Philip C Kester

US Patent:

6918343, Jul 19, 2005

Filed:

May 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/435311

Inventors:

Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL, US

International Classification:

A01C005/00

US Classification:

111195, 111200, 172762, 403365

Abstract:

A pivot assembly is provided for attaching a closing wheel frame to a planter. The closing wheel frame has a pair of closing wheels attached at a rear end and a pair of mounting openings formed at a front end. The pivot assembly includes ball bearings having outer races fit loosely within each of the mounting openings of the closing wheel frame. The inner races of the ball bearings are secured to the planter frame using threaded nut and bolt assemblies. The closing wheel frame is pivotal relative to the planter frame during normal operation by relative movement between the inner and outer races of the bearing. Variations of the mounting openings in the closing wheel frame are disclosed, including a tubular part, heavy washer or other annular structure welded to an outside surface of the closing wheel frame, or a bearing housing formed integral with the closing wheel frame.

US Patent:

7131384, Nov 7, 2006

Filed:

Aug 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/199745

Inventors:

Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL, US

International Classification:

A01C 7/00
A01C 9/00

US Classification:

111170, 111200

Abstract:

A seed tube guard assembly for agricultural planters has floating wear plates to improve the wear life of the seed tube guard. The assembly includes a support bracket having an upper end attached to a planter shank assembly and a lower end positioned between a pair of opener disks. A seed tube guide extends rearwardly from the support bracket for receiving a lower end of a seed tube. A pair of dowels are pressed into openings in the support bracket and protrude from the sides thereof. A metal ball is press fit into an opening in the support bracket between the dowels with opposite sides of the metal ball protruding from the respective sides of the support bracket. The floating wear plates are supported by the dowels on the respective sides of the support bracket with the metal ball engaging the wear plates at respective fulcrum points between the dowels.

US Patent:

7246563, Jul 24, 2007

Filed:

Jul 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/180461

Inventors:

Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL, US

International Classification:

A01C 5/00

US Classification:

111195, 111200, 172762, 403365

Abstract:

A pivot assembly is provided for attaching a closing wheel frame to a planter. The closing wheel frame has a pair of closing wheels attached at a rear end and a pair of mounting openings formed at a front end. The pivot assembly includes ball bearings having outer races fit loosely within each of the mounting openings of the closing wheel frame. The inner races of the ball bearings are secured to the planter frame using threaded nut and bolt assemblies. The closing wheel frame is pivotal relative to the planter frame during normal operation by relative movement between the inner and outer races of the bearing. Variations of the mounting openings in the closing wheel frame are disclosed, including a tubular part, heavy washer or other annular structure welded to an outside surface of the closing wheel frame, or a bearing housing formed integral with the closing wheel frame.

US Patent:

7730962, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Mar 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/053531

Inventors:

Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL, US

International Classification:

A01B 15/16
A01B 19/10
A01B 23/00
A01B 35/20
A01B 39/20

US Classification:

172558, 172610

Abstract:

An adjustable scraper assembly for clearing mud and trash from the gauge wheel tires of an agricultural planter includes a support rod connected to the planter, a clamp assembly attached to the support rod, and a scraper blade attached to the clamp assembly. The clamp assembly has first and second clamping blocks that function together to allow pivotal adjustment of the scraper blade relative to the support rod about three nonparallel axes of rotation and sliding adjustment along at least one linear direction relative to the support rod. The support rod is attached to the planter using a third clamping block clamped to the hub of a gauge wheel arm. The third clamping block can be used to provide an additional adjustment of the support rod relative to the gauge wheel arm.

US Patent:

20050072344, Apr 7, 2005

Filed:

Sep 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/948893

Inventors:

Philip Kester - East Moline IL, US

International Classification:

A01C005/00

US Classification:

111135000

Abstract:

A pivot assembly for attaching a closing wheel arm to a bearing housing of a no-till drill has a pair of sleeve bearings, a pair of seals, and a pivot bushing or pivot pin that extends through the sleeve bearings and seals. The sleeve bearings are press fit into opposite ends of a bore of the bearing housing and have grooves formed across bearing surfaces thereof for grease to flow to outer ends of the bearings. The seals are also press fit into the opposite ends of the bearing housing bore. The pivot bushing or pivot pin is installed into the sleeve bearings with an outer surface thereof providing a close-running fit with the bearing surfaces of the sleeve bearings. The close-running fit has a clearance within the range of 0.001 to 0.002 inch and can be provided by passing a reamer through the inner bore of the sleeve bearings.

US Patent:

20130186658, Jul 25, 2013

Filed:

Jan 25, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/750900

Inventors:

Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL, US

International Classification:

A01B 15/00
A01C 5/06
A01B 35/20

US Classification:

172558, 172610

Abstract:

A scraper assembly for removing mud and moist soil from the gauge wheels of an agricultural planter includes a support rod attached to a hub of a gauge wheel arm, a clamp structure attached to an end portion of the support rod, and a scraper blade attached to the clamp structure. An axis of the end portion of the support rod is approximately perpendicular to and intersects with an axis of rotation of the gauge wheel. The scraper blade is mounted approximately perpendicular to the outer surface of the gauge wheel and is angled approximately 45 degrees from the sides of the gauge wheel. The scraper blade has a curved profile along its length that substantially matches an outer profile of the outer surface of the gauge wheel when the scraper blade is properly adjusted.

US Patent:

59041072, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Jun 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/496694

Inventors:

Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL

International Classification:

A01B21/08

US Classification:

111135

Abstract:

An improved planter gauge wheel arm hub assembly which reduces the effects of wear on gauge wheel hubs and shafts and the resulting looseness between the gauge wheels and furrow disks. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a threaded attaching stud and a threaded adjustment stud to carry a disc spring which applies a continuous force on the wheel arm hub.

US Patent:

46694897, Jun 2, 1987

Filed:

Dec 2, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/803370

Inventors:

John A. Schraeder - Silvis IL
William M. Boehler - East Moline IL
Philip C. Kester - East Moline IL

Assignee:

Deere & Company - Moline IL

International Classification:

A01F 1240

US Classification:

130 27R

Abstract:

The rear mounted straw chopper of a combine harvester receives the straw discharge from the straw walkers of the combine and discharges chopped straw rearwardly. The chopper is slidably supported on a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally oriented guide rails so that the chopper can be adjusted from a rearward, operating position to a forward, inoperative or windrow position in which straw bypasses the chopper. Movement of the chopper on its guide rails is facilitated by attachment to the straw chopper casing of a transverse shaft and sprocket assembly, the teeth of a pair of sprockets engaging longitudinally spaced openings in the guide rails so that, upon rotation of the shaft, the sprockets and guide rails cooperate in rack and pinion fashion to propel the chopper assembly along the rails while maintaining it in square alignment. The shaft and sprocket assembly may be rotated conveniently by means of a wrench engaging flats on an end of the shaft.