Hitch assembly for a work vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11617293-B2
Application number	US-202016816594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2020
Priority date	Mar 12, 2020
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A work vehicle includes a first ground-engaging implement and a second ground-engaging implement connected to a chassis. The first ground-engaging implement moves within a first movement envelope with respect to the chassis, and the second ground-engaging implement moves within a second movement envelope with respect to the chassis. A lift arm is connected to the chassis and positioned between the first and second ground-engaging implements. The lift arm moves along a range of movement between a raised position and a lowered position. The lift arm is entirely positioned outside both of the first movement envelope and the second movement envelope within the entire range of movement between the raised position and the lowered position, such that the lift arm is permitted to move along the entire range of movement between the raised position and the lowered position without abutting the first movement envelope or the second movement envelope.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A work vehicle comprising:
a chassis having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a front portion and a rear portion;
a prime mover connected to the chassis;
a first ground-engaging implement connected to the first side of the chassis, the first ground-engaging implement configured to move within a first movement envelope with respect to the chassis;
a second ground-engaging implement connected to the second side of the chassis, the second ground-engaging implement configured to move within a second movement envelope with respect to the chassis;
a lift arm including a first end portion connected to the front portion of the chassis and positioned between the first ground-engaging implement and the second ground-engaging implement, and a second end portion spaced from the front portion of the chassis, the first end portion of the lift arm defining a first width and the second end portion of the lift arm defining a second width, the second width being greater than the first width, wherein the lift arm is moveable along a range of movement between a raised position and a lowered position;
a first side link connected to a first part of the second end portion of the lift arm and extending away from the chassis, the first side link configured to engage a work implement;
a first actuator connected to the chassis at a first end portion and connected to the first side link at a second end portion, the first actuator configured to move along a first actuator range of movement to rotate the first side link and the lift arm about the chassis, the first actuator being positioned adjacent to and entirely outside of the first movement envelope along the entire first actuator range of movement;
a second side link connected to a second part of the second end portion of the lift arm and extending away from the chassis, the second side link configured to engage the work implement; and
a second actuator connected to the chassis at a first end portion and connected to the second side link at a second end portion, the second actuator configured to move along a second actuator range of movement to rotate the second side link and the lift arm about the chassis, the second actuator being positioned adjacent to and entirely outside of the second movement envelope along the entire second actuator range of movement,
wherein the lift arm is entirely positioned outside of the first movement envelope within the entire range of movement between the raised position and the lowered position, such that the first ground-engaging implement is permitted to move uninhibited by the lift arm within the first movement envelope with respect to the chassis,
wherein the lift arm is permitted to move along the entire range of movement between the raised position and the lowered position without abutting the first movement envelope,
wherein the lift arm is entirely positioned outside of the second movement envelope within the entire range of movement between the raised position and the lowered position, such that the second ground-engaging implement is permitted to move uninhibited by the lift arm within the second movement envelope with respect to the chassis, and
wherein the lift arm is permitted to move along the entire range of movement between the raised position and the lowered position without abutting the second movement envelope.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the chassis further defines a front axle positioned on the front portion of the chassis and a rear axle positioned on the rear portion of the chassis, the front axle configured to support the first ground-engaging implement and the second ground-engaging implement,
wherein a first distance is defined between the front axle and the rear axle,
wherein a second distance is defined between the front axle and the second end portion of the lift arm, and
wherein a ratio of the second distance to the first distance is less than 0.53.

3. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the second distance to the first distance is less than 0.49.

4. The work vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the second distance to the first distance is less than 0.45.

5. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the lift arm has a first side edge facing the first movement envelope, and the first movement envelope has a side edge facing the first side edge of the lift arm, wherein the first side edge of the lift arm is spaced from the side edge of the first movement envelope while the lift arm moves along the entire range of movement of the lift arm.

6. The work vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the lift arm has a second side edge facing the second movement envelope, and the second movement envelope has a side edge facing the second side edge of the lift arm, wherein the second side edge of the lift arm is spaced from the side edge of the second movement envelope while the lift arm moves along the entire range of movement of the lift arm.

7. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first end portion of the lift arm defines a first width and the second end portion of the lift arm defines a second width,
wherein an innermost portion of the first movement envelope is positioned closest to a vehicle centerline and an innermost portion of the second movement envelope is positioned closest to the vehicle centerline, the innermost portion of the first movement envelope is positioned a minimum distance from the innermost portion of the second movement envelope, and
wherein the first width is less than the minimum distance and the second width is greater than the minimum distance.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the lift arm defines a first width and the second end portion of the lift arm defines a second width,
wherein an innermost portion of the first movement envelope is positioned closest to a vehicle centerline and an innermost portion of the second movement envelope is positioned closest to the vehicle centerline, the innermost portion of the first movement envelope is positioned a minimum distance from the innermost portion of the second movement envelope, and
wherein the first width is less than the minimum distance and the second width is greater than the minimum distance.

9. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion of the lift arm includes a first side proximate the first movement envelope and a second side proximate the second movement envelope, the first side including first, second and third protrusions extending away from the chassis, a portion of the first side link positioned between the first and second protrusions, a portion of the first actuator positioned between the second and third protrusions, the second side of the second end portion of the lift arm including fourth, fifth and sixth protrusions extending away from the chassis, a portion of the second side link positioned between the fourth and fifth protrusions, a portion of the second actuator positioned between the fifth and sixth protrusions.

10. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the lift arm includes first and second protrusions extending toward the chassis and configured to engage the chassis,
wherein the second end portion includes a plurality of protrusions configured to receive respective portions of the first lift arm, the first actuator, the second lift arm and the second actuator between adjacent protrusions, and
wherein the plurality of protrusions extend at a non-parallel angle with respect to the first and second protrusions.

11. A work vehicle comprising:
a chassis having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a front portion and a rear portion;
a prime mover conne

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Thoreson Curtis P

Classifications

• B60D1/246

  for actuating the hitch by powered means · CPC title

• A01B59/066

  of the type comprising at least two lower arms and one upper arm generally arranged in a triangle, e.g. three-point hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/465

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

• B60D1/488

  mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle · CPC title

• A01B59/064 Primary

  for connection to the front of the tractor · CPC title