Kenneth J Rodrigue

US Patent:

46093184, Sep 2, 1986

Filed:

Oct 19, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/662764

Inventors:

Kenneth J. Rodrigue - Thibodaux LA
Joe G. Worlow - Thibodaux LA

Assignee:

Cameco Industries, Inc. - Thibodaux LA

International Classification:

A01D 5900

US Classification:

414132

Abstract:

A sugar cane piler system comprising a standard push piler with attached, rotating, multipointed star wheels which rotate about fixed but adjustable points. The rotary piler assists in rolling the cane in front of the push piler and dislodges dirt, mud, and other foreign matter from the cane in the heap row being push-piled for loading. Also, by increasing the rolling action of the pushed pile, a large pile of cane can be pushed for a fuller grab in the loading operation.

US Patent:

49626370, Oct 16, 1990

Filed:

Aug 16, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/395012

Inventors:

Jacob Giardina - Thibodaux LA
Kenneth Rodrigue - Thibodaux LA

Assignee:

Cameco Industries, Inc. - Thibodaux LA

International Classification:

A01D 5520
A01D 8700

US Classification:

56344

Abstract:

A wholestalk sugar cane loader apparatus for picking up and accumulating windrowed cane wholestalks from a cane field ground surface having heap rows and furrows includes a wheeled movable carriage adapted to travel along a path defined by the carriage longitudinal center axis, generally parallel to the longitudinally extending elongated heap rows. The carriage has wheels tracking in parallel furrows and an elevated platform surface positioned adjacent the carriage for movement therewith during gathering of windrowed wholestalk cane, for accumulating wholestalk cut cane from a resting position on the cane field ground surface into a heap. An elongated boom pivotally mounted at a rotary connection to the carriage extends away from the rotary connection along a radial line defining a boom longitudinal axis. A pair of oppossed jaws is attached to a distal end portion of the boom opposite the rotary connection, the jaws being movable with respect to each other along a jaw travel path that allows the jaws to freely access the platform, the jaw travel path and the boom longitudinal axis being fixed during operation to intersect each other defining an acute angle therebetween.

US Patent:

52357988, Aug 17, 1993

Filed:

May 6, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/698246

Inventors:

Jacob Giardina - Thibodaux LA
Kenneth Rodrigue - Thibodaux LA

Assignee:

Cameco Industries, Inc. - Thibodaux LA

International Classification:

A01D 6104
A01D 9000

US Classification:

56 166

Abstract:

Wholestalk sugar cane loading apparatus includes a movable carriage having fore and aft wheel bases and a basket supported by the carriage generally between the wheel bases and along the longitudinal central axis of the carriage, the basket defining a load carrying surface for holding harvested wholestalk cane in a generally parallel bundle fashion and at an elevational position spaced vertically above the underlying cane field surface. An inclined transfer device is positioned forward of the basket for movement the during gathering of windrowed wholestalk cane for lifting individual wholestalks of cut cane from a resting position upon the cane field ground surface to an elevated discharge position generally above the load carrying surface of the basket, so that cane stalks discharged by the transfer device can fall into the basket. The transfer device includes a moving endless chain positioned at least under the cane wholestalks for carrying the wholestalks between the resting and discharge positions and wherein the transfer device maintains the cane stalks in a generally parallel position with respect to one another during transfer of the cane stalks from the cane field ground surface to the basket.

US Patent:

48783412, Nov 7, 1989

Filed:

Mar 21, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/326535

Inventors:

Jacob Giardina - Thibodaux LA
Kenneth Rodrigue - Thibodaux LA

Assignee:

Cameco Industries, Inc. - Thibodaux LA

International Classification:

A01D 9104

US Classification:

56364

Abstract:

A wholestalk sugar cane loader apparatus is provided for the picking up and accumulating of windrowed wholestalk sugar cane from a cane field ground surface using a boom and grapple configuration that skews the grapple jaw travel path with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boom. This configuration allows use of a shorter boom and a shorter travel path. This configuration also allows greater spacing between the loader and the cane cart to improve cane quality by eliminating both cane rollover and the muddying of the cane which typically occurs by splashing of tires because of the close proximity of the cane loader and the cane cart.