David M Dechristopher

US Patent:

7252169, Aug 7, 2007

Filed:

Oct 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/966283

Inventors:

Kenneth W. McLean - New Holland PA, US
Donald L. Osborne - Quarryville PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Akron PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

B62D 61/12

US Classification:

180209

Abstract:

A suspension system for the rear axle of a self-propelled agricultural windrower. The axle is split into two components, each having an air spring to absorb shocks. The two air springs are interconnected by a tube to equalize the internal pressure. A pair of pins can be inserted through the respective axle components and a structural member of the tractor to fix the components relative to the unit structure, thereby incapacitating the suspension and permitting effective steering of the tractor in the absence of a header.

US Patent:

7300100, Nov 27, 2007

Filed:

Oct 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/969892

Inventors:

Kenneth W. McLean - New Holland PA, US
Donald L. Osborne - Quarryville PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Akron PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

B60R 27/00

US Classification:

29619007, 29619004, 180 8912, 180 8913, 180 8914

Abstract:

A cab mounting and suspension system for an agricultural windrower that uses pivoting elastomeric mounts on the front corners of the cab and coil-over shock absorbers on the rear corners. A stabilizing bar is mounted on elastomeric isolators and located between the cab and the windrower frame across the back of the cab. The bar extends the full width of the cab to reduce the amount of movement of the cab from side to side as the rear pivots up and down through the range of the coil-over shocks.

US Patent:

7478523, Jan 20, 2009

Filed:

Oct 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/262440

Inventors:

John R. McClure - New Holland PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Akron PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

A01D 43/02
A01D 89/00

US Classification:

56364

Abstract:

A pickup for an agricultural harvester that employees C-shaped tine guards with a generally planar tine guide, the tine guide having a slot-like hook at the lower end thereof that fits into a slot on the tine guard and held in place by bolts in the upper end of the hook and the upper end of the tine guide.

US Patent:

7526908, May 5, 2009

Filed:

Dec 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/955533

Inventors:

Robert L. Rice - New Holland PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Ephrata PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

A01D 43/00
A01D 57/00

US Classification:

56192

Abstract:

A lift assist bar for a windrow merger lift mechanism comprising an elongate lift bar connected at one end to the lift mechanism using a ball joint and having a bearing structure on the opposite end, a fulcrum pin connected to a lift arm of the mechanism for contact with an intermediate point of the lift bar between the opposing ends, and a bearing pad connected to the windrower chassis wherein said lift assist bar, being positioned by movement of the lift mechanism from a working position of the merger apparatus toward a non-working position such that the bearing structure contacts the bearing pad, causes the merger assembly to be lifted and held in the non-working position thereby reducing stresses on other linkage members of the lift mechanism.

US Patent:

7624561, Dec 1, 2009

Filed:

Dec 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/949967

Inventors:

Kenneth W. McLean - New Holland PA, US
Robert L. Rice - New Holland PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Ephrata PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

A01D 43/00

US Classification:

56192

Abstract:

A windrow merger lift mechanism having on a pair of rotational axes, skewed with respect to each other, to manipulate a merger apparatus between working and non-working positions. When the merger apparatus is in a first, or working position, the lift mechanism positions it to receive crop material from the conditioner rolls with minimal losses. When the merger apparatus is in a second, or non-working position, the lift mechanism positions the merger apparatus to allow crop material to be discharged from the header/conditioner with the same efficiency as a windrower having no installed merger attachment. The skewed axes of the merger lift mechanism optimize the merger position in both the working and non-working positions by moving the merger apparatus in four distinct, but related degrees of motion as the merger apparatus is moved between the positions.

US Patent:

7632182, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

Dec 10, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/001102

Inventors:

Herbert M. Farley - Elizabethtown PA, US
Wayne Flickinger - New Providence PA, US
Mark Luke Nolt - Leola PA, US
Luke W. Morrie - Lancaster PA, US
David Michael DeChristopher - Akron PA, US
F. Jay Eichelberger - Paradise PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

A01F 12/34
A01F 12/00

US Classification:

460 71, 460122

Abstract:

A locking system for attaching a threshing and/or separating element to a mounting lug on a rotor of a threshing system of an agricultural combine, including a single bolt attachment with multiple points of contact between the element and the lug created by a convex portion extending from an inner surface of the threshing and/or separating element cooperatively engaged in a recessed portion of the mounting lug. The locking system resists loading conditions generated when the crop mat engages the element, prevents radially outward movement of the threshing and/or separating element relative to the mounting lug, and reduces the stress on the mounting hardware during harvesting operations.

US Patent:

7658145, Feb 9, 2010

Filed:

Nov 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/271105

Inventors:

John R. McClure - New Holland PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Ephrata PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

B65B 13/02
B65B 13/18

US Classification:

100 2, 100 5, 100 13, 100 88, 56341

Abstract:

A simplified mechanism for feeding a plurality of individual twine strands into a bale forming chamber for wrapping a bale that allows user-selectable adjustment of twine strand spacing along the bale length so that an optimal number of circumferential twine wraps around the bale necessary to secure the bale after discharge from the bale forming chamber may be selected. The simplified thus enables the spacing between twine strands to be optimized for various crop materials that are being baled.

US Patent:

7730703, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Aug 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/546202

Inventors:

Philip J. Ehrhart - Narvon PA, US
Donald L. Osborne - Quarryville PA, US
David M. DeChristopher - Ephrata PA, US

Assignee:

CNH America LLC - New Holland PA

International Classification:

A01D 34/00

US Classification:

56 136

Abstract:

A disc cutter module mounting structure for an agricultural header that enables one or more disc cutter modules and interconnection spacers to be temporarily laterally displaced a distance sufficient to disengage the transverse drive apparatus from a failed module thereby allowing the failed module to be removed from the header for repair or replacement. The laterally displaced modules and spacers need only be disconnected from the outboard drive shaft; lateral displacement is accomplished by the incorporation of slotted mounting guides on the spacers and a plurality of spaced-apart support tabs on the header frame. The mounting structure also supports the modules and spacers during the removal/replacement process reducing the need for jacks to support modules as they are being repositioned on the header.