dilts, Nathan E. Isaac, Michael A. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20160286723
    Abstract: A grain tank level sensing system for a combine which harvests grain. The combine includes an upwardly open grain tank fillable with harvested grain and a cover that is displaceable for closing off the open grain tank. An actuator displaces the cover between an open and close position and either single or dual ultrasonic sensors continuously detect the level of grain in the tank and generate a signal proportional to the level of grain in the grain tank. A control system receives the signal from the ultrasonic sensors and generates an indication of the level in the tank to a monitor and/or disables the actuator to initiate the closing function when the grain tank is full.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Clayton E. Banks, Jr., Michael A. Conrad, William M. McCully
  • Patent number: 9107345
    Abstract: A shifting method for an inline shaft system of a chopper system of an agricultural harvester is described and illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting, temporarily rotating and engaging. The detecting step detects a failure to properly engage a shift collar with a splined component. The temporarily rotating step temporarily rotates the inline shaft system. The engaging step engages the shift collar with the splined component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chase Patterson, Mark D. Dilts, Nathan E. Isaac, Michael A. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20150208579
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester residue handling selection method having the steps of: selecting a chop/swath residue handling mode resulting in a mode selection; setting a chopper speed range for a chopper in a residue handling section dependent upon the mode selection; and positioning a windrow door dependent upon the mode selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Chase Patterson, Mark D. Dilts, Nathan E. Isaac, Michael A. Conrad
  • Publication number: 20140325953
    Abstract: A shifting method for an inline shaft system of a chopper system of an agricultural harvester is described and illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting, temporarily rotating and engaging. The detecting step detects a failure to properly engage a shift collar with a splined component. The temporarily rotating step temporarily rotates the inline shaft system. The engaging step engages the shift collar with the splined component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Chase Patterson, Mark D. Dilts, Nathan E. Isaac, Michael A. Conrad