Drive system for an agricultural machine with a floating work tool
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsKent L. Thompson, Shane A. Bollinger, Stuart Gene Van Donselaar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive system for agricultural implements having at least one floating head and a tongue that may be disposed at various angles relative to a longitudinal angle of the implement. Two swivel gearbox assemblies are used, each comprising a first 90° gearbox rigidly attached to the implement and a second 90° gearbox that is permitted to rotate about an axis passing through one of its shafts and one of the first 90° gearbox's shaft. Because the tongue angle is variable, the drive shafts for driving the implement must take on a plurality of angles. The swiveling gearbox assemblies allow variable angles at the tongue and at the header.
Claims6
1-31. (canceled)
A method of providing a drive system for a towed implement, the towed implement comprising a frame, a header, a work tool operatively attached to the header, a tongue operatively, pivotally attached to the frame such that said tongue may be disposed at various angles relative to the frame and relative to a usual direction of travel when in operation, the method comprising:
- (a) operatively connecting a first end of a first driveline to a power takeoff of a towing vehicle;
- (b) operatively connecting a second end of the first driveline to a first end of a tongue jackshaft;
- (c) operatively connecting a first end of a second driveline to a second end of the tongue jackshaft,
- (d) operatively connecting a second end of the second driveline to a first shaft of a first frame gearbox;
- (e) permitting a housing of the first frame gearbox to rotate about an axis of rotation;
- (f) operatively connecting a first shaft of a second frame gearbox to a second shaft of the first frame gearbox on the axis of rotation of the first frame gearbox housing;
- (g) operatively, rigidly attaching a housing of the second frame gearbox to the towed implement frame;
- and
- (h) operatively connecting a first end of a third driveline to a second shaft of the second frame gearbox, said second shaft of the second frame gearbox having an axis of rotation, said axis of rotation being angularly disposed to the axis of rotation of the first frame gearbox with an angle different from 0°.
A method of providing drive to a mower [9] supported by a sub-frame [6 & 8] attached to a main frame [2,15, 62, 10], the mower having an inner end and an outer end with an operating position wherein the inner end is located near the main frame and the outer end is located away from the main frame, the method comprising:(a) positioning a first driveshaft [23] near the main frame operatively connected to the input shaft of a first gearbox [35,36] supported by the main frame;
- (b) operatively connecting a second driveline [20] to the output shaft of the first gearbox and to the input shaft of a second gearbox [21] supported by the sub-frame, at the outer end of the work tool;
- (c) operatively connecting a third driveline [27] to the output shaft of the second gearbox and to the outer end of the mower.
A method of providing drive to a work tool [9] supported by a sub-frame [6 & 8] attached to a main frame [2,15, 62, 10], the work tool having an inner end and an outer end with an operating position wherein the inner end is located near the main frame and the outer end is located away from the main frame, the method comprising:(a) positioning a first driveshaft [23] near the main frame operatively connected to the input shaft of a first gearbox [35,36] supported by the main frame;
- (b) operatively connecting a second driveline [20] to the output shaft of the first gearbox and to the input shaft of a second gearbox [21] supported by the sub-frame, at the outer end of the work tool;
- (c) operatively connecting a third driveline [27] to the output shaft of the second gearbox and to the outer end of the work tool.
A method of supporting a work tool [9] with a main frame [2,15, 62, 10], the work tool having an inner end and an outer end with an operating position wherein the inner end is located near the main frame and the outer end is located away from the main frame, the method comprising providing a subframe [6&8&26]:
- (a) that is pivotally connected to the main frame;
- (b) that includes a support structure [26] capable of supporting the work tool from one end in a cantilevered manner;
- (c) wherein the support structure is positioned at the outer end of the work tool.
A method of supporting and providing drive to a work tool [9] with the work tool mounted on a main frame [2,15, 62, 10], the work tool having an inner end and an outer end with an operating position wherein the inner end is located near the main frame and the outer end is located away from the main frame, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a subframe [6&8]:
- (i) that is pivotally connected to the main frame;
- (ii) that includes a support structure capable of supporting the work tool from one end in a cantilevered manner;
- (iii) wherein the support structure is positioned at the outer end of the work tool
- (b) providing a driveline:
- (i) with a first drive shaft positioned near the main frame to transfer power to a first gearbox supported by the mainframe and positioned near the inner end of the work tool
- (ii) a second drive shaft aligned with the subframe to transfer power from the first gearbox to a second gearbox supported on the subframe and positioned near the support structure
- (iv) a third drive shaft aligned with the support structure and providing power to the outer end of the work tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.