Material or article handling – Self-loading or unloading vehicles – Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means – and...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-12
2001-05-29
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Self-loading or unloading vehicles
Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means, and...
C414S703000, C172S311000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238170
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an agricultural implement trailer, and particularly to a trailer for attaching to one of a plurality of implements and capable of lifting an implement from a field-use position and rotating the implement for transport.
2. Related Prior Art
Many farm implements, including planters, cultivators and other implements, have a very long longitudinal or width dimension extending transverse to the direction of travel for the implement as it is pulled by a tractor through a field. Such implements present a long recognized problem in relation to transporting the implements over highways and roads. Because of the longitudinal or width dimension of the implement, it is impossible to pull the implement along a public highway or road in its transversely extending field use orientation. In a well known transport configuration, the implement is oriented with its longitudinal or width dimension extending along the direction of travel, such as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,259 (Mefferd et al.) wherein the implement is supported on auxiliary wheels and drawn by a vehicle attached to a longitudinal end of the implement.
An alternative to the transport configuration described in the aforementioned patent is the provision of a device to engage an implement at a three-point hitch connection of the implement for manipulation of the implement between two perpendicularly opposed positions. In particular, it is known to provide a wheeled carrier frame supporting a mechanism for lifting and rotating an entire implement above the carrier frame whereby the implement may be transported with the longitudinal or width dimension of the implement extending parallel to the direction of travel.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,698 (Van Selus) discloses a lift and carrier trailer apparatus incorporating a turntable supported on a trailer body wherein a lift and support assembly is mounted on the turntable for lifting an implement and supporting it in an elevated condition with the elongated dimension of the implement extending parallel to the direction of travel of the trailer apparatus.
A further example of an apparatus for transporting an implement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,918 (Shannon) which describes an implement transporter including a trailer having a lifting mechanism for engaging the three-point hitch on an implement. The weight of the implement is supported by a roller, and the lifting mechanism is guided in an arcuate path by an arm pivoted adjacent one side of the trailer whereby the supported implement may be rotated 90°. The lifting and rotating of the implement provides for shifting of the center of gravity of the implement to a position which provides for better balance of the load on the transporter.
Additionally, trailers or carts have been developed for attachment to implements for drawing an implement through a field in a field-use position. Such carts are designed to be connected to the hitch of a tractor and often include a lift mechanism to lift the implement out of the contact with the ground for transport or to facilitate maneuvering in a field. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,169 (Filan et al.) discloses an apparatus for attachment to the three-point hitch of one of a plurality of implements and including a lift mechanism for supporting the implement in an elevated position. However, this apparatus does not include means for aligning an attached implement parallel to the direction of travel to facilitate transport of the implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an agricultural implement trailer for transporting one of a plurality of implements, and for drawing an attached implement through a field in a field-use position. The trailer includes an improved lifting mechanism for supporting the weight of an implement as it is lifted to a transport position, and for providing improved weight distribution of the implement in its supported position.
The implement trailer includes a trailer body having a trailer frame and wheels supporting the trailer frame. A turntable is supported on the trailer frame and includes an arm having first and second ends, and a pivot member connects the first end of the arm to the trailer frame for rotation of the turntable about a vertical axis.
A linkage assembly extends from the second end of the arm and is pivotally attached thereto and supports a hitch member having detachable attachment points for connection to an implement. The detachable attachment points preferably comprise quick hitch connections for attachment to and detachment from a three-point hitch on an implement.
The linkage assembly comprises upper and lower link structures which, in combination with attachment points on the arm and attachment points to the hitch member form a parallelogram structure. Lifting hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected to the hitch member for raising the hitch member and attached implement from the field-use position at the rear of the trailer body forwardly past the pivot member. The hydraulic cylinders extend from attachment points on the lower link structure to attachment points on the hitch member for exerting a force on the parallelogram structure to actuate the hitch member and attached implement in lifting movement.
The arm extends generally horizontally from the pivot member whereby the second end of the arm supports an implement attached to the hitch member in cantilever relationship to the pivot member. The pivot member is pivotable between a field-use position in which the hitch member and attached implement extend substantially transverse to the rear of the trailer body, and a transport position in which the hitch member and attached implement extend longitudinally of the trailer body.
In a further aspect of the invention, the vertical axis of rotation for the turntable is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the trailer frame, and the arm is laterally offset from the vertical axis of rotation such that rotation of the turntable from the field-use position where the arm is longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the trailer, to the transport position, where the arm is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trailer, locates the longitudinal axis of the arm forwardly of the pivot axis and laterally positions the second end of the arm adjacent one side of the trailer body. This transport position for the implement positions the implement such that the center of gravity of the supported weight is forward of the supporting wheels for the trailer frame with the longitudinal axis of the implement extending generally down the central longitudinal axis of the trailer.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5193623 (1993-03-01),
Higgs William E.
Pingry Larry J.
Stauffer Eric L.
AGCO Corporation
Biebel & French
Bratlie Steven A.
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