Patents by Inventor Michael Zimmerman

Michael Zimmerman 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: 12225839
    Abstract: Technologies for guiding an agricultural vehicle through crop rows using a camera and signal processing to locate the crop row or centers of the crop row. The signal processing uses a filter to filter data from images captured by the camera and locates the row or the centers based on the filtered data. The filter is generated based on a signal processing transform and an initial image of the crop row captured by the camera. The filter is applied to subsequent images of the crop row captured by the camera. In some embodiments, the camera includes one lens. For example, monocular computer vision is used in some embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, a central processing unit generates the filter based on the transform and the initial image of the crop row and applies the generated filter to the subsequent images of the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Quentin Susko, Jeffrey Michael Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20240229937
    Abstract: This disclosure includes safety valves, vehicles and fueling stations having the same, and related methods. Some safety valves have a valve body defining a fluidic network including an inlet and an outlet, a piston disposed within and movable relative to the valve body between a first position in which the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet and a second position in which fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is prevented, and a heat-defeatable barrier that prevents movement of the piston to the second position. In some safety valves, the piston is biased toward the second position. In some safety valves, the piston includes a channel disposed between first and second ends of the piston, and when the piston is in the first position, the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet via the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Chris Culberson, Adam Strouhal
  • Publication number: 20240151359
    Abstract: This disclosure includes fuel systems having multi-tank pressure-relief devices and related methods. Some fuel systems have two or more fuel tanks, each containing fuel at a pressure at or above 3,000 pounds per square inch (“psi”), two or more pressure-relief devices (“PRDs”) configured to receive fuel from the fuel tanks and vent the received fuel in response to temperature, and fuel conduits coupling the fuel tanks to the PRDs such that, for each of the fuel tanks, for each of the PRDs, fuel is permitted to flow from the fuel tank to the PRD without flowing through a valve that is not one of the PRDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Publication number: 20240133469
    Abstract: This disclosure includes safety valves, vehicles and fueling stations having the same, and related methods. Some safety valves have a valve body defining a fluidic network including an inlet and an outlet, a piston disposed within and movable relative to the valve body between a first position in which the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet and a second position in which fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is prevented, and a heat-defeatable barrier that prevents movement of the piston to the second position. In some safety valves, the piston is biased toward the second position. In some safety valves, the piston includes a channel disposed between first and second ends of the piston, and when the piston is in the first position, the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet via the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Chris Culberson, Adam Strouhal
  • Publication number: 20240117940
    Abstract: This disclosure includes fuel tank fittings, fuel systems and fueling stations having the same, and related methods. Some fuel tank fittings have a first end including a connector configured to be sealingly coupled to an outlet of a fuel tank, wherein the connector has a connection axis, a second end including two or more first ports, each positioned such that the connection axis does not extend therethrough, a first interior passageway extending from the connector, and two or more second interior passageways connecting the first interior passageway to the first ports such that, for each of the first ports, fluid is permitted to flow from the connector, through the first interior passageway, through one or more of the second interior passageways, and out of the first port without flowing through a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Publication number: 20240035866
    Abstract: A magnetic meter is provided. The magnetic meter includes a flowtube having an inlet on a first end and an outlet on a second end, the inlet and outlet defining a direction of flow. The magnetic meter also includes a metal enclosure surrounding the flowtube. The metal enclosure is in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet of the flowtube and the metal enclosure extends, in the direction of flow, upstream beyond the inlet on the first end and downstream beyond the outlet on the second end of the flowtube. A method, meters and a metering system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Johnathan Wimbish
  • Publication number: 20230292734
    Abstract: A system for applying an herbicide to an agricultural field includes a sensor configured to measure total vegetation density in the agricultural field; and an applicator vehicle comprising a chassis, a liquid holding tank carried by the chassis, and at least one nozzle carried by the chassis and in fluid communication with the liquid holding tank. A controller is configured to control an amount of flow of herbicide through the nozzle(s) based on the total vegetation density measured by the sensor. A method of applying an herbicide to an agricultural field includes measuring a total vegetation density in the agricultural field and spraying a variable amount of an herbicide through at least one nozzle onto the agricultural field. The amount of herbicide is based on the measured total vegetation density, without regard to distinction between crop and weed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Zimmerman, Jason Lee
  • Patent number: 11668364
    Abstract: A gas cup for a damper assembly comprises a body including an upper surface, a lower surface, an exterior surface and an interior surface. The body defines an aperture extending through the upper surface and the lower surface. A decoupler is located in the aperture and secured to the body. A bridging member is located between the decoupler and the body and coupled to the decoupler and the body. The decoupler and the bridging member is made from materials having different elasticity to allow the decoupler to move in the aperture in response to a volumetric change in the damper assembly and to provide variable tuning of the damper assembly. A damper assembly including the gas cup is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shigekata Yoshida, II, Eric Schumann, Timothy Schlangen, Michael Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11589569
    Abstract: An agricultural applicator machine has a frame and at least one horizontally extending boom assembly. The boom assembly pivots to a folded position in which it is secured in a boom-cradle mechanism. The boom-cradle mechanism includes a crossmember and a boom rest at an outer end of the crossmember, the boom rest having a rigid inboard boom stop, a rigid outboard boom stop, and a saddle portion. The inboard boom stop extends from the saddle portion in an out-of-phase configuration relative the outboard boom stop. The boom-cradle mechanism has a locking assembly having an actuator assembly configured to rotate the crossmember, and thus the cradle boom rest. The actuator assembly connects to the crossmember through a linkage assembly. The actuator assembly causes the crossmember to rotate causing the boom rest to move between an open position and a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Aaron Rasa, Jeffrey Michael Zimmerman, Mark Aron Crowley
  • Publication number: 20220388390
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Natural Gas Fuel Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael ZIMMERMAN, Christopher CULBERSON
  • Publication number: 20220377962
    Abstract: Technologies for guiding an agricultural vehicle through crop rows using a camera and signal processing to locate the crop row or centers of the crop row. The signal processing uses a filter to filter data from images captured by the camera and locates the row or the centers based on the filtered data. The filter is generated based on a signal processing transform and an initial image of the crop row captured by the camera. The filter is applied to subsequent images of the crop row captured by the camera. In some embodiments, the camera includes one lens. For example, monocular computer vision is used in some embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, a central processing unit generates the filter based on the transform and the initial image of the crop row and applies the generated filter to the subsequent images of the row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Quentin Susko, Jeffrey Michael Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11510322
    Abstract: Systems for reducing leakage at a pressure barrier in a gas meter, are provided including first and second gaskets; a flexible circuit having variable thicknesses, such that a thicker portion of the flexible circuit is provided between the first and second gaskets; and a mounting plate on the flexible circuit, the mounting plate compressing the flexible circuit between the first and second gaskets on a non-pressurized side of the pressure barrier of the gas meter. Related flexible circuits and gas meters are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Frazee, Michael Zimmerman, Christian Heizenroeder
  • Patent number: 11427074
    Abstract: Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NATURAL GAS FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zimmerman, Christopher Culberson
  • Publication number: 20220163085
    Abstract: A gas cup for a damper assembly comprises a body including an upper surface, a lower surface, an exterior surface and an interior surface. The body defines an aperture extending through the upper surface and the lower surface. A decoupler is located in the aperture and secured to the body. A bridging member is located between the decoupler and the body and coupled to the decoupler and the body. The decoupler and the bridging member is made from materials having different elasticity to allow the decoupler to move in the aperture in response to a volumetric change in the damper assembly and to provide variable tuning of the damper assembly. A damper assembly including the gas cup is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Shigekata Yoshida, Eric Schumann, Timothy Schlangen, Michael Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20220150595
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in describes methods, systems, and other mechanisms for previewing a video in response to computing device interaction. The method includes presenting, on a display of a computing device, a graphical indication of a video; identifying, by the computing device, that first user input interacted with the computing device; presenting, by the computing device, an animation of a preview of the video in response to the computing device having identified that the first user input interacted with the computing device; identifying, by the computing device, that the first user input stopped interacting with the computing device; stopping, by the computing device, the animation of the preview of the video in response to the computing device having identified that the first user input stopped interacting with the computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Jared Michael Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20220110310
    Abstract: An agricultural applicator machine has a frame and at least one horizontally extending boom assembly. The boom assembly pivots to a folded position in which it is secured in a boom-cradle mechanism. The boom-cradle mechanism includes a crossmember and a boom rest at an outer end of the crossmember, the boom rest having a rigid inboard boom stop, a rigid outboard boom stop, and a saddle portion. The inboard boom stop extends from the saddle portion in an out-of-phase configuration relative the outboard boom stop. The boom-cradle mechanism has a locking assembly having an actuator assembly configured to rotate the crossmember, and thus the cradle boom rest. The actuator assembly connects to the crossmember through a linkage assembly. The actuator assembly causes the crossmember to rotate causing the boom rest to move between an open position and a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua Aaron RASA, Jeffrey Michael ZIMMERMAN, Mark Aron CROWLEY
  • Patent number: 11259088
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in describes methods, systems, and other mechanisms for previewing a video in response to computing device interaction. The method includes presenting, on a display of a computing device, a graphical indication of a video; identifying, by the computing device, that first user input interacted with the computing device; presenting, by the computing device, an animation of a preview of the video in response to the computing device having identified that the first user input interacted with the computing device; identifying, by the computing device, that the first user input stopped interacting with the computing device; stopping, by the computing device, the animation of the preview of the video in response to the computing device having identified that the first user input stopped interacting with the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Jared Michael Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11175169
    Abstract: A system for connecting a central module to a network is provided. The system includes a central module having an inlet and an outlet; a first connector configured to be received at the inlet of the central module; a second, connector configured to be received at the outlet of the central module; and at least one fastening mechanism configured to secure the first and second connectors to the central module such that a sealed connection is provided through the central module to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20210146819
    Abstract: A sprayer vehicle includes a chassis having a longitudinal axis and supported by a plurality of wheels, a boom carried by the chassis, and a pivoting mechanism. The boom has a first boom extension and a second boom extension, each carrying a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge material. The pivoting mechanism is configured to co-linearly orient the first boom extension at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the chassis and the second boom extension at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. Other sprayer vehicles are configured to discharge material while the wheels of the sprayer are oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the chassis. Control systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Zimmerman, Mark Aron Crowley
  • Patent number: D1020094
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: WAHL CLIPPER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Zimmerman