Steven R Aposhian

US Patent:

20110306457, Dec 15, 2011

Filed:

Jul 13, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/182374

Inventors:

Gary D. Lee - Spanish Fork UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Brian M. Olsen - Los Alamos NM, US
Eric E. Aston - Alpine UT, US
Brian T. Barnum - Springville UT, US
Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Andrew J. Orme - Provo UT, US
Isaac R. Jones - Provo UT, US
Peter J. Jones - Riverton UT, US
Regis A. David - Provo UT, US

Assignee:

VMT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Provo UT

International Classification:

F16H 37/04
F16H 1/30
F16H 35/06

US Classification:

475213, 74395, 475331, 475210

Abstract:

In one example, a moon gear assembly is provided that includes a moon arm assembly having a driving moon gear. A pivot pin is connected to the moon arm assembly, and an adjustment arm is connected to the moon arm assembly.

US Patent:

20130255978, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851413

Inventors:

Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Eric E. Aston - Salt Lake City UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Samuel Drake - Cottonwood Heights UT, US

Assignee:

FIREFLY EQUIPMENT, LLC - Farmington UT

International Classification:

A01B 45/04

US Classification:

172 19

Abstract:

The present invention extends to an articulated cutting head and conveyor mount for sod harvesting machines. The invention provides a linkage design that can provide many benefits including: allowing the operator to see the cutting operation, enabling the high lifting of the cutting head for service and maneuvering, managing the vertical bending load of the ground reference roller, providing high transverse stiffness, maintaining the position of the conveyor relative to the cutting head. The linkage design can include fewer parts than previous designs while still being robust and durable. As such, cutting heads employing the linkage design of the present invention can produce higher quality slabs with less service and maintenance than when using current designs.

US Patent:

20130256099, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851457

Inventors:

Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Eric E. Aston - Salt Lake City UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Samuel Drake - Cottonwood Heights UT, US
Isaac R. Jones - Round Rock TX, US

Assignee:

FIREFLY EQUIPMENT, LLC - Farmington UT

International Classification:

A01B 45/04

US Classification:

198837

Abstract:

The present invention extends to a lifting system for lifting a portion of a conveyor. The lifting system maintains the length of the conveyor while changing the shape of the conveyor to lift the top surface of the conveyor belt towards a stacking head. This design facilitates the quick lifting and lowering of slabs of sod while minimizing the stress on the sod harvesting machine.

US Patent:

20130259629, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851402

Inventors:

Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Eric E. Aston - Salt Lake City UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Samuel Drake - Cottonwood Heights UT, US

Assignee:

FIREFLY EQUIPMENT, LLC - Farmington UT

International Classification:

A01B 45/04
B65G 47/31

US Classification:

4147881, 1984623

Abstract:

The present invention extends to a conveyor system that allows the spacing between slabs on a conveyor to be controlled. Because the spacing can be controlled, a single stacking head can be used to pick up and stack multiple slabs at the same time. In this manner, a harvesting machine employing the conveyor system of the present invention can utilize a single stacking head while still harvesting sod at least as quickly as harvesting machines employing multiple stacking heads.

US Patent:

20130259630, Oct 3, 2013

Filed:

Mar 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/851418

Inventors:

Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Eric E. Aston - Salt Lake City UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Samuel Drake - Cottonwood Heights UT, US

Assignee:

FIREFLY EQUIPMENT, LLC - Farmington UT

International Classification:

A01B 45/04

US Classification:

414792

Abstract:

The present invention extends to a stacking mechanism having electrical actuators for stacking slabs of sod on a sod harvesting machine. The electrical actuators allow the stacking head to be driven in three axes. The stacking mechanism also includes position feedback sensors for reporting the position of the stacking head to enable precision when operating the stacking head at a fast rate. The stacking mechanism of the present invention also provides temporary pallet support wings to enable the continued stacking of slabs of sod on one pallet even while another pallet is being dropped from the sod harvesting machine.

US Patent:

20110059821, Mar 10, 2011

Filed:

Sep 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/876862

Inventors:

Gary D. Lee - Spanish Fork UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Brian M. Olsen - Los Alamos NM, US
Eric E. Aston - Alpine UT, US
Brian T. Barnum - Springville UT, US
Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Andrew J. Orme - Provo UT, US
Isaac R. Jones - Provo UT, US
Peter J. Jones - Riverton UT, US
Regis A. David - Provo UT, US

Assignee:

VMT Technologies, LLC - Provo UT

International Classification:

F16H 55/56

US Classification:

474 8

Abstract:

Transmission systems, assemblies, and components are described. In particular, aspects of the present disclosure relate to an infinitely variable transmission that maintains constant tooth engagement during changes in gear ratio. In one aspect, a transmission includes an axially movable sheave coupled to a chain. The sheave rotates around a drive axis. At least partially within the sheave is a set of moon gears. The moon gears orbit around the drive axis and are rotatable around respective internal axis. As the sheave moves axially, the chain and the set of moon gears move radially to define different gear ratios, with the gear ratios being changeable in infinitely small increments. A synchronization system moves the set of moon gears radially to correspond to the axial position of the sheave. A correction system optionally controls rotation of the moon gears to rotate teeth of the moon gears into alignment with the chain.

US Patent:

20210382490, Dec 9, 2021

Filed:

Jun 4, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/892780

Inventors:

- Salt Lake City UT, US
Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
Eric E. Aston - Farmington UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US

International Classification:

G05D 1/02
G01V 9/00
A01D 34/00

Abstract:

Low profile object detection can be performed on mowers or other vehicles that may be autonomous. An autonomy controller can be employed on a mower to receive and process sensor data for a detection area to determine whether an object may be present in a region of interest within the detection area. When the autonomy controller determines that an object may be present, it can cause the ground speed of the mower to be slowed and can commence buffering region of interest sensor data over a period of time. The autonomy controller can process the buffered region of interest sensor data to determine whether an object is present in the region of interest, and if so, can alter the path of the mower appropriately.

US Patent:

20210214173, Jul 15, 2021

Filed:

Jan 13, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/741585

Inventors:

- North Salt Lake UT, US
Steven R. Aposhian - Farmington UT, US
William M. Decker - Salt Lake City UT, US
Mark C. LeBlanc - Salt Lake City UT, US
Austin J. Neuner - Layton UT, US
Sam B. Jensen - Centerville UT, US

International Classification:

B65G 57/03
A01G 20/15
B65G 57/14

Abstract:

Sod harvesters are configured to stack rolls of sod in layers on a rectangular pallet. A sod harvester can include control circuitry that is configured to operate a stacking head and a stacking conveyor in a manner that produces a first type of layer that includes spaced groups of accumulated rolls and a number of offset rolls positioned between the groups. The stacking head can pick up and stack each offset roll in isolation and may pick up the offset rolls in a center position of the stacking head.