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US 11,910,792 B2Granted
Tri-directional break-away boom assembly
AssigneeAGCO Corporation
InventorPetrus Henricus Johannes Bouten
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A break-away apparatus for a boom arm is positioned at a joint between a main boom and a boom tip to allow the boom tip to assume a neutral position and forward, rearward, and upward positions. A hinge assembly is positioned between the boom tip and main boom. The hinge assembly includes an upper ball joint, a first hinge, and a second hinge. The boom tip is movable relative to the main boom about an axis of the first hinge, about an axis of the second hinge axis, and/or about a pivot defined by the upper ball joint. A first spring assists a return of the boom tip to the neutral position.
Claims15
A boom arm assembly comprising:
- a main boom;
- a boom tip configured to assume a neutral position and to pivot to a forward position, a rearward position, and an upward position relative to the main boom;
- an upper ball joint connecting the main boom to the boom tip;
- a first hinge connected to the main boom, the first hinge having a first hinge axis defined between the upper ball joint and the first hinge;
- a second hinge connected to the boom tip, the second hinge having a second hinge axis defined between the upper ball joint and the second hinge;
- a hinge connecting bar connecting the first hinge to the second hinge;
- a first hinge seat attached to the main boom and having a resilient insert shaped to fit about a first portion of the hinge connecting bar;
- a second hinge seat attached to the boom tip and having a resilient insert shaped to fit about a second portion of the hinge connecting bar;
- and
- a spring assembly connecting the boom tip to the main boom at a second ball joint, the spring assembly comprising a first spring and an elongated rod, wherein the first spring applies a holding force on the boom tip toward the main boom such that the spring assembly provides a break-away threshold;
- wherein the boom tip is movable relative to the main boom about the first hinge axis, the second hinge axis, and a pivot point defined by the upper ball joint when the break-away threshold is exceeded;
- wherein the first spring urges the boom tip toward the neutral position relative to the main boom when the boom tip is not in the neutral position.
9 more elements
A sprayer vehicle, comprising:
- a frame supported by a plurality of wheels;
- an engine carried by the frame and configured to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels;
- a storage tank carried by the frame;
- a main boom carried by the frame;
- a boom tip configured to assume a neutral position and to pivot to a forward position, a rearward position, and an upward position relative to the main boom;
- an upper ball joint connecting the main boom to the boom tip;
- a first hinge connected to the main boom, the first hinge having a first hinge axis defined between the upper ball joint and the first hinge;
- a second hinge connected to the boom tip, the second hinge having a second hinge axis defined between the upper ball joint and the second hinge;
- a hinge connecting bar connecting the first hinge to the second hinge;
- a first hinge seat attached to the main boom and having a resilient insert shaped to fit about a first portion of the hinge connecting bar;
- a second hinge seat attached to the boom tip and having a resilient insert shaped to fit about a second portion of the hinge connecting bar;
- and
- a spring assembly connecting the boom tip to the main boom at a second ball joint, the spring assembly comprising a first spring and an elongated rod, wherein the first spring applies a holding force on the boom tip toward the main boom such that the spring assembly provides a break-away threshold;
- wherein the boom tip is movable relative to the main boom about the first hinge axis, the second hinge axis, and a pivot point defined by the upper ball joint when the break-away threshold is exceeded;
- wherein the first spring urges the boom tip toward the neutral position relative to the main boom when the boom tip is not in the neutral position.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.