Castering wheel locking for implement lift system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9474199-B2
Application number	US-201414560021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A lift support system for a wheel assembly that provides variable support for the wing frame section of a tillage implement above the soil. The lift support system includes a vertically oriented tube slidably connected to the wing frame section for movement along a vertical axis. A wheel axle assembly is pivotally connected to the lower end of the tube and provides a support for the axle assembly. Wheels are journaled on the axle assemblies. A locking assembly selectively locks the wheel assembly in place when the tube is in a position for field transport and field operation with the locking mechanism being disengageable when the wing section is in a transport position to permit castoring of the wheel assemblies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tillage implement comprising:
a main frame section including a pull hitch tube extending in a travel direction;
at least one wing frame section pivotally connected to said mainframe section between a field position in which said wing frame is transverse to the travel direction and a transport position in which said wing frame is parallel to said travel direction;
wheel assemblies for variably positioning said mainframe section above the soil and oriented to enable rolling movement in the travel direction; and
at least one wheel assembly for variably positioning at least one wing frame section above the soil between a field position in which said wheel assembly is locked to permit movement only in the travel direction and a transport position in which said wheel assembly castors to support said at least one wing frame section, said wheel assembly including an axle for journaling at least one wheel, said axle assembly being pivotally connected to a vertically extending tube which is vertically displaceable relative to said at least one wing frame section;
said tillage implement further comprising a bar having a U-shaped section and displaceable between a position in which the U-shaped section is free of said axle assembly for permitting castoring movement and a second position in which the U-shaped section embraces and prevents pivoting movement.

2. The tillage implement of claim 1 , having at least a pair of wing sections.

3. The tillage implement of claim 1 , having a plurality of wheel assemblies for said at least one winged section.

4. The tillage implement of claim 1 , in which the wheel assemblies have three positions, one of which is a transport position, the second of which is a field transport position and the third of which is a field operation position.

5. The tillage implement of claim 1 , in which the bar has a stop limiting displacement relative to the said at least one winged section frame to cause the U-shaped section to be free of the wheel axle assembly upon elevating the wing frame section to a transport position.

6. The tillage implement of claim 5 , wherein said bar extends through and is displaceable vertically relative to said at least one wing frame section with said tubular element.

7. The tillage implement of claim 6 , wherein the bar has a cap limiting the extent to which the bar extends from said at least one wing frame section.

8. The tillage implement of claim 7 , further comprising a spring acting on the wing frame section and urging the bar in a direction to cause the U-shaped section to embrace the wheel axle assembly.

9. The tillage implement of claim 5 , wherein the U-shaped section has flared side edges to assist engagement.

10. The tillage implement of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic actuator connected between said wing frame and said wheel assembly.

11. A wheel support assembly providing a variable support for the wing frame section of a tillage implement, said wheel support comprising:
a vertically oriented elongated support for slidable connection to said wing frame section for movement along a vertical axis between a field position in which it is partially extended and a transport position in which it is fully extended;
a wheel axle assembly pivotally connected to the lower end of said vertically oriented elongated support;
wheels journaled on said axle assembly wherein said wheel axle assembly includes an axle for journaling at least one wheel, said axle assembly being pivotally connected to the vertically oriented elongated support which is vertically displaceable relative to said wing frame section;
a locking assembly for selectively locking said wheel axle assembly in place when said vertically oriented elongated support is in a field position, said locking mechanism being disengageable when said wing section is in a transport position; and
wherein said wheel support assembly further comprising a bar having a U-shaped section and displaceable between a position in which the U-shaped section is free of said axle assembly for permitting pivoting movement and a second position in which the U-shaped section embraces and prevents pivoting movement.

12. The wheel assembly support of claim 11 , in which the bar has a stop limiting displacement relative to the said at least one winged section frame to cause the U-shaped section to be free of the wheel axle assembly upon elevating the wing frame section to a transport position.

13. The wheel assembly support of claim 12 , wherein said bar extends through and is displaceable vertically relative to said at least one wing frame section with said vertically oriented elongated support.

14. The wheel assembly support of claim 13 , wherein the bar has a cap limiting the extent to which the bar extends from said at least one wing frame section.

15. The wheel assembly support of claim 14 , further comprising a spring acting on the wing frame section and urging the bar in a direction to cause the U-shaped section to embrace the wheel axle assembly.

16. The wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein the U-shaped section has flared side edges to assist engagement.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Sudbrink Matthew R
• Knobloch Dean A
• Valandingham Daniel Scott

Classifications

• A01B63/22 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01B73/065

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title

• A01B73/048

  the axis being oriented in transverse direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title