Patents by Inventor Roy A. Bittner

Roy A. Bittner 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: 12207646
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer system is provided herein that can include a boom assembly having a frame and a boom arm operably coupled with the frame. The boom arm can be rotatable relative to the frame between a plurality of angles in a fore-aft direction. An actuator operably can be coupled with the frame and the boom arm and configured to rotate the boom arm between the plurality of angles. A sensor can be operably coupled with the boom assembly and configured to capture data associated with a position of the boom assembly. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to calculate a boom assembly deflection magnitude and a fore-aft deflection direction based on the data from the sensor and activate the actuator to rotate the boom arm relative to the frame when the magnitude of deflection deviates from a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 12201047
    Abstract: A system for an agricultural sprayer includes a boom assembly operably coupled with a chassis. A steering system is operably coupled with the chassis and includes a steering sensor. The system also includes one or more imaging devices and one or more nozzle assemblies. A computing system is operably coupled with the one or more imaging devices and the one or more nozzle assemblies. The computing system is configured to receive data related to a first imaged portion of an agricultural field from the one or more imaging devices; identify a target within the first imaged portion of the agricultural field; receive data related to an inputted steering command from the steering system; and determine a target offset of the target relative to the sprayer path and a boom offset of the assembly relative to the sprayer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 12201108
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer includes a boom assembly having first and second wing boom sections. Additionally, the sprayer includes an actuator configured to adjust a fore/aft tilt angle of the boom assembly, with the fore/aft tilt angle defined between a central axis of the boom assembly and a vertical direction. Moreover, the sprayer includes a sensor configured to capture data associated with a position of the second boom section relative to the first boom section. In this respect, a computing system is configured to determine an angle defined between the first and second boom sections or a height of a tip of the second boom section based on the data captured by the sensor. In addition, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator to adjust the fore/aft tilt angle of the boom assembly based on the determined angle or the determined height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20250001445
    Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an agricultural sprayer includes a boom assembly having a boom arm and a nozzle assembly supported on the boom arm. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor configured to generate data indicative of a position of the boom arm relative to the frame. Additionally, a computing system is configured to determine the position of a portion of the boom arm relative to the frame in a plane defined by a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction based on the data generated by the sensor. The longitudinal direction is parallel to the travel direction and perpendicular to the lateral direction, while the vertical direction is perpendicular to the lateral direction and the travel direction. Additionally, the computing system is configured to control the operation of the nozzle assembly based on the determined position of the portion of the boom arm relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher Fedor, Luca Ferrari, Blaine Schwalbe, Roy A. Bittner, Gerard Gadzella
  • Publication number: 20250000077
    Abstract: A system for controlling an operation of an agricultural sprayer includes a boom assembly having a frame, a boom arm coupled to the frame, and a nozzle assembly supported on the boom arm. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor configured to generate data indicative of a position of the boom arm relative to the frame in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a vertical direction, which are perpendicular to a travel direction of the sprayer. Additionally, a computing system is configured to determine the position of the nozzle assembly relative to the frame in the plane defined by the lateral direction and the vertical direction based on the data generated by the sensor. Additionally, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the nozzle assembly based on the determined position of the nozzle assembly relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Luca Ferrari, Blaine Schwalbe, Gerard Gadzella, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20240424513
    Abstract: A system for a boom assembly can include a cylinder including a piston rod and a housing. The cylinder can be operably coupled between a first boom section and a second boom section of the boom assembly. A control circuit can be fluidly coupled with the cylinder. The control circuit includes a first pressure relief assembly including a first pressure relief valve and a first flow control device. The first flow control device can be positioned between the cylinder and the first pressure relief valve in the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin Smith, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20240423189
    Abstract: A system can include a boom assembly operably coupled with a chassis. A first actuator can be operably coupled with a first pair of sections of the boom assembly. A second actuator can be operably coupled with a second pair of sections of the boom assembly. A sensor system can be configured to capture data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the boom assembly. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the sensor system. The computing system can be configured to receive the data from the sensor system, determine a current boom profile of the boom assembly, determine a current ground profile relative to the boom assembly, and determine a first position for the first actuator to place the boom assembly in a target boom profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Mitchell Sandey, Benjamin Smith, Blaine Schwalbe, Peter Hobson, Luke Prouty
  • Publication number: 20240423188
    Abstract: A system for a boom assembly can include a cylinder including a piston and a housing. The cylinder can be operably coupled between a first boom section and a second boom section of the boom assembly. A control circuit can be fluidly coupled with the cylinder. The control circuit can include a directional control valve configured to control a position of the cylinder, a first pressure relief assembly including a first pressure relief valve operably coupled with a rod side of the housing, and a second pressure relief assembly including a second pressure relief valve operably coupled with a base side of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Mitchell Sandey, Benjamin Smith, Blaine Schwalbe
  • Publication number: 20240407278
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system which includes a row crop mitigation system configured to mitigate damage to a row crop by regulating a tread width of opposing ground engaging elements of an agricultural work vehicle. The row crop mitigation system includes a crop row sensor configured to generate crop plant data, as well as a mitigation tread width controller configured to selectively change the tread width of the opposing ground engaging elements. The mitigation tread width controller having an inactive state in which the mitigation tread width controller does not change a tread width of the opposing ground engaging elements, and an active state in which the mitigation tread width controller is configured to generate a mitigation tread width command to change the tread width of the opposing ground engaging elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Mitchell Sandey
  • Publication number: 20240397848
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system which includes a row crop mitigation system configured to mitigate damage to a row crop by changing a steer angle of a ground engaging element of an agricultural work vehicle. The row crop mitigation system includes a crop row sensor configured to generate crop plant data, as well as a mitigation steering controller configured to selectively change the steer angle of the ground engaging element of the agricultural work vehicle. The mitigation steering controller having an inactive state in which the mitigation steering controller does not change a steer angle of the ground engaging element, and an active state in which the mitigation steering controller is configured to generate a mitigation steer angle command to change the steer angle of the ground engaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Mitchell Sandey
  • Patent number: 12035707
    Abstract: A system for an agricultural operation includes a first vehicle having an object sensor configured to capture data associated with one or more objects within the field and a location sensor configured to capture data associated with a location of each of the one or more objects. A computing system is communicatively coupled with the object sensor and the location sensor. The computing system is configured to identify at least one of the one or more objects as a weed, classify each of the identified weeds in a first set of weeds or a second set of weeds, and generate a weed map based on the classification of each of the first set of weeds and the second set of weeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott Allen Long, Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 12004504
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer system is provided herein that can include a boom assembly having a frame and a boom arm operably coupled with the frame at one end portion thereof. Outer and inner nozzle assemblies can each be supported by the boom arm. The inner nozzle assembly is inboard of the outer nozzle assembly. A sensor can be operably coupled with the boom assembly and configured to capture data associated with the boom arm. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the sensor. The computing system can be configured to calculate a boom arm movement from a default axis based on the data from the sensor and regulate the outer and inner nozzle assemblies at differing flow rates when the movement exceeds a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20240166009
    Abstract: A suspension control system can include a chassis and a suspension component operably coupled with the chassis. A boom assembly can be operably coupled with the chassis. One or more sensors can be configured to generate data indicative of a chassis orientation or boom assembly orientation relative to a level axis. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The computing system can be configured to calculate an offset angle based on data from the one or more sensors, compare the offset angle to a defined correction threshold, and generate instructions to actuate the suspension component to lower the suspension component relative to a ground surface by a correction factor when the offset angle exceeds the defined correction threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Mitchell Sandey, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20240166011
    Abstract: A suspension control system can include a chassis and a suspension component operably coupled with the chassis. A boom assembly can be operably coupled with the chassis. One or more sensors can be configured to generate data indicative of a chassis orientation or boom assembly orientation relative to a level axis. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The computing system can be configured to calculate an offset angle based on data from the one or more sensors, compare the offset angle to a defined correction threshold, and generate instructions to actuate the suspension component by a correction factor when the offset angle exceeds the defined correction threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Mitchell Sandey, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20240166004
    Abstract: A suspension control system can include a chassis and one or more wheel assemblies. One or more suspension assemblies can be respectively coupled to the one or more wheel assemblies. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to one or more position sensors and one or more orientation sensors. The computing system can be configured to actuate the actuator of the one or more suspension assemblies to define a stroke, determine a default stroke position based on data from the one or more position sensors, and define a default position of the chassis based on data from the one or more orientation sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Mitchell Sandey, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20240142043
    Abstract: A system includes a base support positioned within a cab of an agricultural vehicle, a first support arm extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, a second support arm extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end, a first display coupled to the first distal end, and a second display coupled to the second distal end. The first proximal end is rotatably coupled to the base support about a first axis and the second proximal end is rotatably coupled to the base support about a second axis. The second support arm is rotatable about the second axis along a second path independently of rotation of the first support arm about the first axis along a first path, where the entire first path is spaced radially inwardly from the second path relative to the second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Steven Winkel, John Myers
  • Patent number: 11971725
    Abstract: A system for an agricultural operation includes a first vehicle equipped with an imaging sensor configured to capture image data associated within a field. A computing system is communicatively coupled with the imaging sensor. The computing system is configured to receive the image data associated with the field, identify one or more objects within the image data as a target, identify one or more objects within the image data as a landmark, determine a location of the target relative to the landmark, and generate a control command for a second vehicle. The control command includes the location of the target relative to the landmark within the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott Allen Long, Trevor Stanhope, Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11849717
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a lift arm assembly and a boom including at least one support member. A first support member of the at least one support member is coupled to the lift arm assembly. Further, the first support member includes a tube and a hinge inserted into a first end of the tube. The hinge includes an extension portion disposed within the hollow tube and a hinged portion extending upward from a first end of the extension portion. The first end of the extension portion is adjacent the first end of the tube. Further, the first support member is coupled to the lift arm assembly by way of the hinged portion of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11800860
    Abstract: A multi-axis linkage for use with a collapsible boom of an agricultural vehicle is disclosed. The collapsible boom includes a first boom segment having a first truss and a second boom segment having a second truss. The multi-axis linkage includes a first linear motor, a second linear motor, and a multipoint winged link. The first linear motor has a piston rod. An end of the piston rod is coupled to the first truss. The second linear motor has a second piston rod. An end of the second piston rod is coupled to the second truss. The multipoint winged link connects to the first linear motor, the second linear motor, the first boom segment, and the second boom segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11793187
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of an agricultural sprayer includes a computing system is configured to determine a movement parameter associated with the movement of a boom assembly of the agricultural sprayer relative to a frame of the agricultural sprayer based on data captured by a movement sensor. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to determine the distance between a spray nozzle of the agricultural sprayer and the underlying crop canopy or field surface based on data captured by a position sensor. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine a spray deposition parameter indicative of a rate at which agricultural fluid is deposited on the underlying crop canopy or field surface based on the determined movement parameter and the determined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Trevor Stanhope, Roy A. Bittner