Patents by Inventor William J. Dietrich, Sr.

William J. Dietrich, Sr. 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).

  • Patent number: 4454920
    Abstract: A tillage system includes forward and rear sets of widely spaced discs and a set of plow points. The discs in the forward set are mounted at spaced intervals so as to leave alternate strips of worked and unworked soil of substantially equal width. Each disc of the rear set is mounted in a strip of soil left unworked by the forward set to complete the working of the top soil. The plow points are located in the furrows of one of the sets of discs (preferably the rear set) to permit some deep plowing. The working depths of the points and discs are independently adjustable. The system is designed for operation at high speed to provide complete coverage of the soil with minimal double working by the discs. It permits deeper penetration by the discs and a controlled amount of deeper plowing by the points while leaving a finished contour which is substantially free of ridges and furrows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4446924
    Abstract: A tillage system includes forward and rear sets of widely spaced discs and a set of plow points. The discs in the forward set are mounted at spaced intervals so as to leave alternate strips of worked and unworked soil of substantially equal width. Each disc of the rear set is mounted in a strip of soil left unworked by the forward set to complete the working of the top soil. The plow points are located in the furrows of one of the sets of discs (preferably the rear set) to permit some deep plowing. The working depths of the points and discs are independently adjustable. The system is designed for operation at high speed to provide complete coverage of the soil with minimal double working by the discs. It permits deeper penetration by the discs and a controlled amount of deeper plowing by the points while leaving a finished contour which is substantially free of ridges and furrows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4444271
    Abstract: An agricultural tillage implement adapted to be pulled by a vehicle comprises a main frame adapted to carry ground working tools. The main frame is supported on wheels rotatably mounted thereto. A sub-frame carrying ground working tools is mounted to the main frame by means of a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism includes a single horizontal rock shaft mounted to the main frame for rotation about its axis. A hydraulic cylinder rotates and holds the rock shaft at determined rotational displacements. Shaft arms affixed to the rock shaft are pivotally connected to the sub-frame. Connecting arms are rotatably connected to the main frame at one end and are rotatably connected to the sub-frame at another end. Rotation of the rock shaft moves the shaft arms, connecting arms, and sub-frame in a four-bar linkage motion to raise and lower the sub-frame while maintaining the sub-frame in a generally horizontal position for all working depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4418761
    Abstract: A mounting/positioning apparatus for attaching an agricultural implement such as a reel unit or a rotary packer assembly to the frame of a tillage machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes two opposing end portions rigidly coupled together by means of a cross member with the agricultural implement rotationally mounted between the two opposing end portions. The two end portions are pivotally coupled to a first frame cross member to which is rigidly coupled one end of a second frame member extending rearwardly therefrom. The other end of the second frame member is flexibly coupled to the cross member by means of a longitudinally compressible spring providing for the vertical displacement of the rotating implement upon impact with an obstruction. Spring tension is adjustable for varying the downward force applied to the working implement with the second frame member incorporating shear pin protection for the implement against high impact forces applied thereto from contact with rocks and other obstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Dietrich, Sr., Cary L. Sizelove
  • Patent number: 4403662
    Abstract: The system includes a pull-type frame with a forward line of disc blades widely spaced to part the trash, mix it with soil and displace most of the mixture laterally on top of previously undisturbed soil, thereby creating strips of ground which are alternately cleared and windrowed. At least a second line of disc blades, also widely spaced, is placed to the rear of the first line; and these blades are offset laterally from, and located in the windrows formed by, the discs of the first row, to part and return at least some of the previously cleared trash and previously undisturbed soil back onto the cleared strips while still leaving strips of undisturbed soil with an accumulation of cleared trash on top. Cooperating with the discs are novel plow points located in the undisturbed strips having accumulated layers of cleared trash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4397475
    Abstract: A trailer hitch apparatus adapted to mount to the frame of a vehicle for towing a trailer includes a hitch frame having at least one forwardly extending member. A rear mounting bracket mountable to the hitch frame at a varying predetermined vertical position secures the hitch frame to the vehicle frame. A tow bar is affixed to the hitch frame for receiving a trailer. A forward brace, including an upward projecting portion and a laterally extending portion having an extendable abutment surface, is mountable at differing predetermined vertical and horizontal positions along the forward extending member. The laterally extending portion of the forward brace is mountable projecting inward or outward for positioning beneath vehicle frames of different widths. The extendable abutment surface is extendable to abut with the vehicle frame to spread towing loads over a greater portion of the vehicle frame and allowing compensation for wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Dietrich, Sr., Michael G. Kovach
  • Patent number: 4381823
    Abstract: Apparatus for combining light tillage and application of liquid fertilizer in a single implement includes a frame having at least a forward and a rear mounting bar. A plurality of sweep assemblies are mounted to the forward mounting bar. Anhydrous fertilizer applicator knives are mounted to the rear bar and located in strips left untilled by the sweeps. A finishing harrow is also mounted to the rear bar behind the knives to level the soil. Each sweep assembly includes a forward bar or frame element to which a plurality of laterally spaced sweeps are mounted in staggered relation. Mounting members having vertically elongated slots mount the sweep assemblies to the forward bar of the frame while permitting them to be adjusted vertically and independent of the depth of the applicator knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4279311
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a pull-type frame carried by support wheels. The frame is vertically adjustable relative to the support wheels. A first gang of discs is mounted in a forward position on the frame. The discs are widely spaced relative to each other to leave alternate strips of tilled and untilled soil. The strips of untilled soil are of substantial width, approximately equal to the width of the tilled strips. The support wheels are preferably located behind the first gang of discs in the strips of untilled soil. A second gang of discs is mounted on the frame behind the first gang. Disc blades on the second gang are located to work in the untilled strips left by the first gang; and these discs are oriented to displace soil in a lateral direction opposite to that in which the first gang displaces soil. Under high speed operation, the soil dug by each disc is thrown over the adjacent strip to fill the row formed by the adjacent disc in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4245706
    Abstract: The system includes a pull-type frame with a forward line of disc blades widely spaced to part the trash, mix it with soil and displace most of the mixture laterally on top of previously undisturbed soil, thereby creating strips of ground which are alternately cleared and windrowed. At least a second line of disc blades, also widely spaced, is placed to the rear of the first line; and these blades are offset laterally from, and located in the windrows formed by, the discs of the first row, to part and return at least some of the previously cleared trash and previously undisturbed soil back onto the cleared strips while still leaving strips of undisturbed soil with an accumulation of cleared trash on top. Following the discs are novel plow tips located in the undisturbed strips having accumulated layers of cleared trash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4131323
    Abstract: A dual wheel attachment assembly for tractors has a number of brackets or lugs welded to the inner surface of the dual wheel. The primary tractor wheel is provided with eye-nuts for receiving bolt fasteners used to connect the brackets of the dual wheel. The spacing of brackets on the dual wheel rim is different than the spacing of attaching locations on the tractor wheel so that the bolt fasteners are angularly offset relative to a line parallel to the axis of the axle. Members are included to permit such angular offset of the bolt fasteners relative to the brackets by providing a first surface curved about a radial line passing through the axis of the drive shaft so that the bolt fastener may be angularly adjusted over a continuous range in aligning it between the bracket and the desired attaching location on the tractor wheel. A second curved surface permits each fastener to adjust in a radial direction to accommodate to wheels having eye-nuts placed at different spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: DMI, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Dietrich, Sr.