Steering device for towed implements

• US 20040217575A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: One Pass Implements Inc.
• Original Assignee: One Pass Implements Inc.
• Inventors: Dean, Brian, Kent, Brian, Wilton, Bruce, Beaujot, Pat, Howells, Penny
• Granted Patent: US 7,147,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/442
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/004 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/208 Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle. The towed implement, for example, a farm implement such as a seeding device, comprises a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable surface engaging wheel attached to the frame. The steering device comprising a sensor means mounted on the main frame of the towed implement for sensing a misalignment of the towed implement and the work vehicle and producing a signal corresponding to the misalignment. The steering device further comprises a steering means associated with the steerable wheel for receiving the signal produced by the sensor means and for effecting movement of the steerable wheel in response to the signal until the towed implement and the work vehicle are once again realigned.

Claims

1. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable surface engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) a sensor means mounted on said frame for sensing a misalignment of said towed implement and said work vehicle and producing a signal corresponding to said misalignment; and

(b) a steering means associated with said steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of said steerable wheel in response to said signal until said towed implement and said work vehicle are realigned.

2. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises a surface engaging sensor member mounted perpendicular to said frame on said frame having side to side movement about a vertical axis.

3. A steering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sensor means further comprises a valve means responsively associated with said sensor member for producing said signal, wherein said signal is made in response to the horizontal position of said surface engaging sensor member.

4. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal comprises hydraulic fluid or air.

5. A steering device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said steering means comprised a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

6. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least two steerable surface engaging wheels attached to the rear end of said frame.

7. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said towed implement comprises a gang of individual seed openers attached to said frame for engaging the surface.

8. A steering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said surface engaging sensor member is mounted to said frame by means of a pivot.

9. A steering device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rotatable wheel that rides on the surface.

10. A steering device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rolling coulter or disc that rides on the surface.

11. A steering device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises a shaft carrying a skid that rides on the surface.

12. A steering device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said sensor member engages the surface by engaging means selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic cylinder biasing means, a pneumatic cylinder biasing means, a spring biasing means or the addition of sufficient mass to cause gravity to act as a biasing means.

13. A steering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises at least one flexible arm.

14. A steering device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said flexible arm further comprises a rolling member selected from the group consisting of a wheel, a disc or a coulter.

15. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises a global positioning antenna mounted on said towed implement.

16. A steering device as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a second global positioning antenna mounted on said work vehicle and a receiver.

17. A steering device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said sensor means further comprises a valve means responsively associated with said receiver for producing said signal.

18. A steering device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said signal comprises hydraulic fluid or air.

19. A steering device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

20. A steering device as claimed in claims 5 or 19 wherein said double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is a retractable and extensible cylinder.

49. A steering device as claimed in claims 1, 21 or 45 further comprising a second valve means for centering said steerable wheel when sensor means is not in operation.

21. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable surface engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) a surface engaging sensor member mounted perpendicular to said frame on said frame having side to side movement about a vertical axis, said sensor member being in neutral position when perpendicular to the frame;

(b) a sensing means responsively associated with said sensor member for sensing the horizontal position of said sensor member and for creating a signal corresponding to said horizontal position of said sensor member; and

(c) a steering actuating means associated with said steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of said steerable wheel in response to said signal until the sensor member is back to the neutral position.

22. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 further comprising at least two steerable surface engaging wheels attached to the rear end of said frame.

23. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said towed implement comprises a gang of individual seed openers attached to said frame for engaging the surface.

24. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said surface engaging sensor member is mounted to said frame by means of a pivot.

25. A steering device as claimed in claim 24 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rotatable wheel that rides on the surface.

26. A steering device as claimed in claim 24 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rolling coulter or disc that rides on the surface.

27. A steering device as claimed in claim 24 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises a shaft carrying a skid that rides on the surface.

28. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said surface engaging sensor member comprises at least one flexible arm.

29. A steering device as claimed in claim 28 wherein said flexible arm further comprises a rolling member selected from the group consisting of a wheel, a disc or a coulter.

30. A steering device as claimed in claim 24 wherein said sensor member engages the surface by engaging means selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic cylinder biasing means, a pneumatic cylinder biasing means, a spring biasing means or the addition of sufficient mass to cause gravity to act as a biasing means.

31. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said signal comprises the release of hydraulic fluid or air.

32. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said sensor member further comprises a potentiometer for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the horizontal position of said sensor member.

33. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said sensing means comprises a steering control valve means responsive to the mechanical movement of said sensor member.

34. A steering device as claimed in claim 33 wherein said steering control valve means comprises a receiving port for receiving a source of hydraulic fluid or air from a fluid reservoir and a pair of supply ports for supplying hydraulic fluid or air to the steering actuating means, whereby when the sensor member moves in one horizontal direction the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the first supply port and when the sensor member moves in the opposite horizontal direction the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the second supply port.

35. A steering device as claimed in claim 32 wherein said sensing means comprises a steering control valve means responsive to said electrical signal produced by said potentiometer.

36. A steering device as claimed in claim 35 wherein said steering control valve means comprises a receiving port for receiving a source of hydraulic fluid or air from a fluid reservoir and a pair of supply ports for supplying hydraulic fluid or air to the steering actuating means, whereby when an electrical signal is given corresponding to the sensor member moving in one horizontal direction the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the first supply port and when an electrical signal is given corresponding to the sensor member moving in the opposite horizontal direction the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the second supply port.

37. A steering device as claimed in claims 34 or 36 wherein said steering control valve means further comprises a third supply port which supplies hydraulic fluid or air back to said fluid reservoir when said sensor member is in the neutral position.

38. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

39. A steering device as claimed in claim 38 wherein said double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder further comprises a double-ended piston rod.

40. A steering device as claimed in claims 34 or 36 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder having first and second chambers, whereby when said steering control valve means releases fluid or air through the first supply port said fluid or air is directed to the first chamber of the cylinder and when said steering control valve means releases fluid or air through the second supply port said fluid or air is directed to the second chamber of the cylinder.

41. A steering device as claimed in claim 40 whereby when fluid or air is directed to the first chamber of the cylinder, said cylinder causes the steerable wheel to move in one direction and when fluid or air is directed to the second chamber of the cylinder, said cylinder causes the steerable wheel to move in the opposite direction.

42. A steering device as claimed in claim 41 whereby said steerable wheel moves in a direction necessary to return said sensing member to a neutral position.

43. A steering device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said steering actuating means comprises a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder having first and second chambers, whereby one end of the cylinder is attached to one steerable wheel and the other end of the cylinder is attached to the other steerable wheel such that each steerable wheel moves in the same direction in response to said signal received.

44. A steering device as claimed in claim 23 wherein said surface engaging sensor member is mounted substantially in the centre of said frame.

45. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable surface engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) sensor means for determining the location of the centre of said towed implement and the location of the centre of said work vehicle and for producing a first signal when the centre of said towed implement and the centre of said work vehicle are misaligned;

(b) a sensing means for receiving said first signal and creating a second signal corresponding to the position of said towed implement in relation to said work vehicle; and

(c) a steering actuating means associated with said steerable wheel for receiving said second signal and for effecting movement of said steerable wheel in response to said second signal until the towed implement and the work vehicle are in alignment.

46. A steering device as claimed in claim 45 wherein said sensor means comprises a first global positioning antenna located on said work vehicle, a second global positioning antenna located on said towed implement and a receiver.

47. A steering device as claimed in claim 45 wherein said sensing means comprises a steering control valve means responsive to said first signal.

48. A steering device as claimed in claim 47 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.