Locking linkage for folding agricultural implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11259464-B2
Application number	US-202117212607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2021
Priority date	Mar 25, 2020
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

An agricultural implement includes a first frame member and a second frame member pivotally connected to each other and an actuating assembly configured to rotate the second frame member. The actuating assembly includes a first link pivotally connected to the first frame member, a second link pivotally connected to the second frame member, and a third link attached to an actuator. Two of the first, second, and third links are pivotally connected by a connecting pin, which is received in a slot formed in the third one of the links. The actuating assembly is configured to prevent the pin from moving along the slot and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the third link, when the second frame member is arranged between a retracted position and an expanded position, and to allow the pin to move along the slot, when the second frame member is arranged in the expanded position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement comprising:
a hinge defining a first pivot axis;
a first frame member and a second frame member, at least the second frame member carrying at least one implement tool, wherein the second frame member is pivotally connected to the first frame member by the hinge;
a first actuating assembly configured to rotate the second frame member relative to the first frame member about the first pivot axis between a retracted position and an expanded position of the second frame member, the first actuating assembly comprising:
an actuator providing an actuating force;
a first link having a first end pivotally connected to the first frame member and a second end opposite to the first end;
a second link having a first end pivotally connected to the second frame member and a second end opposite to the first end; and
a third link having a first end attached to the actuator and a second end opposite to the first end,

wherein two of the first link, the second link, and the third link are pivotally connected to each other at their second ends by a connecting pin defining a second pivot axis,
wherein the third link comprises an elongated slot formed therein, the connecting pin being movably received in the slot,
wherein the second link comprises a stop configured to block translatory motion of the first link and the second link, in the slot relative to the connecting pin thereby preventing the connecting pin from moving in a longitudinal direction of the slot, while the second frame member is arranged between the retracted position and the expanded position;
wherein the first actuating assembly is configured to allow the connecting pin to move in the longitudinal direction of the slot, when the second frame member is arranged in the expanded position.

2. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first link and the second end of the second link are pivotally connected to each other by means of the connecting pin, and the elongated slot is formed in the third link.

3. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein in the retracted position, the second frame member is folded over the first frame member to decrease a width of the implement in a lateral direction of the implement, and the first actuating assembly is configured to lock the second frame member relative to the first frame member.

4. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein in the expanded position, the second frame member is arranged next to the first frame member in a lateral direction of the implement thereby enabling operation of the at least one implement tool, and the first actuating assembly is configured to allow vertical movement of the second frame member relative to the first frame member.

5. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuating assembly is configured to be in positive control of the second frame member while moving the second frame member between the retracted position and the expanded position and vice versa.

6. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the stop is a shoulder formed on the second link, wherein the shoulder defines a first guide surface and the third link comprises a second guide surface configured relative to the first guide surface to permit relative rotation when the guide surfaces are in contact with one another,
wherein the first and second guide surfaces are formed to allow rotation of the second link relative to the third link and to block translatory motion of the connecting pin relative to the slot in a longitudinal direction of the slot, while the second frame member is moved and arranged between the retracted position and the expanded position, and
wherein the first and second guide surfaces are formed to allow translatory motion of the connecting pin in the longitudinal direction of the slot, when the second frame member is arranged in the expanded position.

7. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the implement further comprises:
a main frame;
a third frame member corresponding to the first frame member;
a fourth frame member corresponding to the second frame member and pivotally connected to the third frame member by a hinge defining a third pivot axis; and
a second actuating assembly corresponding to the first actuating assembly and configured to rotate the fourth frame member relative to the third frame member about the third pivot axis between a retracted position and an expanded position of the fourth frame member,
wherein the first and third frame members are arranged on opposite sides of the main frame in a lateral direction of the implement.

8. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second links are each formed by an elongated member defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a hole at their first and second ends, respectively.

9. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second links are arranged on opposite sides of the third link in an axial direction of the connecting pin.

10. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot is a through hole and the connecting pin extends through the first link, the second link, and the third link as well as through the slot formed in one of the links.

11. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, wherein a piston rod of the cylinder is connected to the first end of the third link.

12. The implement according to claim 1 , wherein the implement is a tedder and the at least one implement tool is a tedder rotor.

13. A combination comprising:
an agricultural vehicle; and
an implement according to claim 1 , the implement towed by the vehicle.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Van Der Lelij Bart

Classifications

• A01D78/1014 Primary

  Folding frames · CPC title

• A01B73/044 Primary

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

• A01D78/1078

  Having only one row of rotors arranged on the same horizontal line perpendicular to the advance direction of the machine · CPC title