Rotary cutter with parallel pivot wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10130025-B2
Application number	US-201514943887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2015
Priority date	Nov 18, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

An agricultural implement for use with a tractor. The agricultural implement comprises a main body, a hitch, a plurality of wheel support assemblies, and a pair of wheels coupled to each of the wheel support assemblies. Each of the wheel support assemblies includes a longitudinal support assembly extending rearward from the main body. The wheel support assemblies further include a transverse support assembly coupled to the longitudinal support assembly, with each of the wheels of the pair of wheels being disposed on opposite sides of the transverse support assembly, and with the transverse support assembly being rotatable relative to the main body, such that raising one wheel of the pair of wheels causes the corresponding lowering of another wheel of the pair of wheels. The wheel support assemblies also include a rotational damping mechanism for restricting rotation of the transverse assembly and the pair of wheels relative to the main body.

First claim

Having thus described one or more embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. An agricultural implement for use with a tractor, said agricultural implement comprising:
a main body;
a hitch extending forward from said main body and operable to couple said implement to the tractor;
a plurality of wheel support assemblies extending rearward from said main body; and
a pair of wheels coupled to each of said wheel support assemblies,
wherein each of said wheel support assemblies includes—
a longitudinal support assembly extending generally rearward from said main body; and
a transverse support assembly coupled to said longitudinal support assembly, wherein each of said wheels of said pair of wheels are disposed on generally opposite sides of said transverse support assembly, wherein said transverse support assembly is rotatable relative to said main body, such that a raising of one wheel of said pair of wheels causes a corresponding lowering of another wheel of said pair of wheels,
wherein each of said wheel support assemblies further comprises a stop system configured to restrict said transverse support assembly and said pair of wheels from rotating beyond a predetermined angular range,
wherein said stop system comprises a lock bar extending from said transverse support assembly and into a receiving notch presented by said longitudinal support assembly.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal support assembly comprises a main support component with a first end and a second end and a pivot spindle at least partially received in the second end of said main support component.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 2 , wherein said transverse support assembly is rotatable about a longitudinal axis that extends through said pivot spindle.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 3 , wherein said transverse support assembly comprises a bracket for rotatably coupling said transverse support assembly to said pivot spindle, wherein said transverse support assembly further comprises a hub spindle for supporting said pair of wheels.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , further comprising a rotational damping mechanism secured between said pivot spindle and said bracket, wherein said rotational damping mechanism is configured to restrict rotation of said transverse assembly and said pair of wheels relative to said main body.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein said rotational damping mechanism comprises an elastomeric member.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 6 , wherein said rotational damping mechanism is formed as a hollow cylinder, and includes one or more flared lips extending from an outer surface of said hollow cylinder.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 6 , wherein said rotational damping mechanism has a shore durometer of between 60 and 90 A.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 6 , wherein said rotational damping mechanism is configured to restrict the rotation of said transverse support assembly and said pair of wheels relative to said main body by absorbing and dissipating at least a portion of the rotation of said transverse support assembly and said pair of wheels.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said angular range spans no more than 50 degrees.

11. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said agricultural implement is selected from the following: a rotary cutter, a seeder, and a tiller.

12. A rotary cutter for cutting vegetation, said rotary cutter comprising:
a cutter housing;
one or more cutter blades extending down from a bottom side of said cutter housing;
a hitch extending forward from said cutter housing, wherein said hitch is operable to connect said rotary cutter with a tractor;
a plurality of wheel support assemblies extending along a back side of said cutter housing; and
a pair of wheels coupled to each of said wheel support assemblies, wherein said wheels of each of said pairs of wheels are generally aligned in parallel relationship and spaced laterally apart across the back side of said cutter housing,
wherein each of said wheel support assemblies includes—
a longitudinal support assembly extending generally rearward from said cutter housing; and
a transverse support assembly coupled to said longitudinal support assembly, wherein said pair of the wheels are coupled to said transverse support assembly, and wherein said transverse support assembly is rotatable relative to said housing such that a raising of one wheel of said pair of wheels causes a corresponding lowering of another wheel of said pair of wheels,
wherein each of said wheel support assemblies further comprises a stop system configured to restrict said transverse support assembly and said pair of wheels from rotating beyond a predetermined angular range,
wherein said stop system comprises a lock bar extending into a receiving opening.

13. The rotary cutter of claim 12 , wherein said rotary cutter includes at least two wheel support assemblies extending along the back side of said cutter housing.

14. The rotary cutter of claim 12 , wherein each of said wheel support assemblies includes a lock system configured to selectively lock said pair of wheels at substantially the same height.

15. The rotary cutter of claim 14 , wherein said lock system comprises a first through hole located on said transverse support assembly, a second through hole located on said longitudinal support assembly, and a fastener, and wherein said fastener is configured to extend through each of said first and second through holes when such first and second through holes are aligned.

16. The rotary cutter of claim 12 , wherein said lock bar extends from said transverse support assembly and said receiving opening is presented by said longitudinal support assembly.

17. The rotary cutter of claim 12 , wherein said lock bar has a generally rectangular cross-section, wherein said receiving opening is a notch having an open side.

18. The rotary cutter of claim 12 , wherein, when said rotary cutter is passed over severely uneven ground having a slope of more than 30 degrees, said stop system is configured to prevent said transverse support assembly from rotating by more than 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal support assembly.

19. A method of operating an agricultural implement configured to be pulled behind a tractor, wherein the implement comprises at least one pair of wheels supporting the implement from the ground, wherein the pair of wheels are secured to the implement in a transversely spaced parallel relationship via a wheel support assembly, and wherein the wheel support assembly comprises a longitudinal support assembly extending from a back side of the agricultural implement, and a transverse support assembly rotatably coupled with the longitudinal support assembly, said method comprising the following steps:
(a) operating the tractor such that the agricultural implement is pulled behind the tractor over a ground surface;
(b) directing the wheel support assembly over a generally horizontal portion of the ground surface, wherein during said directing of step (b), the transverse support assembly is orientated generally horizontally;
(c) directing the wheel support assembly over an uneven portion of the ground surface, wherein during said directing of step (c), the uneven ground surface causes a first wheel of the pair of wheels to raise and a second wheel of the pair of wheels to lower, and wherein each

Assignees

• Great Plains Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Thorsell Erik
• Hake Rodney

Classifications

• A01B63/16 Primary

  with wheels adjustable relatively to the frame · CPC title

• A01D75/002

  Carriers for the transport of harvesters or mowers · CPC title

• A01D34/66

  with two or more cutters · CPC title