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).

  • Publication number: 20220192072
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11297753
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20190274240
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 10327374
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 10219421
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9955621
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20170290259
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: COURTNEY N. ACHEN, Marvin L. Bachman, VAUGHAN G. STEVENSON
  • Publication number: 20170238458
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9686901
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9674999
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20150319912
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20150073668
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20150066315
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8924092
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8909436
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20130112121
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20130104785
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: KINZE MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Courtney N. Achen, Marvin L. Bachman, Vaughan G. Stevenson