Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Schrag
Thomas G. Schrag 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: 20200271170Abstract: An integrated driveline (136, 236, 336, 36, 436) slip clutch (154, 254, 354, 454) system for a large square baler (28) for controlling a transfer of power from a tractor (26) to the baler (28). The clutch (254) system includes a slip clutch (154, 254, 354, 454) having a number of clutch plates (388). The slip clutch (154, 254, 354, 454) is moveable between a disengaged relationship in which no power is transferred from a driveline (136, 236, 336, 36, 436) to a gearbox (140, 240, 340, 40, 440), and one or more engaged relationships in which amounts of power are transferred from the driveline (136, 236, 336, 36, 436) to the gearbox (140, 240, 340, 40, 440). Movement of the slip clutch (154, 254, 354, 454) between engagement relationships may be controlled mechanically (by, e.g., centrifugal force) or electronically.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Kevin M. Tacke, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
-
Patent number: 10064339Abstract: A system and method for producing a bale having a target weight set by a user. A processor compares stored actual weights to the target weight, and, based on a difference, adjusts the bale-forming process. The processor may calculate a load value for a connecting rod, measure an actual load value for the rod, and, based on a difference, set a new pressure value for the process, and then repeat these steps until the bale is fully formed. The processor may determine a first line relating a calculated load on the connecting rod to a current pressure, determine a second line relating a measured load on the rod to the current pressure, identify a pressure value at the intersection of the first and the second lines, and make this the new pressure value for the process, and then repeat these steps until the bale is fully formed.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Larry D. Retzlaff
-
Patent number: 9913432Abstract: A baling system for baling crop material includes a baling chamber. Moveable doors partly define the chamber and the shape of the bale. Hydraulic tension cylinders extend and retract to apply a force to the moveable doors and the growing bale, and transducers measure the lengths of the tension cylinders. An electronic control unit receives the lengths from the transducers, and communicates via a display at least a relative difference between the lengths for consideration in steering the baling system. In particular, the lengths being equal indicates the growing bale is substantially straight and the baling system should be steered straight, and the lengths being unequal indicates the growing bale is developing a curvature and the baling system should be steered in the direction of the cylinder having the shorter length. The transducers may be located external or internal to the cylinders, and may measure the lengths continuously or periodically.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Larry D. Retzlaff
-
Publication number: 20170367267Abstract: A baling system for baling crop material includes a baling chamber. Moveable doors partly define the chamber and the shape of the bale. Hydraulic tension cylinders extend and retract to apply a force to the moveable doors and the growing bale, and transducers measure the lengths of the tension cylinders. An electronic control unit receives the lengths from the transducers, and communicates via a display at least a relative difference between the lengths for consideration in steering the baling system. In particular, the lengths being equal indicates the growing bale is substantially straight and the baling system should be steered straight, and the lengths being unequal indicates the growing bale is developing a curvature and the baling system should be steered in the direction of the cylinder having the shorter length. The transducers may be located external or internal to the cylinders, and may measure the lengths continuously or periodically.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2015Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Lawrence Retzlaff
-
Publication number: 20170156268Abstract: A system and method for producing a bale having a target weight set by a user. A processor compares stored actual weights to the target weight, and, based on a difference, adjusts the bale-forming process. The processor may calculate a load value for a connecting rod, measure an actual load value for the rod, and, based on a difference, set a new pressure value for the process, and then repeat these steps until the bale is fully formed. The processor may determine a first line relating a calculated load on the connecting rod to a current pressure, determine a second line relating a measured load on the rod to the current pressure, identify a pressure value at the intersection of the first and the second lines, and make this the new pressure value for the process, and then repeat these steps until the bale is fully formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Larry D. Retzlaff
-
Patent number: 8584439Abstract: A pickup assembly of an agricultural machine has a rotatable shaft and bulkheads with a reel assembly having plural double-stacked tine rows flanked by reel cover attachment areas. Each double-stacked tine row has a plurality of spaced apart tines with a pair of radially extending portions for engaging crop material. Each double-stacked tine row has a first row of tines and a second row of tines offset from the first row such that adjacent tines are offset in both a direction around the circumference of the shaft and also in a transverse direction along the shaft. A reel cover is coupled to the bulkhead and has slots through which portions of the tines extend.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
-
Publication number: 20130167500Abstract: In one embodiment, a reel assembly for a pickup assembly of an agricultural machine, the reel assembly comprising: a rotatable shaft; a bulkhead rotatable with the shaft, the bulkhead comprising alternating tine occupying and non-tine occupying areas; a first row of tines extending from a first of the tine occupying areas according to a first orientation at a given moment in time; and a second row of tines offset from the first row, the second row of tines extending from the first of the tine occupying areas according to the first orientation at the given moment in time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: AGCO CORPORATIONInventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
-
Publication number: 20130167499Abstract: In one embodiment, a reel assembly for a pickup assembly of an agricultural machine, the reel assembly comprising: a rotatable bulkhead; plural rows of tines rotatable with the bulkhead; and a reel cover coupled to the bulkhead and comprising plural slots through which the tines extend.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: AGCO CORPORATIONInventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
-
Patent number: 7866133Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2009Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
-
Publication number: 20090183484Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: AGCO CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
-
Patent number: 7555885Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
-
Patent number: 7478591Abstract: Cylindrical twineballs are stored on their sides with the twine dispensing end of each ball facing outwardly away from the baler to facilitate operator access. The twineballs are stored in a pattern consisting of horizontal rows and upright columns, with the upright columns inclined laterally so as to present an overall, generally skewed parallelogram effect to maximize the packing density within a given amount of space. The balls are supported within cradles that may advantageously be interconnected to present multiple, horizontally extending, transversely corrugated shelves. The shelves are upwardly and outwardly inclined to help retain the balls in place.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2006Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Jeffery A. Baldauf, Linda L. Heidebrecht
-
Patent number: 7448196Abstract: A hay baler provided with a tubular duct within which charges of crop material are prepared before being stuffed into the baling chamber has a windrow pickup device at its front end to lift crop materials off the ground as the baler advances. The effective operating width of the pickup is wider than the inlet to the duct so that the stream of crop materials lifted off the ground must be converged centrally into alignment with the inlet before entering the same. A pair of lower stub augers on opposite sides of the inlet are assisted by a pair of upper stub augers rotating in opposite directions relative to the lower augers to accomplish such convergence. A windguard overlies the incoming crop flow as well as the consolidation zone between left and right sets of the stub augers so as to maintain effective control over the flow at all times.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Kurt Graber, Ryan A. Zecha
-
Publication number: 20080163599Abstract: The vertically swingable header of a farm machine utilizes a flotation mechanism having a torsion bar as the source of lifting force. The torsion bar is mounted on the header rather than the base machine and is operably coupled with the base machine through loading apparatus that includes a cam and cam follower system. An alternative embodiment utilizes a cam track fixedly mounted on the base machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
-
Publication number: 20080163600Abstract: A hay baler provided with a tubular duct within which charges of crop material are prepared before being stuffed into the baling chamber has a windrow pickup device at its front end to lift crop materials off the ground as the baler advances. The effective operating width of the pickup is wider than the inlet to the duct so that the stream of crop materials lifted off the ground must be converged centrally into alignment with the inlet before entering the same. A pair of lower stub augers on opposite sides of the inlet are assisted by a pair of upper stub augers rotating in opposite directions relative to the lower augers to accomplish such convergence. A windguard overlies the incoming crop flow as well as the consolidation zone between left and right sets of the stub augers so as to maintain effective control over the flow at all times.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Kurt Graber, Ryan A. Zecha
-
Publication number: 20070266865Abstract: Cylindrical twineballs are stored on their sides with the twine dispensing end of each ball facing outwardly away from the baler to facilitate operator access. The twineballs are stored in a pattern consisting of horizontal rows and upright columns, with the upright columns inclined laterally so as to present an overall, generally skewed parallelogram effect to maximize the packing density within a given amount of space. The balls are supported within cradles that may advantageously be interconnected to present multiple, horizontally extending, transversely corrugated shelves. The shelves are upwardly and outwardly inclined to help retain the balls in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Inventors: Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Jeffery A. Baldauf, Linda L. Heidebrecht
-
Patent number: 6679042Abstract: A wide pickup header on the baler picks up windrows that are signficantly wider than the centrally disposed inlet of a passage containing cutter apparatus that reduces the materials into smaller pieces for compaction into a bale. In order to provide smooth, even, continuous flow of crop materials into and through the cutter apparatus at the inlet, the pickup is provided with a pair of lower, upturning stub augers on opposite sides of the inlet and a full length, downturning top auger spaced above and somewhat forwardly of the stub augers. The top auger not only assists the stub augers in consolidating the wide windrow of materials in toward the center of the machine but also keeps the stream fairly low and concentrated at a level where the stream is readily accepted by the rotary cutter apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: ACCO CorporationInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Keith O'Halloran
-
Patent number: 6595123Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: ACCO CorporationInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton
-
Publication number: 20020029553Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton
-
Patent number: 6298646Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Hay & Forage IndustriesInventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton