Moving Conveyer, Digger Or Separator Patents (Class 171/124)
  • Patent number: 9062426
    Abstract: There is provided a work vehicle having a wheel lock mechanism that is compactly disposed while avoiding an effect of surrounding sand. A wheel lock mechanism 201 has a disc portion 202 rotating integrally with a wheel 53 inside a rim portion 56A of the wheel 53, and a slide member 20X that is movable in the axial direction of the wheel 52 so as to be freely engageable with the disc portion 202 inside the rim portion 56A and rotates integrally with the axle 52.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Ito, Tatsuo Masuda, Yasuji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8949399
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for configuring virtual internal networks for testing is provided, such that affects of testing are internally isolated. The method includes deploying a virtual firewall and deploying a public switch enabling access to an external local area network through a first interface of the virtual firewall. A private switch enabling access to a plurality of virtual machines through a second interface of the virtual firewall is provided. The plurality of virtual machines defines a private network behind the firewall. A network address is assigned to the virtual firewall and a private address is assigned to each of the virtual machines. The plurality of virtual machines is then tested through a test launcher in communication with the public switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventor: Govindarajan Soundararajan
  • Patent number: 8910724
    Abstract: A telescoping coulter system for an agricultural machine, operable on ground and having a frame and a moveable structure, includes a coulter arm, having a proximal end with a pivot point, and a distal end bearing a rotatable coulter disk. An extension mechanism connects the frame to the coulter arm, and is configured to translate the coulter arm between a raised transport position not in mechanical conflict with the moveable structure, and a lowered operational position in which the coulter disk can contact the ground and is proximate to the moveable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Spudnik Equipment Co., LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Borgmann, Rainer Kemper
  • Patent number: 8579039
    Abstract: A beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle for cleaning the beach with a vehicle frame and vehicle wheels, with a receiving container for receiving contaminants, and with a conveying and separating device for raising up the underlying surface and for separating contaminants out of this underlying surface and for conveying the contaminants into the receiving container. The conveying and separating device having a pick-up which is arranged and formed in such a way that it comes into contact with the underlying surface while the beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle is driving and raises up parts of said underlying surface, and a screen belt which is moved relative to the vehicle frame. There is provision for the conveying and separating device to have a comminutor which is arranged between the pick-up and the screen belt and is configured for breaking up sand lumps of the received underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kaessbohrer Gelaendefahrzeug AG
    Inventors: Stefan Spindler, Bernd Junginger
  • Patent number: 8156385
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a table-free technique for detecting all temporal and spatial memory access errors in programs supporting general pointers. Embodiments of the invention provide such error checking using constant-time operations. Embodiments of the invention rely on fat pointers, whose size is contained within standard scalar sizes (up to two words) so that atomic hardware support for operations upon the pointers is obtained along with meaningful casts in-between pointers and other scalars. Optimized compilation of code becomes possible since the scalarized-for-free encoded pointers get register allocated and manipulated. Backward compatibility is enabled by the scalar pointer sizes, with automatic support provided for encoding and decoding of fat pointers in place for interaction with unprotected code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pradeep Varma, Rudrapatna K. Shyamasundar, Harshit J. Shah
  • Publication number: 20110180280
    Abstract: The invention relates to a beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle (10) for cleaning the beach (2) with a vehicle frame (12) and vehicle wheels (14), with a receiving container (20) for receiving contaminants (6), and with a conveying and separating device (30) for raising up the underlying surface (2) and for separating contaminants (6) out of this underlying surface and for conveying the contaminants (6) into the receiving container (20), the conveying and separating device (30) having a pick-up (32) which is arranged and formed in such a way that it comes into contact with the underlying surface (2) while the beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle (10) is driving and raises up parts of said underlying surface (2), and a screen belt (36) which is moved relative to the vehicle frame (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Stefan Spindler, Bernd Junginger
  • Patent number: 7958942
    Abstract: A potato harvester has a lifting device for lifting soil ridges, wherein the lifting device has a digging device with digging shares. At least one support element for supporting the lifting device on the ground is provided. The at least one support element has at least two wheels that are movable along opposite sides of an intermediately positioned soil ridge, respectively. The wheels form a guide unit that supports at least one part of a weight of the at least one digging device, wherein the guide unit controls the digging shares and acts on a soil ridge to be lifted as an intake aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klemens Kalverkamp
  • Patent number: 7013982
    Abstract: This device is a vehicle for scraping earth from regions containing land mines or munitions. The scraped earth is separated into munitions and earth, the earth is allowed to exit the vehicle's scraper bowl. The munitions and land mines are retained in the scraper bowl. The device is additionally armored in those regions where explosion of the cargo carrying, e.g., land mines, is found. Additionally, the device may be robotically operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Terry Northcutt
  • Patent number: 6863132
    Abstract: A harvester for harvesting a root crop, and more in particular for harvesting potatoes. For that purpose, the root crop and attached soil material is guided towards a rotating helically shaped conveyor track. This conveyor track is provided with sieve openings, which remove attached soil material from the root crop during transportation. Preferably, the helically shaped conveyor track is made of synthetic tubing or rods, which can be bought on a roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Johannes Antonius Josephus Visser
  • Patent number: 6571883
    Abstract: An improved method of mounting the cutting head of a sod harvester with respect to the conveyor employs a single ball joint between the cutting head and the conveyor, and a pair of side links spaced outwardly of the conveyor and arranged to constrain the cutting head against lateral displacement with respect to the conveyor. Preferably, the links are adjustable in length to permit vertical and lateral adjustment of the cutting head with respect to the conveyor, e.g. “tracking” of the cutting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Steiner Turf Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Roelof H. deVries
  • Publication number: 20020040792
    Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while traveling in a towed state by a traction vehicle. A grating-like portion scoops up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved. A rotor is disposed on an upper side of the grating-like portion and is adapted to rotate so that a lower portion thereof moves rearwardly. The rotor is mounted on a rotary shaft extending in the transverse direction of the beach cleaner. Waste is delivered rearwardly between the rotor and the grating-like portion. With travel of the beach cleaner, waste present in front of the beach cleaner is scooped up onto the grating-like portion and sand which is scooped up together with the waste is allowed to drop through gaps in the grating-like portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Takashi Ohzeki, Yoshihiro Kimura, Yasuji Hashimoto, Yoshinobu Itani, Shinji Furuta, Takashi Shinozaki
  • Publication number: 20020040793
    Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while being towed by a traction vehicle. The beach cleaner includes a grating-like portion for scooping up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved. The grating-like portion is inclined so that the front side thereof assumes a lower position. A rotor is disposed on an upper side of the grating-like portion and for rotation so that a lower portion thereof moves rearwardly. The rotor is centered on a rotary shaft extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The rotor delivers the waste rearwardly between the rotor and the grating-like portion. A reticulate portion is formed behind the grating-like portion. The reticulate portion is inclined so that the rear side thereof is located at a lower position to hold waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Takashi Ohzeki, Yoshihiro Kimura, Yasuji Hashimoto, Yoshinobu Itani, Shinji Furuta, Takashi Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 6095253
    Abstract: A multi-row peanut harvester having linkage for independent vertical movement of digger/shaker/inverter assemblies for digging peanut vines from the ground in a field, shaking dirt from the peanut vine roots, and inverting the peanut vines for exposing the peanuts to air. Each linkage comprises two A-frame structures joined at apexes a connecting member. The A-frames connect to a tool bar which attaches to a tractor and to a connector bar which attaches to the DSI assembly. The DSI move vertically independently in response to the DSI's wheels travelling on the ground, independently of the adjacent DSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Gerald B. Crowley
  • Patent number: 5735740
    Abstract: A device for separating vegetables and root-crops from admixtures, comprising a transporter mounted on a frame and a device mounted on the exit end of the transporter for removing the vegetables from the transporter. The transporter has a plurality of protruding fingers for receiving separation products comprised of vegetables and admixtures and an upper bed with at least one bent part so as to create upwardly and downwardly inclined parts. The bent part causes the protruding fingers to move apart and allow the separation products to drop therebetween, wherein after the fingers pass through the bent part, the fingers clamp together and destroy at least a portion of the admixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Vladimir Vitalievich Tarasenko, Vasily Vasilievich Kindzersky
  • Patent number: 5588494
    Abstract: A crop inverter is disclosed for digging and inverting crops, such as peanuts, which have pods disposed below the soil. The inverter typically includes a pair of rotating bars for severing the roots extending downwardly from the pods, and for lifting the pods to the surface of the soil. A pick-up mechanism raises the plants above the ground, and a slinging mechanism removes soil from the pods while conveying the pods to an inverter. The inverter causes the plant to come to rest with the peanut pods on top, without causing unnecessary loss of pods. The inverter typically includes a plurality of augers which extends rearwardly relative to the direction of travel, so that the peanut plants move along the auger until they are ready to be inverted. A mounding plate or other mechanism may also be provided to form a new mound below the row of inverted peanut plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Pickett Equipment
    Inventors: J. Paul Pickett, Dee L. Jones, Jay D. Christensen
  • Patent number: 5189243
    Abstract: A minefield clearing apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and having: an interface assembly for raising and shunting aside mines and other objects buried below the ground surface including: an articulated rake having a pluraity of plow teeth which, in operation, extend below the ground surface; and a conveyor apparatus extending along the side of the vehicle and adapted to transport the contents of the earth raised by the articulated rake to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Harry N. Hambric
  • Patent number: 4842076
    Abstract: A potato harvester comprises a screening conveyor belt following a lifting device, an elevator disposed after the screening conveyor belt, a haulm separating device and a stone separating device. The elevator is formed from a double conveyor having an internally rotating bar-type conveyor belt with narrow openings and an externally rotating bar-type conveyor belt with wide openings. The two conveyor belts rotate in the same direction and are guided parallel to one another at least in the region of the conveying run of the elevator. One bar-type conveyor belt is further equipped with transversely directed entrainment webs which divide the gap between the conveying runs of the two conveyors into conveying compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Franz Grumme Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Johannes Welp
  • Patent number: 4828039
    Abstract: A vegetable digger is provided for furrowing vegetables from the earth and for removing the vegetables from the earth and thereafter depositing them above the ground. The digger includes a frame having a front, opposed first and second sides, a rear and a plurality of wheels. One furrowing disk is provided which will loosen the dirt in the furrowed sections of the ground when the digger moves in a predetermined forward direction. At least one earth moving disk is provided for moving the loosened dirt away from the vegetables, and at least one unearthing disk for raising the vegetable bulbs towards the top of the ground. At least one transfer disk is provided for conducting the bulbs from the dirt and into the conveyor. A method is also provided for using the apparatus to remove bulbs which are buried in the ground and then deposit them back onto the ground so that they can be picked up by a trailing harvesting machine which will separate them into market-grade and process-grade vegetable bulbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Basic American Foods
    Inventor: Dale Gordon
  • Patent number: 4494611
    Abstract: An improvement is presented in an apparatus for processing soil for planting wherein a separator are provided for initially separating rocks and other large objects from soil prior to crushing thereof, the separator comprising a plurality of respectively upwardly and downwardly directed pins which cooperate in the removal of said rocks and other large objects from the soil. Also provided is a vertical rotatable power driven shaft centrally located in said apparatus wherein a plurality of radially extending arms are fixed thereto and are rotatable with the shaft. Some of said separating pins are fixed to the arms and some cooperating separating pins are fixed to a disc plate also mounted about said power driven shaft. A rotating plurality of discs crush said soil to reduce large particles and destroy weed seeds, insects, and larvae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: Guillermo D. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 4407370
    Abstract: A harvesting device for separating round root crops, such as potatoes, from soil and other unwanted material. The crop and the soil in which it is growing is uplifted into the harvesting device by the forward movement of the device. The uplifted material is delivered into two conveyors, one positioned above the other and one running at a different speed from the other. The upper conveyor has a series of transverse members, such as fingers and flaps, which break up the uplifted material into discrete portions and these transverse members form with the lower conveyor a series of pockets so that each discrete portion of uplifted material lies in a pocket. The conveyors are inclined and this combined with the differential speed causes the material to be tumbled and the round root crops to roll free of unwanted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Tonparo Limited
    Inventors: Peter S. Small, Peter W. Small
  • Patent number: 4382471
    Abstract: A low damage beet cleaner and elevator for a beet harvester is described. Beets are lifted elevationally between a lugged, endless elevator draper and an endless, upwardly inclined belt having flexible, finger-like projections. The draper and the belt are driven through their respective circuits with the belt being driven at a speed faster than that of the draper. The speed differential between the belt and the draper causes the finger-like projections to flexibly engage with the beets producing a brushing effect on the beets to clean them while they are being elevated for loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Idaho Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4241792
    Abstract: The ground sweeper has an endless screen movably supported upon a screen carrier which is attached to a wheeled trailer chassis such that the screen run makes an acute angle to the ground. A hydraulic motor powered hydraulically from a hydraulic pump run by the power takeoff unit of the pulling tractor rotates the screen drive roller. Hydraulic cylinders actuate a pivotally mounted rear hopper such that it may be hydraulically tilted to dump its load from the screen on the ground. The trailer ground sweeper carries its own hydraulic fluid tank and its hydraulic system has controls operable from the driver's position on the drawing tractor. A scoop at the front of the sweeper adjacent the lowest portion of the moving screen has a scoop blade which is reversible with respect to the run of the belt, such that the blade may be reversed to maintain a keen edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Inventor: Donald K. Kratzer
  • Patent number: 4231431
    Abstract: An agricultural machine comprising a motor driven main frame and a detachable harvesting unit. The harvesting unit includes four major parts; a forward digging unit, a screening section, a conveyor system and a receiving bin. The four major parts are specifically located with respect to the main frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Inventor: Ernst Weichel
  • Patent number: 4014390
    Abstract: A beach cleaner vehicle is drawn across sand. A scraper blade shaves a layer of sand and debris from the sand surface. A continuous conveyor transports the sand and debris over sifter bars within the chassis of the beach cleaner. A foraminous sifter separates debris and permits sand to fall back to the beach. The sifting process is enhanced by a system adapted to vibrate the foraminous sifter during operation of the beach cleaner. Debris is deposited in a trash basket which is hydraulically dumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1977
    Inventor: Antone S. Teixeira