US 7,740,084 B2Granted

Agricultural implement frame, track assembly and cart

AssigneeLyn Rosenboom

InventorLyn Rosenboom

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Abstract

A utility cart and a folding stacking frame for mounting agriculture implements is disclosed. The folding stacking frame includes wings that extend to a working position transverse to the direction of travel of the utility cart to extend across numerous rows of crops. The frame permits the wings to be folded forward so that they are generally parallel with the direction of travel, and then stacked above the utility cart in a transportation position. The wings can be provided with self-tucking wheels that provide support for the wings when in the working position, and which tuck to a collapsed position when the wings are folded to the transportation position. The utility cart can ride on tracks which closely follow the contours of the ground. The track construction utilizes idler wheels mounted on tandem arms to support the track. The idler wheels pivot independently from each other, and allow the track to twist and bend to match the contours of the ground.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A track assembly for use in a utility cart, the track assembly comprising:

a frame including a tensioning structure adjustably spacing a first wheel a distance from a second wheel;
a top tandem arm pivotally connected to said frame at a pivot member such that said top tandem arm will pivot freely relative to said frame in a substantially vertical plane, said first wheel being directly connected to a first end of said top tandem arm at one end of said frame;
a bottom tandem arm having a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion, said top portion of said bottom tandem arm being pivotally connected to a second end of said top tandem arm, said pivot member being positioned between said first end and said second end of said top tandem arm;
a front tandem arm idler wheel operably connected to said front portion of said bottom tandem arm;
a rear tandem arm idler wheel operably connected to said rear portion of said bottom tandem arm;
and
a belt in engagement with said tandem arm idler wheels and said first and second wheels, said top tandem arm and said bottom tandem arm pivot in a first plane, and wherein said assembly further comprises an axle extending parallel to said bottom tandem arm and operably connected between said bottom tandem arm and at least one of said idler wheels, said axle being pivotally connected to said bottom tandem arm for pivoting in a second plane which is perpendicular to said first plane, so as to permit said idler wheels to adjust for both pitch and roll.

4 more elements

A utility cart for transporting agricultural implements, said cart comprising:

a pair of elongated rails suitable for supporting agricultural implements, said rails being substantially parallel to each other;
a transverse rear axle rigidly mounted to said rails;
a first rear top tandem arm and a second rear top tandem arm pivotally mounted at opposite ends of said rear axle such that said top rear tandem arms can pivot in a plane substantially parallel to said elongated rails, each of said tandem arms having a front portion and a rear portion;
a first rear bottom tandem arm pivotally mounted to said front portion of said first rear top tandem arm such that said first rear bottom tandem arm can pivot longitudinally with respect to said first rear top tandem arm, said first rear bottom tandem arm having a front portion and a rear portion;
a second rear bottom tandem arm pivotally mounted to said front portion of said second rear top tandem arm such that said second rear bottom tandem arm can pivot longitudinally with respect to said second rear top tandem arm, said second rear bottom tandem arm having a front portion and a rear portion;
rear tandem arm wheels attached to said front and rear portions of said first and second rear bottom tandem arms;
a first rear idler wheel rotatably mounted to said rear portion of said first rear top tandem arm for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to said rails;
a second rear idler wheel rotatably mounted to said rear portion of said second rear top tandem arm for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to said rails;
a hitching frame for connection to a towing vehicle, said hitching frame being pivotally connected to a front portion of said elongated rails;
a transverse front axle rigidly mounted to said hitching frame;
a first front top tandem arm and a second front top tandem arm pivotally mounted at opposite ends of said front axle such that said top front tandem arms can pivot in a plane substantially parallel to said elongated rails, each of said front tandem arms having a front portion and a rear portion;
a first front bottom tandem arm pivotally mounted to said rear portion of said first front top tandem arm such that said first front bottom tandem arm can pivot longitudinally with respect to said first front top tandem arm, said first front bottom tandem arm having a front portion and a rear portion;
a first front idler wheel rotatably mounted to said front portion of said first front top tandem arm for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to said rails;
a second front idler wheel rotatably mounted to said front portion of said second front top tandem arm for rotation in a plane substantially parallel to said rails;
front tandem arm wheels attached to said front and rear portions of said first and second front bottom tandem arms;
a first tension bar of adjustable length spanning between said first front top tandem arm and said first rear top tandem arm;
a second tension bar of adjustable length spanning between said second front top tandem arm and said second rear top tandem arm;
a first continuous belt looped around said first front and first rear idler wheels, said first continuous belt having a ground engaging surface for supporting the weight of the utility cart and an interior surface engaging said front and rear tandem arm idler wheels;
and
a second continuous belt looped around said second front and second rear idler wheels, said second continuous belt having a ground engaging surface for supporting the weight of the utility cart and an interior surface engaging said front and rear tandem arm idler wheels.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/847,264Filed 2 May 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 May 2000
Published: US 2002/0005629 A117 Jan 2002
Granted: 22 Jun 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B62D 55/08
Endless track vehicles: endless track units; Parts thereof
A01B 51/04
Undercarriages specially adapted for mounting on various kinds of agricultural tools or apparatus: drawn by animal or tractor
A01B 73/02
Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width: folding frames
A01B 76/00
Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for