Patents by Inventor Michael E. Friestad

Michael E. Friestad 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: 11895944
    Abstract: A brush belt including a base member having a first side with a traction surface and a second side opposite the first side defining a mounting surface presenting a first edge and a second edge and having a longitudinal axis therebetween and parallel thereto and a plurality of bristles coupled to the mounting surface and arranged in a first section of bristles and a second section of bristles, the bristles of the first section each having a first diameter and the bristles of the second section each having a second diameter that is different than the first diameter. The first section abuts the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Michael E. Frasier, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 11849665
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 11793104
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 11770994
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 11770995
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20230122381
    Abstract: A planting unit for a seeding machine having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface with a rim portion of the sidewall adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Lee E. Zumdome, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 11612099
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210307239
    Abstract: A brush belt including a base member having a first side with a traction surface and a second side opposite the first side defining a mounting surface presenting a first edge and a second edge and having a longitudinal axis therebetween and parallel thereto and a plurality of bristles coupled to the mounting surface and arranged in a first section of bristles and a second section of bristles, the bristles of the first section each having a first diameter and the bristles of the second section each having a second diameter that is different than the first diameter. The first section abuts the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Michael E. Frasier, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210136997
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for a seeding machine having a seed meter comprises a housing that defines an upper seed loading area and a lower seed discharge area. A drive pulley is mounted to rotate with respect to the housing. A belt is supported for rotation by the drive pulley within the housing. A loading wheel is mounted to rotate with respect to the housing to transfer seeds from the seed meter into the belt at the seed loading area. The belt conveys the seeds through the housing as the belt travels from the seed loading area to the seed discharge area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210076558
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short crop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture move and accelerate the seed By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210068337
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210059104
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210059105
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20210059106
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for use in a seeding or planting machine that removes the seed from a seed meter by capturing the seed therefrom. The delivery system then moves the seed down to a lower discharge point and accelerates the seed horizontally rearward to a speed approximately equal to the forward travel speed of the seeding machine such that the seed, when discharged has a low or zero horizontal velocity relative to the ground. Rolling of the seed in the trench is thus reduced. Furthermore, as the seed only has a short drop from the outlet to the bottom of the seed trench, the seed has little vertical speed to induce bounce. The delivery system uses a brush belt to capture, move and accelerate the seed. By capturing the seed and moving it from the meter to the discharge, the seed is held in place relative to other seeds and the planter row unit. As a result, the seeds are isolated from row unit dynamics thereby maintaining seed spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mairman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20200344941
    Abstract: A planting unit for a seeding machine having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface with a rim portion of the sidewall adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Lee E. Zumdome, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 10806070
    Abstract: A seeding machine includes a seed metering system and a seed delivery system in communication with the seed metering system. The seed delivery system includes a housing having a first opening for receiving seed from the seed metering system and a second opening through which seed is discharged. The seed delivery system also includes a conveyor forming a loop with a fixed length and positioned within the housing. The conveyor is disposed around a first drive pulley and a second idler pulley. The conveyor is deformable in order to retain seed at any point along the fixed length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 10729063
    Abstract: A seed delivery system for a seeding machine having a seed meter comprises a housing that defines an upper seed loading area and a lower seed discharge area. A drive pulley is mounted to rotate with respect to the housing. A belt is supported for rotation by the drive pulley within the housing. A loading wheel is mounted to rotate with respect to the housing to transfer seeds from the seed meter into the belt at the seed loading area. The belt conveys the seeds through the housing as the belt travels from the seed loading area to the seed discharge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Rylander, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Publication number: 20190254224
    Abstract: A planting unit for a seeding machine having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface with a rim portion of the sidewall adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Lee E. Zumdome, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: 10206326
    Abstract: A planting unit for a seeding machine having a frame member and a seed meter mounted thereto. The seed meter has a housing and a metering member rotatably mounted therein. The metering member has a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface with a rim portion of the sidewall adjacent an outer edge of the sidewall. The inner surface of the side wall and the housing form a trough at a bottom portion of the metering member to hold a seed pool. A mechanical seed delivery system takes seed from the metering member and moves seed to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Lee E. Zumdome, Nathan A. Mariman, Michael E. Friestad
  • Patent number: RE48572
    Abstract: A planting unit for a seeding machine having a seed meter with a metering member that moves seed sequentially along a first path to a release position at which the seed is moving in a first direction and a delivery system adapted to take seed from the metering member at the release position and control movement of the seed from the seed meter to a discharge location adjacent a seed furrow formed in soil beneath the seeding machine. The delivery system, at the release position, moves seed in a second direction along a second path. A blocking member located adjacent the first path immediately preceding the release position prevents movement of the seed in the second direction until the seed has passed the blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Michael E. Friestad, Nathan A. Mariman