# US 8,464,967 B2 · Applicator boom tilt frame > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,967 B2 - Document ID: US8464967B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/636,455 - Filed: 2009-12-11 - Published: 2011-06-16 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-11 - Assignees: AGCO Corporation - Applicants: John Kuphal; Steve Suebert - Inventors: John Kuphal; Steve Suebert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464967B2 ## CPC - B05B 1/20: Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor - A01M 7/0053: {Mounting of the spraybooms} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS ## Abstract A tilting boom applicator broadly includes a laterally-extending applicator boom a lift, and a tilt frame. The lift includes upper and lower lift arms that support the applicator boom and are operable to vertically shift the applicator boom. The tilt frame interconnects the applicator boom and lift and includes a fixed section mounted to upper lift arms and a swinging section mounted to the applicator boom. The frame sections are attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis. Lower lift arms are directly attached to the swinging section to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tilting boom applicator comprising: a boom support structure; a laterally-extending applicator boom; first and second lift arms connected to the boom support structure, said arms cooperatively supporting the applicator boom on the support structure for relative vertical shifting; and a tilt frame, said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom, said first and second frame sections attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom about the longitudinal tilt axis, said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement, said first frame section being attached to the first lift arm and restricted from swinging relative to the first lift arm about the frame pivot joint, said second frame section being positioned below and hung from the first frame section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 1, said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted in the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element, said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin, said hinge elements and pin cooperatively providing the frame pivot joint. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 2, said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 2, said frame pivot joint serving as the only pivotal connection between the first and second frame sections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 1, said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends, said aft lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 5; and a lift that includes the arms and boom support structure, said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the boom support structure at respective base pivot joints. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 5, said frame pivot joint being spaced laterally between the arm pivot joints to minimize off-axis loading of the frame pivot joint caused by movement of the applicator boom about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 1, said tilt frame including a spring-and-damper assembly interconnecting the frame sections to dampen any swinging movement between the frame sections. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 8, said spring-and-damper assembly including a pair of coil springs and a pair of dampers, with one coil spring and damper mounted adjacent one end of the tilt frame and another coil spring and damper mounted adjacent another end of the tilt frame. ### Claim 10 A tilting boom applicator comprising: a laterally-extending applicator boom; a lift supporting the applicator boom and operable to vertically shift the applicator boom, said lift including a first lift arm and a second lift arm extending longitudinally relative to the applicator boom; and a tilt frame interconnecting the applicator boom and lift, said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom, said first and second frame sections attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis, said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement, said first frame section being attached to the first lift arm and restricted from swinging relative to the first lift arm about the frame pivot joint, said second frame section being positioned below and hung from the first frame section, said first frame section including a hinge element that presents a hinge opening aligned with the longitudinal tilt axis, said second frame section including a hinge assembly removably attached to a remainder of the second frame section, said hinge assembly presenting a hinge bore, with the hinge bore and opening cooperatively receiving a pin that pivotally connects the frame sections, said tilt frame being devoid of any part of the first frame section below the hinge assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 10, said second lift arm being positioned below the first lift arm, said second lift arm presenting fore and aft ends, said aft lift arm end being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at a lift pivot joint, with the hinge assembly being spaced above the lift pivot joint to permit cooperative swinging movement of the second frame section and the lower lift arm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 10, said hinge assembly comprising a pair of hinge plates that cooperatively present the hinge opening and are positioned respectively fore and aft of the hinge element of the first frame section. ### Claim 13 A tilting boom applicator comprising: a laterally-extending applicator boom; a lift supporting the applicator boom and operable to vertically shift the applicator boom, said lift including a first lift arm and a second lift arm extending longitudinally relative to the applicator boom; and a tilt frame interconnecting the applicator boom and lift, said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom, said first and second frame sections attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis, said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement, said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends, said aft lift aim ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints, said lift including a base, said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the base at respective base pivot joints, said arm pivot joint of the lower lift arm comprising a ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the lower lift arm and tilt frame about orthogonal axes, with swinging movement of the tilt frame and lower lift arm causing movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 13, said base pivot joint of the lower lift arm comprising another ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the lower lift arm and base about orthogonal axes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 13, said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted in the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element, said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin, said hinge elements and pin cooperatively providing the frame pivot joint, said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 15, said arm pivot joints presenting lateral joint axes spaced vertically from each other to cooperatively define an upright plane, said frame pivot joint extending fore and aft of the upright plane to compactly position the applicator boom relative to the lift. ### Claim 17 A tilting boom applicator comprising: a boom support structure; a laterally-extending applicator boom; first and second lift arms connected to the boom support structure, said arms cooperatively supporting the applicator boom on the support structure for relative vertical shifting; and a tilt frame, said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom, said first and second frame sections attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint pen titling tilting movement of the applicator boom about the longitudinal tilt axis, said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement, said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted to the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element, said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin, said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 17, said flexible bushing including a pair of inner and outer sleeves, with the inner sleeve extending within the outer sleeve, said flexible bushing including an elastomeric sleeve between and interconnecting the inner and outer sleeves, with the elastomeric sleeve permitting relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 17, said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends, said aft lift aim ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 19; and a lift that includes the arms and boom support structure, said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the boom support structure at respective base pivot joints. ### Claim 21 A tilting boom applicator comprising: a laterally-extending applicator boom; a lift supporting the applicator boom and operable to vertically shift the applicator boom, said lift including a first lift arm and a second lift arm extending longitudinally relative to the applicator boom; and a tilt frame interconnecting the applicator boom and lift, said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom, said first and second frame sections attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis, said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement, said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted to the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element, said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin, said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis, said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends, said aft lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints, said lift including a base, said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the base at respective base pivot joints, said arm pivot joint of the lower lift arm comprising a ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the lower lift arm and tilt frame about orthogonal axes, with swinging movement of the tilt frame and lower lift arm causing movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 21, said base pivot joint of the lower lift arm comprising another ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the lower lift arm and base about orthogonal axes. ### Claim 23 A tilting boom applicator comprising: a laterally-extending applicator boom; a lift supporting the applicator boom and operable to vertically shift the applicator boom, said lift including a first lift arm and a second lift arm extending longitudinally relative to the applicator boom; and a tilt frame interconnecting the applicator boom and lift, said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom, said first and second frame sections attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis, said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement, said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends, said aft lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective aim pivot joints, said lift including a base, said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the base at respective base pivot joints, said second lift arm being positioned below the first lift arm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 23, said lift arms each presenting a corresponding fixed length. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 24, said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted in the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element, said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin, said hinge elements and pin cooperatively providing the frame pivot joint, said fixed length lift arms causing limited movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis in response to relative swinging movement between the applicator boom and lift, said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 24, said lift including a third lift arm and a fourth lift aim extending longitudinally relative to the applicator boom, said first frame section being attached to the first and third lift arms and restricted from swinging relative to the first and third lift arms about the frame pivot joint, said second frame section being positioned below and hung from the first frame section. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The tilting boom applicator as claimed in claim 26, said second and fourth lift arms being positioned below the first and third lift arms, said second and fourth lift arms presenting fore and aft ends, said aft lift arm ends of the second and fourth lift arms being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at lift pivot joints, with the frame pivot joint being spaced above the lift pivot joints to permit cooperative swinging movement of the second frame section and the lower lift arms.