Walking beam axle assembly for an agricultural implement

A walking beam axle assembly for an agricultural implement having a main frame adapted for movement across ground in a forward working direction, the assembly comprising:

• a main axle beam adapted to be mounted in fixed relation to the main frame of the implement to extend in a lateral direction oriented transversely to the forward working direction of the implement;
• two walking beams supported at opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each walking beam being pivotally coupled to the main axle beam at an intermediate pivot location on the walking beam between opposing ends of the walking beam;
• each walking beam being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about a respective walking beam axis oriented in the lateral direction of the main axle beam;
• two hubs pivotally supported on the main axle beam at respective hub locations spaced inward axially of the main axle beam relative to the opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each hub being coupled in fixed relation to a respective one of the walking beams by a pair of brace members coupled between the hub and the walking beam at respective brace locations on the walking beam;
• the brace locations of each walking beam being spaced apart at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• a pair of wheels rotatable supported on each walking beam at spaced apart wheel locations at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• each hub being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about the walking beam axis of the respective walking beam;
• and
• a pair of mounting plates at laterally opposing ends of the main axle beam having fastener apertures therein so as to be adapted to be fastened to the main frame of the implement using threaded fasteners extending through the mounting plates as the only connection of the assembly to the main frame of the implement.

A walking beam axle assembly for an agricultural implement having a main frame adapted for movement across ground in a forward working direction, the assembly comprising:

• a main axle beam adapted to be mounted in fixed relation to the main frame of the implement to extend in a lateral direction oriented transversely to the forward working direction of the implement;
• two walking beams supported at opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each walking beam being pivotally coupled to the main axle beam at an intermediate pivot location on the walking beam between opposing ends of the walking beam;
• each walking beam being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about a respective walking beam axis oriented in the lateral direction of the main axle beam;
• two hubs pivotally supported on the main axle beam at respective hub locations spaced inward axially of the main axle beam relative to the opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each hub being coupled in fixed relation to a respective one of the walking beams by a pair of brace members coupled between the hub and the walking beam at respective brace locations on the walking beam;
• the brace locations of each walking beam being spaced apart at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• a pair of wheels rotatable supported on each walking beam at spaced apart wheel locations at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• each hub being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about the walking beam axis of the respective walking beam;
• and
• a bushing formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction encircling the main axle beam between each hub and the main axle beam.

A walking beam axle assembly for an agricultural implement having a main frame adapted for movement across ground in a forward working direction, the assembly comprising:

• a main axle beam adapted to be mounted in fixed relation to the main frame of the implement to extend in a lateral direction oriented transversely to the forward working direction of the implement;
• two walking beams supported at opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each walking beam being pivotally coupled to the main axle beam at an intermediate pivot location on the walking beam between opposing ends of the walking beam;
• each walking beam being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about a respective walking beam axis oriented in the lateral direction of the main axle beam;
• two hubs pivotally supported on the main axle beam at respective hub locations spaced inward axially of the main axle beam relative to the opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each hub being coupled in fixed relation to a respective one of the walking beams by a pair of brace members coupled between the hub and the walking beam at respective brace locations on the walking beam;
• the brace locations of each walking beam being spaced apart at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• and
• a pair of wheels rotatable supported on each walking beam at spaced apart wheel locations at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• each hub being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about the walking beam axis of the respective walking beam;
• wherein the main axle beam comprises a tubular member having a cylindrical outer surface rotatably supporting the hubs thereon;
• and
• wherein each hub comprises a plurality of arcuate sections coupled to one another using fasteners so as to fully encircle the cylindrical outer surface of the main axle beam.

An agricultural implement comprising:

• a main frame adapted for movement across ground in a forward working direction;
• and
• a walking axle assembly comprising:
• a main axle beam mounted in fixed relation to the main frame of the implement to extend in a lateral direction oriented transversely to the forward working direction of the implement;
• two walking beams supported at opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each walking beam being pivotally coupled to the main axle beam at an intermediate pivot location on the walking beam between opposing ends of the walking beam;
• each walking beam being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about a respective walking beam axis oriented in the lateral direction of the main axle beam;
• two hubs pivotally supported on the main axle beam at respective hub locations spaced inward axially of the main axle beam relative to the opposing ends of the main axle beam respectively;
• each hub being coupled in fixed relation to a respective one of the walking beams by a pair of brace members coupled between the hub and the walking beam at respective brace locations on the walking beam;
• the brace locations of each walking beam being spaced apart at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• and
• a pair of wheels rotatable supported on each walking beam at spaced apart wheel locations at diametrically opposing sides of the intermediate pivot location of the respective walking beam;
• each hub being pivotal relative to the main axle beam about the walking beam axis of the respective walking beam together with the respective walking beam.