US 12,035,646 B2Granted

Integrated transport coupling system

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsJixin Chen, Michael W. Mossman, Michael L. Vandeven, Duane M. Bomleny

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Abstract

A transport assembly for a harvesting head that includes head connector arms, a transport axle, and a coupling system with a latch actuator, and first and second latch mechanisms coupled to the latch actuator and located at opposite ends of the transport axle. The transport assembly functions in working and transport modes. In the working mode, the first and second latch mechanisms latch the first and second head connector arms to the transport axle to latch the harvesting head to the transport axle. When the latch actuator is activated, the first and second latch mechanisms release the first and second head connector arms from the transport axle to allow the harvesting head to separate from the transport axle. When the latch actuator is not activated, the first and second latch mechanisms can be biased to remain latched.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A transport assembly for a harvesting head, the transport assembly comprising:

a first head connector arm;
a second head connector arm;
an elongated transport axle having a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite from the first end;
and
a coupling system comprising:
a latch actuator;
a first latch mechanism coupled to the latch actuator and located at the first end of the transport axle;
a second latch mechanism coupled to the latch actuator and located at the second end of the transport axle;
wherein the transport assembly is configured to function in and transition between a working mode and a transport mode;
wherein in the working mode, the first latch mechanism latches the first head connector arm to the transport axle and the second latch mechanism latches the second head connector arm to the transport axle to latch the harvesting head to the transport axle;
and
wherein when the latch actuator is activated, the first latch mechanism releases the first head connector arm and the second latch mechanism releases the second head connector arm from the transport axle to allow the harvesting head to separate from the transport axle.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/119,852Filed 11 Dec 2020
Published: US 2022/0183202 A116 Jun 2022
Granted: 16 Jul 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A01B 1/00
Hand tools
A01B 59/064
For machines mounted on tractors: for connection to the front of the tractor
A01B 59/006
Details, component parts: latched hooks
A01B 73/005
Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width: for…