Patents by Inventor Vaughan G. Stevenson
Vaughan G. Stevenson 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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Publication number: 20220192072Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 11297753Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20190274240Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 10327374Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow include an agricultural device that is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 10219421Abstract: An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 9955621Abstract: A forward folding agricultural implement frame has a center frame with pivotally connected wings that fold forward for storage and laterally for use. A pair of draft links connects the wings to a telescopic hitch that extends forward from the center frame. A pivot pin operably mounted to a forward portion of the telescopic hitch defines a generally vertical pivot axis. A pivot link is connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis. The pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite of the pivot pin from the first portion. The draft links are pivotally connected to the first and second portions of the pivot link. When the wings are flexed in opposite directions (or when one wing is neutral and the other wing is flexed), the pivot link will permit opposite relative movement of the draft link ends relative to the inner hitch, which reduces internal stress and prevents permanent strain of the components.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20170290259Abstract: An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by means of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2017Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: COURTNEY N. ACHEN, Marvin L. Bachman, VAUGHAN G. STEVENSON
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Publication number: 20170238458Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 9686901Abstract: An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by way of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 9674999Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20150319912Abstract: A forward folding agricultural implement frame has a center frame with pivotally connected wings that fold forward for storage and laterally for use. A pair of draft links connects the wings to a telescopic hitch that extends forward from the center frame. A pivot pin operably mounted to a forward portion of the telescopic hitch defines a generally vertical pivot axis. A pivot link is connected to the pivot pin to pivot about the generally vertical pivot axis. The pivot link having a first portion on one side of the pivot pin and a second portion on an opposite of the pivot pin from the first portion. The draft links are pivotally connected to the first and second portions of the pivot link. When the wings are flexed in opposite directions (or when one wing is neutral and the other wing is flexed), the pivot link will permit opposite relative movement of the draft link ends relative to the inner hitch, which reduces internal stress and prevents permanent strain of the components.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20150073668Abstract: An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by means of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20150066315Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 8924092Abstract: An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Patent number: 8909436Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20130112121Abstract: An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by means of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
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Publication number: 20130104785Abstract: Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: KINZE MANUFACTURING, INC.Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson