James Carl Walters

US Patent:

50126350, May 7, 1991

Filed:

Jun 1, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/531605

Inventors:

James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Craig A. Richardson - Ottumwa IA
Michael J. Verhulst - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

A01D 3444

US Classification:

56 136

Abstract:

A cutterbar includes a plurality of modules connected in end-to-end relationship with each other, the modules respectively including identical cast gear housing sections which cooperate to form a gear housing in which is located a spur gear drive train. Each module includes a removably mounted cutting unit, with the cutting units having blade-carrying discs and being arranged such that the discs are indexed 90. degree. relative to each other and in counter rotating pairs, when an even number of units are used to form a cutterbar but being arranged such that the leftmost and adjacent blade-carrying discs rotate in the same direction when an odd number of modules are used. The construction of the leftmost module is such that the axis of rotation of the drive shaft of the cutting unit thereof is located rearwardly of a line of centers passing through drive shafts of the cutting units of the remaining modules whereby adequate clearance is provided between the paths of rotation of the cutting blades of the leftmost and adjacent cutting units. A unitary skid pan extends beneath and is connected to each of the modules and serves to both protect the housing sections from damage during operation and to support the modules during assembly and repair of the cutterbar.

US Patent:

57069018, Jan 13, 1998

Filed:

Aug 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/695359

Inventors:

James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Matthew Jay Mentzer - Ottumwa IA
Stephen Kenneth Parsons - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

B60K 1728

US Classification:

172439

Abstract:

The forward end of a draft tongue of a towed, power take-off driven implement carries a transmission including an upper right-angle gear box rigidly fixed to the tongue and a lower right-angle gear box swivelly mounted to the tongue for rotation about a vertical yaw axis. A swivel hitch includes a frame secured to the lower right-angle gear box and to an upright extending pivot member forming part of the swivel mounting of the lower right-angle gear box. A longitudinal pivot member is swivelly mounted to the hitch frame along a roll axis. In one embodiment, a vertical clevis is fixed to a forward end of the longitudinal pivot member and is pivotally connected to a drawbar adaptor for relative rotation about a horizontal transverse pitch axis, the latter being located close to the rear end of a drawbar received in a receptacle defined by the adaptor. In a second embodiment, a transverse arm is fixed to the forward end of the longitudinal pivot member and carries forwardly extending vertical clevises respectively at its opposite ends, the pair of clevises being adapted for connection to a pair of tractor draft links with the connection pins effecting the connection being located along a pitch axis.

US Patent:

50126342, May 7, 1991

Filed:

Jun 1, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/531604

Inventors:

James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Craig A. Richardson - Ottumwa IA
Michael J. Verhulst - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

A01D 3430

US Classification:

56 136

Abstract:

A cutterbar for a rotary mower includes a gear housing containing a series-parallel spur gear train coupled for driving cutting units spaced along the cutterbar. The gear housing, as viewed from an end, defines a cavity which is wedge-shaped in cross section with the deep part of the wedge being located at the rear of the cutterbar. As considered when the cutterbar is leveled from end-to-end and disposed for cutting crop at a relatively high level, a top wall of the cavity extends substantially horizontally and the spur gears contained within the cavity are positioned close to and parallel to the top wall so that a substantial volume is left below the gears for containing lubricant. A plurality of fore-and-aft extending, transversely spaced ribs are formed along a bottom wall of the housing at a level below the gearing whereby the ribs serve to prevent the lubricant from moving quickly towards a lower end of the cutterbar when the latter is working on a slope. Provided in a lower rear location of each rib is an orifice which serves to permit lubricant to drain to the low end of the cutterbar when it is desired to remove the lubricant from the cutterbar by way of an appropriate drain hole.

US Patent:

59758295, Nov 2, 1999

Filed:

Jan 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/586524

Inventors:

James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Allan Wesley Rosenbalm - Blakesburg IA
Craig Allen Richardson - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

B65G 6702

US Classification:

414537

Abstract:

A trailer, for a header-equipped implement, has a T-shaped main frame, with the head of the T being defined by a beam extending in the direction of travel and with the stem of the T centered between a pair of loading ramps having first end portions coupled to the beam for pivoting about a fulcrum such that the ramps are moved from a loading to a transport position by the weight of the implement when the implement is backed up the ramps to a loaded position resting on the beam and in engagement with respective bumper/latch bars fixed to the beam. Stability of the trailer is maintained during loading of the implement by parking stands, at opposite ends of the beam, which are either manually or automatically moved between support and stored positions. The wheels are each mounted to an arm having a latch hook secured thereto and which moves into latched engagement with a respective one of the bumper latch/bars to secure the implement to the trailer when the arms are raised by the implement lift cylinders to lower the header onto the frame stem. The implement has a swing tongue used to tow the trailer/implement combination endwise relative to the header.

US Patent:

47384611, Apr 19, 1988

Filed:

Aug 19, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/088501

Inventors:

Roger D. Stephenson - Bloomfield IA
James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Craig A. Richardson - Ottumwa IA
J. Clark Fickle - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

B62D 1300

US Classification:

280400

Abstract:

A towed implement includes apparatus adapted for being driven by a power take-off shaft of a towing tractor. The implement includes a tongue having a hitch bracket at its forward end, the bracket incorporating a ball coupler. A hitch adapter is provided for coupling the hitch bracket to a three-point hitch of the towing tractor, the adapter including a hitch bar connected to the ball coupler by a pin. The implement includes a power transmission assembly separate from the hitch adapter and including identical first and second right angle gear boxes, with the first gear box being rigidly fixed to the tongue and the second gear box being drivingly coupled to the first gear box along an axis passing through the ball coupler and about which the second gear box may rotate. The second gear box has an input shaft coupled for being driven by the tractor power take-off shaft and a steering arm is coupled to the second gear box and has an end received in a guide track fixed to the hitch adapter so as to keep the second gear box input shaft aligned with the tractor power take-off shaft.

US Patent:

47766069, Oct 11, 1988

Filed:

Nov 20, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/123624

Inventors:

Roger D. Stephenson - Bloomfield IA
James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Craig A. Richardson - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

A01B 59043

US Classification:

280415A

Abstract:

A hitch adapter is attached to the tongue of an implement having components adapted for being driven by a tractor power take-off shaft and is constructed to permit the implement to be semi-integrally mounted either to a tractor having a hitch arrangement consisting only of a three-point hitch or to a tractor having a hitch arrangement wherein a quick coupler is carried by its three-point hitch without necessitating a change in the length of a drive shaft interconnecting the tractor power take-off shaft with an input shaft of a transmission assembly carried by the implement tongue.

US Patent:

48059277, Feb 21, 1989

Filed:

Nov 20, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/123427

Inventors:

Roger D. Stephenson - Bloomfield IA
James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Craig A. Richardson - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

A01B 5900

US Classification:

172 47

Abstract:

A hitch adapter couples a semi-integral, PTO-driven implement to a quick coupler carried by a tractor three-point hitch. The hitch adapter includes a drawbar located significantly below the level of the connection of lower three-point hitch link with the quick coupler and a parking stand is integral with the bottom of the drawbar. Lowering of the three-point hitch from a normal working position results in the stand engaging the ground to prevent interference between the hitch and the drive shaft coupling the implement to the tractor PTO shaft. Once the stand engages the ground, the hitch adapter can be disconnected from the quick coupler hooks by releasing latches associated with the lower hooks and lowering the three-point hitch.

US Patent:

47934301, Dec 27, 1988

Filed:

Nov 20, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/123518

Inventors:

Roger D. Stephenson - Bloomfield IA
James C. Walters - Ottumwa IA
Craig A. Richardson - Ottumwa IA

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

B60K 2510
A01B 7106

US Classification:

180 144

Abstract:

A hitch adapter is used to couple a PTO-driven implement to a three-point hitch arrangement of a towing tractor. The implement includes a transmission housing mounted for rotation about an upright axis that passes through a ball connection effected between a drawbar of the hitch adapter and the implement tongue. The tractor power take-off shaft is connected by a telescopic drive shaft to an input shaft supported by the transmission housing for rotation about an axis extending perpendicular to and intersecting said upright axis. Provided for steering the transmission housing for maintaining the input shaft disposed in parallel relationship to the tractor power take-off shaft is a steering assembly including a pair of steering arms depending from the housing and engaging diametrically opposite locations of a cylindrical guide surface of a guide member fixed to the drawbar with the guide surface arranged concentrically to an axis located in a plane containing the previously mentioned axes and intersecting the upright axis at the ball connection.

Address:

69 Tower, Cascade, MT 59421

Phone:

(616)4509004

VIN:

4T1BK3DB8BU390269

Make:

TOYOTA

Model:

AVALON

Year:

2011