Patents by Inventor Paul L. Ardison

Paul L. Ardison 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).

  • Publication number: 20220055517
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle for transporting and delivering livestock feed to a feed bunk in a feedlot without human intervention. The vehicle includes a chassis having a translation assembly for moving the vehicle across a surface, a delivery box operably engaged with the chassis and defining a chamber for carrying the feed. A load-dispensing assembly and a load-advancement mechanism are provided on the delivery box. Actuating the load-advancement mechanism moves the livestock feed toward the load-dispensing assembly. A control assembly is provided with programming configured to autonomously control movement of the vehicle along a predetermined pathway in the feedlot, autonomously control the load-advancement mechanism and load-dispensing assembly to deliver feed from the delivery box into a feed bunk at a preset location along the pathway, and/or control the ground speed of the vehicle so that an exact weight of feed is delivered per linear foot traveled by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Kirby Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Ardison, Richard M. Kirby
  • Patent number: 10178825
    Abstract: The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventors: Paul L. Ardison, David Gramling, John Kusler
  • Publication number: 20170135281
    Abstract: The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: Hiniker Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Ardison, David Gramling, John Kusler
  • Patent number: 9591801
    Abstract: The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hiniker Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Ardison, David Gramling
  • Publication number: 20160007524
    Abstract: The monitor system for an anhydrous ammonia fertilizer injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of discharge lines connected to soil engaging knives. A temperature sensor is mounted in each discharge line. The temperature of fertilizer in each discharge line is measures and transmitted to a microprocessor in a console. The temperature in a discharge line is compared with the average temperature in the other discharge lines. This comparison is made for each discharge line connected to a manifold to determine the temperature variations. The variations are compared to a temperature variation number provided by the operator. If an excessive variation occurs a warning is provided. A console screen graph shows which discharge line needs inspection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: HINIKER COMPANY
    Inventors: John Kusler, David Gramling, Paul L. Ardison
  • Patent number: 9144191
    Abstract: A fertilizer system includes a supply vessel pressurized by anhydrous ammonia vapor. The fertilizer passes through a heat exchanger. Cooled fertilizer passes through a flow meter, an on/off valve and to a variable orifice distribution assembly body. A cage with axially elongated cage slots is press fit in a body bore with each slot aligned with an outlet port. Each port is connected to a soil knife by a conduit line. A piston with axially elongated piston slots is axially slidable in the cage. Each piston slot is moved axially in the cage to cooperate with a cage slot. An actuator moves the piston to a position that blocks flow through the piston slots and positions in which fertilizer flows through each piston slot and portions of each cage slot in communication with a piston slot. Vapor pressure in the supply vessel moves fertilizer to the knife opener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventors: David J. Gramling, Paul L Ardison
  • Patent number: 8733073
    Abstract: A system for cutting, windrowing, and baling material in a single pass. The system has a tractor, a windrower for windrowing material, a baler for baling material that passes through the windrower, a conveying assembly attached to an outlet opening of the windrower, and a connecting assembly for connecting the tractor, the windrower, and the baler. The conveying assembly moves material from the outlet opening of the windrower toward an inlet of the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company, Hiniker Company
    Inventors: Paul L. Ardison, Roger J. Scheurer, Loren Steenhoek, Vincent J. Tomlonovic