Mechanism for mounting agricultural equipment to a multi-purpose self-propelled straddle carrier

A method for mounting of equipment selected from a variety of various items onto a multi-purpose self-propelled straddle carrier for the cultivation, treatment and harvesting of fruit-bearing shrubs planted in rows, said self-propelled straddle carrier comprising a main frame suitable for lifting and lowering and comprising a first pair of parallel and spaced girders, the equipment being supported by elongate supports when in a state of waiting prior to installation on the self-propelled straddle carrier, and comprising an auxiliary frame suitable for connection to the main frame by detachable connection mechanism and comprising a second pair of girders,

• said method being characterized in that it comprises:
• a) using, for one of the first and second pairs of girders, two girders having each a structure that forms a channel suitable for receiving and guiding one of the girders of the other pair of girders during longitudinal displacement of the main frame with respect to the auxiliary frame supported by the elongate supports;
• b) moving the self-propelled straddle carrier to a position so that each of the girders of the first pair is aligned in substantially the same vertical plane as a corresponding girder from the second pair, and the end of each of the girders of the first pair is at a level lower than the first end of the corresponding girder of the second pair of girders;
• c) raising the main frame over a distance sufficient to make the respective ends of the first and second pairs of girders engage, the one within the other;
• d) moving the main frame longitudinally with respect to the auxiliary frame to a position defined by the mutual engagement of stop members;
• e) raising the main frame further such that the first pair of girders carries the second pair of girders, the auxiliary frame and the equipment borne by that frame, and eliminating the load from the weight of the auxiliary frame and the equipment unloading on the elongate supports;
• f) affixing the auxiliary frame to the main frame using the detachable connection mechanism;
• g) removing the elongate supports;
• and
• h) lowering the main frame to bring the carrier to the required level for road transport or for operation of the installed equipment.