Patents by Inventor Roy Bittner

Roy 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: 12635612
    Abstract: An agricultural thresher rotor comprising: a main body extending along a rotation axis in a processing direction from a front main body end to a rear main body end; a rotor transition surface extending from the front main body end and tapered to decrease in cross-sectional size, as viewed along the rotation axis, away from the main body; and at least one impeller extending away from the rotation axis from the rotor transition surface, and configured to move crop material towards the main body upon rotation of the rotor about the rotation axis. The rotor transition surface and the main body comprise at least one flute located downstream of the at least one impeller, and defining a recessed flute volume in the rotor transition surface and the main body. An agricultural thresher including a rotor, and an agricultural combine including the thresher are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roy Bittner, Kenneth Bittner
  • Publication number: 20250098590
    Abstract: An agricultural thresher rotor comprising: a main body extending along a rotation axis in a processing direction from a front main body end to a rear main body end; a rotor transition surface extending from the front main body end and tapered to decrease in cross-sectional size, as viewed along the rotation axis, away from the main body; and at least one impeller extending away from the rotation axis from the rotor transition surface, and configured to move crop material towards the main body upon rotation of the rotor about the rotation axis. The rotor transition surface and the main body comprise at least one flute located downstream of the at least one impeller, and defining a recessed flute volume in the rotor transition surface and the main body. An agricultural thresher including a rotor, and an agricultural combine including the thresher are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roy Bittner, Kenneth Bittner
  • Publication number: 20250089621
    Abstract: A threshing and separating system for a combine harvester includes a threshing cage and a plurality of movable vanes mounted to the threshing cage. The threshing cage partially surrounds a threshing rotor. The plurality of movable vanes are moveable between a first position in which all of the vanes of the plurality of movable vanes are substantially parallel with one another and a second position in which an acute angle is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes of the plurality of movable vanes. The acute angles progressively increase in the rearward direction of the threshing cage such that the acute angle between adjacent vanes at a forward end of the threshing cage is less than the acute angle between adjacent vanes at a rearward end of the threshing cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roy Bittner, Kenneth Bittner
  • Patent number: 10933742
    Abstract: An alternative traction control system, in addition to a primary traction control system, is associated with an agricultural machine in which a user selectable input can allow wheels of an the agricultural machine to spin freely, such as for clearing debris from tires, until a predetermined deactivate condition occurs. Such a deactivate condition could comprise, for example, reaching a maximum rotation speed and/or temperature threshold with respect to a wheel. To minimize the risk of damage to propulsion components which may be caused by excessive rotation speeds and/or temperatures, upon reaching such a threshold, operation can return from the alternative traction control system to the primary traction control system. Such a system can therefore allow an “on the fly” change that would permit an operator to selectively spin the tires without damaging mechanical aspects of the agricultural machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Roy Bittner, Nathan Brooks, Lawrence Borucki, Jr., Steven Winkel, Blaine Schwalbe
  • Publication number: 20200189388
    Abstract: The present invention provides an alternative traction control system, in addition to a primary traction control system, in which a user selectable input can allow wheels of an agricultural machine to spin freely, such as for clearing debris from tires, until a predetermined deactivate condition occurs. Such a deactivate condition could comprise, for example, reaching a maximum rotation speed and/or temperature threshold with respect to a wheel. To minimize the risk of damage to propulsion components which may be caused by excessive rotation speeds and/or temperatures, upon reaching such a threshold, operation can return from the alternative traction control system to the primary traction control system. Such a system can therefore allow an “on the fly” change that would permit an operator to selectively spin the tires without damaging mechanical aspects of the sprayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Roy Bittner, Nathan Brooks, Lawrence Borucki, JR., Steven Winkel, Blaine Schwalbe
  • Patent number: 8297634
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle comprises separate wheel suspension assemblies corresponding to each wheel of the vehicle. Each wheel suspension assembly includes a strut assembly wherein the strut assembly is connected to the chassis at a pivot and to a respective wheel, and a dual action hydraulic cylinder that is connected to both the strut assembly at a point distal from the pivot and the chassis of the vehicle. Motion of the strut assembly around the pivot is affected by action of the hydraulic cylinder. In some embodiments, the dual action hydraulic cylinders are in fluid communication with the diagonally opposite hydraulic cylinder such that when one cylinder moves into an extended or retracted position the other diagonally opposite cylinder is urged into the same position. In some embodiments, the wheel suspension assemblies are attached to slidable drawer assemblies on each side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Miller-St. Nazianz, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Bittner
  • Publication number: 20100019060
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle comprises separate wheel suspension assemblies corresponding to each wheel of the vehicle. Each wheel suspension assembly includes a strut assembly wherein the strut assembly is connected to the chassis at a pivot and to a respective wheel, and a dual action hydraulic cylinder that is connected to both the strut assembly at a point distal from the pivot and the chassis of the vehicle. Motion of the strut assembly around the pivot is affected by action of the hydraulic cylinder. In some embodiments, the dual action hydraulic cylinders are in fluid communication with the diagonally opposite hydraulic cylinder such that when one cylinder moves into an extended or retracted position the other diagonally opposite cylinder is urged into the same position. In some embodiments, the wheel suspension assemblies are attached to slidable drawer assemblies on each side of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Roy Bittner