Patents by Inventor Timothy R. Blunier
Timothy R. Blunier 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: 11785872Abstract: A stabilizer wheel arrangement is actively damped when remotely positioning a stabilizer wheel of a towable agricultural implement by detecting an onset of ground-induced vibration and automatically introducing a phase-shifted vibration-countering or cancelling/damping modulation pattern into a signal that simultaneously and cooperatively controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from both the rod and base ends of the bore of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, to hold the piston of the hydraulic cylinder at a target position determined from a desired position input signal corresponding to a desired position of the stabilizer wheel with respect to a frame of the agricultural implement.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLCInventors: Yong Deng, Timothy R. Blunier
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Patent number: 11696523Abstract: A system for hydraulically leveling a multi-wing agricultural implement having a pressure regulating valve and a folding valve fluidly coupled in parallel between a supply line, configured to provide a supply pressure of hydraulic fluid, and an actuator, configured to move an outer-wing section of the implement between a transport position and a fully-extended position. Specifically, when fluid is supplied to the actuator via the pressure regulating valve, only a portion of the supply pressure is allowed through the pressure regulating valve to the actuator such that the outer-wing section may pivot towards a position where the outer-wing section is substantially level with the inner-wing section. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuator via the folding valve, the outer-wing section is actuated towards the transport position. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuator via the leveling valve, the outer-wing section is leveled relative to the inner-wing section.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Timothy R. Blunier, Jared Paul Schaffer
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Patent number: 11540434Abstract: A cultivating disc for a tillage implement includes an attachment portion positioned at a radial center of the cultivating disc. The attachment portion includes one or more attachment features configured to couple the cultivating disc to the tillage implement about an axis of rotation of the cultivating disc. The attachment portion extends along a first plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cultivating disc. The cultivating disc also includes a cutting edge portion positioned at a distal end of the cultivating disc relative to the axis of rotation. The cutting edge portion extends along a second plane parallel to the first plane. The cultivating disc further includes a curved connecting portion positioned between and connecting the attachment portion to the cutting edge portion. The curved connecting portion further defines one or more radii of curvature.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventor: Timothy R. Blunier
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Patent number: 11483959Abstract: A disk assembly for agricultural implements comprises a disk hanger including a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The disk assembly further includes a hanger spindle supported relative to the distal end of the disk hanger for rotation about a first axis of rotation, and a blade spindle supported relative to the hanger spindle, with the blade spindle being rotatable about a second axis of rotation oriented non-parallel relative to the first axis of rotation. Additionally, the disk assembly includes a blade coupled to the blade spindle for rotation therewith about the second axis of rotation. Moreover, the disk assembly is configured such that rotation of the hanger spindle relative to the disk hanger about the first axis of rotation results in an adjustment of both an angle-of-engagement and a camber angle of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Alan Forbes, Michael G. Kovach, David Long, Timothy R. Blunier
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Patent number: 11324154Abstract: In one aspect, a finishing assembly for an agricultural implement may include first and second rolling baskets, a basket support assembly configured to support the first and second rolling baskets relative to each other, a linkage pivotably coupled to the basket support assembly at a pivot point, and at least one damping element. The at least one damping element may be configured to damp pivoting of the basket support assembly about the pivot point in both a first pivot direction and a second pivot direction, the second pivot direction being opposite the first pivot direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Jared Paul Schaffer, Timothy R. Blunier, Brice Magarity
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Patent number: 11304353Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely positioning a stabilizer wheel of a towable agricultural implement simultaneously, cooperatively and proportionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from both the rod and base ends of the bore of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, to hold the piston of the hydraulic cylinder at a target position determined from a desired position input signal corresponding to a desired position of the stabilizer wheel with respect to a frame of the agricultural implement.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Christopher Stovall, Kena Shah, Timothy R. Blunier
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Publication number: 20210105925Abstract: A cultivating disc for a tillage implement includes an attachment portion positioned at a radial center of the cultivating disc. The attachment portion includes one or more attachment features configured to couple the cultivating disc to the tillage implement about an axis of rotation of the cultivating disc. The attachment portion extends along a first plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cultivating disc. The cultivating disc also includes a cutting edge portion positioned at a distal end of the cultivating disc relative to the axis of rotation. The cutting edge portion extends along a second plane parallel to the first plane. The cultivating disc further includes a curved connecting portion positioned between and connecting the attachment portion to the cutting edge portion. The curved connecting portion further defines one or more radii of curvature.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventor: Timothy R. Blunier
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Patent number: 10973162Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for adjusting fore/aft level trim of the frame of a towed agricultural tillage implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, and automatically computes a desired for/aft trim angle as a function of the desired depth input, and then adjusts the fore/aft trim of the implement frame by titling the frame toward the front or rear of the frame in accordance with the desired fore/aft trim angle computed from the desired depth input signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.Inventors: Christopher Barrick, John Endsley, Timothy R. Blunier, James W. Henry, Tracey Meiners, Klint Peterson
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Patent number: 10966362Abstract: An auxiliary tool assembly for an agricultural implement is configured to support a finishing tool(s) at a location at or adjacent to the aft end of the implement. The auxiliary tool assembly includes a support arm extending lengthwise between a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of the support arm being pivotally coupled to a portion of the implement at or adjacent to its aft end so that the tool assembly is pivotable relative to the implement between a work position and a transport position. In addition, the finishing tool(s) is configured to be coupled to or otherwise supported relative to the ground by the support arm at a location between its proximal and distal ends. Moreover, the auxiliary tool assembly includes one or more surface-engaging wheels coupled to the distal end of the support arm.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Michael G. Kovach, Scott R. Faust, Timothy R. Blunier, Gaylen J. Kromminga
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Publication number: 20210092894Abstract: A disk assembly for agricultural implements comprises a disk hanger including a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The disk assembly further includes a hanger spindle supported relative to the distal end of the disk hanger for rotation about a first axis of rotation, and a blade spindle supported relative to the hanger spindle, with the blade spindle being rotatable about a second axis of rotation oriented non-parallel relative to the first axis of rotation. Additionally, the disk assembly includes a blade coupled to the blade spindle for rotation therewith about the second axis of rotation. Moreover, the disk assembly is configured such that rotation of the hanger spindle relative to the disk hanger about the first axis of rotation results in an adjustment of both an angle-of-engagement and a camber angle of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Alan Forbes, Michael G. Kovach, David Long, Timothy R. Blunier
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Publication number: 20200390020Abstract: In one aspect, a finishing assembly for an agricultural implement may include first and second rolling baskets, a basket support assembly configured to support the first and second rolling baskets relative to each other, a linkage pivotably coupled to the basket support assembly at a pivot point, and at least one damping element. The at least one damping element may be configured to damp pivoting of the basket support assembly about the pivot point in both a first pivot direction and a second pivot direction, the second pivot direction being opposite the first pivot direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Jared Paul Schaffer, Timothy R. Blunier, Brice Magarity
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Patent number: 10813269Abstract: A system for remotely controlling hydraulic component of an agricultural implement towed by a work vehicle may include a vehicle-based valve assembly that selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to one or more supply lines of the implement. Specifically, a first supply line may be fluidly coupled to an implement-based valve assembly that regulates the supply of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator through a first actuator line. A second supply line may be fluidly coupled to the first actuator line downstream of the implement-based valve assembly such that when a user provides a control input at a remote interface, the vehicle-based valve assembly may instead regulate the supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator. The supply of the hydraulic fluid through the supply lines may additionally be controlled by first and second override valves fluidly coupled to the first and second supply lines, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Timothy R. Blunier, John C. Endsley
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Publication number: 20200221628Abstract: A system for hydraulically leveling a multi-wing agricultural implement having a pressure regulating valve and a folding valve fluidly coupled in parallel between a supply line, configured to provide a supply pressure of hydraulic fluid, and an actuator, configured to move an outer-wing section of the implement between a transport position and a fully-extended position. Specifically, when fluid is supplied to the actuator via the pressure regulating valve, only a portion of the supply pressure is allowed through the pressure regulating valve to the actuator such that the outer-wing section may pivot towards a position where the outer-wing section is substantially level with the inner-wing section. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuator via the folding valve, the outer-wing section is actuated towards the transport position. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuator via the leveling valve, the outer-wing section is leveled relative to the inner-wing section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Timothy R. Blunier, Jared Paul Schaffer
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Publication number: 20200196513Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely positioning a stabilizer wheel of a towable agricultural implement simultaneously, cooperatively and proportionally control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from both the rod and base ends of the bore of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, to hold the piston of the hydraulic cylinder at a target position determined from a desired position input signal corresponding to a desired position of the stabilizer wheel with respect to a frame of the agricultural implement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Christopher Stovall, Kena Shah, Timothy R. Blunier
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Publication number: 20200196512Abstract: A method and apparatus provide active vibration damping when remotely positioning a stabilizer wheel of a towable agricultural implement by detecting an onset of ground-induced vibration and automatically introducing a phase-shifted vibration-countering or cancelling/damping modulation pattern into a signal that simultaneously and cooperatively controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from both the rod and base ends of the bore of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, to hold the piston of the hydraulic cylinder at a target position determined from a desired position input signal corresponding to a desired position of the stabilizer wheel with respect to a frame of the agricultural implement.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Yong Deng, Timothy R. Blunier
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Patent number: 10648502Abstract: A trunnion assembly, comprising at least two pivot-engagement sides located opposite each other, each of the at least two pivot-engagement sides including an attachment hole, each attachment hole including a threaded area and a counterbore, the at least two attachment holes being generally coaxially located relative to each other; and at least one through-hole perpendicular to and midway between the two attachment holes of the pivot-engagement sides; a fastener releasably attached to each of the at least two attachment holes, the fastener including a head and an at least partially-threaded shaft, and a pivot tube disposed around each of the fasteners between the head and the attachment hole, the pivot tube including an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of a circumscribed circle of the head of the fastener and smaller than the diameter of the counterbore.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Timothy R. Blunier, Gaylen J. Kromminga
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Patent number: 10645856Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for remotely and individually controlling a plurality of remotely positionable stabilizer wheels of a towable agricultural implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired position of the stabilizer wheel, and/or a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, to automatically and individually control a plurality of hydraulic positioning cylinders for individually positioning and holding the plurality of stabilizer wheel at the desired position of the stabilizer wheels.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Christopher Stovall, Kena Shah, Timothy R. Blunier
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Publication number: 20200120853Abstract: An auxiliary tool assembly for an agricultural implement is configured to support a finishing tool(s) at a location at or adjacent to the aft end of the implement. The auxiliary tool assembly includes a support arm extending lengthwise between a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of the support arm being pivotally coupled to a portion of the implement at or adjacent to its aft end so that the tool assembly is pivotable relative to the implement between a work position and a transport position. In addition, the finishing tool(s) is configured to be coupled to or otherwise supported relative to the ground by the support arm at a location between its proximal and distal ends. Moreover, the auxiliary tool assembly includes one or more surface-engaging wheels coupled to the distal end of the support arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Michael G. Kovach, Scott R. Faust, Timothy R. Blunier, Gaylen J. Kromminga
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Publication number: 20200068777Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for adjusting fore/aft level trim of the frame of a towed agricultural tillage implement utilize an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, and automatically computes a desired for/aft trim angle as a function of the desired depth input, and then adjusts the fore/aft trim of the implement frame by titling the frame toward the front or rear of the frame in accordance with the desired fore/aft trim angle computed from the desired depth input signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Christopher Barrick, John Endsley, Timothy R. Blunier, James W. Henry, Tracey Meiners, Klint Peterson
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Publication number: 20200060066Abstract: A system for remotely controlling hydraulic component of an agricultural implement towed by a work vehicle may include a vehicle-based valve assembly that selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to one or more supply lines of the implement. Specifically, a first supply line may be fluidly coupled to an implement-based valve assembly that regulates the supply of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator through a first actuator line. A second supply line may be fluidly coupled to the first actuator line downstream of the implement-based valve assembly such that when a user provides a control input at a remote interface, the vehicle-based valve assembly may instead regulate the supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator. The supply of the hydraulic fluid through the supply lines may additionally be controlled by first and second override valves fluidly coupled to the first and second supply lines, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Timothy R. Blunier, John C. Endsley