Combination C-shaped spring and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9769974-B2
Application number	US-201414546344-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2014
Priority date	Jun 24, 2014
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A C-spring contains an inner spring that is spaced apart from the outer primary spring. In one example usage, the upper and lower legs of the C-spring have rear regions respectively configured for being mounted to a tubular frame tool frame member of a ground working implement, such as a disk, and to a bearing housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spring system comprising:
a disk bearing standard attached to an agricultural implement frame;
the disk bearing standard having a combination spring;
the combination spring having a C-shaped spring and an overload spring nested within the C-shaped spring;
the C-shaped spring having an upper leg and a lower leg joined by a bight;
the overload spring having a top leg and a bottom leg joined by a curved piece;
the top leg and the bottom leg, each being a straight section; and
wherein at least one of the upper leg and the top leg, and the lower leg and the bottom leg, are attached together; and
wherein in a first condition, the overload spring is in contact with one of the upper and lower legs and is spaced apart from the other one of the upper and lower legs;
wherein in a second condition, the overload spring is in contact with the upper leg at a first contact point and the lower leg at a second contact point, and at least a portion of the overload spring is spaced apart from the C-shaped spring between the first and second contacts points.

2. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein the overload spring comprises a V-shape spring with the curved piece spanning an apex of the V-shaped spring.

3. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein the top leg and the bottom leg form an angle of 40-80 degrees.

4. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein an end of the top or the bottom leg is spaced from the lower and the upper leg, respectively, by at least 10% of a distance between the upper leg and the lower leg.

5. The spring system of claim 1 , further comprising a hard stop protrusion extended vertically from either the top or the bottom legs towards a space between the upper and the lower legs.

6. The spring system of claim 1 , further comprising a distance sensor mounted to an underside surface of the upper leg or an upperside surface of the lower leg, wherein the distance sensor is set up to measure a distance between legs of the combination spring.

7. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural frame is attached to a motor vehicle; and a rock sensor mounted to a front of the motor vehicle, wherein upon detection of rocks greater than a predetermined size, the motor vehicle slows, stops or alerts.

8. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein the lower leg and the bottom leg are attached together.

9. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein the upper leg and the top leg are attached together.

10. The spring system of claim 8 , wherein an end of the top leg is joined to a slightly downwardly inclined straight end portion by a slightly curved portion having an upper curved surface.

11. The spring system of claim 9 , wherein a rear end of the top leg is provided with at least one of a lip or ledge that engages a rear end surface of the upper leg.

12. The spring system of claim 1 , wherein the overload spring is spaced apart from the bight of the C-shaped spring between the first and second contact points.

13. A spring system comprising:
a combination spring having a C-shaped spring and an overload spring nested within the C-shaped spring;
the C-shaped spring having an upper leg and a lower leg joined by a bight;
the overload spring having a top leg and a bottom leg joined by a curved piece;
the top leg and the bottom leg, each being a planar piece; and
wherein at least one of the upper leg and the top leg, and the lower leg and the bottom leg, are attached together; and
wherein in a first condition, the overload spring is in contact with one of the upper and lower legs and is spaced apart from the other one of the upper and lower legs;
wherein in a second condition, the overload spring is in contact with the upper leg at a first contact point and the lower leg at a second contact point, and at least a portion of the overload spring is spaced apart from the C-shaped spring between the first and second contacts points.

14. The spring system of claim 13 , wherein the overload spring comprises a V-shape spring with the curved piece spanning an apex of the V-shaped spring.

15. The spring system of claim 13 , further comprising a distance sensor mounted to an underside surface of one of the upper leg or an upperside surface of the lower leg, wherein the distance sensor is set up to measure a distance between legs of the combination spring.

16. The spring system of claim 13 , wherein the overload spring is spaced apart from the bight of the C-shaped spring between the first and second contact points.

17. A spring system comprising:
a combination spring having a main C-shaped spring and an overload spring nested within the main C-shaped spring;
the main C-shaped spring having an upper leg and a lower leg joined by a bight;
the overload spring having a top leg and a bottom leg joined by a curved piece;
the upper leg and the top leg being tied together; and
the bottom leg includes a straight section forming a 40-55 degrees angle away from the top leg; and
wherein in a first condition, the overload spring is in contact with the upper leg and is spaced apart from the lower leg;
wherein in a second condition, the overload spring is in contact with the upper leg at a first contact point and the lower leg at a second contact point, and at least a portion of the overload spring is spaced apart from the C-shaped spring between the first and second contacts points.

18. The spring system of claim 17 , wherein an end of the bottom leg is spaced from the lower leg, by at least 10% of a distance between the upper leg and the lower leg.

19. The spring system of claim 17 , further comprising a bearing housing and spool attached to an underside surface of the lower leg; and a ground working disk mounted to an axle of the spool.

20. The spring system of claim 17 , wherein the overload spring is spaced apart from the bight of the C-shaped spring between the first and second contact points.

21. The spring system of claim 17 , wherein a rear end of the top leg is provided with at least one of a lip or ledge that engages a rear end surface of the upper leg.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Cross Jacob W
• Janelle Luc
• Sporrer Adam D
• Sikora Anthony
• Beeck Mark D
• Connell Richard J
• Casper Robert T
• Schweitzer John M
• Wu Dolly Y

Classifications

• A01B61/046 Primary

  the device including an energy accumulator for restoring the tool to its working position · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title

• F16F3/023

  composed only of leaf springs · CPC title

• F16F2230/007

  with, or used as an end stop or buffer; Limiting excessive axial separation · CPC title

• F16F1/187

  shaped into an open profile, i.e. C- or U-shaped · CPC title