System for aligning skid-mounted equipment on an agricultural product applicator

A system for aligning an equipment skid on a frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, the alignment system comprising:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• and
• a vertically extending skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface, the skid-mounted alignment block adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be inserted into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• and
• the frame and skid are further configured for mating contact along a substantially horizontally extending mounting surface of the frame defining and forming part of a substantially horizontally extending mounting plane, and the skid-mounted alignment block is brought into position between the alignment features of the vertically extending frame mounting surface by moving the skid parallel to the horizontal mounting plane as the vertically extending mounting surfaces of the frame and skid are brought into operative contact with one another.

A system for aligning an equipment skid on a frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, the alignment system comprising:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• and
• a vertically extending skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface, the skid-mounted alignment block adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be inserted into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• the skid alignment features are facing edges of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the frame mounting surface;
• and
• the frame and skid are further configured for mating contact along a substantially horizontally extending mounting surface of the frame defining and forming part of a substantially horizontally extending mounting plane, and the skid-mounted alignment block is brought into position between the alignment features of the vertically extending frame mounting surface by moving the skid parallel to the horizontal mounting plane as the vertically extending mounting surfaces of the frame and skid are brought into operative contact with one another.

A system for aligning an equipment skid on a frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, the alignment system comprising:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a vertically extending skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface, the skid-mounted alignment block adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame;
• a second pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features defined by the frame mounting surface;
• and
• a second skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion between and engagement with the second pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame along the vertically extending mounting plane;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be inserted into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• the skid alignment features are facing edges of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the frame mounting surface;
• the second set of skid alignment features are facing edges of a second set of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the mounting surface of the frame;
• and
• the vertical mounting plane is defined by an aft-facing, substantially vertical surface of the frame, such that the frame and skid mounting surfaces align the skid along the fore-aft axis of the frame, and the frame-mounted alignment bars and skid-mounted alignment blocks align the skid transversely on the frame.

An agricultural product applicator, comprising a skid for mounting equipment on a frame of the applicator, where the frame defines substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, and the skid and frame are adapted for alignment of the skid on the frame by a skid alignment system including:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• and
• a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be brought into an alignment position by insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along the ft parallel plane;
• and
• the vertically extending frame mounting surface and the vertically extending skid mounting surface are in operative contact with the skid-mounted alignment block in the alignment position.

An agricultural product applicator, comprising a skid for mounting equipment on a frame of the applicator, where the frame defines substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, and the skid and frame are adapted for alignment of the skid on the frame by a skid alignment system including:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• and
• a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be inserted into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along the parallel plane;
• and
• the frame and skid are further configured for mating contact along a substantially horizontally extending mounting surface of the frame defining and forming part of a substantially horizontally extending mounting plane, and the skid-mounted alignment block is brought into position between the alignment features of the vertically extending frame mounting surface by moving the skid parallel to the horizontal mounting plane as the vertically extending mounting surfaces of the frame and skid are brought into operative contact with one another.

An agricultural product applicator, comprising a skid for mounting equipment on a frame of the applicator, where the frame defines substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, and the skid and frame are adapted for alignment of the skid on the frame by a skid alignment system including:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• and
• a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be inserted into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along the parallel plane;
• the skid aligning features are facing edges of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the mounting surface of the frame;
• and
• the frame and skid are further configured for mating contact along a substantially horizontally extending mounting surface of the frame defining and forming part of a substantially horizontally extending mounting plane, and the skid-mounted alignment block is brought into position between the alignment features of the vertically extending frame mounting surface by moving the skid parallel to the horizontal mounting plane as the vertically extending mounting surfaces of the frame and skid are brought into operative contact with one another.

An agricultural product applicator, comprising a skid for mounting equipment on a frame of the applicator, where the frame defines substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, and the skid and frame are adapted for alignment of the skid on the frame by a skid alignment system including:

• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features projecting from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• a second pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features defined by the frame mounting surface;
• and
• a second skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion between and engagement with the second pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame along the parallel plane;
• wherein:
• the skid-mounted alignment block is adapted to be inserted into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along the parallel plane;
• the skid aligning features are facing edges of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the mounting surface of the frame;
• the second set of skid alignment features are facing edges of a second set of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the frame mounting surface;
• and
• the vertical mounting plane is defined by an aft-facing, substantially vertical surface of the frame, such that the frame and skid mounting surfaces align the skid along the fore-aft axis of the frame, and the frame-mounted alignment bars and skid-mounted alignment blocks align the skid transversely on the frame.

A method for aligning an equipment skid on the frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, the method comprising:

• aligning the skid on the frame using an alignment system including:
• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame;
• a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features extending from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• and
• a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• and
• selectively inserting the skid-mounted alignment block into an alignment position by inserting the skid-mounted alignment block into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along the parallel plane;
• wherein the vertically extending frame mounting surface and the vertically extending skid mounting surface are in operative contact with the skid-mounted alignment block in the alignment position.

A method for aligning an equipment skid on the frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, the method comprising:

• aligning the skid on the frame using an alignment system including:
• a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame;
• a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid;
• a pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features extending from the frame mounting surface, the pair of skid alignment features defining an insertion cavity therebetween;
• and
• a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface and adapted for insertion into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on a plane generally parallel to the frame mounting surface;
• and
• selectively inserting the skid-mounted alignment block into the insertion cavity between the pair of skid alignment features by horizontally moving at least one of the frame and the skid toward each other along an axis perpendicular to the frame mounting surface and the skid mounting surface and by vertically moving the skid mounting surface along the parallel plane;
• wherein:
• the skid alignment features are facing edges of spaced, substantially parallel, vertically extending frame-mounted alignment bars fixedly attached to the frame and extending outward from the frame mounting surface, and the method includes bringing the skid-mounted alignment block into engagement between the frame-mounted alignment bars;
• and
• the frame and skid are further configured for mating contact along a substantially horizontally extending mounting surface of the frame defining and forming part of a substantially horizontally extending mounting plane, and the method further includes bringing the skid-mounted alignment block into position between the alignment features of the vertically extending frame mounting surface by moving the skid parallel to the horizontal mounting plane as the vertically extending mounting surfaces of the frame and skid are brought into operative contact with one another.