# US 11,440,576 B2 · Agricultural vehicle

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- Number: US 11,440,576 B2
- Document ID: US11440576B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/275,252
- Filed: 2019-09-12
- Published: 2022-02-10
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-12
- Assignees: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
- Applicants: Mahindra & Mahindra Limited
- Inventors: Avinash Tighare; Vikas Singh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440576B2

## CPC

- B62D 1/14: Tillers, i.e. hand levers operating on steering columns
- A01B 59/066: {of the type comprising at least two lower arms and one upper arm generally arranged in a triangle, e.g. three-point hitches}
- B60G 1/00: Suspensions with rigid connection between axle and frame
- B60G 3/06: the arm being rigid
- B60G 3/145: {the arm forming the axle housing}
- B60G 17/00: Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load {(levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045)}
- B60N 2/38: specially constructed for use on tractors or like off-road vehicles
- B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
- B60T 7/06: Disposition of pedal
- B62D 1/16: Steering columns
- B62D 11/08: using brakes or clutches as main steering-effecting means
- B62D 17/00: Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in
- B62D 49/0678: {Tractors of variable track width or wheel base (for vehicles in general B60B23/12 and B60B35/10)}
- B60G 2200/132: with a single trailing arm
- B60G 2200/142: with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
- B60G 2200/44: steerable
- B60G 2204/1224: End mounts of stabiliser on wheel suspension
- B60G 2300/08: Agricultural vehicles
- B60G 2300/082: Tractors
- B60G 2500/30: Height or ground clearance
- 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)
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES

## Abstract

Agricultural vehicle (V) includes an operator's seat (S), a vehicular structure (C), a wheel support arrangement (100), a front bumper assembly (200), a position and draft control mechanism (30), a brake pedal linkage mechanism (500), a steering mechanism (600) and an exhaust device (700). The operator's seat S is configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) at at least one of a first seating position (Sf) corresponding to a first driving position, and a second seating position (Sr) corresponding to a second driving position, where the second seating position (Sr) is opposite to the first seating position (Sf). The vehicular structure (C) is configured to be moved between at least one lowered position in which each final drive housing (FH) is locked to vehicular structure (C) at corresponding first locking positions, and at least one raised position in which each final drive housing (FH) is locked to vehicular structure (C) at corresponding second locking positions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An agricultural vehicle (V) comprising:
an operator's seat (S);
a steering mechanism (600) comprising, a steering control arrangement (600S) including a steering control assembly (600H) and a steering control support member (600B) adapted to be connected to said steering control assembly (600H); and
a front bumper assembly (200),
wherein
said operator's seat (S) is configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) at at least one of a first seating position (Sf) corresponding to a first driving position, and a second seating position (Sr) corresponding to a second driving position, where the second seating position (Sr) is opposite to the first seating position (Sf);
said steering control assembly (600H) is adapted to be movably connected to said steering control support member (600B) and movable between a first position corresponding to the first driving position, and a second position corresponding to the second driving position; and
said front bumper assembly (200) is adapted to removably receive said operator's seat (S) at the second position when the vehicle (V) is to be operated from the second driving position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
a vehicular structure (C); and
a pair of final drive housings (FH) adapted to be coupled between a rear axle and corresponding rear wheels RW,
wherein
said vehicular structure (C) is configured to be moved between at least one lowered position in which each of said final drive housings (FH) is locked to said vehicular structure (C) at corresponding first locking positions, and at least one raised position in which each of said final drive housings (FH) is locked to said vehicular structure (C) at corresponding second locking positions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said front bumper assembly (200) is adapted to be removably connected to said vehicular structure (C) at the first position and the second position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering mechanism (600) comprises,
a steering arm (608L) having at least one first arm (608Lf) and at least one second arm (608Ls); and
at least one steering linkage (606) having a first end (606f) adapted to be operatively connected to a steering shaft (602), and a second end (606s),
wherein
the second end (606s) of said steering linkage (606) is adapted to be connected to at least one of the first arm (608Lf) of said steering arm (608L) in the first driving position, and the second arm (608Ls) of said steering arm (608L) in the second driving position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
a plurality of front axle beams (102L and 102R) comprising at least one left front axle beam (102L) and at least one right front axle beam (102R); and
a wheel alignment angle adjusting mechanism (104) adapted to be movably connected to said axle beams (102L and 102R),
wherein
said wheel alignment angle adjusting mechanism (104) is configured to alter the position of said axle beams (102L and 102R) to change an alignment angle of corresponding wheels (FW) of the vehicle (V).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a brake pedal linkage mechanism (500),
at least one left brake pedal linkage (506) adapted to be operatively connected to a left brake pedal assembly (502L), said left brake pedal linkage (506) having a first portion (506f) and a second portion (506s);
a first right brake pedal linkage (508F) adapted to be connected to a right brake pedal assembly (502R);
a second right brake pedal linkage (508S) adapted to be connected to said right brake pedal assembly (502R);
at least one first brake linkage assembly (510) having a first end (510X) adapted to be connected to at least one first wheel brake unit (BR1), and a second end (510Y); and
at least one second brake linkage assembly (512) having a first end (512X) adapted to be connected to at least one second wheel brake unit (BR2), and a second end (512Y),
wherein
said mechanism (500) is configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) in a first position corresponding to the first driving position in which the first portion (506f) of said left brake pedal linkage (506) is connected to the second end (510Y) of said first brake linkage assembly (510) and said first right brake pedal linkage (508F) is connected to the second end (512Y) of said second brake linkage assembly (512); and
said mechanism (500) is configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) in a second position corresponding to the second driving position in which the second portion (506s) of said left brake pedal linkage (506) is connected to the second end (512Y) of said second brake linkage assembly (512) and said second right brake pedal linkage (508S) is connected to the second end (510Y) of said first brake linkage assembly (510).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
a position and draft control mechanism (30) comprising,
a position control lever assembly (302) adapted to be pivotably connected to a first support structure (50F);
a locking arrangement (304) adapted to lock said position control lever assembly (302) at at least one of a plurality of positions; and
a linkage mechanism (306) adapted to couple said position control lever assembly (302) with an implement mounting structure (50) through a draft control mechanism (400),
wherein
a movement of said position control lever assembly (302) induces a change in the position of an implement; and
said draft control mechanism (400) is adapted to vary the draft of the implement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said draft control mechanism (400) comprises,
at least one housing (406);
at least one sliding assembly (402) adapted to be at least partially and slidably received inside said housing (406); and
at least one adjustable assembly (410) adapted to be at least partially received inside said housing (406) and disposed opposite to said sliding assembly (402),
wherein
at least one of said adjustable assembly (410) and said sliding assembly (402) is configured to be moved with respect to said housing (406) to vary the draft of the implement.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said draft control mechanism (400) comprises,
a first end cover (404) adapted to be connected to said housing (406);
a second end cover (407) adapted to connected to said housing (406) and disposed opposite to said first end cover (404); and
at least one resilient shock absorber arrangement (408) adapted to be provided between said sliding assembly (402) and at least one of said second end cover (407) and said adjustable assembly (410),
wherein
said resilient shock absorber arrangement (408) is adapted to dampen a shock load received by the implement.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 1 comprises an exhaust device (700) comprising,
a first exhaust member (702) adapted to be provided in fluid communication with at least one exhaust port of an engine (EG); and
a second exhaust member (704) defining an inlet (704i) adapted to be provided in fluid communication with said first exhaust member (702), and an outlet (704p),
wherein
a position of the outlet (704p) of said second exhaust member (704) is altered with respect to said first exhaust member (702) to direct the exhaust gases (G) away from said operator's seat (S).

### Claim 11

An agricultural vehicle (V) comprising:
a plurality of front axle beams (102L and 102R) comprising at least one left front axle beam (102L) and at least one right front axle beam (102R);
a wheel alignment angle adjusting mechanism (104) adapted to be movably connected to said axle beams (102L and 102R);
a front bumper assembly (200); and
an operator's seat (S) configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) at at least one of a first seating position (Sf) corresponding to a first driving position, and a second seating position (Sr) corresponding to a second driving position,
wherein
said mechanism (104) is configured to alter the position of said axle beams (102L and 102R) to change an alignment angle of corresponding wheels (FW) of the vehicle (V);
said front bumper assembly (200) is adapted to be removably connected to a vehicular structure (C) at a first position and a second position; and
said second seating position (Sr) corresponding to said second driving position in which said operator's seat (S) is removably provided on said front bumper assembly (200) when said bumper assembly (200) is in the second position, where the second seating position (Sr) is opposite to the first seating position (Sf).

### Claim 12

An agricultural vehicle comprising:
a vehicular structure (C);
a pair of final drive housings (FH) adapted to be coupled between a rear axle and corresponding rear wheels (RW);
a front bumper assembly (200); and
an operator's seat (S) configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) at at least one of a first seating position (Sf) corresponding to a first driving position, and a second seating position (Sr) corresponding to a second driving position,
wherein
said front bumper assembly (200) is adapted to be removably connected to said vehicular structure (C) at a first position and a second position;
said vehicular structure (C) is configured to be moved between at least one lowered position in which each of said final drive housings (FH) is locked to said vehicular structure (C) at corresponding first locking positions, and at least one raised position in which each of said final drive housings (FH) is locked to said vehicular structure (C) at corresponding second locking positions; and
said second seating position (Sr) corresponding to said second driving position in which said operator's seat (S) is removably provided on said front bumper assembly (200) when said bumper assembly (200) is in the second position, where the second seating position (Sr) is opposite to the first seating position (Sf).

### Claim 13

An agricultural vehicle (V) comprising:
a vehicular structure (C);
a pair of final drive housings (FH) adapted to be coupled between a rear axle and corresponding rear wheels (RW);
an operator's seat (S); and
a steering mechanism (600) comprising, a steering control arrangement (600S) including a steering control assembly (600H) and a steering control support member (600B) adapted to be connected to said steering control assembly (600H), a steering arm (608L) having at least one first arm (608Lf) and at least one second arm (608Ls), and at least one steering linkage (606) having a first end (606f) adapted to be operatively connected to a steering shaft (602), and a second end (606s),
wherein
said operator's seat (S) is configured to be provided in the vehicle (V) at at least one of a first seating position (Sf) corresponding to a first driving position, and a second seating position (Sr) corresponding to a second driving position in the vehicle (V), where the second seating position (Sr) is opposite to the first seating position (Sf);
said steering control assembly (600H) is adapted to be movably connected to said steering control support member (600B) and movable between a first position corresponding to the first driving position, and a second position corresponding to the second driving position;
the second end (606s) of said steering linkage (606) is adapted to be connected to at least one of the first arm (608Lf) of said steering arm (608L) in the first driving position, and the second arm (608Ls) of said steering arm (608L) in the second driving position of the vehicle (V); and
said vehicular structure (C) is configured to be moved between at least one lowered position in which each of said final drive housings (FH) is locked to said vehicular structure (C) at corresponding first locking positions, and at least one raised position in which each of said final drive housings (FH) is locked to said vehicular structure (C) at corresponding second locking positions.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle (V) as claimed in claim 13 comprises,
a plurality of front axle beams (102L and 102R) comprising at least one left front axle beam (102L) and at least one right front axle beam (102R); and
a wheel alignment angle adjusting mechanism (104) adapted to be movably connected to said axle beams (102L and 102R),
wherein
said mechanism (104) is configured to alter the position of said axle beams (102L and 102R) to change an alignment angle of corresponding wheels (FW) of the vehicle (V).