Pivotable lift assist assembly for an agricultural implement

• US 10,172,275 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Totten, Kip, Boriack, Cale, Anderson, Brian J., Prickel, Marvin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US15/394,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20180184572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/06 for sowing or fertilising
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 51/04 drawn by animal or tractor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/145 for controlling weight transfer between implements and tractor wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/16 with wheels adjustable relatively to the frame
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/22 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means

Abstract

In one embodiment, an agricultural implement system includes a pivotable lift assembly. The pivotable lift assembly includes a first bar member and a second bar member rotatively coupled to the first bar member. The pivotable lift assembly further includes a first wheel assembly disposed on a first end of the second bar member and a second wheel assembly disposed on a second end of the second bar member. The pivotable lift assembly also includes an attachment assembly configured to attach the pivotable lift assembly to an agricultural implement, wherein the pivotable lift assembly is configured to aid in carrying a weight of the agricultural implement.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement system, comprising:

a pivotable lift assembly comprising;

a first bar member;

a second bar member rotatively coupled to the first bar member, wherein the first bar member and the second bar member are parallel with each other and a ground along a lengthwise axis when the pivotable lift assembly is on even ground;

a first wheel assembly disposed on a first distal end of the second bar member;

a second wheel assembly disposed on a second distal end of the second bar member,

wherein a first arm member carries the first wheel assembly and is rotatively coupled to the first end of the second bar member and the first wheel assembly enables a first rotation of a first wheel along a first axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, and a second arm member carries the second wheel assembly and is rotatively coupled to the second end of the second bar member and the second wheel assembly enables a second rotation of a second wheel along a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis; and

an attachment assembly configured to attach the pivotable lift assembly to an agricultural implement, wherein the pivotable lift assembly is configured to aid in carrying a weight of the agricultural implement.

2. The agricultural implement system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable lift assembly comprises a pivotable assembly rotatively coupling the first bar member to the second bar member, wherein the pivotable assembly defines a single pivot point having a fore-aft axis of rotation with respect to the attachment assembly, and wherein the fore-aft axis of rotation is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, the first axis of rotation, and the second axis of rotation.

3. The agricultural implement system of claim 2, wherein the pivotable assembly comprises a pin assembly having a flange system disposed between the first bar member and the second bar member.

4. The agricultural implement system of claim 1, wherein the first end of second bar member comprises a first cylinder and the second end of the second bar member comprises a second cylinder, wherein the first arm member comprises a first rotatable member disposed inside of the first cylinder so as to rotatably couple the first arm member to the first end of the second bar member and the second arm member comprises a second rotatable member disposed inside of the second cylinder so as to rotatably couple the second arm member to the second end of the second bar member.

5. The agricultural implement system of claim 4, wherein the first arm member is rotatably coupled to freely rotate 360 degrees about the first cylinder and wherein the second arm member is rotatably coupled to freely rotate 360 degrees about the second cylinder.

6. The agricultural implement system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable lift assembly comprises a locking assembly securely locking the first bar member to the second bar member.

7. The agricultural implement system of claim 6, wherein the locking assembly comprises a locking key member configured to be inserted through the second bar member and the first bar member to lock the second bar member to the first bar member.

8. The agricultural implement system of claim 1, wherein the pivotable lift assembly comprises a stop travel member, wherein the second bar member abuts the stop travel member after moving a desired distance relative to the first bar member.

9. The agricultural implement system of claim 1, comprising the agricultural implement coupled to the pivotable lift assembly via the attachment assembly, wherein the agricultural implement comprises a soil conditioner, a tillage implement, a fertilizer application implement, a planter, a seeder, or a combination thereof, and wherein the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly each comprise at least one wheel.

10. A pivotable lift assembly system, comprising:

a first bar member;

a second bar member rotatively coupled to the first bar member;

a first wheel assembly disposed on a first distal end of the second bar member;

a second wheel assembly disposed on a second distal end of the second bar member, wherein the first bar member and the second bar member are parallel with each other and a ground along a lengthwise axis when the pivotable lift assembly is on even ground;

wherein a first arm member carries the first wheel assembly and is rotatively coupled to the first end of the second bar member and the first wheel assembly enables a first rotation of a first wheel along a first axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, and a second arm member carries the second wheel assembly and is rotatively coupled to the second end of the second bar member and the second wheel assembly enables a second rotation of a second wheel along a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis; and

an attachment assembly configured to attach the pivotable lift assembly to an agricultural implement, wherein the pivotable lift assembly is configured to aid in carrying a weight of the agricultural implement.

11. The pivotable lift assembly system of claim 10, comprising a pivotable assembly rotatively coupling the first bar member to the second bar member, wherein the pivotable assembly defines a single pivot point having a fore-aft axis of rotation, and wherein the fore-aft axis of rotation is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, the first axis of rotation, and the second axis of rotation.

12. The pivotable lift assembly system of claim 10, comprising a locking assembly securely locking the first bar member to the second bar member, wherein the first bar member is disposed fore of the second bar member with respect to the attachment assembly, aft of the second bar member with respect to the attachment assembly, above the second bar member with respect to ground, or below the second ground member with respect to ground.

13. The pivotable lift assembly system of claim 10, comprising a stop travel member, wherein the second bar member abuts the stop travel member after moving a desired distance relative to the first bar member.

14. An agricultural implement system, comprising:

an agricultural implement; and

a pivotable lift assembly comprising;

a first bar member;

a second bar member rotatively coupled to the first bar member, wherein the first bar member and the second bar member are parallel with each other and a ground along a lengthwise axis when the pivotable lift assembly is on even ground;

a first wheel assembly disposed on a first distal end of the second bar member;

a second wheel assembly disposed on a second distal end of the second bar member,

wherein a first arm member carries the first wheel assembly and is rotatively coupled to the first end of the second bar member and the first wheel assembly enables a first rotation of a first wheel along a first axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, and a second arm member carries the second wheel assembly and is rotatively coupled to the second end of the second bar member and the second wheel assembly enables a second rotation of a second wheel along a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis; and

an attachment assembly configured to attach the pivotable lift assembly to the agricultural implement, wherein the pivotable lift assembly is configured to aid in carrying a weight of the agricultural implement.

15. The agricultural implement system of claim 14, wherein the pivotable lift assembly comprises a pivotable assembly rotatively coupling the first bar member to the second bar member, wherein the pivotable assembly defines a single pivot point having a fore-aft axis of rotation, and wherein the fore-aft axis of rotation is perpendicular to the lengthwise axis, the first axis of rotation, and the second axis of rotation.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the pivotable lift assembly comprises a locking assembly securely locking the first bar member to the second bar member, and wherein when unlocked, the second bar member remains parallel to a ground while the pivotable lift assembly enables a rotation of the attachment assembly with respect to the ground.

17. The agricultural implement system of claim 14, wherein the pivotable lift assembly comprises a stop travel member, wherein the second bar member abuts the stop travel member after moving a desired distance relative to the first bar member.