Track assembly for farm implement
AssigneeUnverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Van Mill, Christopher M. Self, John Walvatne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile farm implement includes a track assembly with a plurality of arms that are pivotally coupled to support idler wheels and bogie wheels such that the track assembly is able to better conform to the terrain when the implement is towed behind a tractor or otherwise moved.
Claims22
A farm implement comprising:
- left and right track assemblies for assisting in moving the farm implement along a ground surface in a line of travel, wherein each track assembly comprises
- a tilt arm comprising front and rear ends;
- and
- a camber arm coupled to the tilt arm such that the camber arm permits the tilt arm to pivot about a first axis perpendicular to the line of travel and a second axis parallel to the line of travel;
- wherein the camber arm is located between the front and rear ends of the tilt arm.
A method for assisting movement of a farm implement along a ground surface in a line of travel, wherein the farm implement includes at least two track assemblies, and each track assembly comprises a tilt arm, a camber arm coupled to the tilt arm, a rear idler wheel coupled to the tilt arm, a front idler wheel coupled to the tilt arm and positioned in front of the rear idler wheel along the line of travel, and a track belt looped around the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel to make contact with the ground surface, the method comprising:
- pivoting the tilt arm about a first axis perpendicular to the line of travel, such that front and rear ends of the tilt arm move in vertical directions to conform the track assembly to a profile of the ground surface;
- and
- pivoting the tilt arm about a second axis parallel to the line of the travel, such that top and bottom sides of the tilt arm move in lateral directions to conform the track assembly to the profile of the ground surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.