Integrated transport coupling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035646-B2
Application number	US-202017119852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 11, 2020
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A transport assembly for a harvesting head that includes head connector arms, a transport axle, and a coupling system with a latch actuator, and first and second latch mechanisms coupled to the latch actuator and located at opposite ends of the transport axle. The transport assembly functions in working and transport modes. In the working mode, the first and second latch mechanisms latch the first and second head connector arms to the transport axle to latch the harvesting head to the transport axle. When the latch actuator is activated, the first and second latch mechanisms release the first and second head connector arms from the transport axle to allow the harvesting head to separate from the transport axle. When the latch actuator is not activated, the first and second latch mechanisms can be biased to remain latched.

First claim

We claim:

1. A transport assembly for a harvesting head, the transport assembly comprising:
a first head connector arm;
a second head connector arm;
an elongated transport axle having a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite from the first end; and
a coupling system comprising:
a latch actuator;
a first latch mechanism coupled to the latch actuator and located at the first end of the transport axle;
a second latch mechanism coupled to the latch actuator and located at the second end of the transport axle;

wherein the transport assembly is configured to function in and transition between a working mode and a transport mode;
wherein in the working mode, the first latch mechanism latches the first head connector arm to the transport axle and the second latch mechanism latches the second head connector arm to the transport axle to latch the harvesting head to the transport axle; and
wherein when the latch actuator is activated, the first latch mechanism releases the first head connector arm and the second latch mechanism releases the second head connector arm from the transport axle to allow the harvesting head to separate from the transport axle.

2. The transport assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first actuator with a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the first head connector arm and the distal end is connected to the harvesting head;
a second actuator with a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the second head connector arm and the distal end is connected to the harvesting head;
wherein in the working mode, the first and second actuators cushion the ride of the harvesting head on the transport axle.

3. The transport assembly of claim 2 , wherein the coupling system further comprises:
a bellcrank connected to the latch actuator;
a first latch rod with a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the bellcrank and the distal end is connected to the first latch mechanism;
a second latch rod with a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is connected to the bellcrank and the distal end is connected to the second latch mechanism;
wherein when the latch actuator is activated, the bellcrank turns to pull the proximal end of the first latch rod away from the first latch mechanism which pulls the distal end of the first latch rod to cause the first latch mechanism to release the first head connector arm, and the bellcrank simultaneously turns to pull the proximal end of the second latch rod away from the second latch mechanism which pulls the distal end of the second latch rod to cause the second latch mechanism to release the second head connector arm.

4. The transport assembly of claim 3 ,
wherein the first latch mechanism comprises a first latch pin connected to the distal end of the first latch rod, where the first latch pin is biased to remain in a latched position;
the second latch mechanism comprises a second latch pin connected to the distal end of the second latch rod, where the second latch pin is biased to remain in a latched position;
wherein when the latch actuator is activated, the bellcrank turns to pull the proximal end of the first latch rod away from the first latch mechanism which pulls the distal end of the first latch rod to cause the first latch pin to move from the latched position to release the first head connector arm, and the bellcrank simultaneously turns to pull the proximal end of the second latch rod away from the second latch mechanism which pulls the distal end of the second latch rod to cause the second latch pin to move from the latched position to release the second head connector arm.

5. The transport assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first latch mechanism further comprises a first spring configured to bias the first latch pin to remain in the latched position; and the second latch mechanism further comprises a second spring configured to bias the second latch pin to remain in the latched position.

6. The transport assembly of claim 4 ,
wherein the first latch mechanism further comprises a first latch guide and a first retractor, where the first latch guide is fixedly attached to the transport axle and the first latch pin is configured to move horizontally through the first latch guide; and where the first retractor attaches the first latch pin to the distal end of the first latch rod;
wherein the second latch mechanism further comprises a second latch guide and a second retractor, where the second latch guide is fixedly attached to the transport axle and the second latch pin is configured to move horizontally through the second latch guide; and where the second retractor attaches the second latch pin to the distal end of the second latch rod;
wherein when the latch actuator is activated, the bellcrank turns to pull the proximal end of the first latch rod away from the first latch mechanism which pulls the first retractor to cause the first latch pin to move horizontally through the first latch guide to move from the latched position to release the first head connector arm, and the bellcrank simultaneously turns to pull the proximal end of the second latch rod away from the second latch mechanism which pulls the second retractor to cause the second latch pin to move horizontally through the second latch guide to move from the latched position to release the second head connector arm.

7. The transport assembly of claim 6 ,
wherein the first latch mechanism further comprises a first spring with a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is attached to the first retractor and the distal end is attached to the first latch guide such that the first spring biases the first latch pin to remain in the latched position;
wherein the second latch mechanism further comprises a second spring with a proximal end and a distal end, where the proximal end is attached to the second retractor and the distal end is attached to the second latch guide such that the second spring biases the second latch pin to remain in the latched position;
wherein when the latch actuator is activated, the bellcrank turns to pull the proximal end of the first latch rod away from the first latch mechanism which pulls the first retractor to stretch the first spring and cause the first latch pin to move horizontally through the first latch guide to move from the latched position to release the first head connector arm, and the bellcrank simultaneously turns to pull the proximal end of the second latch rod away from the second latch mechanism which pulls the second retractor to stretch the second spring and cause the second latch pin to move horizontally through the second latch guide to move from the latched position to release the second head connector arm; and
wherein when the latch actuator is no longer activated, the first spring returns to its rest length which pulls the first retractor back which causes the first latch pin to move back horizontally through the first latch guide and return to the latched position and causes the distal end of the first latch rod to move towards the first latch mechanism which pushes the bellcrank and the latch actuator to an inactive position; and the second spring simultaneously returns to its rest length which pulls the second retractor back which causes the second latch pin to move back horizontally through the second latch guide and return to the latched position and causes the distal end of the second latch rod to move towards the second latch mechanism which pushes the bellcrank and the latch actuator to the inactive position.

8. The transport assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first head connector arm has a first striker plate and the second head connect

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Chen Jixin
• Mossman Michael W
• Vandeven Michael L
• Bomleny Duane M

Classifications

• B60D1/145

  consisting of an elongated single bar or tube · CPC title

• A01D57/28

  Windrower attachments with tines · CPC title

• A01B73/005

  for endwise transportation, i.e. the direction of transport being substantially perpendicular to the direction of agricultural operation (A01B73/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B73/00

  Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width (arrangements of lifting devices for soil working implements A01B63/00) · CPC title

• A01D75/004

  for mowers · CPC title