Boom segment and breakaway mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10323683-B2
Application number	US-201615279648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A breakaway joint for a boom arm assembly includes a first boom segment defining a pivot axis at a first end, a second boom segment pivotally coupled to the first boom segment at the pivot axis, a bracket coupled to the first boom segment, a leaf spring coupled to the bracket between the first boom segment and the second boom segment, and a cam coupled to the second boom segment and positioned adjacent to the leaf spring. The first boom segment and the second boom segment are pivotally aligned in a neutral position. In the neutral position, the leaf spring contacts the cam at a first contact force, and in any position other than the neutral position, the leaf spring contacts the cam at a contact force greater than the first contact force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A breakaway joint for a boom arm assembly, comprising:
a first boom segment defining a pivot axis at a first end;
a second boom segment pivotally coupled to the first boom segment at the pivot axis;
a bracket coupled to the first boom segment;
a leaf spring having a first leaf spring end, a second leaf spring end spaced horizontally from the first leaf spring end, and a central portion defined between the first and second leaf spring ends, the leaf spring being coupled to the bracket at the central portion of the leaf spring, the leaf spring positioned between the first boom segment and the second boom segment; and
a cam coupled to the second boom segment and positioned adjacent to the leaf spring;
wherein, the first boom segment and the second boom segment are pivotally aligned in a neutral position;
further wherein, in the neutral position the leaf spring contacts the cam at a first contact force, and in any position other than the neutral position the leaf spring contacts the cam at a contact force greater than the first contact force.

2. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , wherein the cam is removably coupled to the second boom segment.

3. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring composition comprises a thermoset or thermoplastic material including a fiber reinforcing portion.

4. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , wherein both the cam and the leaf spring define a substantially arc-shaped cross-section having a convex side, the convex side of both the cam and the leaf spring facing the same direction.

5. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , wherein a first and second cam end are spaced from the first and second leaf spring ends when the second boom segment is in neutral alignment with the first boom segment;
further wherein, when the second boom segment rotates in a first direction about the pivot axis, the first end of the cam contacts the first end of the leaf spring to apply a torque to the second boom segment about the pivot axis towards neutral alignment position.

6. The breakaway joint of claim 5 , wherein when the second boom segment pivots about the pivot axis out of the neutral alignment in a second direction opposite the first direction, the second cam end contacts the second leaf spring end to apply a torque to the second boom segment about the pivot axis towards neutral alignment.

7. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first boom segment defines a U-shaped coupler, wherein the cam, leaf spring, and bracket are at least partially positioned within an internal portion of the U-shaped coupler.

8. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , further comprising a bumper coupled to the bracket at a location between the bracket and the leaf spring.

9. A system for coupling components of a boom arm to a work machine capable of travelling in a work direction, comprising:
a boom assembly towed behind the work machine comprising:
an inner boom segment extending away from the work machine and having a first inner end and a second inner end, the second inner end defining a pivot axis;
an outer boom segment having a first outer end and a second outer end and being pivotally coupled to the inner boom segment at the second inner end;
a bracket coupled to the inner boom segment at the second inner end;
a leaf spring having a first leaf spring end, a second leaf spring end spaced horizontally from the first leaf spring end and a central portion defined between the first and second leaf spring ends, the leaf spring being coupled to the inner boom at the second inner end at the central portion of the leaf spring; and
a cam coupled to the outer boom segment at the first outer end and positioned adjacent to the leaf spring;

wherein, the leaf spring corresponds in shape with the cam to maintain a neutral position of the outer boom segment relative to the inner boom segment when the outer boom segment is unencumbered.

10. The system of claim 9 , further wherein the cam is removably coupled to the first outer end.

11. The system of claim 9 , further wherein the cam defines an arcuate cross section of a first diameter along a horizontal plane and the leaf spring defines an arcuate cross section of a second diameter along the horizontal plane, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter.

12. The system of claim 9 , further wherein the cam comprises:
a first contact surface on a first side of the outer boom segment; and
a second contact surface on a second side of the outer boom segment;
wherein, when the outer boom segment rotates relative to the inner boom segment in a first direction out of the neutral position, the first contact surface is pressed against the leaf spring;
further wherein, when the inner and outer boom segments are in the neutral position, the second contact surface is adjacent to the leaf spring or the bracket.

13. The system of claim 9 , further wherein the first outer end of the outer boom segment defines an interior portion, wherein a portion of the cam is positioned within the interior portion.

14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a removable pin positioned along the pivot axis and pivotally coupling the outer boom segment to the inner boom segment.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a body of the cam defining a through-hole therein, wherein the pin is positioned through the through-hole when the cam is coupled to the first outer end and the cam is removable when the pin is not positioned through the through-hole.

16. The breakaway joint of claim 1 , further wherein the leaf spring has an arc-shaped cross section defined partially around the pivot axis.

17. The breakaway joint of claim 16 , further wherein the cam has an arc-shaped cross section defined partially around the pivot axis.

18. The system of claim 11 , further wherein the arcuate cross sections of both the cam and the leaf spring are defined towards the pivot axis.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Tortorella Nathan
• Subramaniam Sankaran
• Mccunn Gregory S
• Nelson Jonathan J
• Peterson Gregory E
• Depriest Andrew E
• Chowaniec Jr Richard J

Classifications

• F16C2226/00

  Joining parts; Fastening; Assembling or mounting parts · CPC title

• A01B73/02

  Folding frames · CPC title

• A01M7/0075 Primary

  including folding means · CPC title

• A01M7/0078 Primary

  including break-away devices · CPC title

• A01M7/0071

  Construction of the spray booms · CPC title