Lateral transport assembly for an agricultural header
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorsCecil R. Sudbrack, Todd F. Hertzler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A header for an agricultural vehicle including a frame having lateral ends and a transport assembly connected to the frame and configured for being positioned in a transport position and a storage position. The transport assembly includes a tandem axle support device including at least one pivot shaft pivotally connected to the frame, a first walking beam, and a second walking beam. The first and second walking beams are operably connected to and moveable by the at least one pivot shaft. The transport assembly also includes at least four wheels including a first pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the first walking beam and a second pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the second walking beam.
Claims17
A header for an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a transport assembly connected to the frame and configured for being positioned in a transport position and a storage position, the transport assembly comprising:
- a tandem axle support device comprising at least one pivot shaft pivotally connected to the frame, a first walking beam, and a second walking beam, the first and second walking beams are operably connected to and moveable by the at least one pivot shaft;
- and
- at least four wheels comprising a first pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the first walking beam and a second pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the second walking beam,
- wherein the at least one pivot shaft defines a longitudinal axis, the first walking beam defines a first longitudinal axis, and the second walking beam defines a second longitudinal axis, and
- wherein when the at least one pivot shaft is folded relative to the frame, the first and second longitudinal axes of the first walking beam and the second walking beam are coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the at least one pivot shaft in the storage position.
An agricultural vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- at least one connecting member;
- and
- a header, comprising:
- a frame removably attached to the at least one connecting member;
- and
- a transport assembly connected to the frame and configured for being positioned in a transport position and a storage position, the transport assembly comprising:
- a tandem axle support device comprising at least one pivot shaft pivotally connected to the frame, a first walking beam, and a second walking beam, the first and second walking beams are operably connected to and moveable by the at least one pivot shaft;
- and
- at least four wheels comprising a first pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the first walking beam and a second pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the second walking beam,
- wherein the at least one pivot shaft defines a longitudinal axis, the first walking beam defines a first longitudinal axis, and the second walking beam defines a second longitudinal axis, and
- wherein when the at least one pivot shaft is folded relative to the frame, the first and second longitudinal axes of the first walking beam and the second walking beam are coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the at least one pivot shaft in the storage position.
A method for transporting a header comprising a frame and a transport assembly connected to the frame and configured for being positioned in a transport position and a storage position, the transport assembly comprising a tandem axle support device comprising at least one pivot shaft pivotally connected to the frame, a first walking beam, and a second walking beam, the first and second walking beams are operably connected to and moveable by the at least one pivot shaft, and at least four wheels comprising a first pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the first walking beam and a second pair of tandem wheels removably connected to the second walking beam, the method comprising:
- positioning the transport assembly into the transport position to transport the header from one field to another field;
- positioning the transport assembly into the storage position to harvest a crop material with the header;
- disconnecting the at least four wheels from the first walking beam and the second walking beam;
- connecting at least one wheel of the at least four wheels to a lateral end of the frame and connecting at least one wheel of the at least four wheels to another lateral end of the frame such that at least two of the at least four wheels are configured for serving as gauge wheels for the header;
- and
- pivoting the at least one pivot shaft from the transport position into the storage position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.