# US 11,299,222 B2 · Track assembly for farm implement

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- Number: US 11,299,222 B2
- Document ID: US11299222B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/230,713
- Filed: 2018-12-21
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-02
- Assignees: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Applicants: Unverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael D. Van Mill; Christopher M. Self; John Walvatne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299222B2

## CPC

- B62D 55/305: {acting on pivotably mounted idlers}
- B60P 3/22: Tank vehicles ({vehicles convertible from transport of fluids to transport of other types of goods B60P3/426}; tank aspects B65D90/00, F17C)
- B62D 55/06: with tracks without ground wheels
- B62D 55/084: Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence)
- B62D 55/0842: {Tracked vehicle with track carriages suspended on three points, e.g. by an equaliser bar}
- B62D 55/10: Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30)
- B62D 55/104: Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G)
- B62D 55/108: with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
- B62D 55/112: with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic
- B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
- B62D 55/15: Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings {(with lubrication means B62D55/092)}
- B62D 55/24: of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts
- B62D 55/30: Track-tensioning means
- B60Y 2200/22: Agricultural vehicles
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The farm implement of claim 1, wherein the tilt arm comprises an opening, and the camber arm is disposed in the opening of the tilt arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The farm implement of claim 2, wherein the tilt arm comprises an upper edge extending from the front end to the rear end, and the opening is disposed along the upper edge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The farm implement of claim 2, wherein the camber arm comprises a lateral bore defining the first axis and a longitudinal bore defining the second axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The farm implement of claim 3claim 4, wherein camber arm comprises one or more pivot pins extending into the longitudinal bore of the camber arm and coupled to the tilt arm, such that the camber arm and the tilt arm pivot together about the first axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The farm implement of claim 1, wherein the first axis intersects the second axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The farm implement of claim 1, wherein the camber arm comprises a generally horizontal base portion and a pair of upright portions extending upwardly from the base portion, such that the tilt arm is received between the pair of upright portions of the camber arm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The farm implement of claim 1, further comprising:
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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The farm implement of claim 8, further comprising:
an alignment arm pivotally coupled to the rear idler wheel or the front idler wheel so as to allow the pivotally-coupled front or rear idler wheel to pivot about a third axis that is vertical relative to the tilt arm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The farm implement of claim 8, further comprising:
a tensioner arm operatively coupled to the rear idler wheel or the front idler wheel for moving the coupled front or rear idler wheel in a forward or rearward direction along the line of travel to increase or decrease a distance between the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The farm implement of claim 8, further comprising:
a first bogie arm coupled to the tilt arm; and
a first bogie wheel coupled to the first bogie arm between the front idler wheel and the rear idler wheel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The farm implement of claim 11, wherein the first bogie arm is movable relative to the tilt arm so as to allow the first bogie wheel to move in a vertical direction relative to the tilt arm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The farm implement of claim 12, wherein the first bogie wheel is rotatably mounted to the first bogie arm at a first location and the first bogie arm is pivotally coupled to the tilt arm at a second location so as to allow the first bogie wheel to move in the vertical direction relative to the tilt arm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The farm implement of claim 11, further comprising:
a second bogie arm coupled to the tilt arm; and
a second bogie wheel coupled to the second bogie arm between the first bogie wheel and the rear idler wheel along the line of travel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The farm implement of claim 14, wherein the second bogie arm is movable relative to the tilt arm so as to allow the second bogie wheel to move in a vertical direction relative to the tilt arm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The farm implement of claim 1, wherein the tilt arm is configured to pivot about the first axis up to an angle of about 45° from a horizontal axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The farm implement of claim 1, wherein the tilt arm is configured to pivot about the second axis up to an angle of about 22.5° from a vertical axis.

### Claim 18

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.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the tilt arm comprises an opening, and the camber arm is disposed in the opening of the tilt arm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the tilt arm comprises an upper edge extending from the front end to the rear end, and the opening is disposed along the upper edge.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the camber arm comprises a lateral bore defining the first axis and a longitudinal bore defining the second axis.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein camber arm comprises one or more pivot pins extending into the longitudinal bore of the camber arm and coupled to the tilt arm, such that the camber arm and the tilt arm pivot together about the first axis.