Routing hydrostatic ground drive hoses in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorJeffrey C. Trowbridge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ground drive hose routing system and method for a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize segments of a hose arrangement that are constrained to lie and move primarily in only one direction, to isolate horizontal hose movement related to track-width adjustment from vertical hose movement resulting from action of suspension members. For steerable wheels, an additional pivotable segment is utilized to accommodate turning motion while maintaining isolation between other primarily horizontally and vertically constrained movable segments of the hose arrangement.
Claims20
A ground drive hose routing system for a self-propelled agricultural product applicator having a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid mounted on an applicator main frame supported above a ground surface by a ground engaging wheel operatively connected to the frame by an independent suspension and propulsion unit mounted on a horizontally movable axle member for adjusting track width of the wheel, the suspension and propulsion unit also having a hydraulic propulsion motor that is movable horizontally with respect to the frame under action of the movable axle, and movable vertically with respect to both the frame and the movable axle member under action of the suspension, the ground drive hose routing system comprising:
- a hydraulic hose arrangement connected in fluid communication between the source of hydraulic fluid on the frame and the propulsion motor on the independent suspension and propulsion unit;
- the hydraulic hose arrangement also defining a horizontally constrained movable segment and a vertically constrained movable segment of the hose arrangement;
- the horizontally constrained segment and the vertically constrained segment being connected in fluid communication with one another in such a manner that movements of the hose arrangement in response to horizontal movement of the axle member, and vertical movement of the propulsion motor under action of the suspension are isolated from one another.
A self-propelled agricultural product applicator having a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid mounted on an applicator main frame supported above a ground surface by a ground engaging wheel operatively connected to the frame by an independent suspension and propulsion unit mounted on a horizontally movable axle member for adjusting track width of the wheel and having a hydraulic propulsion motor that is movable horizontally with respect to the frame under action of the movable axle, and movable vertically with respect to both the frame and the movable axle member under action of the suspension, and a ground drive hose routing system comprising:
- a hydraulic hose arrangement connected in fluid communication between the source of hydraulic fluid on the frame and the propulsion motor on the independent suspension and propulsion unit;
- the hydraulic hose arrangement also defining a horizontally constrained movable segment and a vertically constrained movable segment of the hose arrangement;
- the horizontally constrained segment and the vertically constrained segment being connected in fluid communication with one another in such a manner that movements of the hose arrangement in response to horizontal movement of the axle member, and vertical movement of the propulsion motor under action of the suspension are isolated from one another.
A method for routing a ground drive hydrostatic hose in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator having a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid mounted on an applicator main frame supported above a ground surface by a ground engaging wheel operatively connected to the frame by an independent suspension and propulsion unit mounted on a horizontally movable axle member for adjusting track width of the wheel and having a hydraulic propulsion motor that is movable horizontally with respect to the frame under action of the movable axle, and movable vertically with respect to both the frame and the movable axle member under action of the suspension, the method comprising:
- connecting a hydraulic hose arrangement in fluid communication between the source of hydraulic fluid on the frame and the propulsion motor on the independent suspension and propulsion unit in such a manner that the hydraulic hose arrangement defines a horizontally constrained movable segment and a vertically constrained movable segment of the hose arrangement;
- and
- further connecting the horizontally constrained segment and the vertically constrained segment in fluid communication with one another in such a manner that movements of the hose arrangement in response to horizontal movement of the axle member, and vertical movement of the propulsion motor under action of the suspension are isolated from one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.