Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.

Ryan Legge

Dustan Lee Hahn

Matthew J Wilhelmi

Gerard A Woychik

Jason Schoon

Matthew Moeller

Bryan S McCoy

Max Taylor

Ryan Taylor

Will Whiteman

Jamie Shults

Kelly Minton

David W Cripe

Rhett Schildroth

Merlan J Rolffs

Courtney N Achen

Ryan McMahan

Ryan Mcmahan

John P Mulherin

Robert P Campbell

Todd E Kniffen

Marvin Bachman

Michael J Myers

Steve Nolte

Qizhou Matthew Yao

Gary Volz

Susan M Olson

Matthew W Jenski

Agricultural electronics include many components. The components can be connected via an electronic link that connects the various components to components of an agricultural implement. This can include the use of a component type identifier and a master module. The identifier and the module can communicate data, including identification data and instructional data, to easily acknowledge and operate various electrical components of the agricultural implement. Additional sensors can be included to provide even additional data that is communicated between the module and the components of the agricultural implement to aid in providing instructions for operation and to provide additional data information.

Control units, nodes, system, and method for transmitting and communicating data

An agricultural implement includes the use of one or more electromechanical hydraulic cylinder assembly in place of hydraulic cylinders. The assemblies may take various forms for actuation, and can convert an electric power source to hydraulic power for use on or with the implement. A control system is also provided for connecting to a tractor to provide control information to the assemblies or to a central hydraulic supply via a ISOBUS that rebroadcasts input controls from a source, such as a tractor used in conjunction with the agricultural implement.

Agricultural implement with electro-hydraulic cylinders

A heat transferring method and system utilizing a parasitic phase-change pump is disclosed. The parasitic phase-change pump is utilized to circulate a working fluid. The method may include: facilitating heat transfer from at least one evaporator to a condenser via the working fluid; receiving and containing the working fluid from the condenser utilizing an expandable MEMS device; controlling and regulating the flow of the working fluid from the expandable MEMS device towards the at least one evaporator utilizing at least one MEMS based directional device, wherein the working fluid flowing from the expandable MEMS device towards at least one evaporator is in liquid phase; and utilizing the working fluid flowing from the expandable MEMS device towards at least one evaporator to facilitate heat transfer for at least one target device located between at least one evaporator and the condenser or between the expandable MEMS device and the evaporator.

Liquid cooling with parasitic phase-change pumps

An agricultural planter includes a plurality of row units attached to a toolbar. The row units include seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed or other particulate. The seed meters include a circular seed disc with a seed path for receiving the seed in the seed meter housing. Integrated with the seed disc is a motor that is housed within the seed meter housing and that includes a rotatable portion being attached to the circular disc such that the two rotate in tandem. The integrated motor can be positioned within an interior portion of the circular seed disc such that the width of the disc and motor combination is kept to a minimum.

Seed disc with integrated drive

An electromechanical switching system includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion. The first conductive portion includes a conductive stationary end and a conductive floating end, connected by a shape memory alloy (SMA). When an input stimulus current is applied to the SMA, changes in the SMA urge motion of the conductive floating end of the first conductive portion toward the second conductive portion, which in turn causes a change in the state of the electromechanical switching system. The input stimulus current may be calculated to satisfy a given response time requirement.

Stimulus for achieving high performance when switching SMA devices

An actuator includes a shape memory element formed from a shape memory alloy. The shape memory element is configured such that the actuator is actuated by a change in shape of the shape memory element. The shape memory element may be maintained in a pre-actuated state that is advanced from its rest state, but which is not at its actuated state.

Shape-memory alloy actuator

A shape memory element (a structure formed from a shape memory alloy) includes an electrically conductive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may be magnetostrictive. In some embodiments, the shape memory element is formed from a shape memory alloy core and has a cladding over the core that includes the ferromagnetic material. In other embodiments, the shape memory alloy may be selected to be ferromagnetic.

An electrical switching device employs an actuator mechanism formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA). The electrical switching device includes a housing, at least one non-actuated electrical contact supported in the housing, and an actuator assembly contained within the housing. The actuator assembly includes a movable contact for engaging the non-actuated electrical contact and an actuator formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA). Application of a first electrical current to the actuator causes the actuator to move the movable contact to either engage or disengage the non-actuated electrical contact.

Electrical switching devices using a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation mechanism

An electrical switching device includes a housing, a base attached to the housing, two non-actuated electrical contacts supported in the housing, and an actuator assembly contained within the housing. The actuator assembly includes a movable contact for engaging the non-actuated electrical contact and a wire element formed of a shape memory alloy. Applying an electric current to the wire element causes the actuator to either pivot or rotate the movable contact to either engage or disengage the non-actuated electrical contacts.

Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation mechanism for electrical switching device

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Ryan Legge