Patents by Inventor Ted S. Kornecki
Ted S. Kornecki 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: 10959363Abstract: The active coulter system includes a pivotable support structure that vertically adjusts the position of an active coulter component to compensate for changes in the contour of a target field. In the preferred embodiment, a proximity sensor and an associated controller are in electronic communication with a linear actuator assembly. Based on data from the proximity sensor, the controller sends electronic instructions to the linear actuator assembly to automatically move the active coulter component vertically. The system also optionally includes a torque/speed sensor that can operate independently to control the torque and/or power supplied to the active coulter component, or the sensor can interface with the controller and anticipate changes in power needs and increase/decrease power before the operation of the active coulter component is affected.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
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Publication number: 20200100418Abstract: The active coulter system includes a pivotable support structure that vertically adjusts the position of an active coulter component to compensate for changes in the contour of a target field. In the preferred embodiment, a proximity sensor and an associated controller are in electronic communication with a linear actuator assembly. Based on data from the proximity sensor, the controller sends electronic instructions to the linear actuator assembly to automatically move the active coulter component vertically. The system also optionally includes a torque/speed sensor that can operate independently to control the torque and/or power supplied to the active coulter component, or the sensor can interface with the controller and anticipate changes in power needs and increase/decrease power before the operation of the active coulter component is affected.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2018Publication date: April 2, 2020Inventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
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Patent number: 10004174Abstract: The transplanter is designed to harness power from a walk-behind tractor to help small farmers transplant (among other things) seedling vegetables. As a farmer guides the walk-behind tractor, a movable feeder tube assembly comprising a plurality of feeder tubes moves latterly back and forth. When a feeder tube aligns with a pivotable transfer tube, a seedling in the feeder tube is deposited in the transfer tube so that the seedling descends down the transfer tube into a furrow for planting. The transfer tube then pivots so that a kicker panel on the bottom of the transfer tube pushes the seedling rearwardly and thereby helps to enable the seedling to remain vertical.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
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Publication number: 20180084712Abstract: The transplanter is designed to harness power from a walk-behind tractor to help small farmers transplant (among other things) seedling vegetables. As a farmer guides the walk-behind tractor, a movable feeder tube assembly comprising a plurality of feeder tubes moves latterly back and forth. When a feeder tube aligns with a pivotable transfer tube, a seedling in the feeder tube is deposited in the transfer tube so that the seedling descends down the transfer tube into a furrow for planting. The transfer tube then pivots so that a kicker panel on the bottom of the transfer tube pushes the seedling rearwardly and thereby helps to enable the seedling to remain vertical.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
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Publication number: 20160088785Abstract: A cover crop termination system uses heat from a vehicle's exhaust to terminate a cover crop. Preferably, the cover crop termination system is mounted on the front portion of a walk-behind tractor. As the tractor is propelled across a field of cover crops, heat from the vehicle's exhaust is directed to a perforated manifold positioned adjacent to the cover crop so that the exhaust heat terminates the cover crop. The exhaust heat may be supplemented by electrical heaters mounted adjacent to the perforated manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Stephen A. Prior, Corey M. Kichler
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Publication number: 20160088786Abstract: Active coulters are integrated into a planter for a walk-behind tractor. The coulters are “active” (rather than passive) because the coulters are powered (i.e. actively rotated) directly by the walk-behind tractor, rather than passively rolling as the tractor is propelled across a field. The active coulters cut cover crop residue on the surface of the field so that the planter seed drill can plant seeds into the soil beneath the (preferably) flattened cover crop residue on the surface of the field.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
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Patent number: 8770119Abstract: The residue manager deflects cover crop stalks and flattens cover crop residue during a no-till or minimum-till agricultural planting process. The residue manager apparatus comprises an “A” shaped frame. A leading portion of the frame is designed to deflect cover crop stalks. Press shoes attached to an intermediate portion of the frame depress cover crop residue that is not deflected by the leading portion. The trailing portion of the residue manager frame is configured to attach to existing planting mechanisms, such as seed drills. As the residue manager is propelled across a field of cover crops, the residue manager deflects cover crop stalks and depresses cover crop residue adjacent to the planting mechanism so that the planting process is not obstructed by the cover crop biomass on the surface of the field.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Ted S. Kornecki, Henry A. Torbert, III, Stephen A. Prior
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Patent number: 8176991Abstract: The powered rolling and crimping device is used to terminate cover crops in a minimum tillage soil conservation system. The device includes a powered crimping mechanism in combination with a crop roller. Power is transferred from a tractor power takeoff to a plurality of cam mechanisms via mechanical gearbox. The cam mechanisms raise and lower a crimping bar. As an operator directs a walk-behind tractor across a field of cover crops, a crop roller first flattens the crops and the powered crimping bar crimps the crops, thereby terminating the cover crops without severing the crop stalks disturbing the soil.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventor: Ted S. Kornecki
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Patent number: 7987917Abstract: The multi-stage crop termination system includes a main frame assembly connected to first and second roller frames. A first roller is installed in the first roller frame and a second roller is installed in the second roller frame. A compression frame extends between the main frame and the second roller frame so that a downwardly compression force is applied to the second roller. In the preferred embodiment, the first roller is a smooth drum and the second roller is a central cylindrical drum with a plurality of crimping bars extending outwardly from the drum. In operation, crops are flattened by the first roller and then crimped by the second roller. A pivot joint between the first roller frame and the second roller frame ensures that the second roller is able to maintain contact with the ground as the system traverses uneven terrain.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventor: Ted S. Kornecki
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Patent number: 7562517Abstract: The rotary crimper for elevated crop beds is designed to crimp and mulch a field of crops with an elevated bed-type structure. The rotary crimper has a tubular inner roller and a plurality of crimping members extending from the inner roller. The crimping members have at least two projecting portions and at least one non-projecting portion. Structural support braces are disposed between the crimping members and crimping plates extend from the support braces. Additional crimping structures also extend the length of the inner tubular roller between the crimping members. In operation, the non-projecting portions of the crimping members and the crimping structures crimp the crops on the elevated portion of the beds, and the crimping member projecting portions and the crimping plates crimp the crops in the furrows between the elevated beds.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventor: Ted S. Kornecki