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US 5,964,167 AGranted
Variable width field implement
OwnerBrian Moellerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable width field implement includes a central frame and wing assemblies which are pivotally attached to the central frame. Implement elements are pivotally attached to the wing assemblies. The field implement utilizes a collapsible parallelogram geometry and pivotal connections to allow the width between implement elements to be altered while at the same time the elements retain an orientation that is parallel to the direction of travel.
Claims15
A variable width field implement adapted to be moved in a direction of travel across an agricultural field comprising:
- an elongated frame having a forward end and a rearward end and a longitudinal axis extending in said direction of travel;
- two or more first wing assemblies, each having an inner end pivotally connected to said frame and an outer end extending laterally outwardly from said frame in a first direction;
- two or more second wing assemblies, each having an inner end pivotally connected to said frame and an outer end extending laterally outwardly from said frame in a second direction opposite from said first direction;
- a plurality of implement elements mounted to said first and second wing assemblies along the lengths thereof in spaced relationship to one another, each of said implement elements having an element axis oriented parallel to said direction of travel;
- each of said first and second wing assemblies being pivotal about said pivotal connection to said frame to move said outer end from a first wing position wherein said implement elements follow paths spaced a first distance apart to a second wing position wherein said implement elements follow paths spaced a second distance apart which is less than said first distance;
- said first and second wing assemblies each comprising a linkage mechanism pivotally connected to said implement elements and maintaining said element axes of said implement elements substantially parallel to said direction of travel throughout pivotal movement of said first and second wing assemblies between said first and second positions;
- a first longitudinal link pivotally connected to all of said first wing assemblies;
- and
- a second longitudinal link pivotally connected to all of said second wing assemblies.
6 more elements
A variable width field implement adapted to be moved in a direction of travel across an agricultural field comprising:
- an elongated frame having a forward end and a rearward end and a longitudinal axis extending in said direction of travel;
- a first wing assembly having an inner end connected to said frame and having an outer end extending away from said frame;
- a second wing assembly having an inner end connected to said frame and having an outer end extending away from said frame;
- said outer ends of said first and second wing assemblies being on opposite sides of said frame;
- each of said first and second wing assemblies comprising a first link having an inner end pivotally connected to said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical first link axis, and a second link having an inner end pivotally connected to said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical second link axis;
- a plurality of implement elements mounted to said first and second wing assemblies in spaced relation to one another, each of said implement elements being pivotally connected about a forward axis to said first link and pivotally connected about a rear axis to said second link;
- said first and second wing assemblies being pivotal about said first and second link axes from a forward position to a swept back position whereby said forward axis and said rear axis of each of said implement elements lie on an implement line which is substantially parallel to said direction of travel throughout movement of said first and second wing assemblies between said forward and swept back positions, and the distances between said implement lines of each of said implement elements are reduced as said first and second wing assemblies move from said forward to said swept back positions.
4 more elements
A variable width field implement adapted to be moved in a direction of travel across an agricultural field comprising:
- an implement frame;
- a first wing assembly comprising elongated first and second links each having first and second ends, said first ends of said first and second links being pivotally mounted to said frame for pivotal movement about vertical spaced apart first and second link axes, respectively;
- two or more implement elements, each of which is pivotally mounted to said first link for pivotal movement about a vertical first element axis and is pivotally mounted to said second link for pivotal movement about a second element axis, said first and second element axes of each of said implement elements defining an implement line;
- said first wing assembly being pivotal about said first and second link axes from a forward position wherein said implement lines of said two or more implement elements are spaced apart a first distance and are substantially parallel to said direction of travel to a swept back position wherein said implement lines of said two or more implement elements are spaced apart a second distance less than said first distance and are substantially parallel to said direction of travel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.