Track assembly for farm implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11299222-B2
Application number	US-201816230713-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Apr 2, 2014
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A mobile farm implement includes a track assembly with a plurality of arms that are pivotally coupled to support idler wheels and bogie wheels such that the track assembly is able to better conform to the terrain when the implement is towed behind a tractor or otherwise moved.

First claim

We claim:

1. A farm implement comprising:
left and right track assemblies for assisting in moving the farm implement along a ground surface in a line of travel, wherein each track assembly comprises
a tilt arm comprising front and rear ends; and
a camber arm coupled to the tilt arm such that the camber arm permits the tilt arm to pivot about a first axis perpendicular to the line of travel and a second axis parallel to the line of travel;
wherein the camber arm is located between the front and rear ends of the tilt arm.

2. The farm implement of claim 1 , wherein the tilt arm comprises an opening, and the camber arm is disposed in the opening of the tilt arm.

3. The farm implement of claim 2 , wherein the tilt arm comprises an upper edge extending from the front end to the rear end, and the opening is disposed along the upper edge.

4. The farm implement of claim 2 , wherein the camber arm comprises a lateral bore defining the first axis and a longitudinal bore defining the second axis.

5. The farm implement of claim 3 claim 4 , wherein camber arm comprises one or more pivot pins extending into the longitudinal bore of the camber arm and coupled to the tilt arm, such that the camber arm and the tilt arm pivot together about the first axis.

6. The farm implement of claim 1 , wherein the first axis intersects the second axis.

7. The farm implement of claim 1 , wherein the camber arm comprises a generally horizontal base portion and a pair of upright portions extending upwardly from the base portion, such that the tilt arm is received between the pair of upright portions of the camber arm.

8. The farm implement of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rear idler wheel coupled to the tilt arm;
a front idler wheel coupled to the tilt arm and positioned in front of the rear idler wheel along the line of travel; and
a track belt looped around the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel to make contact with the ground surface.

9. The farm implement of claim 8 , further comprising:
an alignment arm pivotally coupled to the rear idler wheel or the front idler wheel so as to allow the pivotally-coupled front or rear idler wheel to pivot about a third axis that is vertical relative to the tilt arm.

10. The farm implement of claim 8 , further comprising:
a tensioner arm operatively coupled to the rear idler wheel or the front idler wheel for moving the coupled front or rear idler wheel in a forward or rearward direction along the line of travel to increase or decrease a distance between the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel.

11. The farm implement of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first bogie arm coupled to the tilt arm; and
a first bogie wheel coupled to the first bogie arm between the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel.

12. The farm implement of claim 11 , wherein the first bogie arm is movable relative to the tilt arm so as to allow the first bogie wheel to move in a vertical direction relative to the tilt arm.

13. The farm implement of claim 12 , wherein the first bogie wheel is rotatably mounted to the first bogie arm at a first location and the first bogie arm is pivotally coupled to the tilt arm at a second location so as to allow the first bogie wheel to move in the vertical direction relative to the tilt arm.

14. The farm implement of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second bogie arm coupled to the tilt arm; and
a second bogie wheel coupled to the second bogie arm between the first bogie wheel and the rear idler wheel along the line of travel.

15. The farm implement of claim 14 , wherein the second bogie arm is movable relative to the tilt arm so as to allow the second bogie wheel to move in a vertical direction relative to the tilt arm.

16. The farm implement of claim 1 , wherein the tilt arm is configured to pivot about the first axis up to an angle of about 45° from a horizontal axis.

17. The farm implement of claim 1 , wherein the tilt arm is configured to pivot about the second axis up to an angle of about 22.5° from a vertical axis.

18. A method for assisting movement of a farm implement along a ground surface in a line of travel, wherein the farm implement includes at least two track assemblies, and each track assembly comprises a tilt arm, a camber arm coupled to the tilt arm, a rear idler wheel coupled to the tilt arm, a front idler wheel coupled to the tilt arm and positioned in front of the rear idler wheel along the line of travel, and a track belt looped around the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel to make contact with the ground surface, the method comprising:
pivoting the tilt arm about a first axis perpendicular to the line of travel, such that front and rear ends of the tilt arm move in vertical directions to conform the track assembly to a profile of the ground surface; and
pivoting the tilt arm about a second axis parallel to the line of the travel, such that top and bottom sides of the tilt arm move in lateral directions to conform the track assembly to the profile of the ground surface.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tilt arm comprises an opening, and the camber arm is disposed in the opening of the tilt arm.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the tilt arm comprises an upper edge extending from the front end to the rear end, and the opening is disposed along the upper edge.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the camber arm comprises a lateral bore defining the first axis and a longitudinal bore defining the second axis.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein camber arm comprises one or more pivot pins extending into the longitudinal bore of the camber arm and coupled to the tilt arm, such that the camber arm and the tilt arm pivot together about the first axis.

Assignees

• Unverferth Mfg Co Inc

Inventors

• Van Mill Michael D
• Self Christopher M
• Walvatne John

Classifications

• B62D55/104

  Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G) · CPC title

• B62D55/24

  of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts · CPC title

• B62D55/14

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title

• B62D55/10

  Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) · CPC title

• B62D55/0842

  Tracked vehicle with track carriages suspended on three points, e.g. by an equaliser bar · CPC title