Patents by Inventor Michael Ian James Friesen

Michael Ian James Friesen 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: 11503769
    Abstract: In a grain cart having an auger fold actuator, a gate actuator, and at least one spout actuator, a grain cart control system has an input device received within an operator cab to generate command signals responsive to operator commands, an electronic controller operatively associated with selected actuators of the grain cart, a valve actuator connected to each valve of the selected actuators of the grain cart, and stored programmable criteria to generate activation signals for the valve actuators in response to the command signals. Each mechanical function that is controlled also has a rotary potentiometer for positional feedback. To actuate any sequence, a joystick will send commands to the controller to activate a sequence. Since the controls according to the present invention are driven by a logic-based controller, various functions can be automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Patent number: 11008177
    Abstract: A control assembly provides autonomous control of various functions of a grain cart and/or provides guidance to an operator of the grain cart during the unloading of a grain cart. The control assembly collects input from one or more sensors including a speed sensor to monitor speed of a PTO that drives the unloading auger of the grain cart, a height sensor that measures the height of material discharged from the grain cart into a receptacle such as a grain truck, and/or a boundary sensors that measure lateral position of the grain cart relative to the receptacle or grain truck. Based on the input, the control assembly may vary the position of the discharge gate of the grain cart, or provide guidance to the operator to steer and position the grain cart relative to an adjacent grain truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ELMER'S WELDING + MANUFACTURING LTD.
    Inventors: Vikram Banthia, Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Patent number: 10743475
    Abstract: An agricultural wagon, for example a grain cart, of the type including an upright unload auger at the front end of the grain receiving bin which can be pivoted between left side and right side discharge positions, further includes a gearbox supported at the bottom end of the unload auger. The gearbox has a main shaft directly coupled to the unload auger. An input shaft of the gearbox, coupled to the main shaft by gear reducing bevel gears, receives an input rotation from a drive source external of the gearbox, for example the PTO of a tractor, for driving the main shaft and the unload auger. A second pair of bevel gears transfer some of the input rotation of the main shaft to an output shaft of the gearbox which is connected to a lower auger along the bottom of the grain receiving bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Elmer's Welding & Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Publication number: 20200137957
    Abstract: In a grain cart having an auger fold actuator, a gate actuator, and at least one spout actuator, a grain cart control system has an input device received within an operator cab to generate command signals responsive to operator commands, an electronic controller operatively associated with selected actuators of the grain cart, a valve actuator connected to each valve of the selected actuators of the grain cart, and stored programmable criteria to generate activation signals for the valve actuators in response to the command signals. Each mechanical function that is controlled also has a rotary potentiometer for positional feedback. To actuate any sequence, a joystick will send commands to the controller to activate a sequence. Since the controls according to the present invention are driven by a logic-based controller, various functions can be automated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Publication number: 20190322461
    Abstract: A control assembly provides autonomous control of various functions of a grain cart and/or provides guidance to an operator of the grain cart during the unloading of a grain cart. The control assembly collects input from one or more sensors including a speed sensor to monitor speed of a PTO that drives the unloading auger of the grain cart, a height sensor that measures the height of material discharged from the grain cart into a receptacle such as a grain truck, and/or a boundary sensors that measure lateral position of the grain cart relative to the receptacle or grain truck. Based on the input, the control assembly may vary the position of the discharge gate of the grain cart, or provide guidance to the operator to steer and position the grain cart relative to an adjacent grain truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Vikram Banthia, Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Publication number: 20190000016
    Abstract: An agricultural wagon, for example a grain cart, of the type including an upright unload auger at the front end of the grain receiving bin which can be pivoted between left side and right side discharge positions, further includes a gearbox supported at the bottom end of the unload auger. The gearbox has a main shaft directly coupled to the unload auger. An input shaft of the gearbox, coupled to the main shaft by gear reducing bevel gears, receives an input rotation from a drive source external of the gearbox, for example the PTO of a tractor, for driving the main shaft and the unload auger. A second pair of bevel gears transfer some of the input rotation of the main shaft to an output shaft of the gearbox which is connected to a lower auger along the bottom of the grain receiving bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Patent number: 8657026
    Abstract: A harrow includes plural hydraulic actuators to displace respective working elements between opposing first and second positions. The actuators are connected in series in a phasing relationship to define one or more hydraulic circuits. Each circuit includes a lead actuator mounted in a first orientation to displace the respective working elements in a first direction when extended and a secondary actuator in series with the lead actuator in an opposing second orientation to displace the respective working elements in the first direction when retracted. One of the ports of the secondary actuator is coupled to the same one of the ports of the lead actuator such that all of the working elements are simultaneously displaced in a common direction when supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the lead actuator. Additional actuators may be similarly connected in series in alternating orientations with the lead and secondary actuators of each circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Ian James Friesen
  • Publication number: 20120073844
    Abstract: A harrow includes plural hydraulic actuators to displace respective working elements between opposing first and second positions. The actuators are connected in series in a phasing relationship to define one or more hydraulic circuits. Each circuit includes a lead actuator mounted in a first orientation to displace the respective working elements in a first direction when extended and a secondary actuator in series with the lead actuator in an opposing second orientation to displace the respective working elements in the first direction when retracted. One of the ports of the secondary actuator is coupled to the same one of the ports of the lead actuator such that all of the working elements are simultaneously displaced in a common direction when supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the lead actuator. Additional actuators may be similarly connected in series in alternating orientations with the lead and secondary actuators of each circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Ian James Friesen