Back to results
US 10,518,920 B2Granted
System and method for towing a mobile bagging machine
AssigneeSRC Innovations, LLC
InventorSteven R. Cullen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for towing a bagging machine are disclosed. The system includes a coupler connected to a hopper that is configured to raise and lower relative to a chassis of the bagging machine. The chassis has at least six wheels in contact with the ground that remain in contact with the ground when the coupler is attached to a towing vehicle hitch. The hopper raises to attach the coupler to the hitch and lowers to engage the hitch for towing, while keeping the wheels on the ground.
Claims13
A mobile bagging machine, comprising:
- a chassis having a front end and a rear end;
- at least three axles mounted to the chassis;
- a bagging tunnel mounted at the rear end of the chassis;
- a hopper having a front end and a rear end, the hopper pivotably mounted to the chassis at a rear end of the hopper and configured to pivot about a horizontal axis, the hopper having a coupler at a front end of the hopper;
- a packing assembly disposed between the bagging tunnel and the hopper;
- and a first linear actuator configured to cause the hopper to selectively pivot to change the height of the coupler relative to the chassis, the first linear actuator further comprising a first end coupled to the chassis and a second end coupled to the hopper, wherein two of the axles are tandem axles, wherein adjacent wheels on the tandem axles are driven by direct contact with a common drive wheel, wherein a support beam spans the bagging machine and supports a first common drive wheel and a second common drive wheel, and wherein the common drive wheels are configured to selectively engage and disengage the adjacent wheels by the actuation of a second linear actuator configured for raising and lowering the support beam.
3 more elements
A method of towing a mobile bagging machine, comprising:
- providing a coupler mounted to a hopper, the hopper configured to have a front end, wherein the hopper is pivotably mounted to a chassis that comprises a plurality of wheels at a rear end of the hopper, and raising or lowering the front end of the hopper pivots the hopper relative to the chassis;
- raising the front end of the hopper to lift the coupler, with all wheels of the chassis maintaining contact with a support surface, wherein raising the front end of the hopper comprises extending a first linear actuator coupled to the hopper and the chassis, and lowering the coupler comprises retracting the first linear actuator;
- positioning a hitch of a tow vehicle below the coupler;
- lowering the coupler onto the hitch to transfer a portion of the weight of the hopper onto the hitch;
- and securing the coupler to the hitch, wherein the bagging machine comprises:
- the chassis having a front end and a rear end;
- at least three axles mounted to the chassis;
- a bagging tunnel mounted at the rear end of the chassis;
- a packing assembly disposed between the bagging tunnel and the hopper;
- and wherein two of the axles are tandem axles, and wherein adjacent wheels on the tandem axles are driven by direct contact with a common drive wheel wherein a support beam spans the bagging machine and supports a first common drive wheel and a second common drive wheel, and wherein the common drive wheels are configured to selectively engage and disengage the adjacent wheels by the actuation of a second linear actuator configured for raising and lowering the support beam.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.