Patents by Inventor Thomas Tilly

Thomas Tilly 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: 9198352
    Abstract: A front attachment for an agricultural harvesting machine operates independently of rows of stalk crop to be harvested. The front attachment includes harvesting devices for harvesting the stalk crop, intake conveyor mechanisms extending across a width of the harvesting devices, snapping devices located downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms in the direction of the crop flow and a cross conveyor located downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms and snapping devices. In the arrangement, the cross conveyor and snapping device driven by a common drive train, the front attachment is prefabricated to enable retrofitting with a second drive train and the second drive train functions as the drive for a retrofittable chopping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CLAAS HUNGARIA KFT.
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Thomas Dennis Engler, Bernhard Aerdker, Tim Luetke Harmann
  • Patent number: 9198351
    Abstract: A front attachment for harvesting corn for use in a self-propelled combine harvester includes harvesting devices for grasping and guiding the corn stalks, for picking the corn cobs and for conveying the picked corn cobs. The front attachment has intake conveyor mechanisms extending across the width thereof, snapping devices disposed downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms in the direction of the crop flow embodying snapping rollers rotating opposite to the direction of travel and a cross conveyor equipped with opposing auger sections. The cross conveyor draws harvested corn cobs together in the center of the front attachment and feeds them from there to a feed rake. The intake conveyor mechanisms and/or the snapping rollers and/or the cross conveyor are driven by a driven mechanism of the combine harvester, which driven mechanism is connected to a steplessly variable transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CLAAS HUNGARIA KFT.
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Thomas Dennis Engler
  • Publication number: 20140202127
    Abstract: A front attachment for harvesting corn for a self-propelled combine harvester includes a snapping unit for separating the corn cobs from the remaining components of the corn plant. The snapping unit has snapping rollers that rotate in opposite directions. An overload clutch is disposed within a drive train of the snapping unit. A drive system is optimized in that an overload clutch is directly assigned to each of the snapping rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Thomas Dennis Engler, Bernd Albinger, Thomas Zegota
  • Publication number: 20140020355
    Abstract: A front attachment for an agricultural harvesting machine operates independently of rows of stalk crop to be harvested. The front attachment includes harvesting devices for harvesting the stalk crop, intake conveyor mechanisms extending across a width of the harvesting devices, snapping devices located downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms in the direction of the crop flow and a cross conveyor located downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms and snapping devices. In the arrangement, the cross conveyor and snapping device driven by a common drive train, the front attachment is prefabricated to enable retrofitting with a second drive train and the second drive train functions as the drive for a retrofittable chopping device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CLAAS HUNGARIA KFT.
    Inventors: Thomas TILLY, Thomas Dennis ENGLER, Bernhard AERDKER, Tim LUETKE HARMANN
  • Publication number: 20140020354
    Abstract: A front attachment for harvesting corn for use in a self-propelled combine harvester includes harvesting devices for grasping and guiding the corn stalks, for picking the corn cobs and for conveying the picked corn cobs. The front attachment has intake conveyor mechanisms extending across the width thereof, snapping devices disposed downstream of the intake conveyor mechanisms in the direction of the crop flow embodying snapping rollers rotating opposite to the direction of travel and a cross conveyor equipped with opposing auger sections. The cross conveyor draws harvested corn cobs together in the center of the front attachment and feeds them from there to a feed rake. The intake conveyor mechanisms and/or the snapping rollers and/or the cross conveyor are driven by a driven mechanism of the combine harvester, which driven mechanism is connected to a steplessly variable transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Thomas Dennis Engler
  • Patent number: 8365509
    Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine has at least one height-adjustable pick-up device for adapting an agricultural front attachment which is supported via at least one support wheel which, when in the transport position, is in contact with the ground. A braking device brakes the wheels of the agricultural harvesting machine. A control device regulates the ground pressure of the at least one support wheel on the ground when the braking device is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Manfred Pollklas
  • Publication number: 20120175937
    Abstract: A seat belt system for a vehicle includes a seat frame. The seat belt system also includes a lap belt having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a buckle and the second end is connected to an anchor. The seat belt system additionally includes a single retractor-pretensioner operatively connected to the seat frame and configured to simultaneously tension the first end and the second end. A vehicle having a seat with a frame that is operatively connected to the vehicle structure and employing the seat belt system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Peter P. Kujawa, Gregory S. Ches, Thomas Tilly, Leslie A. Sajovec, Steven G. Corrion
  • Patent number: 7971908
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat of a vehicle, a safety belt, and a guide assembly. The seat includes a seat back and an attachment feature that is operatively connected to the seat back. The safety belt includes webbing that is configured to extend in a generally diagonal direction across the seat back. The guide assembly includes a clip, a cord, an attachment mechanism, and a breakaway mechanism. The clip is configured for operative attachment to the webbing of the safety belt. The cord operatively extends from the clip. The attachment mechanism is operatively connected to the cord. The attachment mechanism is configured for selective attachment to the attachment feature of the seat back. The breakaway mechanism operatively interconnects the cord and the clip and is configured to separate such that the cord pulls free from the clip upon the application of a force to the clip or the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Carol C. Hathaway, Thomas M. DiMambro, Alfred A. Jefferson, Steven G. Corrion, Thomas Tilly, Leslie A. Sajovec
  • Patent number: 7873456
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester for picking up and processing crop material has a transfer device—which is located downstream from feeder and chopping devices and is swivelable around a horizontal and vertical axis—for transferring the crop material, and at least one dampening device—which is located between the vehicle body and the transfer device—for dampening the vibrations of the transfer device. The dampening device may be adjusted as a function of specified operating criteria in order to dampen the vibrations of the transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Erdmann, Thomas Tilly, Markus Hohlfeld, Reinhard Laing, Heinrich Isfort, Eckehard Jeppe, Heinrich Schneider, Norbert Strieker, Manfred Pollklas
  • Publication number: 20100301594
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat of a vehicle, a safety belt, and a guide assembly. The seat includes a seat back and an attachment feature that is operatively connected to the seat back. The safety belt includes webbing that is configured to extend in a generally diagonal direction across the seat back. The guide assembly includes a clip, a cord, an attachment mechanism, and a breakaway mechanism. The clip is configured for operative attachment to the webbing of the safety belt. The cord operatively extends from the clip. The attachment mechanism is operatively connected to the cord. The attachment mechanism is configured for selective attachment to the attachment feature of the seat back. The breakaway mechanism operatively interconnects the cord and the clip and is configured to separate such that the cord pulls free from the clip upon the application of a force to the clip or the cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION, INC.
    Inventors: Carol C. Hathaway, Thomas M. DiMambro, Alfred A. Jefferson, Steven G. Corrion, Thomas Tilly, Leslie A. Sajovec
  • Publication number: 20100115906
    Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine has at least one height-adjustable pick-up device for adapting an agricultural front attachment which is supported via at least one support wheel which, when in the transport position, is in contact with the ground. A braking device brakes the wheels of the agricultural harvesting machine. A control device regulates the ground pressure of the at least one support wheel on the ground when the braking device is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Manfred Pollklas
  • Patent number: 7404577
    Abstract: A seat belt anchoring system for a vehicle seat includes an anchor for seat belt webbing having a mounting portion positionable with respect to the seat to face rearward and rigidly securable with respect to the seat from behind the seat. The anchor also has a belt retaining portion angled with respect to the mounting portion so that it is operatively connectable with the seat belt webbing outboard of the seat. A method of installing a seat belt system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Gregory S. Ches, Damond N. Hinatsu, Mark A. Rychlicki
  • Publication number: 20080133095
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester for picking up and processing crop material has a transfer device—which is located downstream from feeder and chopping devices and is swivelable around a horizontal and vertical axis—for transferring the crop material, and at least one dampening device—which is located between the vehicle body and the transfer device—for dampening the vibrations of the transfer device. The dampening device may be adjusted as a function of specified operating criteria in order to dampen the vibrations of the transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Hubert Erdmann, Thomas Tilly, Markus Hohlfeld, Reinhard Laing, Heinrich Isfort, Eckehard Jeppe, Heinrich Schneider, Norbert Strieker, Manfred Pollklas
  • Publication number: 20070040373
    Abstract: A seat belt anchoring system for a vehicle seat includes an anchor for seat belt webbing having a mounting portion positionable with respect to the seat to face rearward and rigidly securable with respect to the seat from behind the seat. The anchor also has a belt retaining portion angled with respect to the mounting portion so that it is operatively connectable with the seat belt webbing outboard of the seat. A method of installing a seat belt system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Gregory Ches, Damond Hinatsu, Mark Rychlicki
  • Patent number: 4482188
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is mounted on the vehicle floor by a seat adjusting mechanism permitting fore and aft adjusting movement of the seat. A channel member is connected to the vehicle floor behind the seat and extends forwardly along the path of longitudinal seat adjustment movement. The channel member has opposed facing walls which are slidably engaged by a pair of wedge members having associated ramp surfaces. A seat belt is connected to the rearward one of the wedge members so that an occupant restraint load imposed upon the seat belt induces longitudinal forward movement of the rearward wedge member into locking engagement with the forward wedge member and the walls of the channel member so that the seat belt is fixed relative to the channel member and the occupant restraint load is transmitted through the channel member to the vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Tilly, Lloyd W. Rogers, Jr.