Tractor implement orientation system
OwnerStephen A. Perrenoud, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This self-propelled articulation-steered tractor has a positive adjustment system for controlling the orientation (both elevation and lateral tilt) of a transverse implement mounted on either the front or rear assembly of the tractor, and a reactive adjustment system for allowing terrain-responsive orientation of the axle of the other assembly (front or rear) not carrying the transverse implement. The positive adjustment system is operator controlled. The reactive system may comprise a mounting of the axle for the non-implement-carrying assembly so it freely pivots with respect to the frame of that assembly. An articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system is provided for lateral tilt movement between the front and rear assemblies of the articulation-steered tractor.
Claims32
A self-propelled articulation-steered tractor equipped with an implement orientation system, said tractor having a front assembly and a rear assembly in longitudinal relationship, each said assembly comprising a frame having lateral dimensions and a transverse axle on laterally spaced wheels for supporting said frame, said tractor having a vertical-axis articulation pivot joint linking the frame of said rear assembly to the frame of said front assembly, articulation turning means for turning said front assembly relative to said rear assembly about said vertical-axis articulation joint to steer and tractor over terrain, a transverse implement mounted on the frame of one of said assemblies at a location in front of the axle thereof, and a positive adjustment system for controlling the orientation of said implement of said one assembly and a reactive adjustment system for allowing terrain-responsive orientation of the axle of the other said assembly;
- i. said positive adjustment system comprising
- a. operator-actuated elevational means extending between said frame of said one assembly and said transverse implement for adjusting the vertical elevational orientation of said transverse implement with respect to the terrain,
- b. a medially located pivot mount structure fixed to the frame of said one assembly for mounting an axle thereto,
- c. a pivot mount at a medial location on said axle of said one assembly for mounting said axle in pivotable relationship to said pivot mount structure of said frame of said one assembly, and
- d. laterally positioned-actuated tilt adjustment means mounted between a lateral location on the frame of said one assembly and a location laterally spaced from said medial location on said axle of said one assembly, for adjusting the lateral pivot orientation of said frame of said one assembly with respect to said axle of said one assembly, to thereby adjust the transverse tilt of said transverse implement mounted on the frame of said one assembly with respect to the terrain,
- ii. said reactive adjustment system comprising structural means for allowing transverse swivel pivot movement of the axle of said other assembly reactively to the lay of the terrain under the wheels of said other assembly and independently of the pivot orientation of the frame of said one assembly, said reactive adjustment system being entirely separate from all elements of said positive adjustment system,
- iii. whereby said transverse implement is effectively adjustable in orientation as to both elevation and transverse tilt in a manner completely independent of the lay of variable terrain while said tractor is supported and is moved on its wheels over such terrain as well as in a manner completely independent of the swivel pivot orientation of the axle of said other assembly and in a manner completely and exclusively under the control of an operator, while at the same time maintaining all wheels of said articulation-steered tractor in supported relationship on the terrain even when the terrain is differently sloped under the wheels of said one assembly as compared to the other,
- iv. said tractor additionally including means for locking the axle of said one assembly against pivot movement with respect to the frame of said one assembly at an operator's discretion, said locking means comprising an arm member and means for fixing said arm member in rigid position between the frame of said one assembly and the axle of said one assembly at a location on each laterally spaced from said medially located pivot mount structure of said one assembly.
A self-propelled articulation-steered tractor equipped with an implement orientation system, said tractor having a front assembly and a rear assembly in longitudinal relationship, each said assembly comprising a frame having lateral dimensions and a transverse axle on laterally spaced wheels for supporting said frame, said tractor having a vertical-axis articulation pivot joint linking the frame of said rear assembly to the frame of said front assembly, articulation turning means for turning said front assembly relative to said rear assembly about said vertical-axis articulation joint to steer said tractor over terrain, an articulation joint transverse swivel point system for transverse swivel point movement between the respective frames of said front and rear assemblies, a transverse implement mounted on the frame of one of said assemblies at a location in front of the axle thereof, and a positive adjustment system for controlling the orientation of said implement of said one assembly and a reactive adjustment system for allowing terrain-responsive orientation of the axle of the other said assembly;
- i. said positive adjustment system comprising
- a. operator-actuated elevational means extending between said frame of said one assembly and said transverse implement for adjusting the vertical elevational orientation of said transverse implement with respect to the terrain,
- b. a medially located pivot mount structure fixed to the frame of said one assembly for mounting an axle thereto,
- c. a pivot mount at a medial location on said axle of said one assembly for mounting said axle in pivotable relationship to said pivot mount structure of said frame of said one assembly, and
- d. laterally positioned operator-actuated tilt adjustment means mounted between a lateral location on the frame of said one assembly and a location laterally spaced from said medial location on said axle of said one assembly, for adjusting the lateral pivot orientation of said frame of said one assembly with respect to said axle of said one assembly, to thereby adjust the transverse tilt of said transverse implement mounted on the frame of said one assembly with respect to the terrain,
- ii. said reactive adjustment system comprising structural means for allowing transverse swivel pivot movement of the axle of said other assembly reactively to the lay of the terrain under the wheels of said other assembly and independently of the pivot orientation of the frame of said one assembly,
- iii. whereby said transverse implement is effectively adjustable in orientation as to both elevation and transverse tilt in a manner completely independent of the lay of variable terrain while said tractor is supported and is moved on its wheels over such terrain as well as in a manner completely independent of the swivel pivot orientation of the axle of said other assembly and in a manner completely and exclusively under the control of an operator, while at the same time maintaining all wheels of said articulation-steered tractor in supported relationship on the terrain even when the terrain is differently sloped under the wheels of said one assembly as compared to the other.
A self-propelled articulation-steered tractor equipped with an implement orientation system, said tractor having a front assembly and a rear assembly in longitudinal relationship, each said assembly comprising a frame having lateral dimensions and a transverse axle on laterally spaced wheels for supporting said frame, said tractor having a vertical-axis articulation pivot joint linking the frame of said rear assembly to the frame of said front assembly, articulation turning means for turning said front assembly relative to said rear assembly about said vertical-axis articulation joint to steer said tractor over terrain, a transverse implement mounted on the frame of one of said assemblies at a location in front of the axle thereof, and a positive adjustment system for controlling the orientation of said implement of said one assembly and a reactive adjustment system for allowing terrain-responsive orientation of the axle of the other said assembly:
- i. said positive adjustment system comprising
- a. operator-actuated elevational means extending between said frame of said one assembly and said transverse implement for adjusting the vertical elevational orientation of said transverse implement with respect to the terrain,
- b. a medially located pivot mount structure fixed to the frame of said one assembly for mounting an axle thereto,
- c. a pivot mount at a medial location on said axle of said one assembly for mounting said axle in pivotable relationship to said pivot mount structure of said frame of said one assembly, and
- d. laterally positioned operator-actuated tilt adjustment means mounted between a lateral location on the frame of said one assembly and a location laterally spaced from said medial location on said axle of said one assembly, for adjusting the lateral pivot orientation of said frame of said one assembly, to thereby adjust the transverse tilt of said transverse implement mounted on the frame of said one assembly with respect to the terrain,
- ii. said reactive adjustment system comprising structural means for allowing transverse swivel pivot movement of the axle of said other assembly reactively to the lay of the terrain under the wheels of said other assembly and independently of the pivot orientation of the frame of said one assembly,
- iii. whereby said transverse implement is effectively adjustable in orientation as to both elevation and transverse tilt in a manner completely independent of the lay of variable terrain while said tractor is supported and is moved on its wheels over such terrain as well as in a manner completely independent of the swivel pivot orientation of the axle of said other assembly and in a manner completely and exclusively under the control of an operator, while at the same time maintaining all wheels of said articulation-steered tractor in supported relationship on the terrain even when the terrain is differently sloped under the wheels of said one assembly as compared to the other,
- iv. said tractor additionally including means for locking the axle of said one assembly against pivot movement with respect to the frame of said one assembly at an operator's discretion, said locking means comprising an arm member and means for fixing said arm member in rigid position between the frame of said one assembly and the axle of said one assembly at a location on each laterally spaced from said medially located pivot mount structure of said one assembly.
A self-propelled articulation-steered tractor comprising a front assembly and a rear assembly in longitudinal relationship, each said assembly comprising a frame having lateral dimensions, said tractor having a vertical-axis articulation pivot joint linking the frame of said rear assembly to the frame of said front assembly, an articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system for transverse swivel pivot movement between the frames of said front and rear assemblies, and operator-actuated power means mounted for positively controlling the transverse swivel pivot movement of said articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system at an operator's discretion.
A self-propelled articulation-steered tractor comprising a front assembly and a rear assembly in longitudinal relationship, each said assembly comprising a frame having lateral dimensions, and tractor having a vertical-axis articulation pivot joint linking the frame of said rear assembly to the frame of said front assembly, and an articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system for transverse swivel pivot movement between the frames of said front and rear assemblies, wherein said articulation pivot joint comprises a connector extending from each said frame of said tractor, and wherein said articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system comprises first and second coupling members coupling together for relative rotary movement with respect to each other in a transverse vertical plane, said first coupling member being immovably fixed to one of said frames of said tractor, and said second coupling member being immovably fixed to the articulation joint connector for said one frame, said tractor additionally including means for locking said coupling members against relative rotary movement with respect to each other, said locking means comprising an arm member and means for fixing said arm member in rigid position between said one frame and said second coupling member.
A self-propelled articulation-steered tractor comprising a front assembly and a rear assembly in longitudinal relationship, each said assembly comprising a frame having lateral dimensions, and tractor having a vertical-axis articulation pivot joint linking the frame of said rear assembly to the frame of said front assembly, and an articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system for transverse swivel pivot movement between the frames of said front and rear assemblies, wherein said articulation pivot joint comprises a connector extending from each said frame of said tractor, and wherein said articulation joint transverse swivel pivot system comprises first and second coupling members coupling together for relative rotary movement with respect to each other in a transverse vertical plane, said first coupling member being immovably fixed to one of said frames of said tractor, and said second coupling member being immovably fixed to the articulation joint connector for said one frame, said tractor additionally including means for holding said coupling means in stable relationship against relative rotary movement with respect to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.