Stacking planter toolbar without four-bar linkage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10285322-B2
Application number	US-201715654238-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2017
Priority date	Jul 19, 2017
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

An agricultural implement including a stacking toolbar assembly. The stacking toolbar assembly includes a center toolbar, a center support beam, at least one pivot beam rotatably coupled to the center support beam at a first joint, at least one wing toolbar moveably coupled to the at least one pivot beam at a second joint, and an actuating system. The actuating system includes at least one first actuator coupled to the center support beam and the at least one pivot beam, and at least one second actuator coupled to the at least one pivot beam and the at least one wing toolbar. The at least one wing toolbar is moveable from a work position in which the at least one wing toolbar is substantially laterally aligned with the center toolbar and a transport position in which the at least one wing toolbar is stacked above the center toolbar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement, comprising:
a stacking toolbar assembly, including:
a center toolbar defining a first horizontal axis;
a center support beam located above said center toolbar and defining a second horizontal axis substantially parallel to said first horizontal axis;
at least one pivot beam rotatably coupled to said center support beam at a first joint;
at least one wing toolbar moveably coupled to said at least one pivot beam at a second joint, said second joint including a first pivot extension beam coupled to said at least one pivot beam and a second pivot extension beam pivotally connected to said first pivot extension beam by a pivot casting and coupled to said at least one wing toolbar; and
an actuating system, including:
at least one first actuator coupled to said center support beam and said at least one pivot beam;
at least one second actuator coupled to said at least one pivot beam and said at least one wing toolbar such that said at least one wing toolbar is moveable from a work position in which said at least one wing toolbar is substantially laterally aligned with said first axis of said center toolbar and a transport position in which said at least one wing toolbar is stacked above said center toolbar;
a first mounting bracket pivotally interconnecting a proximal end of said first actuator to said center support beam;
a second mounting bracket pivotally interconnecting a distal end of said first actuator to said at least one pivot beam, said second mounting bracket pivotally connecting a proximal end of said second actuator to said at least one pivot beam, and said second mounting bracket interconnecting the first pivot extension beam and said at least one pivot beam; and
a third mounting bracket pivotally connecting a distal end of said second actuator to said at least one wing toolbar.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said stacking toolbar assembly does not include a four-bar linkage such that said at least one wing toolbar is raised to said transport position by independently controlling an angle of said at least one wing toolbar with respect to said center toolbar.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said at least one second actuator provides a downforce onto said at least one wing toolbar.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said at least one pivot beam includes a left pivot beam and a right pivot beam each being rotatably coupled to said center support beam at a respective left first joint and right first joint.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein said at least one wing toolbar includes a left wing toolbar and a right wing toolbar each being respectively moveably coupled to said left pivot beam and said right pivot beam at a respective left second joint and right second joint.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein said actuating system includes a left first actuator and a right first actuator each being coupled to said center support beam and respectively coupled to said left and right pivot beams.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 6 , wherein said actuating system includes a left second actuator and a right second actuator each being respectively coupled to said left and right pivot beams and said left and right wing toolbars.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein said left and right wing toolbars are at least one of independently moveable and jointly moveable in which said left and right wing toolbars are moveable in phase with one another.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said first joint comprises a pivot casting.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further including a controller operatively coupled to said first and second actuators and configured to control the actuation of the first and second actuators, and at least one sensor in communication with the controller, said sensor configured for providing a position signal of said at least one wing toolbar.

11. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said second mounting bracket connects said at least one first actuator and said at least one pivot beam such that only said at least one first actuator and said at least one pivot beam are respectively interconnected in between said center support beam and said second mounting bracket.

12. A stacking toolbar assembly for an agricultural implement, including:
a center toolbar defining a first horizontal axis;
a center support beam located above said center toolbar and defining a second horizontal axis substantially parallel to said first horizontal axis;
a left pivot beam and a right pivot beam respectively rotatably coupled to said center support beam at a left first joint and a right first joint;
a left wing toolbar and a right wing toolbar each being respectively moveably coupled to said left pivot beam and said right pivot beam at a respective left second joint and right second joint, said left and right second joints respectively include a first pivot extension beam coupled to said left and right pivot beams and a second pivot extension beam pivotally connected to said first pivot extension beam by a pivot casting and coupled to said left and right wing toolbars; and
an actuating system, including:
a left first actuator and a right first actuator each being coupled to said center support beam and respectively coupled to said left pivot beam and said right pivot beam;
a left second actuator and a right second actuator each being respectively coupled to said left pivot beam and said right pivot beam and said left wing toolbar and said right wing toolbar such that said left wing toolbar and said right wing toolbar are moveable from a work position in which said left and right wing toolbars are substantially laterally aligned with said first axis of said center toolbar and a transport position in which said left and right wing toolbars are stacked above said center toolbar;
a left and right first mounting bracket respectively pivotally interconnecting a respective proximal end of said left and right first actuators to said center support beam;
a left and right second mounting bracket respectively pivotally interconnecting a respective distal end of said left and right first actuator to said left and right pivot beams, said left and right second mounting brackets respectively pivotally connecting a respective proximal end of said left and right second actuators to said left and right pivot beams, and said left and right second mounting brackets respectively interconnecting said first extension beams and said left and right pivot beams; and
a left and right third mounting bracket respectively pivotally connecting a respective distal end of said left and right second actuators to said left and right wing toolbars.

13. The stacking toolbar assembly of claim 12 , wherein said stacking toolbar assembly does not include a four-bar linkage such that said left and right wing toolbars are raised to said transport position by independently controlling a respective angle of said left and right wing toolbars with respect to said center toolbar.

14. The stacking toolbar assembly of claim 12 , wherein said left and right second actuators provide a respective downforce onto said left and right wing toolbars.

15. The stacking toolbar assembly of claim 12 , wherein said left and right wing toolbars are at least one of independently moveable and jointly moveable in which said left and right wing toolbars are moveable in phase with one another.

16. The stacking toolbar assembly of claim 12 , further including a controller o

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Boriack Cale N
• Fernando Buweneke A

Classifications

• A01B73/044 Primary

  the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01C7/208

  Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers · CPC title

• E06C5/24

  Dismounting ladders from vehicles {or supporting means} · CPC title

• A01B63/22

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C15/006

  Hoppers · CPC title