US 5,992,535 AGranted

Dual acting implement leveling system with transport stabilization

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsJames Franklin Bierl, Garrett Lee Goins

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Abstract

A dual action leveling system for a disk or similar implement connected between the hitch and the lift wheel assembly includes a transport stop for providing a fixed hitch position for good transport leveling and stability. The system includes a fore-and-aft extending member with first and second coil springs and an adjustable spring abutment member threaded through one end of a rod for providing leveling for different ground conditions. Weight can be transferred to and from the front of the implement by simply turning a crank located at one end of the rod. For example, weight can be transferred to the front of the implement to provide compensation for added weight of a rear mounted attachment. The spring structure provides a self-compensating effect which resists changes in front-to-rear implement leveling with changes in ground conditions.

Claims11

Dependent claims

In an implement having a fore-and-aft extending frame with forward and aft mounted earthworking tools, a movable lift wheel assembly for raising and lowering the frame between field-working and transport positions, and a hitch pivotally connected to the frame and extending forward therefrom to a connector adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle, a leveling system for limiting relative vertical movement of the front and rear portions of the frame as the implement is raised to the transport position and lowered to the field-working position and for adjusting the attitude of the implement in different field-working conditions, the leveling system comprising:

a bell crank pivotally connected to the frame and to the hitch and movable with the hitch as the hitch pivots relative to the frame as the frame is raised and lowered by the lift wheel assembly;
an arm connected for movement with the lift wheel assembly;
an adjustment member connected to the bell crank;
spring structure connected between the adjustment member and the bell crank and movable with the arm as the lift assembly is moved to raise and lower the implement, the spring structure biasing the bell crank in a first direction when the frame is raised and in a second direction opposite the first direction when the frame is lowered, thereby providing dual action leveling for the implement frame;
and
a transport stop limiting movement of the bell crank to a preselected stop position to provide a generally fixed hitch transport position for stability during transport, the spring structure facilitating full raising of the implement by the lift wheel assembly when the bell crank reaches the stop position.

3 more elements

In an implement having a fore-and-aft extending frame with forward and aft earthworking tools mounted on front and rear portions of the frame, respectively, a movable lift wheel assembly for raising and lowering the frame between field-working and transport positions, and a hitch pivotally connected to the frame and extending forward therefrom to a connector adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle, a leveling system for limiting relative vertical movement of the front and rear portions of the frame as the implement is raised to the transport position and lowered to the field-working position and for adjusting the attitude of the implement for different field-working conditions, the leveling system comprising:

a bell crank pivotally connected to the frame and to the hitch and movable with the hitch as the hitch pivots relative to the frame as the frame is raised and lowered by the lift wheel assembly;
an arm connected for movement with the lift wheel assembly;
a fore-and-aft extending adjustment member having a forward end connected to the bell crank;
fore-and-aft extending spring structure connected between the adjustment member and the bell crank and movable with the arm as the lift assembly is moved to raise and lower the implement, the spring structure biasing the bell crank in a first direction when the frame is raised and in a second direction opposite the first direction when the frame is lowered;
and
a transport stop limiting movement of the bell crank to a preselected stop position to provide a generally fixed hitch transport position, the spring structure facilitating continued movement of the arm and the lift wheel assembly and full raising of the implement by the lift wheel assembly when the transport stop reaches the stop position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.