Having Fluid-pressure Or Stored-energy Motor Patents (Class 56/11.9)
  • Patent number: 11917940
    Abstract: Electric lawnmowers comprise mowing-unit decks with fluid passages used for cooling batteries, power electronics units, and/or drive motors. Specifically, a lawnmower comprises a drive unit (with a battery, power electronics, and one or more drive motors) and a mowing unit (with a mowing-unit deck). The deck's fluid passage is fluidically coupled to the drive unit (e.g., the motor and power electronics). The thermal liquid is heated by the drive unit's components and cooled as the liquid passes through the deck's fluid passage. The mowing unit may be equipped with a pump (for circulating this liquid), which can be powered by an electric motor on the mowing unit. The same motor may be used for rotating the cutting blades. The drive unit may have an additional cooling circuit providing immersion cooling to the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DIMAAG-AI, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Wright, David Beard
  • Patent number: 11895947
    Abstract: A mower comprises: a cutter housing having an inner hole in which an output shaft of a motor is inserted; and a motor cover provided above the cutter housing with a space therebetween, the motor cover covering the motor. Cooling air leadout openings for leading cooling air in the motor cover to the outside are formed in the motor cover, the cooling air leadout openings being positioned inward of a peripheral wall part of the motor cover and outward of the inner hole of the cutter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Nishimura, Yasumi Fukuzumi, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Koki Tsuruda, Fumio Minami
  • Patent number: 11839178
    Abstract: An electric riding lawn mower includes a seat for a user to ride, a main frame to support the seat, a power output assembly including a mowing element to output power to realize mowing function and a first motor to drive the mowing element, a walking assembly to at least drive the electric riding lawn mower to travel in the direction of a first straight line on the ground and a second motor to drive the walking assembly, and a power supply device to power the electric riding lawn mower with a first battery pack, which includes a first battery pack housing and a plurality of battery cells disposed therein. The power supply device is mounted to the main frame. At least one of the first battery packs of the power supply device forms a pluggable connection with the main frame. The battery cells are lithium batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qian Liu, Toshinari Yamaoka, Zhen Wang, Fangjie Nie
  • Patent number: 11839177
    Abstract: An electric riding lawn mower includes a seat for a user to ride, a main frame to support the seat, a power output assembly including a mowing element to output power to realize mowing function and a first motor to drive the mowing element, a walking assembly to at least drive the electric riding lawn mower to travel in the direction of a first straight line on the ground and a second motor to drive the walking assembly, and a power supply device to power the electric riding lawn mower with a first battery pack, which includes a first battery pack housing and a plurality of battery cells disposed therein. The power supply device is mounted to the main frame. At least one of the first battery packs of the power supply device forms a pluggable connection with the main frame. The battery cells are lithium batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qian Liu, Toshinari Yamaoka, Zhen Wang, Fangjie Nie
  • Patent number: 11832555
    Abstract: A harvester includes a feed system operable at a feed speed and configured to feed a crop towards a blade. The blade is configured to cut the crop into crop billet and is operable at a cutting speed. The harvester further includes an optical sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to a length of the crop billet and a control system with a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The control system is configured to receive the signal and programmed to adjust one or both of the cutting speed or the feed speed based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander C. Reiners, John A. Dighton, Ana E. Carbunaru
  • Patent number: 11753105
    Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle having a front wheel assembly attached to a chassis. The chassis includes a rotational control shaft having a rotational axis that is generally directed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The rotational control shaft is integrated with or secured to the chassis in a non-rotational manner and passes through the front wheel assembly in a rotationally-free manner, such that the rotational control shaft can rotate about its rotational axis. The front wheel assembly includes one or more lean control motors, which are operably configured to rotate the rotational control shaft about its rotational axis thereby causing the chassis to lean from side to side to improve the handling ability of the vehicle. Some embodiments include a lean control system configured to automatically control the degree of rotation of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Rea
  • Patent number: 11712001
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a chassis, a cutting deck, a chore motor, and a blade. The chassis supports several wheels. The cutting deck is supported by the chassis and defines a cutting chamber. The chore motor is electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing containing a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned within the cutting chamber. The blade is coupled to the drive shaft and is configured to rotate within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the rotor and drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Scott A. Funke, Mark Noller, Nick Joseph Zeidler, Christopher Krajewski, Joshua Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11621662
    Abstract: A battery-powered motor may include an electric motor, a controller, and a housing. The electric motor may be wound to enable the battery-powered motor to achieve a non-limited motor maximum motor revolutions per minute (RPM) for at least one specified battery. The controlling current may include limiting current to the electric motor at lower RPMs, and limiting the current to prevent the RPM of the electric motor from exceeding a limited maximum motor RPM which is lower than the non-limited motor maximum RPM. The housing may enclose the electric motor and the controller and the specified battery. The housing may have a form factor to engage with a machine that engages with an internal combustion engine that has a maximum engine RPM that is approximately the same as the limited maximum motor RPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. White, Matthew J. Velderman, Andrew E. Seman, Jr., Ryan H. Peloquin, William A. Rigdon, Harry X. Zhong
  • Patent number: 11432461
    Abstract: A wide area mower with an open-box structure mower deck. The deck has a width from the left to right side of about 72 to 120 inches. The deck's length is about 24 to 70 inches. A left and right front wheel are positioned in front of the deck. The wide mower deck will flex, twist, or bend when one of the left or right wheels travels over uneven terrain while the rest of the mower travels over substantially level terrain. A cutting height adjustment mechanism is provided on the mower that allows an operator to raise or lower an entire left side or an entire right side of the mower deck to a selected cutting height. This is done simply by disengaging a locking mechanism and manipulating a lever on a four-bar linkage attached to each side of the deck and then re-engaging the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Venture Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy I. Steiner, Jeffrey C. Liggett, Corey Gerber
  • Patent number: 11382265
    Abstract: A removably attachable adjustable cutting apparatus and method includes a cutting deck, a mounting plate, a main pivot point in the mounting plate and a main adjustable arm with a first end connected with the mounting plate at the main pivot point and with a second end connected with the cutting deck such that the cutting deck is adjustable from a horizontal to a vertical position and positions in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: LANE SHARK USA, LLC
    Inventors: Travis William Odom, Charles Terry Marsh
  • Patent number: 11375663
    Abstract: A ground contour sensing system and method for a vehicle with a mowing head. The system includes a sensor system that measures a ground contour in front of the mowing head, and generates contour measurement signals; and a controller that determines whether to move the mowing head based on the contour measurement signals, and generates movement commands for the mowing head when it determines to move the mowing head. The mowing head can include tilt and lift cylinders, and the controller can determine whether to move the mowing head using the tilt or lift cylinders. The sensor system can include a pivot arm that moves in response to changes in the ground contour, and an angle sensor that measures an angle of the pivot arm. There can be one or more sensor systems positioned between the right and left sides of the mowing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: David V. Rotole
  • Patent number: 11302989
    Abstract: A battery pack having an air communication passage communicating the interior of the battery pack accommodating battery cells with the exterior of the battery pack, and configured to prevent moisture from reaching the battery cells. The battery pack includes a housing having outer and inner bottom plates, and defining a primary chamber for accommodating battery cells and a secondary chamber between the outer and inner bottom plates. The housing includes an air communication passage communicating the secondary chamber with an exterior of the housing. A part of a bottom surface of the inner bottom plate adjacent to an upright wall inclines upward with respect to a reference surface of the bottom surface of the inner bottom plate away from the outer bottom plate toward the upright wall. The air communication passage includes a first communication hole having an edge located above the reference surface of the inner bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunichiro Sueyoshi, Keisuke Muraoka, Shuji Nagatani
  • Patent number: 11272660
    Abstract: A crop harvesting machine with a cutter bar on a header frame has a height control system which uses depending sensor fingers arranged in contact with the ground so as to measure a height of the cutter bar above the ground. The sensor fingers are controllably retractable under actuation from an operator in the cab or automatically in response to prescribed conditions being met. The actuator used in retracting the sensor fingers can also be used to adjustably control ground pressure of the sensor fingers in the deployed position of the sensor fingers engaging the ground. The header height is adjusted using laterally spaced apart hydraulic linkages which can be operated at different elevations relative to one another responsive to different height signals relating height of opposing ends of the header frame relative to the ground to also control tilt of the header relative to the harvester frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Nolan Lacy, Philip Otto, Neil Barnett
  • Patent number: 11234362
    Abstract: Mowing systems include a mower and a remote control unit such as a handheld unit, between which is provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to an enable switch on the remote control unit that requires activation within a specified time before activating a drive system or PTO unit. Another aspect relates to sharing diagnostic information between the mower and remote control unit and emitting user-detectable warnings in response to the shared information. Another aspect relates to reducing a danger level of the system, e.g. disabling the PTO unit or slowing a drive speed transform function, when a proximity between the mower and the remote control unit is too small. Another aspect relates to controlling operation of the mower based on tilt angles of both the mower and the remote control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Embankscape Equipment LLC
    Inventor: Michael D. Brandt
  • Patent number: 11224166
    Abstract: A sugarcane harvester comprises a frame, a basecutter coupled to the frame for translation relative to the frame, a knockdown roller mounted for translation relative to the frame, and a synchronizer configured to translate the knockdown roller in unison with the basecutter so as to maintain a position of the knockdown roller relative to the basecutter upon translation of the basecutter relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kent M. Almeida, Michael L. Halbrook
  • Patent number: 11195346
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an articulated self-propelled robotic tool 1 with first and second platforms 3, 7, each comprising a wheel set 5, 9 driven by motors. A link arrangement connects the first platform to the second platform at a turning axis 11. A driving error is determined by recording a driving input to the motors and a resulting movement parameter, comparing the resulting movement with an estimated resulting movement which is based on the driving input. Slip is detected using the driving error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Magnus Bergenholm, Johan Rogö, Lars Ederfors
  • Patent number: 10980176
    Abstract: A system may include a mowing apparatus for mounting on a tractor to move with the tractor to cut vegetation growing from a ground surface, with the tractor being of the type having a primary wheel assembly with a pair of primary wheels rotatable about an axle axis, the axle axis lying in a substantially vertical axle plane. The mowing apparatus may include a primary mowing assembly mountable on the tractor, and the primary mowing assembly may include at least one primary rotating blade structure. The mowing apparatus may further include a supplemental mowing assembly mountable on the tractor, with the supplemental mowing assembly having an outboard supplemental rotating blade structure rotating about a rotation axis lying in the axle plane defined by the primary wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: Gerald H. Schreurs
  • Patent number: 10905044
    Abstract: A removably attachable adjustable cutting apparatus and method includes a cutting deck, a mounting plate, a main pivot point in the mounting plate and a main adjustable arm with a first end connected with the mounting plate at the main pivot point and with a second end connected with the cutting deck such that the cutting deck is adjustable from a horizontal to a vertical position and positions in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LANE SHARK USA, LLC
    Inventors: Travis William Odom, Charles Terry Marsh
  • Patent number: 10869433
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing the tops of trees, the apparatus including a rotatable first boom configured for coupling to and extending vertically downward from an aircraft and a cutting assembly hingedly coupled to a bottom end portion of the first boom. The cutting assembly includes a housing containing a motor, the housing having an upper portion coupled to the bottom end portion of the first boom. A second boom extends from a lower portion of the housing and supports thereon a singular circular saw which is operatively coupled to the motor. The second boom is arranged at an angle of about 30° to about 55° relative to the first boom. This accomplished by including bend within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventors: Ashley Clayton Haddock, Layne Edwin Leoffler, III
  • Patent number: 10820499
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes a cutterbar with at least one cutting unit. The at least one cutting unit includes a rotary driver; a rotatable disc coupled to the rotary driver; at least one knife mount coupled to a disc surface of the rotatable disc and including a locking portion biased toward the disc surface; and a knife locked in at least one direction by the locking portion, the knife defining at least one cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Marcus Figgins
  • Patent number: 10602661
    Abstract: A drive (100) has two gearing arrangements (101, 102) both with a first gearing (103) and a second gearing (104). Each gearing (103, 104) has at least one transfer element (106) for transferring a reciprocating motion of a driving hinge point (107) into a reciprocating motion of an output hinge point (108). Output elements (117) are coupled to the output hinge points (108) of the two gearings (103, 104). A drive element (116) is coupled to the driving hinge points (107). A common drive element (116) is connected to the driving hinge points (107) of the gearings (103, 104) of the two gearing arrangements (101, 102). The gearing arrangements (101, 102) are mirror-symmetrically arranged so that the output elements (117) are driven on a common output axis in an opposed manner with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: EWM Eichelhardter Werkzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Gunter Schumacher, Ralf Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10568266
    Abstract: A draper header for a combine, the draper header including an attachment frame adapted for attachment to the combine. A harvesting assembly includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of belts operable to feed crop material into the combine. The draper header is operable in a first mode that allows the plurality of sections to float relative to the attachment frame for ground following during harvesting, and in a second mode in which the attachment frame is raised to lift and support the harvesting assembly to be spaced above the ground. A hydraulic leveling system includes at least one leveling actuator. A valve is operable in response to the movement of the draper header into the second mode to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid into the at least one leveling actuator to automatically level the plurality of sections of the harvesting assembly when in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael L. Vandeven, Paul D. Marvin
  • Patent number: 10542669
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head has three frame sections. Each frame section is pivotally coupled to its adjacent frame section by two links. The two links are pivotally coupled to the two adjacent frame sections at both ends of each link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Vandeven, Joshua R. Pierson, Bryan R. Yanke, Alex Brimeyer
  • Patent number: 10537063
    Abstract: A head for an agricultural machine includes a frame with a center segment defining a first longitudinal axis and a wing defining a second longitudinal axis. The head also includes a motion control assembly connecting the center segment and the wing such that the wing is movable relative to the center segment between a deployed position and a non-deployed position. The motion control assembly is configured to maintain the second longitudinal axis in a parallel relationship with the first longitudinal axis as the wing moves between the deployed position and the non-deployed position, and the wing is movable from the deployed position to the non-deployed position along a continuous arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 10499564
    Abstract: A utility vehicle equipped with driving wheels attached to a chassis to run about a working area and a cover suspension connecting the chassis and a cover attached to the chassis. The cover suspension is provided with a shaft disposed to extend in gravity axis direction between the chassis and the cover with an upper portion attached to the cover and a lower portion attached to the chassis, and a converting member fastened to the shaft to convert force acting on the shaft to movement in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the gravity axis direction. In the vehicle, the shaft is made of resin, and a reinforcing member is inserted in an axial core of the shaft extending downward in the gravity axis direction in the shaft beyond a position where the converting member is fastened to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10485163
    Abstract: A lawn mowing apparatus may include sensors that are fastened to both its mower deck and its chassis. The sensors may sense a position of the mower deck in relation to the chassis. The sensed position of the mower deck may be presented to the operator via a dashboard display of the lawn tractor or transmitted via a wireless signal to another device. Based on such sensed position, an operator of the lawn tractor may manually adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable operating range. In some embodiments, servomotors may adjust the position of the mower deck until the sensed position of the mower deck is within an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TRANSFORM SR BRANDS LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Dombrowski, Grant Kiel, Brian Todd Reese
  • Patent number: 10485166
    Abstract: The invention discloses a power tool and a lawn mower. They mainly include a functional device and a power device. The functional device is formed with a mounting portion for mounting the power device. The power device includes a prime mover and battery packs detachably coupled with a power housing. The prime mover can be a motor. The power housing is at least provided with an engaging portion allowing the power device to be at least mounted to the functional device, and a coupling portion for providing a space or structure for coupling with the battery packs. When the power device and the functional device constitute a whole through the mounting portion and the engaging portion, the battery packs at least can be detached from the power housing. The power tool of the invention uses multi battery packs to provide power, and the operation is convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhen Wang, Fangjie Nie, Qian Liu
  • Patent number: 10480132
    Abstract: An extendable section, for attachment to a fixed screed, may include a rotatable shaft, and a power receiving component attached to the rotatable shaft. The power receiving component may receive power generated during rotation of a drive shaft, and generate torque and speed for rotating the rotatable shaft. Increasing the driving rotational speed of the drive shaft may increase a driven rotational speed of the rotatable shaft, and decreasing the driving rotational speed of the drive shaft may decrease the driven rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Jennings
  • Patent number: 10405474
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head for mounting on a feederhouse of an agricultural combine has an adapter frame coupled to and supported on a center frame section with four links. Each link extends between and is pivotally coupled to the center frame section at a forward end of the link and is pivotally coupled to the adapter frame at a rear end of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Alex Brimeyer, Eric Taflinger
  • Patent number: 10405481
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head for an agricultural combine has a first gauge wheel assembly coupled to a laterally extending frame that is convertible from (a) a harvesting position in which the first gauge wheel assembly supports the frame during crop harvesting, to (b) a transport position in which the first gauge wheel assembly supports the at least one section for transport on the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jixin Chen, Michael L. Vandeven
  • Patent number: 10375887
    Abstract: A sugarcane harvester comprises a frame, a basecutter coupled to the frame for translation relative to the frame, a knockdown roller mounted for translation relative to the frame, and a synchronizer configured to translate the knockdown roller in unison with the basecutter so as to maintain a position of the knockdown roller relative to the basecutter upon translation of the basecutter relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kent M. Almeida, Michael L. Halbrook
  • Patent number: 10356977
    Abstract: An electric walk behind greens mower includes an electric reel motor rotating a cutting reel; an electric traction motor rotating at least one traction drive roller; and an electronic control unit commanding the electric traction motor and the electric reel motor to rotate at reduced speeds during a turn if an electronic signal indicates a deviation from a normal walk speed. The electronic control unit also may determine if the actual speed of the electric traction motor is substantially less than the speed specified by a speed lever, and then command the electric reel motor and the electric traction motor to rotate at a lower speed than specified by the speed lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE + Company
    Inventors: Punamchandra Kulkarni, Sandip Edake, Saravanan Deenadayalan, Chinmay Deshpande, Rajesaheb Bagwan, Bhupesh Agrawal, Naveen Kumar
  • Patent number: 10188030
    Abstract: A cutting mechanism for the harvesting of whole plants can include a number of mowing elements, which include a lower cutting disk and conveyor rotors located above, two transverse conveyors located in the back, and a delivery conveyor. The cutting disks of the mowing elements work together with a frame-affixed counter-blade and can be driven together with the corresponding conveyor rotors by a shaft. The shafts are driven by a gear arrangement that extends, on the front side, over the width of the cutting mechanism. The frame of the cutting mechanism can include a middle part and lateral parts that are placed so they can swivel, on the middle part, between a horizontal operating position and a raised transporting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Clemens Weitenberg, Jan-Dirk Schild, Gregor Sueck, Leo Schulze Hockenbeck, Daniel Gevers, Martin Huening, Bernd-Clint Hungerhoff, Juergen Effsing
  • Patent number: 10149431
    Abstract: A sickle cutting system is mounted on a header for forward travel over ground having a standing crop thereon and includes a cutter bar with a plurality of knife guards and at least one sickle bar with a drive system for driving the sickle bar through repeated cycles of reciprocating movement from start-up of the system through to a shut-down. The drive system includes an arrangement to halt the sickle bar on shut-down at a predetermined position of the knife blades relative to the knife guards and preferably the position where the blades lie intermediate two knife guards. The system can be halted by either a physical stop member at the required position or by detecting the position of the sickle bar during operation and causing it to halt the required position. The detection can be carried out by counting pulses generated by markers on a rotary member of the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: James Thomas Dunn, Bruce Robert Shearer
  • Patent number: 10130034
    Abstract: A sugar-cane harvester having a tubular frame is provided. The frame is configured for mounting a set of sugar-cane harvesting devices (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10), and is formed by a set of tubular parts linked mechanically to one another. The mechanical linking between the tubular parts that form the frame are made via at least one of rivets, soldering, or flanges. The frame may also be an exoskeleton-type frame configured for receiving all the components that form the industrial system of a sugar-cane harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Marchesan Implementos e Máquinas Agrícolas Tatu S.A.
    Inventor: Jose Luiz Alberto Marchesan
  • Patent number: 10111378
    Abstract: In a control apparatus of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor, a rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor, a motor driver circuit to adjust supply of operating electric power to the electric motor, ON/OFF of a first switching element disposed in a current path connecting the battery and the electric motor and a second switching element interposed in the current path in series with a braking resistor to allow charge current from the electric motor to the braking resistor, wherein operation of the first and second switching elements are controlled based on detected battery temperature and internal voltage of the motor driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yamagishi, Toru Yuki, Shinsaku Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10104834
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor and a rechargeable battery mounted connected to the electric motor and a motor driver circuit. In the apparatus, when an instruction to stop the electric motor is inputted, the operation of the motor driver circuit is controlled to output regenerative electric current from three-phase coils of the electric motor. At that time, it is determined whether a rotational speed of the electric motor is equal to or less than a switching rotational speed and when it is, the motor driver circuit is controlled to switch from the regenerative braking to short-circuit braking that short-circuits the three-phase coils of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Yuki, Yoshihiko Yamagishi, Shinsaku Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10103366
    Abstract: A battery array according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of battery cells, a support structure surrounding the plurality of battery cells and a first lifting feature protruding from a first wall of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Eric Petersen, Brian Utley, David Moschet, Jason Luesing
  • Patent number: 9937779
    Abstract: Vehicle according to the present invention includes a traveling vehicle body and left and right drive wheels. Left and right propulsion motors drive the left and right drive wheels. A battery supplies electric power to the left and right propulsion motors. The left and right drive wheels are positioned on two width-direction ends of the traveling vehicle body. The left and right propulsion motors are positioned on the traveling vehicle body so as to align with the left and right drive wheels in the width direction of the vehicle body. The battery is positioned in a battery installation space of the traveling vehicle body. The battery installation space is located in at least a space located below the left and right propulsion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito, Takafumi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9788485
    Abstract: A control system for a sugarcane harvester. The sugarcane harvester comprises lower feed rollers and upper feed rollers configured to feed cut sugarcane through the sugarcane harvester. An elevator is configured to transport sugarcane out of the sugarcane harvester at an elevator speed. The control system controls the elevator speed based on a crop mass flow through the plurality of lower and upper feed rollers. The control system comprises at least one crop mass flow feedback device providing a crop mass flow feedback signal indicative of the crop mass flow. A controller is in communication with the at least one crop mass flow feedback device and configured to lower the elevator speed when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a lower crop mass flow and raise the elevator speed when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a higher crop mass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul I. Craig, John A Dighton
  • Patent number: 9725115
    Abstract: A zero turn radius vehicle with a single steered wheel is described. The vehicle may include a pair of power transfer mechanisms driving a pair of wheels, an operator control mechanism for controlling the steering, speed and direction of the vehicle and a controller in communication with the operator control mechanism. A steerable wheel is located adjacent the front of the vehicle frame, on a first side of the vehicle frame and an electric actuator is connected to the controller for steering the front steerable wheel. A second, non-steerable front caster wheel is located on a second side of the vehicle frame. The controller controls the pair of power transfer mechanisms and the electric actuator based on operator input to the operator control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, Scott W. Keller
  • Patent number: 9699966
    Abstract: A mower deck spindle cover includes a panel that covers a spindle pocket on a mower deck in a lowered position. The spindle cover is attached to a mounting arm for pivoting between the lowered position and a raised position. A torsion spring biases the panel to the lowered position. The spindle cover cannot be removed from the mower deck unless the mower deck is separated from the tractor or vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Shaver, Melissa Tolson, Kyle T. Ressler
  • Patent number: 9668415
    Abstract: A cane harvester including a support member and a basecutter assembly carried by the support member. The basecutter assembly includes a plurality of basecutter units and a control system. The plurality of basecutter units include first and second basecutter units. The first basecutter unit has a first set of blades and the second basecutter has a second set of blades. The first set of blades are rotatable by the first basecutter unit, and the second set of blades are rotatable by the second basecutter unit. The control system is configured to synchronize the first set of blades with the second set of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Arndt, Daenio Cleodolphi
  • Patent number: 9456559
    Abstract: An airborne vegetation trimming apparatus includes an apparatus housing, an elongated saw boom extending from the apparatus housing, a plurality of rotatable saw blades carried by the saw boom, a saw blade operating system drivingly engaging the saw blades, a rotatable tubing coupling carried by the apparatus housing and a tubing coupling rotation motor drivingly engaging the tubing coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: T Scott Dunn
  • Patent number: 9445543
    Abstract: A deck lifting assembly for a lawn mower includes first and second lifting brackets and a biasing member interconnecting the first and second lifting brackets or to biasing brackets separate from the lifting brackets. The biasing member imparts a biasing force on each of the lifting brackets or biasing brackets to cause each lifting bracket to rotate in a direction that raises the mower deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ariens Company
    Inventor: Brent P. Berglund
  • Patent number: 9376261
    Abstract: A material moving apparatus includes a housing assembly with a central section and at least one wing section positioned on a lateral end of the central section that is movable toward and away from the central section; and an auger arrangement carried by the housing assembly having at least one auger that includes a plurality of auger shafts which are telescopically movable relative to each other and a plurality of flight sections that each have a first end and a second end. Each flight sections is rotated by a corresponding auger shaft and at least one of the flight sections is configured to slide its first end past a second end of another flight section without rotating as its corresponding auger shaft telescopically moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Patrick A. Miller
  • Patent number: 9317979
    Abstract: A harvester has a stool width sensor that senses stool width of a crop stool. A position sensor senses a position of the harvester, and a map generator generates a map based on the sensed stool width and the sensed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Carlos D. Halmann
  • Patent number: 9210839
    Abstract: A drive system of a battery powered riding lawn mower is provided. The drive system may include a battery system mountable to a frame, an electric drive motor and a cutting deck. The electric drive motor may be powered by the battery system and coupled with an axle and a wheel such that when the electric drive motor is powered, the electric drive motor is configured to provide rotation force to the wheel. The cutting deck maybe attached to the frame and powered by the battery system. The cutting deck may include at least one electric blade motor separate from the electric drive motor and configured to rotate at least one cutting blade rotatably mounted in the cutting deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Sebastian Schygge, Fredrik Östberg
  • Patent number: 9199546
    Abstract: An electric vehicle battery recharging system is disclosed that is capable of generating an audible sound to indicate that the battery system of the vehicle is being recharged. The system includes an audible indicator that is connected or otherwise associated with a controller. The controller is configured to actuate the audible indicator in response to a voltage or current of a battery system rising a predetermined amount after recharging is initiated so as to provide audible confirmation to a recharging operator that the battery system is being recharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Club Car, LLC
    Inventor: Russell W. King
  • Patent number: 9198349
    Abstract: A ground force control circuit (162) for an articulated harvesting head is provided that comprises, an ECU (164); and a first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) driven by the ECU (164), wherein the first hydraulic control valve (166, 170) is coupled to at least one actuator (158, 160) and is configured to maintain a constant pressure in the at least one actuator (158, 160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Aaron S. Ritter, Benjamin M Lovett, Bruce A Coers