Agricultural vehicle support frame

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9930821-B2
Application number	US-201615016074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2015
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

An Agricultural vehicle has a frame supported by a front pair of wheels and a back pair of wheels, wherein the back pair of wheels are steerable and wherein each wheel of the back pair of wheels is connected to the frame via a respective intermediate support element that is pivotable with respect to the frame in such a manner that the back pair of wheels are movable between a first position wherein the back pair of wheels defines a first track width and are positioned at a first distance from the front pair of wheels, and a second position wherein the back pair of wheels defines a second track width and are positioned at a second distance from the front pair of wheels, wherein the first track width is larger than the second track width and wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a front pair of wheels;
a back pair of wheels, said frame being supported by the front pair of wheels and the back pair of wheels, said back pair of wheels are steerable, said back pair of wheels are movable between a first position wherein the back pair of wheels defines a first track width and are positioned at a first distance from the front pair of wheels, and a second position wherein the back pair of wheels defines a second track width and are positioned at a second distance from the front pair of wheels, said first track width is larger than the second track width and the first distance is smaller than the second distance, said back pair of wheels in the second position are positioned substantially behind the frame, each said back wheel of said back pair of wheels including a steering knuckle;
a respective intermediate support element connecting each said steering knuckle of said back pair of wheels to the frame, each said respective intermediate support element being pivotable with respect to the frame in such a manner that said back pair of wheels are movable between said first position and said second position;
a pair of steering mechanisms in the form of a pair of steering rods respectively and pivotally connected to said frame and said steering knuckles of said back pair of wheels for steering the back pair of wheels in both the first position and the second position, said steering rods respectively extending substantially parallel to said intermediate support elements between said frame and said steering knuckles; and
a bar pivotally coupled to said steering knuckles of said back pair of wheels and interconnecting said back pair of wheels, said bar has an adaptable length, said bar extending horizontally between said back pair of wheels in both of said first position and said second position.

2. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a predetermined minimum clearance is provided in both the first position and the second position between the each one of the back pair of wheels and the frame to allow steering of the back wheels in both positions.

3. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the front pair of wheels defines a front track width and wherein the first track width is larger than the front track width and wherein the second track width is equal or smaller than the front track width.

4. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each said intermediate support element is pivotably connected to a central zone of the frame.

5. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bar comprises an actuator for moving the back pair of wheels between the first position and the second position by adapting the length of the bar.

6. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the back pair of wheels in the first position are positioned substantially adjacent to the frame.

7. A supporting assembly for an agricultural vehicle, the supporting assembly comprising:
a frame having a back end;
a front pair of wheels;
a back pair of wheels which are steerable, said back pair of wheels are movable between a first position where the wheels of the back pair of wheels define a first track width and are positioned at a first distance from the front pair of wheels of the agricultural vehicle, and a second position where the wheels of the back pair of wheels define a second track width and are positioned at a second distance from the front pair of wheels, said first track width is larger than the second track width and the first distance is smaller than the second distance, said back pair of wheels in the second position are positioned substantially behind the frame, each said back wheel of said back pair of wheels including a steering knuckle;
a respective intermediate support element connecting each said steering knuckle of said back pair of wheels to the back end of the frame of the agricultural vehicle, each said respective intermediate support element is pivotable with respect to the frame in such a manner that said back pair of wheels is movable between said first position and said second position;
a pair of steering mechanisms in the form of a pair of steering rods respectively and pivotally connected to the back end of the frame and said steering knuckles of said back pair of wheels for steering the back pair of wheels in both the first position and the second position, said steering rods respectively extending substantially parallel to said intermediate support elements between said frame and said steering knuckles; and
a bar pivotally coupled to said steering knuckles of said back pair of wheels and interconnecting said back pair of wheels, said bar has an adaptable length, said bar extending horizontally between said back pair of wheels in both of said first position and said second position.

8. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein a predetermined minimum clearance is provided in both the first position and the second position between the each one of the back pair of wheels and the frame to allow steering of the back wheels in both positions.

9. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the front pair of wheels defines a front track width and wherein the first track width is larger than the front track width and wherein the second track width is equal or smaller than the front track width.

10. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein each said intermediate support element is pivotably connected to a central zone of the frame.

11. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the bar comprises an actuator for moving the back pair of wheels between the first position and the second position by adapting the length of the bar.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Clifford Jimmie D
• Duquesne Frank R G
• Farley Herbert M

Classifications

• B62D7/18

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title

• B60B35/10 Primary

  adjustable for varying track {(tools for axial movement of wheels on axles B60B29/008)} · CPC title

• B62D49/0678

  Tractors of variable track width or wheel base (for vehicles in general B60B23/12 and B60B35/10) · CPC title

• A01B63/006 Primary

  Lateral adjustment of 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