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).

  • 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
  • Patent number: 11766036
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle having a chassis and an application boom coupled to the chassis. The agricultural vehicle is configured to deliver agricultural product to an agricultural field. The application boom has a boom arm. The boom arm includes a longitudinal truss member, and a longitudinal chase supported by the longitudinal truss member. The longitudinal chase includes a channel. The agricultural vehicle further includes an application system. The application system has a product tank supported by the chassis and storing a volume of the agricultural product for delivery onto an agricultural field, a plurality of nozzle bodies, a piping system delivering the agricultural product to the plurality of nozzle bodies, and one or more control lines coupled to the plurality of nozzle bodies and for controlling the plurality of nozzle bodies. The one or more control lines are supported by the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Roy A. Bittner, Steven Winkel
  • Patent number: 11737447
    Abstract: A boom truss structure for an agricultural sprayer that includes boom segments on either side of the sprayer, including primary boom segments, secondary boom segments attached to the primary boom segments at a first hinge, and breakaway boom segments attached to the secondary boom segments at a second hinge. The primary boom segment includes truss elements extending upwardly from a base support member. The secondary boom also includes a base support member, but with an inverted underside truss support member that is located underneath the base support member instead of on top of the base support member. This allows the secondary boom segment to fold on top of the primary boom segment in a compact manner about a lower pivot axis. Additionally, the breakaway boom segment may be folded initially about the secondary boom segment, after which the secondary boom segment is folded about the primary boom segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20230117784
    Abstract: A system for an agricultural vehicle can include a nozzle assembly positioned along a boom assembly. A position sensor can be associated with the boom assembly. A field sensor can be associated with the nozzle assembly. A computing system can be operably coupled with the nozzle assembly, the position sensor, and the field sensor. The computing system can be configured to detect a target within a field based on data from the field sensor, determine a boom deflection model based on data from the position sensor, and activate the nozzle assembly to apply an agricultural product to the target at a first flow rate based on the boom deflection model. The first flow rate is varied from a nominal flow rate when the boom assembly is deflected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Rex Leroy Ruppert, Kevin M. Smith, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20230119310
    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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott Allen Long, Trevor Stanhope, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20230090714
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Scott Allen Long, Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20230054180
    Abstract: A system for an agricultural vehicle includes a boom assembly and a nozzle assembly positioned along the boom assembly. A position sensor is associated with the boom assembly. A field sensor is also associated with the nozzle assembly. A computing system is operably coupled with the nozzle assembly, the position sensor, and the field sensor. The computing system is configured to detect a target within a field based on data from the field sensor, determine a boom deflection model based on data from the position sensor, and activate the nozzle assembly to apply an agricultural product to the target based on the boom deflection model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20230055424
    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: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20230032199
    Abstract: A system includes a first nozzle assembly positioned along a boom assembly. The first nozzle assembly includes a first valve operably coupled with a first nozzle. A first imaging device is associated with the first nozzle assembly. A second nozzle assembly is positioned along the boom assembly and includes a second valve operably coupled with a second nozzle. A second imaging device is associated with the second nozzle assembly. A computing system is operably coupled with the first nozzle assembly, the first imaging device, the second nozzle assembly, and the second imaging device. The computing system is configured to receive data from the first imaging device, identify a first reference point within the data provided by the first imaging device, receive data from the second imaging device, identify a second reference point within the data provided by the second imaging device, and determine a boom deflection model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11553705
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, wheels supporting the chassis for moving the vehicle, an application boom coupled to the chassis and configured to deliver agricultural product to an agricultural field. The application boom has a boom arm including a longitudinal mount. In embodiments, the longitudinal mount includes a first projection, a second multi-lip projection, and a third projection. The second multi-lip projection has a first lip and a second lip. The agricultural vehicle further includes a first mounted attachment fastened to the first projection and the first lip of the second projection, and a second mounted attachment fastened to the second lip of the second projection and the third projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20220408713
    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: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11523602
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spray boom for an agricultural machine in which the boom is arranged as a truss with interior diagonal struts of the truss being configured to absorb tension and compression energy imparted by deflections over the length of the boom with such energy being dissipated as heat. In one aspect, the diagonal strut could comprise a rod moveable with respect to a tube with a polymer, such as an elastomeric material, arranged in the tube to dampen the movement. The tension and compression of the diagonal strut could subject the dampener to a shearing force which could be absorbed by the dampener rather than transferred to the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11484023
    Abstract: A spray boom support structure includes a first support member, a second support member, a plurality of vertical support elements disposed between the first and second support member along lengths of the first and second support members, and at least one strut. Each vertical support element includes a bottom saddle portion coupled to first support member, a top saddle portion coupled to the second support member, and an I-beam portion disposed between the top and bottom saddle portions. Further, each strut extends between adjacent vertical support elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20220225603
    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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Trevor Stanhope, Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11343955
    Abstract: A spray boom for an agricultural machine includes a first section having a first end and a second end and a second section having a first end pivotably coupled to the second end of the first section. The first section includes a first support member and a second support member disposed above the first support member. A centerline of the second support member is horizontally offset from a centerline of the first support member. Meanwhile, the second section includes a first support member. The spray boom may be configured in an extended position or a folded position. In the folded position, the second section is disposed above the first support member of the first section and adjacent the second support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner
  • Patent number: 11324214
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, wheels supporting the chassis for moving the vehicle, an application system supported by the chassis and including a product tank storing a volume of agricultural product for delivery onto an agricultural field, and an application boom configured to deliver the agricultural product to the agricultural field. The application boom includes a boom arm segment having a longitudinal tube, an elongated structure coupled to the longitudinal tube, and an elastomeric bonding material affixing the longitudinal tube and the elongated structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Roy A. Bittner