LID PROP SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TANK

• US 20140190375A1
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH America Llc (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Long, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,638,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 111/170
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers

Abstract

A seed tank assembly for an agricultural implement including a support rod with a first end and a second end, in which the first end is configured to couple to a first side of an opening in a seed tank, the second end is configured to couple to a second side of the opening in the seed tank, and the support rod includes a trough. The support rod is configured to provide structural support to the seed tank. The seed tank assembly further including a prop rod with a first end and a second end, in which the first end is slidably coupled to the support rod, the second end is configured to attach to a tank lid, the tank lid is configured to rotate from a closed position to a fully open position, and the tank lid forms an obtuse angle with the opening while in the fully open position. The trough is configured to block movement of the first end of the prop rod while the first end of the prop rod is engaged with the trough to hold the tank lid in the fully open position.

Claims

1. A seed tank assembly for an agricultural implement comprising:

a support rod with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to a first side of an opening in a seed tank, the second end is configured to couple to a second side of the opening in the seed tank, and the support rod includes a trough, and the support rod is configured to provide structural support to the seed tank; and

a prop rod with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is slidably coupled to the support rod, the second end is configured to attach to a tank lid, the tank lid is configured to rotate from a closed position to a fully open position, and the tank lid forms an obtuse angle with the opening while in the fully open position;

wherein the trough is configured to block movement of the first end of the prop rod while the first end of the prop rod is engaged with the trough to hold the tank lid in the fully open position.

2. The seed tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the prop rod comprises an eyelet and the support rod extends through the eyelet.

3. The seed tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the prop rod comprises a hook configured to engage an opening in the tank lid.

4. The seed tank assembly of claim 3, comprising a tank lid brace configured to extend across the tank lid, wherein the tank lid brace comprises the opening, and the hook is threaded and configured to be secured in the tank lid brace by a nut.

5. The seed tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the obtuse angle is about 120 degrees.

6. The seed tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the support rod is about 0.79 cm.

7. The seed tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the prop rod is about 0.79 cm.

8. A seed tank assembly for an agricultural implement comprising:

a seed tank body configured to store seeds for the agricultural implement, wherein the seed tank body includes an opening configured to facilitate filling the seed tank body with seeds;

a tank lid configured to rotate between a closed position that substantially covers the opening, and a fully open position that facilitates access to the seed tank body through the opening, wherein the tank lid forms an obtuse angle with the opening while the tank lid is in the fully open position;

at least one support rod extending across the opening and configured to provide structural support to the seed tank body, wherein the at least one support rod includes a trough; and

a prop rod extending between the support rod and the tank lid, wherein the prop rod is configured to slide along the support rod, and the trough is configured to block movement of the prop rod along the support rod while the prop rod is engaged with the trough to block rotation of the tank lid from the fully open position.

9. The seed tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the prop rod comprises:

an eyelet disposed about the support rod, wherein the eyelet is captive on the support rod; and

a hook coupled to the tank lid.

10. The seed tank assembly of claim 8, comprising:

at least one hinge attached to the tank lid and to the body, wherein the hinge is configured to facilitate rotation of the lid from the closed position to the fully open position; and

at least one clip configured to secure the tank lid in the closed position.

11. The seed tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the obtuse angle is about 120 degrees.

12. The seed tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the tank lid is formed from a different material than the seed tank body.

13. The seed tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the prop rod is captive on the support rod.

14. The seed tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the prop rod is configured to engage the trough while moving the tank lid from the closed position to the fully open position.

15. A seed tank assembly for an agricultural implement comprising:

a seed tank body configured to store seeds for the agricultural implement, wherein the seed tank body includes an opening configured to facilitate filling the seed tank body with seeds;

a tank lid configured to rotate between a closed position that substantially covers the opening, and a fully open position that facilitates access to the seed tank body through the opening, wherein the tank lid forms an obtuse angle with the opening while the tank lid is in the fully open position;

at least one support rod extending across the opening and configured to provide structural support to the seed tank body, wherein the at least one support rod includes a trough; and

a prop rod extending between the support rod and the tank lid, wherein the prop rod is configured to slide along the support rod, and the trough is configured to block movement of the prop rod along the support rod while the prop rod is engaged with the trough to block rotation of the tank lid from the fully open position and to enable the prop rod to disengage the trough via upward movement of the prop rod to facilitate rotation of the tank lid from the fully open position to the closed position.

16. The seed tank assembly of claim 15, wherein the prop rod comprises:

an eyelet disposed about the support rod, wherein the eyelet is captive on the support rod; and

a hook coupled to the tank lid.

17. The seed tank assembly of claim 15, comprising:

at least one hinge attached to the tank lid and to the body, wherein the hinge is configured to facilitate rotation of the lid from the closed position to the fully open position; and

at least one clip configured to secure the tank lid in the closed position.

18. The seed tank assembly of claim 15, wherein the obtuse angle is about 120 degrees.

19. The seed tank assembly of claim 15, wherein the tank lid is formed from a different material than the seed tank body.

20. The seed tank assembly of claim 15, wherein the prop rod is captive on the support rod.