Patents by Inventor Michael L. Hinds
Michael L. Hinds 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).
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Patent number: 8615978Abstract: Sugar cane stalks are conveyed along a path passing between upper and lower chopper drums equipped with chopper blades extending lengthwise of the drums and located so that blades of one drum intermesh with those of the other so as to cut the cane stalks into billets. The cutting diameter of the blades of the upper chopper drum is greater than that of the blades carried by the lower blade resulting in the peripheral speed of the upper chopper drum being greater than that of the lower chopper drum. The cutting edge of each of the blades is defined at one side by a compound bevel with the blades being disposed on the drums so that they overlap and mesh bevel-to-bevel. The compound bevels are chosen so as to both satisfy the requirement that the blades be self-sharpening and have close to a zero timing angle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Patent number: 8578688Abstract: A harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants. The harvester includes a chassis, at least one ground contacting propulsion device connected to the chassis, and a basecutter assembly. The basecutter assembly is coupled to the chassis. The basecutter assembly includes a plurality of cutting knives and a pair of counter rotating plates. The pair of counter rotating plates include a first plate and a second plate, each of which have at least one of the plurality of cutting knives attached thereto. The first plate rotates about a first axis. The first plate has at least one portion thereof that extends in a radial direction such that the portion would interfere with the knife of the second plate except that the first plate is offset in a direction parallel to said first axis relative to said knife of said second plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Publication number: 20130111871Abstract: Sugar cane stalks are conveyed along a path passing between upper and lower chopper drums equipped with chopper blades extending lengthwise of the drums and located so that blades of one drum intermesh with those of the other so as to cut the cane stalks into billets. The cutting diameter of the blades of the upper chopper drum is greater than that of the blades carried by the lower blade resulting in the peripheral speed of the upper chopper drum being greater than that of the lower chopper drum. The cutting edge of each of the blades is defined at one side by a compound bevel with the blades being disposed on the drums so that they overlap and mesh bevel-to-bevel. The compound bevels are chosen so as to both satisfy the requirement that the blades be self-sharpening and have close to a zero timing angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Patent number: 8387998Abstract: A steering mechanism for a sugarcane harvester having pivotable forward frame sections and a pivotal topper assembly for maneuverability. The steering mechanism includes arms extending from the respective frame sections and topper assembly. Steering links pivotally interconnect the arms in a way that the topper steering arm is sandwiched between a pair of links. An eccentric pivotal connection between the topper steering arm and the links is provided to accommodate the change in radius. Actuators connect to the links to provide movement of the steering arms.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Publication number: 20120240544Abstract: A harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants. The harvester includes a chassis, at least one ground contacting propulsion device connected to the chassis, and a basecutter assembly. The basecutter assembly is coupled to the chassis. The basecutter assembly includes a plurality of cutting knives and a pair of counter rotating plates. The pair of counter rotating plates include a first plate and a second plate, each of which have at least one of the plurality of cutting knives attached thereto. The first plate rotates about a first axis. The first plate has at least one portion thereof that extends in a radial direction such that the portion would interfere with the knife of the second plate except that the first plate is offset in a direction parallel to said first axis relative to said knife of said second plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Patent number: 8230669Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly includes a knockdown roller, a butt lifter roller and/or an upper feed roller. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Patent number: 8230668Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Publication number: 20120110967Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Publication number: 20120110968Abstract: A stalk processing section of a harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants, the harvester has a main frame that is moveably coupled to an undercarriage. The stalk processing section includes a basecutter assembly movably coupled to the main frame. The basecutter assembly includes a knockdown roller, a butt lifter roller and/or an upper feed roller. The basecutter assembly also includes a set of rails and a set of wheels. The set of wheels engage the set of rails. The set of rails are attached to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of wheels are rotatably coupled to the main frame and/or the basecutter assembly. The set of rails and the set of wheels are configured to constrain movement of the basecutter assembly along a path established by the rails and the wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Publication number: 20120112428Abstract: A steering mechanism for a sugarcane harvester having pivotable forward frame sections and a pivotal topper assembly for maneuverability. The steering mechanism includes arms extending from the respective frame sections and topper assembly. Steering links pivotally interconnect the arms in a way that the topper steering arm is sandwiched between a pair of links. An eccentric pivotal connection between the topper steering arm and the links is provided to accommodate the change in radius. Actuators connect to the links to provide movement of the steering arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventor: Michael L. Hinds
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Patent number: 7805916Abstract: A work machine for harvesting a cane crop having a lower crop material gathering device, the work machine including a chassis and an upper crop material gathering device coupled to said chassis. The upper crop material gathering device including at least one moving device configured to substantially surround a stalk of a cane crop plant as said at least one moving device moves, and a stalk engaging device positioned proximate to the at least one moving device. The stalk engaging device being configured to pull the stalk from the at least one moving device, thereby stripping grain from a head of the cane crop plant.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael L. Hinds, John S. Hickman
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Publication number: 20100186363Abstract: A work machine for harvesting a cane crop having a lower crop material gathering device, the work machine including a chassis and an upper crop material gathering device coupled to said chassis. The upper crop material gathering device including at least one moving device configured to substantially surround a stalk of a cane crop plant as said at least one moving device moves, and a stalk engaging device positioned proximate to the at least one moving device. The stalk engaging device being configured to pull the stalk from the at least one moving device, thereby stripping grain from a head of the cane crop plant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Michael L. Hinds, John S. Hickman
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Patent number: 7694501Abstract: A work machine for harvesting a cane crop having a lower crop material gathering device. The work machine has a direction of travel and the work machine has a chassis and an upper crop material gathering device coupled to the chassis. The upper crop material gathering device includes at least one moving device and a stalk cutting device. The at least one moving device is configured to substantially surround a stalk of a cane crop plant as the at least one moving device moves. The at least one moving device is further configured to bend the head of the cane crop plant in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of travel. The stalk cutting device is positioned proximate to the at least one moving device. The stalk engaging device being configured to cut the peduncle of the cane crop plant.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael L. Hinds, John S. Hickman
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Patent number: 7681388Abstract: A harvester for crops including biomass crop material and seed heads. The harvester includes a base unit, a biomass harvester sub-system for harvesting the biomass crop material, and a seed harvester sub-system for harvesting the seed heads. The biomass harvester sub-system includes a biomass harvester carried by the base unit. The seed harvester sub-system is carried by the base unit and operable independent from the biomass harvester sub-system, whereby the biomass crop material and seed heads are processed independently from each other within the harvester.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael L. Hinds, John S. Hickman