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: 20200271170
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin M. Tacke, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
  • Patent number: 10064339
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Larry D. Retzlaff
  • Patent number: 9913432
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Larry D. Retzlaff
  • Publication number: 20170367267
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Lawrence Retzlaff
  • Publication number: 20170156268
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Larry D. Retzlaff
  • Patent number: 8584439
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
  • Publication number: 20130167500
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
  • Publication number: 20130167499
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
  • Patent number: 7866133
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
  • Publication number: 20090183484
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
  • Patent number: 7555885
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
  • Patent number: 7478591
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Jeffery A. Baldauf, Linda L. Heidebrecht
  • Patent number: 7448196
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Kurt Graber, Ryan A. Zecha
  • Publication number: 20080163599
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Funk, Michael J. Dresher, Edward W. Esau, Thomas G. Schrag
  • Publication number: 20080163600
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Kurt Graber, Ryan A. Zecha
  • Publication number: 20070266865
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Jeffery A. Baldauf, Linda L. Heidebrecht
  • Patent number: 6679042
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: ACCO Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Edward W. Esau, Keith O'Halloran
  • Patent number: 6595123
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: ACCO Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton
  • Publication number: 20020029553
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton
  • Patent number: 6298646
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton