Patents by Inventor Michael J. Connor

Michael J. Connor 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: 9192093
    Abstract: A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank, the inductor box comprising at least one inductor segment configured to guide the particulate material and an airflow through the inductor box, wherein the at least one inductor segment comprises a particulate material fluidization chamber configured to establish a vortex that mixes the particulate material with the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Grant T. MacDonald, Chad M. Johnson, Scott A. Long, David D. Flamme, Martin J. Roberge, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20150327433
    Abstract: An agricultural product distribution system is presented includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the conveyed air and the agricultural product. The conveyed air is configured to direct the agricultural product through ports to multiple distribution units. Moreover the inductor box includes a baffle retention channel configured to receive a removable baffle. Furthermore, the removable baffle includes at least one opening configured to control an amount of conveyed air directed through the ports to the multiple distribution units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Michael J. Connors, Marvin A. Prickel
  • Publication number: 20150327434
    Abstract: An agricultural product distribution system is presented that includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the agricultural product and the conveyed air. The agricultural product distribution system also includes a removable baffle configured to control an amount of the conveyed air that flows into each port of the plurality of ports. Furthermore, the inductor box is configured to enable the removable baffle to be slidingly inserted into the inductor box, and the removable baffle comprises a tang configured to at least partially block insertion of the removable baffle into the inductor box while the removable baffle is oriented at an undesirable orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9185842
    Abstract: A seed tank assembly for an agricultural implement including an exhaust opening configured to exhaust seeds from the seed tank assembly, in which at least one webbing extends across the exhaust opening forming a plurality of apertures, the at least one webbing is integrally molded into the seed tank assembly, and the at least one webbing is configured to provide structural support to the seed tank assembly and to reduce seed head pressure into an inductor box positioned beneath the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Scott A. Long, Joshua J. Roszman, Marvin A. Prickel, Grant T. MacDonald, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9173338
    Abstract: An inductor box for an agricultural implement having compression limiters. One inductor box includes a housing having a first side configured to receive an agricultural product from a tank. The first side has a sealable surface, and the sealable surface has plates attached thereto. The inductor box includes a first gasket disposed on the sealable surface and configured to establish a seal between the sealable surface and a corresponding surface of the tank. The plates are configured to extend through respective openings in the gasket, and to block compression of the first gasket beyond a desired compression limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, Chad M. Johnson, Marvin A. Prickel
  • Patent number: 9148991
    Abstract: An inductor box for an agricultural implement includes an inlet configured to receive agricultural product from a tank. The inductor box also includes a housing having a cavity therein. The cavity is configured to receive the agricultural product from the inlet. The inductor box includes a gate configured to be removably inserted between the inlet and the cavity, to block the agricultural product from entering the cavity while disposed between the inlet and the cavity, and to enable the agricultural product to enter the cavity while removed from being disposed between the inlet and the cavity. The inductor box includes a first guide coupled to the housing and configured to direct the gate away from the inlet. The first guide is disposed between the gate and the inlet while the gate is disposed between the inlet and the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Patent number: 9125338
    Abstract: An agricultural product distribution system is presented that includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the agricultural product and the conveyed air. The agricultural product distribution system also includes a removable baffle configured to control an amount of the conveyed air that flows into each port of the plurality of ports. Furthermore, the inductor box is configured to enable the removable baffle to be slidingly inserted into the inductor box, and the removable baffle comprises a tang configured to at least partially block insertion of the removable baffle into the inductor box while the removable baffle is oriented at an undesirable orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20150245556
    Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided that has a variable placement hinge joint that allows adjacent implement sections to flex relative to each other and can be moved by an actuator to control spacing between adjacent work zones defined by the implement sections. This can be done by detecting relative angle changes between adjacent implement sections and moving the hinge joint to maintain a constant distance between the work zones so that row spacing is substantially constant across the entire implement, even between adjacent ground-engaging tools or other working units of different implement sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors
  • Publication number: 20150223391
    Abstract: A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop or other planting of an agricultural field. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system. The system may include a seed metering system that can be controlled at each of multiple row units to selectively plant different types or varieties of seed based on seed type or variety zones agricultural field, which may correspond to field characteristics defined in a seed variety prescription map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, Brian T. Adams, Marvin A. Prickel, Brian J. Anderson, Chad M. Johnson, Jason T. Czapka, Scott A. Long, Michael J. Connors, Darian E. Landolt
  • Publication number: 20150223390
    Abstract: A system for planting multiple types of seed and automatically switching between the varieties during planting in a single planting pass of a planting session of row-crop or other planting of an agricultural field. The system may include a bulk storage system, an on-row storage system, and a charging system that selectively delivers seeds of different varieties from the bulk storage system to the on-row storage system. The system may include a seed metering system that can be controlled at each of multiple row units to selectively plant different types or varieties of seed based on seed type or variety zones agricultural field, which may correspond to field characteristics defined in a seed variety prescription map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Keith W. Wendte, Brian T. Adams, Marvin A. Prickel, Brian J. Anderson, Chad M. Johnson, Jason T. Czapka, Scott A. Long, Michael J. Connors, Darian E. Landolt
  • Patent number: 9096264
    Abstract: An agricultural implement having a steering mechanism comprising a outer hitch, a main carriage connected to the outer hitch by a first pivoting connection, a steering system disposed on the main carriage and an endless track assembly connected to the main carriage by a second pivoting connection and to the steering system by a third pivoting connection. The pivoting connections enable the tracks to be actively steered and remain parallel to the surface over which the implement travels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, Marvin Prickel
  • Patent number: 9089088
    Abstract: An agricultural product distribution system is presented includes an inductor box configured to receive agricultural product and conveyed air to combine the conveyed air and the agricultural product. The conveyed air is configured to direct the agricultural product through ports to multiple distribution units. Moreover the inductor box includes a baffle retention channel configured to receive a removable baffle. Furthermore, the removable baffle includes at least one opening configured to control an amount of conveyed air directed through the ports to the multiple distribution units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Michael J. Connors, Marvin A. Prickel
  • Patent number: 9072214
    Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided that includes a hitch assembly configured to couple the agricultural implement to a tow vehicle. The agricultural implement also includes a carrier frame pivotally coupled to the hitch assembly by a main pivot joint such that the main pivot joint resists substantially all lateral loads between the carrier frame and the hitch assembly. The agricultural implement further includes a pair of wheel assemblies each rotatably coupled to the carrier frame by a respective knuckle pivot joint, and an actuator assembly configured to rotate each wheel assembly about the respective knuckle pivot joint while the agricultural implement is in both a working and transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, Brian Anderson, Marvin A. Prickel
  • Publication number: 20150013290
    Abstract: A pleated filter media comprises a plurality of pleats comprised of pleat segments extending in an axial direction between first and second axial ends and extending in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at least partially defined by first and second sets of bend lines. Axial flow channels are defined between the pleat segments in the lateral direction and the plurality of pleats has a width in the transverse direction that varies along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC,
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Arun Janakiraman, Orvin D. Kendall, Scott W. Schwartz, Eric A. Janikowski, Michael J. Connor, Kurt M. A. Badeau, Murray R. Schukar
  • Patent number: 8932465
    Abstract: A filter within a filter cartridge design is described that includes a sealing structure on an endplate of an outer filter element. Generally, the sealing structure includes an annular flange on the endplate that can directly seal against an interior surface of a housing when the filter cartridge is assembled for use. During filtration, the annular flange prevents a working fluid from bypassing the outer filter element. The sealing flange can seal with the housing in a press fit engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Wells, Terry W. Shults, Ismail C. Bagci, Dean Olson, Zemin Jiang, Kevin C. South, Peter K. Herman, Hendrik N. Amirkhanian, Jeffrey B. Sharp, David P. Genter, Norman C. Blizard, Melvin Douglas McCormick, Jeffrey A. Husband, Wassem Abdalla, Michael J. Connor, Barry M. Verdegan, Donna Butler, Chad T. Brummitt
  • Patent number: 8852310
    Abstract: A pleated filter media comprises a plurality of pleats comprised of pleat segments extending in an axial direction between first and second axial ends and extending in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at least partially defined by first and second sets of bend lines. Axial flow channels are defined between the pleat segments in the lateral direction and the plurality of pleats has a width in the transverse direction that varies along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Mark V. Holzmann, Arun Janakiraman, Orvin D. Kendall, Scott W. Schwartz, Eric A. Janikowski, Michael J. Connor, Kurt M. A. Badeau, Murray R. Schukar
  • Publication number: 20140262378
    Abstract: An agricultural implement having a steering mechanism comprising a outer hitch, a main carriage connected to the outer hitch by a first pivoting connection, a steering system disposed on the main carriage and an endless track assembly connected to the main carriage by a second pivoting connection and to the steering system by a third pivoting connection. The pivoting connections enable the tracks to be actively steered and remain parallel to the surface over which the implement travels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, Marvin Prickel
  • Publication number: 20140193211
    Abstract: An agricultural product delivery system for an agricultural implement includes an inductor box with an agricultural product inlet configured to receive an agricultural product, an air inlet configured to receive an airflow, a plurality of mixing chambers, and a plurality of air bypass channels. Each mixing chamber is configured to mix the agricultural product and a respective first portion of the airflow. The plurality of air bypass channels is configured to guide a respective second portion of the airflow from the air inlet to a respective mixing chamber of the plurality of mixing chambers. The plurality of bypass channels includes inside air bypass channels that contact adjacent inside air bypass channels, and outside air bypass channels that are arranged adjacent to an exterior inductor box wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, David D. Flamme, Chad M. Johnson, Scott A. Long, Grant T. MacDonald, Marvin A. Prickel, Martin J. Roberge
  • Publication number: 20140193215
    Abstract: A system includes an inductor assembly of an agricultural implement having an inductor box with a wall configured to separate an interior of the inductor box from an exterior of the inductor box, an inductor segment, and a mounting clip. The wall includes an inner surface in the interior and an outer surface on the exterior. The inductor segment includes a mixing portion and a delivery portion, wherein the mixing portion interfaces with the inner surface and is configured to mix agricultural product and airflow into a mixture. The delivery portion is configured to convey the mixture through the wall. The mounting clip is configured to form a seal between the interior and the exterior of the inductor box, and to interface with the outer surface and the delivery portion in an installed position to couple the inductor segment to the inductor box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Connors, Chad M. Johnson, Marvin A. Prickel
  • Publication number: 20140190584
    Abstract: An inductor box for an agricultural implement includes an inlet configured to receive agricultural product from a tank. The inductor box also includes a housing having a cavity therein. The cavity is configured to receive the agricultural product from the inlet. The inductor box includes a gate configured to be removably inserted between the inlet and the cavity, to block the agricultural product from entering the cavity while disposed between the inlet and the cavity, and to enable the agricultural product to enter the cavity while removed from being disposed between the inlet and the cavity. The inductor box includes a first guide coupled to the housing and configured to direct the gate away from the inlet. The first guide is disposed between the gate and the inlet while the gate is disposed between the inlet and the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CNH AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Chad M. Johnson, Marvin A. Prickel, Michael J. Connors