Patents by Inventor William Douglas Graham
William Douglas Graham 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: 12114589Abstract: A device detects a trigger to dispense a product at a dispense point using a tool operably coupled to a tractor. In response to detecting the trigger, the device determines a delay time between commanding the tool to dispense the product and the product actually being dispensed, and determines a release point based on operating parameters of the tractor, the release point being a point at which the tractor is predicted to be an amount of time away from the dispense point equal to the delay time. The device determines that the tractor has reached the release point, and commands the tool to dispense the product, where the product reaches the dispense point based on the delay time.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Solomon J. Sawlaw, Sean A. Mahrt, Ray M. Scheufler, William Douglas Graham, Samuel Santiago
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Patent number: 12011958Abstract: An exemplary self-locking actuator mechanism includes a floating plate and a linear actuator. The floating plate defines a first slot that includes a first central portion, a first jog extending laterally from a first end of the first central portion, and a second jog extending laterally from a second end of the first central portion. The linear actuator includes a shaft pivotably connected to the floating plate, and is operable to drive the shaft between a first shaft position and a second shaft position to thereby move the self-locking actuator mechanism between a first locking state and a second locking state.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2021Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: William Douglas Graham, Anand Mudanur, Anant Dnyanoba Nimbalkar, Pravin Pawar
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Publication number: 20240090366Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for air seeding using an agricultural seeder. The agricultural seeder includes an air seeder for an agricultural implement having a frame, a plurality of seeding units coupled to the frame, and a linkage coupling an arm to the frame, wherein the arm is coupled to a ground engaging member. The air seeder further includes an actuator having a piston and cylinder arrangement operationally coupled to the arm and configured to adjust a ground penetration depth of the ground engaging member. The piston and cylinder arrangement include a two-stage cylinder operable to change a height of the ground engaging member by movement of the two-stage cylinder to adjust the ground penetration depth of the ground engaging member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Deere & CompanyInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, William Douglas Graham
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Patent number: 11818976Abstract: A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sandeep Ekhe, Mandar Mhalsakant Kale, Sean A Mahrt, William Douglas Graham, Peter R. Nedved, Grant J. Wonderlich, Robert T. Casper, Omkar Joshi
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Publication number: 20230000007Abstract: A device detects a trigger to dispense a product at a dispense point using a tool operably coupled to a tractor. In response to detecting the trigger, the device determines a delay time between commanding the tool to dispense the product and the product actually being dispensed, and determines a release point based on operating parameters of the tractor, the release point being a point at which the tractor is predicted to be an amount of time away from the dispense point equal to the delay time. The device determines that the tractor has reached the release point, and commands the tool to dispense the product, where the product reaches the dispense point based on the delay time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Solomon J. Sawlaw, Sean A. Mahrt, Ray M. Scheufler, William Douglas Graham, Samuel Santiago
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Patent number: 11511938Abstract: Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: William Douglas Graham, Nicholas Geiger
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Publication number: 20220214201Abstract: A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Matthew David Arnold, William Douglas Graham, Michael Eugene Frasier
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Publication number: 20220212507Abstract: An exemplary self-locking actuator mechanism includes a floating plate and a linear actuator. The floating plate defines a first slot that includes a first central portion, a first jog extending laterally from a first end of the first central portion, and a second jog extending laterally from a second end of the first central portion. The linear actuator includes a shaft pivotably connected to the floating plate, and is operable to drive the shaft between a first shaft position and a second shaft position to thereby move the self-locking actuator mechanism between a first locking state and a second locking state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Anand Mudanur, Anant Dnyanoba Nimbalkar, Pravin Pawar
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Publication number: 20220174858Abstract: A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
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Patent number: 11191207Abstract: A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
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Patent number: 11140811Abstract: A work vehicle includes a commodity container and an actuator system with a plurality of actuators. The work vehicle includes a delivery system with a plurality of tubes. Furthermore, the work vehicle includes a metering system with a plurality of metering rollers that are configured to be individually actuated by respective ones of the plurality of actuators to meter out a commodity from the commodity container to respective ones of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of metering rollers are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The plurality of metering rollers are disposed in a staggered arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Michael E. Frasier, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
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Publication number: 20210153424Abstract: Systems and method for retaining a downspout onto a spout are disclosed. The downspout may be retained on the spout using hook and loop fasteners. In some implementations, a portion of a spout may include a first portion of a hook and loop fastener and the downspout may include a second portion of the first hook and loop faster. The first and second portions of the hook and loop faster are complimentary such that the first and second portions of the hook and loop fastener combine to interlocking secure the downspout and the spout together.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM, Nicholas Geiger
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Publication number: 20210129808Abstract: An agricultural train assembly having a tractor and at least one implement coupled to the tractor through a tongue. The assembly has a tractor braking system that selectively applies tractor brakes, an implement braking system that selectively applies implement brakes, a controller that selectively applies the implement braking system, a sensor that communicates with the controller to identify a push force applied to the tongue, the push force being the amount of force applied by the at least one implement towards the tractor. Wherein, the controller communicates with the sensor to identify the push force and compares the push force to a push threshold and when the push force is greater than the push threshold, the controller instructs the implement braking system to apply a burst braking procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Mandar M. Kale
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Publication number: 20210112698Abstract: A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: SANDEEP EKHE, MANDAR MHALSAKANT KALE, Sean A. MAHRT, William Douglas GRAHAM, Peter R. NEDVED, Grant J. WONDERLICH, Robert T. CASPER, Omkar JOSHI
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Publication number: 20190380263Abstract: A work vehicle includes a commodity container and an actuator system with a plurality of actuators. The work vehicle includes a delivery system with a plurality of tubes. Furthermore, the work vehicle includes a metering system with a plurality of metering rollers that are configured to be individually actuated by respective ones of the plurality of actuators to meter out a commodity from the commodity container to respective ones of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of metering rollers are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The plurality of metering rollers are disposed in a staggered arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: ANDREW W. HARMON, MICHAEL E. FRASIER, ROBERT T. CASPER, WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM
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Patent number: 9743575Abstract: A commodity tank for a product distribution machine has a hollow body enclosing an interior space with an upper fill opening through which product can flow into the interior space. For convenience of the operator, a lower fill opening is also provided though which product can flow into the interior space. The lower fill opening is located at a lower height relative to the upper fill opening. The provision of the lower fill opening enables the operator to choose between either bulk filling the tank using the cart conveyor through the upper opening or manually filling the tank through the lower opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Stanley R. Borkgren, Matthew J. Mentzer, Ryan C. Jardon, William Douglas Graham
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Publication number: 20160330901Abstract: A product distribution device shown as an agricultural air seeder in which product distribution can be selective stopped and started in sections of the machine width. The functioning of the section control system is monitored by sensors that directly detect the control member position as opposed to sensing the commanded position of the control member. Likewise, in generating a map of the area covered, the actual detected position of the control member is used instead of the commanded position of the control member. An operator is notified of inconsistencies between the commended position of the control member and the sensed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2015Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: MATTHEW DAVID ARNOLD, WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM, MICHAEL EUGENE FRASIER
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Publication number: 20160255767Abstract: A commodity tank for a product distribution machine has a hollow body enclosing an interior space with an upper fill opening through which product can flow into the interior space. For convenience of the operator, a lower fill opening is also provided though which product can flow into the interior space. The lower fill opening is located at a lower height relative to the upper fill opening. The provision of the lower fill opening enables the operator to choose between either bulk filling the tank using the cart conveyor through the upper opening or manually filling the tank through the lower opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: STANLEY R. BORKGREN, MATTHEW J. MENTZER, RYAN C. JARDON, WILLIAM DOUGLAS GRAHAM
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Publication number: 20150132072Abstract: An implement includes a frame, a tower, a manifold, and a retractable mount. The manifold is attached to the tower. The retractable mount attaches the tower and manifold to the frame and is configured to allow the tower and manifold to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the frame. A distance between the manifold and the frame is greater in the extended position than in the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: Deere & CompanyInventors: Tyler G. Groves, Kevin W. Hoehn, Dale A. Quam, William Douglas Graham
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Patent number: 8573111Abstract: A load sense connection is provided between the implement rockshaft cylinders and the load-sensed power source. However, to avoid tractor starting difficulty, a valve structure is provided in the power beyond fluid line to keep the fluid line closed when starting the tractor. This valve structure provides a hydraulic latching function that allows the load-sensed power source to be activated and deactivated depending on the SCV function. The load-sensed power source is activated when the rockshaft cylinder(s) is fully extended and remains activated or latched when the SCV is returned to neutral. The load-sensed power source is deactivated or unlatched when the rockshaft cylinder is retracted.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: William Douglas Graham, Aaron L. Barfels