System for adjusting the lateral positioning of a wheel assembly of an agricultural implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11716918-B2
Application number	US-202117355671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A system for adjusting the lateral positioning of wheel assemblies of agricultural implements includes a toolbar extending in a lateral direction and having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The system also includes a rail coupled to the toolbar and extending in the lateral direction along a length of the toolbar. Additionally, the system includes a wheel assembly configured to be removably coupled to the toolbar such that the rail is positioned between the toolbar and a portion of the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes engagement structure configured to engage the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the toolbar, with the engagement between the rail and the engagement structure being configured to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly about the toolbar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for adjusting the lateral positioning of wheel assemblies of agricultural implements, the system comprising:
a toolbar extending in a lateral direction and having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape;
a rail coupled to the toolbar and extending in the lateral direction along a length of the toolbar; and
a wheel assembly configured to be removably coupled to the toolbar such that the rail is positioned between the toolbar and a portion of the wheel assembly, the wheel assembly including engagement structure configured to engage the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the toolbar;
wherein the engagement between the rail and the engagement structure of the wheel assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly relative to the toolbar.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises a wheel frame configured to be removably coupled to the toolbar, the engagement structure comprising a rail cradle defined by a portion of the wheel frame.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the rail cradle defines a shape or profile that is complementary to a corresponding shape or profile defined by the rail such that the wheel frame circumferentially engages the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the toolbar.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the rail cradle includes at least one engagement surface configured to circumferentially engage at least one adjacent rail wall of the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the toolbar.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one engagement surface comprises a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface oriented relative to the first engagement surface such that the rail cradle defines a rail engagement angle between the first and second engagement surfaces.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one adjacent rail wall of the rail comprises a first rail wall and a second rail wall oriented relative to the first rail wall at an angle that is complementary to the rail engagement angle of the rail cradle.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein rail engagement angle is approximately 90 degrees.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a forked wheel arm pivotably coupled to the wheel frame and a wheel rotationally supported by the forked wheel arm.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the wheel assembly further comprises an actuator coupled between the wheel frame and the forked wheel arm.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly is removably coupled to the toolbar via mechanical fasteners such that, when the mechanical fasteners are loosened, the wheel assembly is slidable along the rail to adjust a lateral position of the wheel assembly relative to the toolbar.

11. A multi-wing agricultural implement, comprising:
a frame assembly comprising a plurality of laterally extending toolbars, the plurality of laterally extending toolbars comprising a central toolbar, a first wing toolbar positioned on one side of the central toolbar along a lateral direction of the frame assembly and a second wing toolbar positioned on the opposed side of the central toolbar along the lateral direction, the first wing toolbar defining a substantially circular cross-sectional shape;
a rail coupled to the first wing toolbar and extending in the lateral direction along a length of the first wing toolbar; and
a wheel assembly configured to be removably coupled to the first wing toolbar such that the rail is positioned between the first wing toolbar and a portion of the wheel assembly, the wheel assembly including engagement structure configured to engage the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the first wing toolbar;
wherein the engagement between the rail and the engagement structure of the wheel assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly relative to the first wing toolbar.

12. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 11 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises a wheel frame configured to be removably coupled to the first wing toolbar, the engagement structure comprising a rail cradle defined by a portion of the wheel frame.

13. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 12 , wherein the rail cradle defines a shape or profile that is complementary to a corresponding shape or profile defined by the rail such that the wheel frame circumferentially engages the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the first wing toolbar.

14. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 13 , wherein the rail cradle includes at least one engagement surface configured to circumferentially engage at least one adjacent rail wall of the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the first wing toolbar.

15. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 14 , wherein the at least one engagement surface comprises a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface oriented relative to the first engagement surface such that the rail cradle defines a rail engagement angle between the first and second engagement surfaces, and wherein the at least one adjacent rail wall of the rail comprises a first rail wall and a second rail wall oriented relative to the first rail wall at an angle that is complementary to the rail engagement angle of the rail cradle.

16. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein rail engagement angle is approximately 90 degrees.

17. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 12 , wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a forked wheel arm pivotably coupled to the wheel frame and a wheel rotationally supported by the forked wheel arm.

18. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 17 , wherein the wheel assembly further comprises an actuator coupled between the wheel frame and the forked wheel arm.

19. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 11 , wherein the second wing toolbar defines a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, the implement further comprising:
a second rail coupled to the second wing toolbar and extending in the lateral direction along a length of the second wing toolbar; and
a second wheel assembly configured to be removably coupled to the second wing toolbar such that the second rail is positioned between the second wing toolbar and a portion of the second wheel assembly, the second wheel assembly including engagement structure configured to engage the second rail when the second wheel assembly is installed relative to the second wing toolbar;
wherein the engagement between the rail and the engagement structure of the second wheel assembly is configured to prevent rotation of the second wheel assembly relative to the second wing toolbar.

20. The multi-wing agricultural implement of claim 11 , wherein the multi-wing implement comprises a multi-wing planter and the plurality of laterally extending toolbars are configured to support a plurality of laterally spaced row units.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• De Carvalho João Augusto Bello
• Dekam Monte Lee
• Seetamsetti Arun Santosh
• Mcluckie Austin Joseph

Classifications

• A01B63/006 Primary

  Lateral adjustment of wheels · CPC title

• A01B71/02 Primary

  Setting or adjusting mechanisms · CPC title