Patents by Inventor Nolan D. Eakins

Nolan D. Eakins 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: 12704436
    Abstract: A baler including an accelerometer coupled to the frame and configured to output a bulk signal representative of the total vibrational power in the frame, and a controller in operable communication with the accelerometer, where the controller is configured to deconstruct the bulk output signal provided by the accelerometer into at least a first component signal and a second component signal, and where the controller is configured to associate one of the first component signal and the second component signal with a first bearing and the other of the first component signal and the second component signal with a second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2026
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Nolan D. Eakins, Bart A. Coffman
  • Publication number: 20260165256
    Abstract: A baler implement includes a bale formation system defining a baling chamber configured for forming crop material into a bale having a cylindrical shape, and a roller configured to apply a compressive force against the crop to form the bale. A bale size sensor is operable to sense data related to a diametric size of the bale within the baling chamber. A baler controller determines a current diameter of the bale during formation thereof within the baling chamber, and determines if the current diameter of the bale is equal to a pressure release diameter threshold. When the current diameter of the bale is equal to the pressure release diameter threshold, the baler controller may automatically control the bale formation system to decrease the compressive force of the roller applied against the bale to prevent overloading and damaging bearings of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2024
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Inventors: Nolan D. Eakins, Bart A. Coffman, Daniel E. Derscheid, Jacob W. Everhart
  • Publication number: 20240295467
    Abstract: A baler comprising an accelerometer coupled to the frame and configured to output a bulk signal representative of the total vibrational power in the frame, and a controller in operable communication with the accelerometer, where the controller is configured to deconstruct the bulk output signal provided by the accelerometer into at least a first component signal and a second component signal, and where the controller is configured to associate one of the first component signal and the second component signal with a first bearing and the other of the first component signal and the second component signal with a second bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Nolan D. Eakins, Bart A. Coffman