# US 10,370,046 B2 · Track undercarriage camber stop method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,046 B2 - Document ID: US10370046B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/411,622 - Filed: 2017-01-20 - Published: 2017-07-27 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-22 - Assignees: Norwood Sales, Inc. - Applicants: Norwood Sales, Inc. - Inventors: Tom Lykken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370046B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/084: Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence) - A01B 51/04: drawn by animal or tractor - A01B 76/00: Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 - B62D 55/104: Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G) - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - B62D 17/00: Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) ## Abstract An undercarriage assembly including a track assembly that can be oriented to align with the primary roll axis of the farm implement. The track assembly can be pivotably connected to an undercarriage arm of the farm implement such that the track assembly can be pivoted about a pivot axis parallel to the roll axis of the farm implement. In this configuration, when moving a farm implement in a direction parallel to the roll axis, the track assembly can pivot around the pivot axis in response to an angled road surface to maximize the amount of the track surface that contacts the road surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An undercarriage assembly for a farm implement, comprising: an undercarriage arm; a track assembly pivotably connected to the undercarriage arm, the track assembly having a continuous track moveable around a plurality of rollers to contact an underlying surface beneath the farm implement; and a tilt control linkage having a first end pivotably connected to the track assembly and a second end having a camber stop block slidably received within a track in the undercarriage arm, wherein the track assembly is configured to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to a roll axis of the farm implement to align the continuous track with the underlying surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The undercarriage assembly of claim 1, wherein the track assembly further comprises: a track frame defining a socket for receiving a bearing stud of the undercarriage arm to pivotably connected the track assembly to the undercarriage arm, wherein the plurality of rollers is mounted on the track frame such that pivoting the track frame pivots the continuous track. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The undercarriage assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of rollers comprises: at least two idler rollers; and at least one secondary roller positioned between the idler wheels, wherein the idler wheels and the secondary roller are oriented in a linear configuration to define a planar portion of the continuous track for interfacing with the underlying surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The undercarriage assembly of claim 1, wherein the camber stop block is slidable within the track along a slide axis transverse to the pivot axis to pivot the track assembly around the pivot axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The undercarriage assembly of claim 4, wherein the undercarriage arm further comprises: a camber stop plate moveable to engage the camber stop block, wherein the camber stop plate prevents sliding of the camber stop block and pivoting of the track assembly about the pivot axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The undercarriage assembly of claim 1, wherein the tilt control linkage is offset from the undercarriage arm such that the tilt control linkage and undercarriage arm limit rotation of the track assembly in a plane parallel to the pivot axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The undercarriage assembly of claim 1, wherein the undercarriage arm further comprises a vertical adjustment assembly for moving the undercarriage arm along a vertical axis to elevate and lower the track assembly. ### Claim 8 A farm implement, comprising: an implement frame, wherein at least one farming tool is mounted on the implement frame; an undercarriage arm operably connected to the implement frame; a track assembly pivotably connected to the undercarriage arm, the track assembly having a continuous track moveable around a plurality of rollers to contact an underlying surface beneath the farm implement; and a tilt control linkage having a first end pivotably connected to the track assembly and a second end having a camber stop block slidably received within a track in the undercarriage arm, wherein the track assembly is configured to pivot about a pivot axis parallel to a roll axis of the farm implement to align the continuous track with the underlying surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The farm implement of claim 8, wherein the track assembly further comprises: a track frame defining a socket for receiving a bearing stud of the undercarriage arm to pivotably connected the track assembly to the undercarriage arm, wherein the plurality of rollers is mounted on the track frame such that pivoting the track frame pivots the continuous track. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The farm implement of claim 9, wherein the plurality of rollers comprises: at least two idler rollers; and at least one secondary roller positioned between the idler wheels, wherein the idler wheels and the secondary roller are oriented in a linear configuration to define a planar portion of the continuous track for interfacing with the underlying surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The farm implement of claim 8, wherein the camber stop block is slidable within the track along a slide axis transverse to the pivot axis to pivot the track assembly around the pivot axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The farm implement of claim 11, wherein the undercarriage arm further comprises: a camber stop plate moveable to engage the camber stop block, wherein the camber stop plate prevents sliding of the camber stop block and pivoting of the track assembly about the pivot axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The farm implement of claim 8, wherein the tilt control linkage is offset from the undercarriage arm such that the tilt control linkage and undercarriage arm limit rotation of the track assembly in a plane parallel to the pivot axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The farm implement of claim 8, wherein the undercarriage arm further comprises a vertical adjustment assembly movably connecting the undercarriage arm to the implement frame, the vertical adjustment assembly configured to move the undercarriage arm along a vertical axis to elevate and lower the track assembly. ### Claim 15 A method of moving a farm implement, comprising: providing an implement frame having undercarriage arm pivotably connected to a track assembly, the track assembly having a continuous track moveable around a plurality of rollers; moving the frame implement across an underlying surface along a roll axis; pivoting the track assembly around a pivot axis parallel to the roll axis to align the continuous track with the underlying surface; connecting the track assembly to the undercarriage arm with a tilt control linkage, the tilt control linkage having a first end pivotably connected to the track assembly and a second end having a stop block slidably received within a track in the undercarriage arm; and sliding the camber stop block within the track along a slide axis transverse to the pivot axis to pivot the track assembly around the pivot axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the track assembly further comprises: a track frame defining a socket for receiving a bearing stud of the undercarriage arm to pivotably connect the track assembly to the undercarriage arm, wherein the plurality of rollers is mounted on the track frame such that pivoting the track frame pivots the continuous track. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the undercarriage arm along a vertical axis to elevate and lower the track assembly.