Patents by Inventor Steve Tippery

Steve Tippery 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: 7950210
    Abstract: A cutter bar drive system for a draper header has a cutter bar disposed at a leading edge of the header to cut crop. A cutter bar gear box in operative engagement with the cutter bar is mounted on a forward portion of the header with a drive train mounted on the header to drive the gear box and cutter bar. An external flywheel is mounted along the drive train remote from the gear box and is engaged with the drive train to reduce vibration in the cutter bar and gear box from a remote, external position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Craig Kaster
  • Patent number: 7730700
    Abstract: The invention is a combination of a short ground sensor arm mounted close to the cutter bar and a longer rod mounted towards the rear of the header. The short front sensor and long rear sensor are connected by a linkage which translates motions from either sensor to the other sensor. A second linkage translates the motions of both sensors rearward to a protected area under the header which contains the potentiometer. This configuration transmits useful ground position signals to the header height controller in both low and high cutting heights. The invention advantageously reduces the likelihood of damage to the short front sensor when the machine is reversed since the longer rear sensor arm pulls the shorter forward sensor arm up by means of the linkage to a position where damage is unlikely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Claas Selbstefahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Cristoph Nathan, Jens Petersen, Steve Tippery
  • Publication number: 20100095645
    Abstract: A cutter bar drive system for a draper header has a cutter bar disposed at a leading edge of the header to cut crop. A cutter bar gear box in operative engagement with the cutter bar is mounted on a forward portion of the header with a drive train mounted on the header to drive the gear box and cutter bar. An external flywheel is mounted along the drive train remote from the gear box and is engaged with the drive train to reduce vibration in the cutter bar and gear box from a remote, external position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Craig Kaster
  • Publication number: 20100077712
    Abstract: The invention is a combination of a short ground sensor arm mounted close to the cutter bar and a longer rod mounted towards the rear of the header. The short front sensor and long rear sensor are connected by a linkage which translates motions from either sensor to the other sensor. A second linkage translates the motions of both sensors rearward to a protected area under the header which contains the potentiometer. This configuration transmits useful ground position signals to the header height controller in both low and high cutting heights. The invention advantageously reduces the likelihood of damage to the short front sensor when the machine is reversed since the longer rear sensor arm pulls the shorter forward sensor arm up by means of the linkage to a position where damage is unlikely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Ernternaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Cristoph Nathan, Jens Petersen, Steve Tippery
  • Patent number: 7614206
    Abstract: A header for a combine or a harvester comprising a center portion of said header having a feeder house position disposed to direct cut crop from the center portion to a feeder house when the header is mounted on the feeder house. At least one lateral portion of the header is attached to the center portion by a frame hinge. A draper comprised of a frame and a belt disposed to rotate over the frame extends from the lateral portion to the center portion having a draper hinge. A cutter having a curving portion is disposed at a leading aspect of the header to cut crop. The frame hinge, draper hinge and curving portion along the same axis are parallel to a direction of travel of the combine or harvester. The lateral portion can raise and lower relative to the center portion by rotation around the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Maurice Salz, Craig Kaster, Jens Petersen
  • Patent number: 7587885
    Abstract: A header for a combine or harvester has a frame with a longitudinal dimension transverse to a direction of travel of the combine or harvester. Two moving belts are disposed on the frame to receive cut crop from a cutter and to move the crop from outer portions of the header towards an inner portion of the header. Each of the belts has a leading edge oriented towards the direction of travel of the combine or harvester and a trailing edge oriented away from the direction of travel and each of the belts has an inner aspect disclosed in spaced relation to an inner aspect of the other of the belts such as to define a gap therebetween, the gap receiving cut crop being transported longitudinally and inwardly from the belts. An auger with a cylinder and two end cones around an axis is disposed to urge crop from the gap and from the inner aspect of the belts towards a feeder house position behind the gap. The axis of the auger is forward of the trailing edge of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Emtemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Craig Kaster, Adam Lee Haworth, Cristoph Nathan, Jens Petersen
  • Patent number: 7552579
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine, such as a combine harvester or forage harvester, has a feeding assembly arranged on the front for accommodating a header attachment which is designated to harvest and convey a harvested crop, and at least one gauge wheel attachment comprising at least one support wheel associated with the header attachment on one or both sides of the feeding assembly, wherein the header attachment is arranged pivotally about a rotation axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the agricultural working machine on the feeding assembly in such a manner that the header attachment can be automatically rotated from a working position into a transport position when the feeding assembly is lowered, and at least one support wheel of at least one gauge wheel attachment supports the header attachment on the ground in the transport position. This ensures that the use of a separate header trailer is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Michael Schlueter
  • Publication number: 20080295473
    Abstract: A header for a combine or a harvester comprising a center portion of said header having a feeder house position disposed to direct cut crop from the center portion to a feeder house when the header is mounted on the feeder house. At least one lateral portion of the header is attached to the center portion by a frame hinge. A draper comprised of a frame and a belt disposed to rotate over the frame extends from the lateral portion to the center portion having a draper hinge. A cutter having a curving portion is disposed at a leading aspect of the header to cut crop. The frame hinge, draper hinge and curving portion along the same axis are parallel to a direction of travel of the combine or harvester. The lateral portion can raise and lower relative to the center portion by rotation around the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Maurice Salz, Craig Kaster, Jens O. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20080295474
    Abstract: A header for a combine or harvester has a frame with a longitudinal dimension transverse to a direction of travel of the combine or harvester. Two moving belts are disposed on the frame to receive cut crop from a cutter and to move the crop from outer portions of the header towards an inner portion of the header. Each of the belts has a leading edge oriented towards the direction of travel of the combine or harvester and a trailing edge oriented away from the direction of travel and each of the belts has an inner aspect disclosed in spaced relation to an inner aspect of the other of the belts such as to define a gap therebetween, the gap receiving cut crop being transported longitudinally and inwardly from the belts. An auger with a cylinder and two end cones around an axis is disposed to urge crop from the gap and from the inner aspect of the belts towards a feeder house position behind the gap. The axis of the auger is forward of the trailing edge of the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Craig Kaster, Adam Lee Haworth, Cristoph Nathan, Jens O. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20080296131
    Abstract: A belt tensioning apparatus for a combine or harvester header has a frame with two spaced apart longitudinal support members and at least one transverse member attached to each of the longitudinal support members. An end roller support bracket has two bracket extensions extending longitudinally and disposed to slidingly engage with bracket extension receivers attached to the longitudinal support members. A push rod is longitudinally oriented and slidingly mounted on the transverse member intermediate to the longitudinal support members. The push rod is attached to the end roller support bracket and mounted to have a retracted position and an extended position. An actuator is attached to the longitudinal support members and exerts a substantially uniform force to the push rod along a range of travel of the push rod between the retracted position and the extended position. The actuator may be a scissors assembly or a hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Cristoph Nathan, Craig Kaster, Adam Lee Haworth, Jens O. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20080276591
    Abstract: A draper belt rib comprising an outer portion being comprised of a material having a higher wear resistance than a base portion of the rib. The head has at least one surface disposed for exposure to wear surfaces. The head has a longitudinally extending projection that is formed with the wear surface of the outer portion and has a plurality of through holes in it longitudinally spaced along its length. The base portion is a material readily adherable to a flexible conveyer belt material. The base portion extends along either side of the longitudinally extending projection of the outer portion being formed such that a first lateral side of the base portion connects with an opposing lateral side of the base portion material through the through holes in the longitudinally extending projection of the outer portion. The connection comprises a retention bridge retaining the outer portion against the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: CLAAS Omaha, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Jens O. Petersen
  • Patent number: 7448491
    Abstract: A belt tensioning apparatus for a combine or harvester header has a frame with two spaced apart longitudinal support members and at least one transverse member attached to each of the longitudinal support members. An end roller support bracket has two bracket extensions extending longitudinally and disposed to slidingly engage with bracket extension receivers attached to the longitudinal support members. A push rod is longitudinally oriented and slidingly mounted on the transverse member intermediate to the longitudinal support members. The push rod is attached to the end roller support bracket and mounted to have a retracted position and an extended position. An actuator is attached to the longitudinal support members and exerts a substantially uniform force to the push rod along a range of travel of the push rod between the retracted position and the extended position. The actuator may be a scissors assembly or a hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Christoph Nathan, Craig Kaster, Adam Lee Haworth, Jens Petersen
  • Publication number: 20080086999
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine, such as a combine harvester or forage harvester, has a feeding assembly arranged on the front for accommodating a header attachment which is designated to harvest and convey a harvested crop, and a gauge wheel attachment comprising at least support wheel associated with the header attachment on one or both sides of the feeding assembly, wherein the header attachment is arranged pivotally about a rotation axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the agricultural working machine on the feeding assembly in such a manner that the header attachment can be automatically rotated from a working position into a transport position when the feeding assembly is lowered, and at least one support wheel of at least one gauge wheel attachment supports the header attachment on the ground in the transport position. This ensures that the use of a separate header trailer is not necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Steve Tippery, Michael Schlueter