Double mechanism suspended tongue for towed implements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10785909-B2
Application number	US-201815969382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2018
Priority date	May 2, 2018
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A shock-absorbing tongue assembly for coupling a rotary cutter with a work vehicle includes a coupler configured to couple to the work vehicle, and a linkage mechanism having a proximal end at the rotary cutter and a distal end at the coupler. The linkage mechanism includes a suspension element configured to dampen energy transferred between the rotary cutter and the work vehicle, a primary linkage mechanism extending from the rotary cutter, and a secondary linkage mechanism extending between the primary linkage mechanism and the coupler. The secondary linkage mechanism is configured to rotate about the primary linkage mechanism while maintaining the coupler in a level condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shock-absorbing tongue assembly for coupling a rotary cutter with a work vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a coupler disposed at a distal end, and configured to couple with a work vehicle;
a connection system disposed at a proximal end, and configured to couple with a rotary cutter; and
a linkage mechanism disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the linkage mechanism comprising:
a suspension element that dampens energy transferred between the connection system and the coupler;
a primary linkage mechanism extending from the connection system, the primary linkage mechanism comprising:
a first upper link and a first lower link respectively extending from the proximal end in a direction away from the connection system, a proximal end of the first upper link comprising a portion of the connection system configured to operably couple with an upper connection of the rotary cutter, and a proximal end of the first lower link comprising a portion of the connection system configured to operably couple with a lower connection of the rotary cutter, the first upper link and first lower link operably spaced apart when coupled with the rotary cutter; and
a secondary linkage mechanism extending between the primary linkage mechanism and the coupler, the secondary linkage mechanism operably rotates about the primary linkage mechanism while maintaining the coupler in a level condition.

2. The assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the primary linkage mechanism comprises a first four-bar linkage comprising the first upper link and the first lower link;
wherein the secondary linkage mechanism comprises a second four-bar linkage comprising a second upper link and a second lower link, the linkage mechanism further comprising:
a first upper pivot connecting the first upper link with the second upper link;
a first lower pivot connecting the first lower link with the second lower link;
a second upper pivot connecting the second upper link with the coupler; and
a second lower pivot connecting the second lower link with the coupler.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second upper link comprises a body with an arm extending from the body and above the first upper link, and further comprising:
a first suspension mount connected with the arm; and
a second suspension mount connected with the first upper link;
wherein the suspension element is disposed between the first and second suspension mounts.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a spacing link connected with the first upper pivot and with the first lower pivot.

5. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first upper link comprises a first plate, a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, and a structural element connecting the first and second plates.

6. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second upper link comprises a body with an arm extending from the body and above the first upper link, and further comprising:
a first suspension mount connected with the arm; and
a second suspension mount connected with the first upper link at the structural element;
wherein the suspension element is disposed between the first and second suspension mounts.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a linking element connected between the arm and the structural element, the linking element configured to limit extension of the suspension element.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the arm extends from the body at the first upper pivot and toward the proximal end.

9. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the coupler is configured to move up and down relative to the connection system during compression and extension of the suspension element.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second primary linkage mechanism comprising a portion of the connection system configured to operably couple with the rotary cutter; and
a second secondary linkage mechanism connected between the second primary linkage mechanism and the coupler.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a height adjuster configured to raise and lower the coupler to adjust the height of the connection system, wherein the primary and secondary linkage mechanisms are configured to maintain the coupler in the level condition when raised or lowered.

12. A shock-absorbing tongue assembly for coupling a rotary cutter with a work vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a coupler configured to couple with a work vehicle; and
a connection system configured to couple with a rotary cutter;
a linkage mechanism comprising a proximal end at the connection system and a distal end at the coupler, wherein the linkage mechanism further comprises:
a suspension element that dampens energy transferred between the connection system and the coupler;
a primary linkage mechanism comprising a first upper link and a first lower link each extending from the proximal end in a direction away from the connection system, a proximal end of the first upper link comprising a portion of the connection system configured to operably couple with an upper connection of the rotary cutter, and a proximal end of the first lower link comprising a portion of the connection system configured to operably couple with a lower connection of the rotary cutter, the first upper link and first lower link operably spaced apart when coupled with the rotary cutter; and
a secondary linkage mechanism extending between the primary linkage mechanism and the coupler and comprising a second upper link connected with the first upper link, and a second lower link connected with the first lower link.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a height adjuster configured to raise and lower the coupler relative to the connection system to operably adjust the height of the coupled with the connection system, wherein the primary and secondary linkage mechanisms are configured to maintain the coupler in a level condition when the tongue is raised and lowered.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first upper pivot connecting the first and second upper links;
a first lower pivot connecting the first and second lower links;
a second upper pivot connecting the second upper link with the coupler;
a second lower pivot connecting the second lower link with the coupler, the second lower pivot spaced apart from the second lower pivot by being connected with the coupler;
a first suspension mount connected with the arm; and
a second suspension mount connected with the first upper link;
wherein the suspension element is disposed between the first and second suspension mounts, the suspension element configured to compress and extend when the second upper link rotates about the first upper pivot.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a spacing link connected between the first upper pivot and the first lower pivot, the spacing link configured to translate vertically when the second upper link rotates about the first upper pivot.

16. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first upper link comprises a first plate, a second spaced apart from the first plate, and a pair of tubular structural elements connecting the first and second plates.

17. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second upper link includes a body with an arm extending from the body and above the first upper link, and further comprising a linking element connected between the arm and the first upper link, the linking element configured to limit extension of the suspension element.

18. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coupler is configured to move up and

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Gonzalez Ivan Alejandro
• Martinez Hector Gerald
• Hernandez Jose Alberto
• Aquino Adrian Antonio

Classifications

• A01D67/005 Primary

  Arrangements of coupling devices · CPC title

• B60D1/465

  comprising a lifting mechanism, e.g. for coupling while lifting · CPC title

• A01D34/64

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60D1/50

  resiliently mounted (B60D1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B59/043

  supported at three points, e.g. by quick-release couplings (A01B59/06 takes precedence) · CPC title