Patents by Inventor Timothy Kater
Timothy Kater 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: 11968922Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Michael Strnad, Timothy Kater, Dale M. Koch, Nicholas Minarich, Riley Litwiller
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Patent number: 11895943Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for closing a planting trench include a disc assembly for loosening soil adjacent to the planting trench. In some embodiments a closing wheel assembly has a subframe, a vertical pivot mounting the closing wheel subframe to a row unit subframe, and a air of pivot arms. The closing wheel subframe pivots relative to the subframe of the row unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Jeremy Hodel, Douglas Urbaniak, Timothy Kater
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Patent number: 11889782Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Michael Strnad, Timothy Kater, Matthew Morgan, Dale M. Koch
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Patent number: 11839172Abstract: A trench closing sensor adapted to mount to an agricultural implement to detect whether a seed trench is sufficiently closed with soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. The trench closing sensor may also detect the amount of compaction of the soil over the seed within the seed trench. The trench closing sensor may be in the form of a seed firmer from which a drag wire extends. As the open seed trench and drag wire are covered with soil, instrumentation measures or detects whether the seed trench is being adequately closed with soil by measuring the amount of force required to pull the wire through the soil or by measuring the amount of strain, pulling force or tension in the wire or by measuring the amount of soil pressure acting on the wire. The trench closing sensor may include other sensors for detecting soil characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2020Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Dale Koch, Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Douglas Urbaniak
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Publication number: 20230263088Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel
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Patent number: 11678600Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel
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Publication number: 20230165184Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a locking system is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil apparatus includes a lower base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, an upper base portion, and a neck portion having protrusions to insert into the lower base portion of a base and then lock when a region of the upper base portion is inserted into the lower base portion and this region of the upper base portion presses the protrusions to lock the neck portion to the upper base portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Michael Strnad, Timothy Kater
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Publication number: 20230157202Abstract: A mini-hopper for an agricultural row unit that has a fill tube supplying material to a hopper. A backflow preventer is disposed in the fill tube or in a line to the inlet to prevent flow of material from the mini-hopper through the fill tube when the mini-hopper is in a transport position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Jeremy J. Hodel, Timothy Kater, Tracy Leman, Jarlis Luiz Matter
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Patent number: 11596096Abstract: A mini-hopper for an agricultural row unit that has a fill tube supplying material to a hopper. A backflow preventer is disposed in the fill tube or in a line to the inlet to prevent flow of material from the mini-hopper through the fill tube when the mini-hopper is in a transport position.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignees: Precision Planting LLC, AGCO do Brasil Soluções Agrícolas Ltda.Inventors: Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Tracy Leman, Jarlis Luiz Matter
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Publication number: 20220330476Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods related to agricultural planters. In some implementations, the row unit includes a soil engaging member, where the soil engaging member engages at least one sidewall of a trench and displaces soil from the sidewall to cover the seed. In further implementations, the row unit includes a sensing system for sensing sidewall compaction and/or soil moisture.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel
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Publication number: 20220330469Abstract: A system (1000) and method of marking soil or crops within afield with a visual strip (1001) to identify an occurrence of a detected event as an agricultural implement (10) traverses a field. The system includes an assembly (100, 200, 300, 500, 700, 800, 900) supported by the agricultural implement. The assembly includes a supply of a colored composition and an actuator (130, 330, 1030) configured to receive the actuation signals sent by the controller (80, 81). The actuator is responsive to the actuation signals to release the colored composition at the location on the field while the agricultural implement advances through the field in the forward direction of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2020Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Jason Stoller, Isaac Carr, Douglas Urbaniak, John Weigand
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Publication number: 20220295686Abstract: A planting system having a plurality of row units, each row unit having: (a) at least one opening disc configured to open a seed trench; (b) a soil engaging member configured to engage a sidewall of the trench during planting; and (c) at least one strain gauge in operative communication with the soil engaging member, wherein the at least one strain gauge measures force on the soil engaging member during planting operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Dale Koch, Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Douglas Urbaniak
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Publication number: 20220279701Abstract: A row planting unit closing system including a first stage closing unit adapted to be attached to a row planting unit and including: a first stage frame; and a set of at least one row closing wheel having a closing angle orientation non-perpendicular relative to the ground; and wherein the first stage frame is attached at a first end to the row planting unit, the first stage frame comprising a linkage mechanism for setting a toe in angle orientation of the set of at least one row closing wheel relative to the first stage frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Dale M. Koch, Jeremy J. Hodel, Timothy Kater, Douglas William Urbaniak
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Patent number: 11419257Abstract: A soil apparatus (e.g., seed firmer) having a base portion for engaging in soil of an agricultural field, and the base portion is adapted for connection to an agricultural implement; a window in the base portion; a wear resistant insert disposed in or on the base portion in one or more locations selected from the group consisting of i) ahead of the window in a direction of travel of the soil apparatus through soil and disposed on the base portion, ii) ahead of the window in a direction of travel of the soil apparatus through soil and disposed in the base portion, wherein the base portion has a ground engaging portion, the ground engaging portion has a greater wear resistance than the base portion, iii) above the window, and iv) below the window.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Michael Strnad, Timothy Kater
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Publication number: 20220074913Abstract: A system that is able to vary a depth of a row cleaner by adjusting a downforce applied to the row cleaner to promote planting at a desired seed depth and soil moisture.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Timothy Kater, Matthew Morgan, Dale M. Koch, Jeremy J. Hodel
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Publication number: 20220046848Abstract: A reversible seed trench appurtenance for a row unit of an agricultural planter. The seed trench appurtenance includes an upper portion and a trailing portion. The upper portion is received within a mounting bracket attached to the row unit of the planter. The seed trench appurtenance is movable between a normal operating position in which the trailing portion extends into the seed trench. When the row unit is reversed in a direction opposite the forward direction of travel, the seed trench appurtenance moves from the normal operating position to a reversing position in which the trailing portion is vertically above the normal operating position thereby avoiding damage to the seed trench appurtenance and the mounting bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Michael Strnad, Dale KOCH, Timothy Kater
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Publication number: 20210352840Abstract: A mini-hopper for an agricultural row unit that has a fill tube supplying material to a hopper. A backflow preventer is disposed in the fill tube or in a line to the inlet to prevent flow of material from the mini-hopper through the fill tube when the mini-hopper is in a transport position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Jeremy HODEL, Timothy KATER, Tracy LEMAN, Jarlis Luiz MATTER
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Publication number: 20210068333Abstract: A trench closing sensor adapted to mount to an agricultural implement to detect whether a seed trench is sufficiently closed with soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. The trench closing sensor may also detect the amount of compaction of the soil over the seed within the seed trench. The trench closing sensor may be in the form of a seed firmer from which a drag wire extends. As the open seed trench and drag wire are covered with soil, instrumentation measures or detects whether the seed trench is being adequately closed with soil by measuring the amount of force required to pull the wire through the soil or by measuring the amount of strain, pulling force or tension in the wire or by measuring the amount of soil pressure acting on the wire. The trench closing sensor may include other sensors for detecting soil characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Dale Koch, Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Douglas Urbaniak
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Patent number: 10932405Abstract: A trench closing sensor adapted to mount to an agricultural implement to detect whether a seed trench is sufficiently closed with soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. The trench closing sensor may also detect the amount of compaction of the soil over the seed within the seed trench. The trench closing sensor may be in the form of a seed firmer from which a drag wire extends. As the open seed trench and drag wire are covered with soil, instrumentation measures or detects whether the seed trench is being adequately closed with soil by measuring the amount of force required to pull the wire through the soil or by measuring the amount of strain, pulling force or tension in the wire or by measuring the amount of soil pressure acting on the wire. The trench closing sensor may include other sensors for detecting soil characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Dale Koch, Jeremy Hodel, Timothy Kater, Douglas Urbaniak
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Publication number: 20200359559Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2018Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Dale Koch, JASON STOLLER, TODD SWANSON, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, IAN RADTKE, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel