Patents by Inventor Michael George Kovach

Michael George Kovach 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: 20240081169
    Abstract: A disc assembly for an agricultural implement includes a mounting assembly having a housing and a rotatable shaft configured to be disposed within the housing. The mounting assembly includes a first end cap non-movably coupled to the rotatable shaft, in which the first end cap is configured to engage a longitudinally inward surface of a first disc blade. The mounting assembly also includes a second end cap having a first engagement feature configured to selectively engage a second engagement feature of the rotatable shaft to non-movably couple the second end cap to the rotatable shaft. The second end cap is configured to engage a longitudinally inward surface of a second disc blade, and the second end cap is selectively removable from the rotatable shaft via disengagement of the first and second engagement features to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the rotatable shaft with the longitudinal passage of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Michael George Kovach, Timothy Richard Blunier
  • Patent number: 11882783
    Abstract: A disc assembly for an agricultural implement includes a mounting assembly having a housing and a rotatable shaft configured to be disposed within the housing. The mounting assembly includes a first end cap non-movably coupled to the rotatable shaft, in which the first end cap is configured to engage a longitudinally inward surface of a first disc blade. The mounting assembly also includes a second end cap having a first engagement feature configured to selectively engage a second engagement feature of the rotatable shaft to non-movably couple the second end cap to the rotatable shaft. The second end cap is configured to engage a longitudinally inward surface of a second disc blade, and the second end cap is selectively removable from the rotatable shaft via disengagement of the first and second engagement features to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the rotatable shaft with the longitudinal passage of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael George Kovach, Timothy Richard Blunier
  • Patent number: 11730076
    Abstract: An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of a first portion of a frame. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of a second portion of the frame. In addition, the orientation control system includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a controller configured to control the first and second actuators such that a difference between the first height and a first target height is less than a first threshold value and a difference between the second height and a second target height is less than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Patent number: 11638393
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a frame and a ground engaging tool assembly having a shank rotatably coupled to the frame and a ground engaging tool coupled to the shank. In addition, the agricultural implement includes a monitoring system having a sensor mounted to one of the frame or the ground engaging tool assembly and directed toward a target. The target is the other of the frame or the ground engaging tool assembly, and the sensor is configured to emit an output signal toward the target and to receive a return signal indicative of a measured position of the ground engaging tool assembly relative to the frame. The monitoring system also includes a controller configured to determine that the ground engaging tool assembly is in a deflected position in response to determining that a difference between the measured position and a working position is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Patent number: 11617294
    Abstract: An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be positioned at a left end portion of a frame. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the left end portion. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to be positioned at a right end portion of the frame. The second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the right end portion. In addition, the orientation control system includes a controller configured to control first, second, and third actuators such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20230095347
    Abstract: A tilling implement includes a frame having a front and a rear. The tilling implement also includes a first row of disc blades coupled to the frame adjacent the front. The tilling implement further includes a rolling seedbed floor conditioner coupled to the frame adjacent the rear and behind the first row of disc blades, wherein the rolling seedbed floor conditioner includes a plurality of blades, the plurality of blades are indexed to the first row of disc blades, and the rolling seedbed floor conditioner is configured to till the soil between disc blades of the first row of disc blades to smooth a seedbed floor below a soil surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20230081565
    Abstract: A tilling implement is provided. The tilling implement includes a row bar and a mounting bracket coupled to the row bar. The tilling implement also includes a pair of disc blades coupled to the mounting bracket via a tandem mount, wherein the pair of disc blades are axially offset from each other along a longitudinal axis of the tandem mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Patent number: 11602092
    Abstract: A frame control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be coupled to a sub-frame of the agricultural implement and directed toward a soil surface. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the sub-frame above the soil surface. The frame control system also includes a first sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to a main frame of the agricultural implement. The first sub-frame actuator is configured to control a first position of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along a vertical axis. In addition, the frame control system includes a controller configured to control the first sub-frame actuator such that a difference between the first height and a target height is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Patent number: 11558993
    Abstract: A soil monitoring system for an agricultural tillage implement includes a sensor configured to be coupled to a frame of the agricultural tillage implement. The sensor is configured to be directed toward a region of a soil surface. In addition, the sensor is configured to emit an output signal toward the region of the soil surface and to receive a return signal indicative of a profile of the soil surface within the region. Furthermore, the soil monitoring system includes a controller configured to identify a rough soil profile in response to determining that at least one variation in the profile of the soil surface within the region is greater than a first threshold value, and/or in response to determining that a number of variations in the profile of the soil surface within the region is greater than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20220354040
    Abstract: A disc assembly for an agricultural implement includes a mounting assembly having a housing and a rotatable shaft configured to be disposed within the housing. The mounting assembly includes a first end cap non-movably coupled to the rotatable shaft, in which the first end cap is configured to engage a longitudinally inward surface of a first disc blade. The mounting assembly also includes a second end cap having a first engagement feature configured to selectively engage a second engagement feature of the rotatable shaft to non-movably couple the second end cap to the rotatable shaft. The second end cap is configured to engage a longitudinally inward surface of a second disc blade, and the second end cap is selectively removable from the rotatable shaft via disengagement of the first and second engagement features to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the rotatable shaft with the longitudinal passage of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Michael George Kovach, Timothy Richard Blunier
  • Publication number: 20220354041
    Abstract: A disc assembly for an agricultural implement includes a mounting assembly having a housing and a rotatable shaft disposed within the housing. The rotatable shaft includes a recess extending along a portion of an axial extent of the rotatable shaft. The recess is formed by an inner surface of the rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft also includes a first engagement feature formed on the inner surface and a key disposed about the recess. The key is configured to engage an opening of a disc blade to block rotation of the disc blade relative to the rotatable shaft. Furthermore, the disc assembly includes a fastener having a shaft configured to extend through the opening of the disc blade and to engage the recess of the rotatable shaft. The shaft has a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature to couple the disc blade to the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Richard Blunier, Christopher Aaron Lursen, John Clark Endsley, Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20210298222
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a frame and a ground engaging tool assembly having a shank rotatably coupled to the frame and a ground engaging tool coupled to the shank. In addition, the agricultural implement includes a monitoring system having a sensor mounted to one of the frame or the ground engaging tool assembly and directed toward a target. The target is the other of the frame or the ground engaging tool assembly, and the sensor is configured to emit an output signal toward the target and to receive a return signal indicative of a measured position of the ground engaging tool assembly relative to the frame. The monitoring system also includes a controller configured to determine that the ground engaging tool assembly is in a deflected position in response to determining that a difference between the measured position and a working position is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20210298221
    Abstract: A soil monitoring system for an agricultural tillage implement includes a sensor configured to be coupled to a frame of the agricultural tillage implement. The sensor is configured to be directed toward a region of a soil surface. In addition, the sensor is configured to emit an output signal toward the region of the soil surface and to receive a return signal indicative of a profile of the soil surface within the region. Furthermore, the soil monitoring system includes a controller configured to identify a rough soil profile in response to determining that at least one variation in the profile of the soil surface within the region is greater than a first threshold value, and/or in response to determining that a number of variations in the profile of the soil surface within the region is greater than a second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20210298218
    Abstract: An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be positioned at a left end portion of a frame. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the left end portion. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to be positioned at a right end portion of the frame. The second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the right end portion. In addition, the orientation control system includes a controller configured to control first, second, and third actuators such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20210298216
    Abstract: An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of a first portion of a frame. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of a second portion of the frame. In addition, the orientation control system includes a first actuator, a second actuator, and a controller configured to control the first and second actuators such that a difference between the first height and a first target height is less than a first threshold value and a difference between the second height and a second target height is less than a second threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20210298215
    Abstract: An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be positioned at a forward end portion of a frame of the agricultural implement. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the frame. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to be positioned at a rearward end portion of the frame. The second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the frame. In addition, the orientation control system includes a controller configured to control a first actuator and a second actuator such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Publication number: 20210298217
    Abstract: A frame control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be coupled to a sub-frame of the agricultural implement and directed toward a soil surface. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the sub-frame above the soil surface. The frame control system also includes a first sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to a main frame of the agricultural implement. The first sub-frame actuator is configured to control a first position of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along a vertical axis. In addition, the frame control system includes a controller configured to control the first sub-frame actuator such that a difference between the first height and a target height is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael George Kovach
  • Patent number: 11051442
    Abstract: A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael George Kovach, Tracey Duane Meiners, Dean Alan Knobloch, Gaylen James Kromminga, Gregory S. Smart
  • Publication number: 20200146196
    Abstract: A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Michael George Kovach, Tracey Duane Meiners, Dean Alan Knobloch, Gaylen James Kromminga, Gregory S. Smart
  • Patent number: 10575452
    Abstract: A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael George Kovach, Tracey Duane Meiners, Dean Alan Knobloch, Gaylen James Kromminga, Gregory S. Smart