Patents by Inventor Ronald L. Reichen
Ronald L. Reichen 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: 9743581Abstract: Commercial walk behind mower operator controls include a rigid handlebar with a pair of hand grips, each hand grip having a non-horizontal axis. A pair of operator control levers are mounted adjacent the handlebar and hand grips. Both operator control levers are pivotable about a single pivot point having a pivot axis that is non-parallel to the axis of each hand grip. Each operator control lever is pivotable toward the hand grip to reduce the rotational speed of a drive wheel.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Mark Nier, Ronald L. Reichen
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Publication number: 20170223891Abstract: Commercial walk behind mower operator controls include a rigid handlebar with a pair of hand grips, each hand grip having a non-horizontal axis. A pair of operator control levers are mounted adjacent the handlebar and hand grips. Both operator control levers are pivotable about a single pivot point having a pivot axis that is non-parallel to the axis of each hand grip. Each operator control lever is pivotable toward the hand grip to reduce the rotational speed of a drive wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: MARK NIER, RONALD L. REICHEN
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Patent number: 9560800Abstract: A quick change rotary mower blade assembly includes a mower blade attached to a blade assembly pin that is inserted into an internal bore in a spindle extending through a housing under the mower deck. A blade retainer on the lower end of the spindle has a pair of notches holding and locking the mower blade in place.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Ronald L. Reichen, Harlin Trefz
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Publication number: 20150289447Abstract: A quick change rotary mower blade assembly includes a mower blade attached to a blade assembly pin that is inserted into an internal bore in a spindle extending through a housing under the mower deck. A blade retainer on the lower end of the spindle has a pair of notches holding and locking the mower blade in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Ronald L. REICHEN, Harlin TREFZ
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Patent number: 8356465Abstract: A height of cut adjuster for a reel mower cutting unit with a removable attachment includes a front roller with a shaft positionable in front of the cutting reel axis, and a roller bracket assembly having a bottom bracket removably attached to a top bracket to provide a gap therebetween where the front roller shaft is held. The roller bracket assembly may be pivoted, and the top bracket may be connected to the bottom bracket in a different position further from the cutting reel, so that an attachment such as a conditioner may be installed between the front roller and the cutting reel.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sanjeev Hallale, Richard D. Thier, Brent G. Rinholm, Ronald L. Reichen
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Patent number: 8255126Abstract: An aerator having a flexible frame for use on sloped or undulating ground surfaces of golf courses and other turf. The aerator includes a pair of frame sections linked together at a horizontal pivot axis, one of the frame section supporting a coring head. A ground sensor is pivotably attached to one of the frame sections so that the ground sensor may pivot in response to changes in ground slope and provide output relating to the magnitude of the change. Based on the output, a flex frame actuator pivots the pair of frame sections with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Kenneth E. Hunt, Shane D. Simon, Troy W. Harris, III, Harlin J. Trefz, Ronald L. Reichen, John L. Bocksnick, Bradley P. Aldridge
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Publication number: 20110213530Abstract: An aerator having a flexible frame for use on sloped or undulating ground surfaces of golf courses and other turf. The aerator includes a pair of frame sections linked together at a horizontal pivot axis, one of the frame section supporting a coring head. A ground sensor is pivotably attached to one of the frame sections so that the ground sensor may pivot in response to changes in ground slope and provide output relating to the magnitude of the change. Based on the output, a flex frame actuator pivots the pair of frame sections with respect to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: September 1, 2011Inventors: Kenneth E. Hunt, Shane D. Simon, Troy W. Harris, III, Harlin J. Trefz, Ronald L. Reichen, John L. Bocksnick, Bradley P. Aldridge
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Publication number: 20110192129Abstract: A height of cut adjuster for a reel mower cutting unit with a removable attachment includes a front roller with a shaft positionable in front of the cutting reel axis, and a roller bracket assembly having a bottom bracket removably attached to a top bracket to provide a gap therebetween where the front roller shaft is held. The roller bracket assembly may be pivoted, and the top bracket may be connected to the bottom bracket in a different position further from the cutting reel, so that an attachment such as a conditioner may be installed between the front roller and the cutting reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: August 11, 2011Inventors: Sanjeev Hallale, Richard D. Thier, Brent G. Rinholm, Ronald L. Reichen
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Patent number: 7845152Abstract: A grass catcher retaining device for a reel mower cutting unit includes a central support ring removably fastened to a loop projecting forwardly from a lift arm for the reel mower cutting unit. The central support ring may be pivotably mounted to the top of the grass catcher, and may have a gate that is spring biased to the closed position to engage a wireform loop extending forwardly from the lift arm that supports the reel mower cutting unit. Additionally, a rod may extend horizontally from the sides of a grass catcher and may be pivotably attached to the reel mower cutting unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: David G. Surridge, Ronald L. Reichen
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Patent number: 7765779Abstract: A latch mechanism is disclosed that retains a grass catcher on a reel mower cutting unit. The latch mechanism includes a latch plate releasably holding a rod end of the grass catcher in a slot on the reel mower cutting unit. The latch plate pivots on a horizontal axis. A clip is fastened to the horizontal axis to lock the latch plate in either a locked position retaining the grass catcher or an unlocked position allowing removal of the grass catcher.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: David G. Surridge, Ronald L. Reichen
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Patent number: 7716907Abstract: A height of cut adjustment mechanism is provided for a rotary cutting deck mounted on a lift arm extending from a traction vehicle. The mechanism includes a front axle and a rear axle, at least one roller mounted on each axle, and a pair of height of cut arms extending from each axle to a pivot axis on the rotary cutting deck. A notch lock on each height of cut arm may be moved between a locked position in which the notch lock engages a notch plate at a desired cutting height, and an unlocked position in which the notch lock disengages the notch plate so that the height of cut arm can pivot with respect to the rotary cutting deck. A lever attached to each notch lock can be operated to move the notch lock between the locked and the unlocked positions.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Brian M. Joliff, David L. Phillips, Jennifer L. Jaramillo, Ronald L. Reichen, Todd A. Link, Scott A. Jarman
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Publication number: 20100107586Abstract: A grass catcher retaining device is disclosed for a reel mower cutting unit. The retaining device includes a central support ring on the grass catcher and removably fastened to a loop projecting forwardly from a lift arm for the reel mower cutting unit. The central support ring may be pivotably mounted to the top of the grass catcher, and may have a gate that is spring biased to the closed position to engage a wireform loop extending forwardly from the lift arm that supports the reel mower cutting unit. Additionally, a rod may extend horizontally from the sides of a grass catcher and may be pivotably attached to the reel mower cutting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: David G. Surridge, Ronald L. Reichen
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Publication number: 20100037578Abstract: A height of cut adjustment mechanism is provided for a rotary cutting deck mounted on a lift arm extending from a traction vehicle. The mechanism includes a front axle and a rear axle, at least one roller mounted on each axle, and a pair of height of cut arms extending from each axle to a pivot axis on the rotary cutting deck. A notch lock on each height of cut arm may be moved between a locked position in which the notch lock engages a notch plate at a desired cutting height, and an unlocked position in which the notch lock disengages the notch plate so that the height of cut arm can pivot with respect to the rotary cutting deck. A lever attached to each notch lock can be operated to move the notch lock between the locked and the unlocked positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventors: Brian M. Jolliff, David L. Phillips, Jennifer L. Jaramillo, Ronald L. Reichen, Todd A. Link, Scott A. Jarman
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Publication number: 20100037581Abstract: A latch mechanism is disclosed that retains a grass catcher on a reel mower cutting unit. The latch mechanism includes a latch plate releasably holding a rod end of the grass catcher in a slot on the reel mower cutting unit. The latch plate pivots on a horizontal axis. A clip is fastened to the horizontal axis to lock the latch plate in either a locked position retaining the grass catcher or an unlocked position allowing removal of the grass catcher.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventors: David G. Surridge, Ronald L. Reichen
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Patent number: 5459984Abstract: A mechanism for shifting reel mower cutting units to a position whereat the undersides of the cutting units are exposed for service. A knuckle joint is provided for pivoting the cutting units as the lift arms are raised to thereby shift the cutting units to service positions. A connection point is provided between a yoke and the cutting unit which is located at the upper rear quadrant of the cutting unit's side frame for generally balancing the force distributed to the ground through the front and rear rollers during forward mowing operations.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1994Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Ronald L. Reichen, Larry N. Smith, David L. Phillips
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Patent number: 5412931Abstract: A mechanism for collecting grass clippings cut by a cutting unit, including a laterally extending member or rail coupled with the cutting unit, a clippings container or basket positioned for receiving clippings cut by the cutting unit, first and second laterally spaced hook members operatively coupled with the container for engaging the laterally extending member to operatively couple the container with the cutting unit, said mechanism allowing an operator standing at one side of the vehicle to disengage the nearest hook member from the rail to slide the container toward himself while the other hook member slides along in engagement with the rail, thereby facilitating removal.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1993Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Ronald L. Reichen, Phillip O. Swenson
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Patent number: 5343680Abstract: A mechanism for shifting reel mower cutting units to a position whereat the undersides of the cutting units are exposed for service. A knuckle joint is provided for pivoting the cutting units as the lift arms are raised to thereby shift the cutting units to service positions. A connection point is provided between a yoke and the cutting unit which is located at the upper rear quadrant of the cutting unit's side frame for generally balancing the force distributed to the ground through the front and rear rollers during forward mowing operations.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1992Date of Patent: September 6, 1994Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Ronald L. Reichen, David H. Diebold, Larry N. Smith, Stephen E. O'Brien, David L. Phillips
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Patent number: 5241810Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the height at which vegetation is cut by a reel mower cutting unit, including a plurality of rack members each coupled with a respective corner of the cutting unit frame, the rack members each having a plurality of teeth vertically arranged, a plurality of bracket members coupled with ground engaging roller means, each of the bracket members having a plurality of generally vertically arranged teeth engagable with the teeth of a respective rack member for generally preventing vertical shifting of the bracket member with respect to the rack member and cutting unit, and for setting the vertical position of the cutting unit with respect to the ground engaging roller means, thereby setting the height at which vegetation is cut by the cutting unit, and means for individually fine adjusting the vertical position of each rack member with respect to the cutting unit, for fine adjusting the height at which vegetation is cut and for leveling the cutting unit in both the lateral and fore and aftType: GrantFiled: June 5, 1992Date of Patent: September 7, 1993Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Ronald L. Reichen
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Patent number: 4793126Abstract: In a cotton harvester, a pair of fork assemblies are mounted between the ends of the basket for independently rocking about a fore-and-aft extending pivotal axis. A separate hydraulic cylinder operates each fork assembly to compact the cotton against the side of the basket and to selectively hold a substantial portion of the cotton in the basket during dumping. The cylinders are plumbed in parallel so that uneven loads can be compressed with substantially uniform pressure from the front to rear of the basket.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1984Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: William R. Wood, Ronald L. Reichen, Joe H. Hoeksema, Schlueter, Francis E.
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Patent number: 4769978Abstract: A single constant displacement pump provides lubricant under pressure from an on-board grease reservoir through a two-position valve to a selected group of distribution manifolds mounted on a cotton harvester. Each manifold of the group is connected to a plurality of conduits which lead to harvester row unit lubrication points, such as on the picker bar cam tracks, picker drum drive gears and the lubricant cavity for each of the picker drums. A line from the picker drum cavity opens into and lubricates the drum thrust washer area. The quantity of lubricant to each point is determined primarily by relative conduit resistance, which in turn is controlled by conduit length and cross section so that individual metering valves or pumps for each lubrication point are obviated. Conduits of substantially equal length and cross section are provided for each group of points which are to receive equal amounts of lubricant.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1987Date of Patent: September 13, 1988Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Ronald L. Reichen, Bruce L. Hubbard