Auxiliary tool assembly for an agricultural implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317367-A1
Application number	US-201715587467-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2017
Priority date	May 5, 2017
Publication date	Nov 8, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one aspect, an auxiliary tool assembly for an agricultural implement may be configured to support a finishing tool(s) at a location at or adjacent to the aft end of the implement. The auxiliary tool assembly may include a support arm extending lengthwise between a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of the support arm being pivotally coupled to a portion of the implement at or adjacent to its aft end so that the tool assembly is pivotable relative to the implement between a work position and a transport position. In addition, the finishing tool(s) may be configured to be coupled to or otherwise supported relative to the ground by the support arm at a location between its proximal and distal ends. Moreover, the auxiliary tool assembly may include one or more surface-engaging wheels coupled to the distal end of the support arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An agricultural implement for performing an operation relative to a surface of the ground, the implement comprising:
a frame extending between a forward end and an aft end; a tool bar coupled to the frame so as to be positioned at or adjacent to its aft end, the tool bar supporting a plurality of ground-engaging tools; an auxiliary tool assembly pivotally coupled to the tool bar such that the auxiliary tool assembly is movable between a work position and a transport position, the auxiliary tool assembly comprising:
a support arm including a proximal end pivotally coupled to the tool bar and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
a wheel coupled to the distal end of the support arm, the wheel configured to be raised relative to the surface of the ground when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position; and
a finishing tool coupled to the support arm at a mounting location defined between the proximal and distal ends of the support arm, the finishing tool being configured to engage the surface of the ground at a location aft of the ground-engaging tools supported by the tool bar when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position,
wherein, when the auxiliary tool assembly pivots from the work position to the transport position, the distal end of the support arm is lowered relative to the ground and the mounting location is raised relative to the ground such that the wheel is lowered into engagement with the surface of the ground while the finishing tool is raised relative to the surface of the ground.

2 . The implement of claim 1 , wherein the tool bar is configured to be moved between a lowered position, wherein the ground-engaging tools are engaged with the ground, and a raised position, wherein the ground-engaging tools are raised relative to the surface of the ground.

3 . The implement of claim 2 , wherein, when the tool bar is moved from the lowered position to the raised position, the support arm pivots relative to the tool bar to move the auxiliary tool assembly from the work position to the transport position such that the wheel is lowered into engagement with the surface of the ground while the finishing tool is raised relative to the surface of the ground.

4 . The implement of claim 1 , wherein the finishing tool comprises a rotary tool.

5 . The implement of claim 4 , wherein the rotary tool comprises at least one rolling basket configured to roll across the surface of the ground when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position.

6 . The implement of claim 5 , wherein the at least one rolling basket comprises at least one crumbler basket.

7 . The implement of claim 1 , wherein the wheel is coupled to the distal end of the support arm via a support bracket.

8 . The implement of claim 7 , wherein the support bracket is configured to swivel relative to the distal end of the support arm.

9 . The implement of claim 8 , wherein the support bracket is coupled to the distal end of the support arm via a mounting bracket rigidly coupled to the support arm, the support bracket being configured to swivel relative to mounting bracket about a fixed rotational axis.

10 . The implement of claim 1 , wherein the support arm includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, the first arm portion being angled relative to the second arm portion.

11 . The implement of claim 10 , wherein the first arm portion extends between the proximal end of the support arm and a bend defined in the support arm, the second arm portion extending between the bend and the distal end of the support arm.

12 . The implement of claim 10 , wherein the finishing tool is coupled to the first arm portion of the support arm and the wheel is coupled to the second arm portion of the support arm, the second arm portion being angled away from the surface of the ground relative to the first arm portion when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position.

13 . The implement of claim 1 , wherein a distance between a rotational axis of the wheel and the mounting location remains fixed as the auxiliary tool assembly is moved between the work and transport positions.

14 . The implement of claim 1 , wherein a distance between a rotational axis of the finishing tool and the distal end of the support arm remains fixed as the auxiliary tool assembly is moved between the work and transport positions.

15 . An auxiliary tool assembly for use with an agricultural implement including a frame extending between a forward end and an aft end, the auxiliary tool assembly comprising:
a support arm including a proximal end configured to be pivotally coupled to the frame and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the support arm configured to pivot relative to the frame to allow the auxiliary tool assembly to be moved between a work position and a transport position: a wheel coupled to the distal end of the support arm, the wheel configured to be raised relative to the surface of the ground when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position; and a finishing tool coupled to the support arm at a mounting location defined between the proximal and distal ends of the support arm, the finishing tool being configured to engage the surface of the ground at a location forward of the wheel when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position, wherein, when the auxiliary tool assembly pivots from the work position to the transport position, the distal end of the support arm is lowered relative to the ground and the mounting location is raised relative to the ground such that the wheel is lowered into engagement with the surface of the ground while the finishing tool is raised relative to the surface of the ground.

16 . The auxiliary tool assembly of claim 15 , wherein the finishing tool comprises a rotary tool.

17 . The auxiliary tool assembly of claim 15 , wherein the wheel is coupled to the distal end of the support arm via a support bracket, the support bracket being configured to swivel relative to the distal end of the support arm.

18 . The auxiliary tool assembly of claim 15 , wherein the support arm includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, the first arm portion being angled relative to the second arm portion.

19 . The auxiliary tool assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first arm portion extends between the proximal end of the support arm and a bend defined in the support arm, the second arm portion extending between the bend and the distal end of the support arm.

20 . The auxiliary tool assembly of claim 18 , wherein the finishing tool is coupled to the first arm portion of the support arm and the wheel is coupled to the second arm portion of the support arm, the second arm portion being angled away from the surface of the ground relative to the first arm portion when the auxiliary tool assembly is at the work position.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Kovach Michael G
• Faust Scott R
• Blunier Timothy R
• Kromminga Gaylen J

Classifications

• A01B63/145

  for controlling weight transfer between implements and tractor wheels · 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

• A01B49/027 Primary

  with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller · CPC title

• A01B63/16

  with wheels adjustable relatively to the frame · CPC title

• A01B29/06

  with special additional arrangements · CPC title