Mechanical linkage for agricultural accumulator including extendable carriages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517219-B2
Application number	US-201715427977-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2017
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the baler. The accumulator includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support surface positioned between the first and the second ends. The support surface is configured to support the crop package that exits the baler. The accumulator also includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and linearly moveable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to support the crop package when in the extended position. The accumulator further includes a linkage coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage. The linkage is configured to move the carriage to at least one of the extended and retracted positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An accumulator coupled to an agricultural baler, the accumulator configured to support a crop package exiting the baler, the accumulator comprising:
a frame including a first end, a second end, and a support surface positioned between the first and the second ends, the support surface configured to support the crop package that exits the baler;
a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and linearly moveable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position, the carriage configured to support the crop package when in the extended position; and
a linkage coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage, the linkage configured to move the carriage to at least one of the extended and retracted positions,
wherein a crop package moving member is positioned between the first and second ends of the frame, and wherein the crop package moving member is configured to move the crop package into engagement with the linkage to move the carriage into the extended position.

2. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the linkage is configured to at least partially support the crop package when the carriage is in the extended position.

3. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the linkage is pivotably coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage.

4. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the linkage is configured to secure the carriage in the extended position in response to the carriage moving into the extended position.

5. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a first linkage member pivotably coupled to a second linkage member about a first pivot axis, and wherein the first linkage member is pivotably coupled to the frame about a second pivot axis and the second linkage member is pivotably coupled to the first carriage about a third pivot axis.

6. The accumulator of claim 5 , wherein the linkage is an over-center linkage having a first state in which the carriage is moveable relative to the frame and a second state in which a relative orientation of the first and second linkage members causes the carriage to be secured in the extended position relative to the frame.

7. The accumulator of claim 6 , wherein rotational movement of the first and second linkages provides a mechanical advantage to move the carriage between the extended position and the retracted position.

8. The accumulator of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a locking subassembly configured to be positioned in a locked configuration so that the locking subassembly is configured to lock the carriage in the retracted position, wherein the locking subassembly is also configured to be positioned in an unlocked configuration so that the locking subassembly is configured to allow movement of the carriage into the extended position.

9. An accumulator coupled to an agricultural baler, the accumulator configured to support a crop package exiting the baler, the accumulator comprising:
a frame including a first end, a second end, and a support surface positioned between the first and the second ends, the support surface configured to support the crop package that exits the baler;
a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and moveable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position, the carriage configured to support the crop package when in the extended position; and
a linkage coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage, the linkage configured to move the carriage to the extended position, the linkage configured to retain the carriage in the retracted position.

10. The accumulator of claim 9 , further comprising a crop package moving member positioned between the first and second ends of the frame, wherein the crop package moving member is configured to move the crop package into engagement with the linkage to release the carriage from the retracted position.

11. The accumulator of claim 10 , wherein the crop package moving member is configured to move the crop package into engagement with the linkage to move the carriage into the extended position after the crop package engages the linkage.

12. The accumulator of claim 9 , wherein the linkage includes a first linkage member pivotably coupled to a second linkage member about a first pivot axis, and wherein the first linkage member is pivotably coupled to the frame about a second pivot axis and the second linkage member is pivotably coupled to the first carriage about a third pivot axis.

13. The accumulator of claim 9 , wherein the linkage includes a locking subassembly configured to be positioned in a locked configuration so that the locking subassembly is configured to lock the carriage in the retracted position, wherein the locking subassembly is also configured to be positioned in an unlocked configuration so that the locking subassembly is configured to allow movement of the carriage into the extended position.

14. The accumulator of claim 13 , wherein the locking subassembly is biased into the locked configuration from the unlocked configuration and is manually actuated from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.

15. The accumulator of claim 13 , wherein the locking subassembly is automatically actuated from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to the crop package moving into engagement with a portion of the linkage or the locking subassembly.

16. An accumulator coupled to an agricultural baler, the accumulator configured to support a crop package exiting the baler, the accumulator comprising:
a frame including a first end, a second end, and a support surface positioned between the first and the second ends, the support surface configured to support the crop package that exits the baler;
a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and moveable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position, the carriage configured to support the crop package when in the extended position; and
a locking subassembly coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage, the locking subassembly configured to selectively lock the carriage in the retracted position;
wherein the locking subassembly is configured to automatically unlock the carriage from the retracted position such that the carriage is moveable into the extended position.

17. The accumulator of claim 16 , further comprising a crop package moving member positioned between the first and second ends of the frame, wherein the crop package moving member is configured to move the crop package into engagement with the locking subassembly to unlock the carriage from the retracted position.

18. The accumulator of claim 16 , wherein the locking subassembly includes a hook portion configured to be positioned in a locked configuration so that the hook portion is coupled to the carriage to lock the carriage in the retracted position, wherein the hook portion is also configured to be positioned in an unlocked configuration so that the hook portion is decoupled from the carriage to allow movement of the carriage into the extended position.

19. The accumulator of claim 18 , wherein the locking subassembly is biased into the locked configuration from the unlocked configuration and is manually actuated from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.

20. The accumulator of claim 18 , wherein the locking subassembly is automatically actuated from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to the crop package moving into engagement with a portion of the l

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Jones Austin J

Classifications

• A01D2085/007

  Machines directly attached to a baler · CPC title

• A01D2085/008

  Making groups of bales just at horizontal level for leaving them on the field · CPC title

• A01D85/005 Primary

  Forming groups of bales, e.g. bale sledges (loaders for bales A01D87/12; vehicles for loading bales A01D90/08) · CPC title

• A01D90/08 Primary

  with bale-forming means additionally used for loading; with means for picking-up bales and transporting them into the vehicle · CPC title