Remotely mounted gearbox breather for an irrigation machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10415688-B2
Application number	US-201816163786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2018
Priority date	Oct 20, 2017
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

The present invention provides a remotely mounted gearbox breather for an irrigation machine. According to a preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention may preferably include a gearbox having a gearbox fill port and a breather line which is attached at a first end to the gearbox at the gearbox fill port using a connection assembly and at a second end to the breather assembly. According to a further preferred embodiment, the connection assembly of the present invention may preferably include a first street elbow connected at a first side to the gearbox; a first pipe extension connected to the first elbow and a second elbow; and a hose barb connected to the first end of breather line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanized system having at least one span and a drive tower having at least a first supporting leg, a second supporting leg, a drive motor, a drive shaft, and a gearbox having a gearbox fill port; a breather system, wherein the breather system comprises:
a breather line, wherein the breather line is comprised of a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the breather line is connected to the gearbox at the gearbox fill port using a connection assembly;
wherein the connection assembly is comprised of:
a first elbow; wherein the first elbow is connected at a first side to the gearbox;
a first pipe extension; wherein the first elbow is connected at a second side to the first pipe extension;
a second elbow, wherein the second elbow is angled in the same direction as the first supporting leg; wherein the second elbow is connected at a first side to the first pipe extension; and
a first hose barb, wherein the first hose barb is connected on a second side of the second elbow; further wherein the hose barb is connected to the first end of the breather line;
a breather assembly, wherein the breather assembly is comprised of:
an angle mount, wherein the angle mount is secured to the first supporting leg; wherein the angle mount comprises a first surface and a second surface; wherein the second surface is secured to the first supporting leg; and
a breather outlet, wherein the breather outlet is secured to the angle mount by a breather connection assembly;
wherein the breather connection assembly comprises:
a third elbow; wherein the third elbow is connected on a first side to the breather outlet;
a fourth elbow, wherein the fourth elbow is connected on a first side to the third elbow; wherein the fourth elbow is connected on a second side to the first surface; and
a second hose barb; wherein the hose barb is connected at a first end to the first surface of the angle amount; wherein the second hose barb is connected at a second end to the breather line.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the breather assembly is located at a point higher than an oil level of the gearbox.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the breather assembly is oriented downward.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the breather line is secured to the first supporting leg using at least one snap clip.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first elbow is a street elbow.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the third elbow is a street elbow.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first surface of the angle mount is substantially orthogonal to the second surface of the angle mount.

Assignees

• Valmont Industries

Inventors

• Dillon Cory J

Classifications

• F16H2057/02034

  Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines · CPC title

• F16H57/027 Primary

  characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers · CPC title

• A01G25/092

  movable around a pivot centre · CPC title

• F16H2057/02056

  for utility vehicles, e.g. tractors or agricultural machines · CPC title

• A01G25/09

  Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like · CPC title