HYDRAULIC FRONT-WHEEL PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR HARVESTING VEHICLES

• US 3,788,415 A
• Filed: 02/22/1972
• Issued: 01/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry T. Tilley
• Original Assignee: Henry T. Tilley
• Inventors: Tilley, Henry T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/233,379
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 180/25,26R,26A,43,79.2R,79.2A 74/478,512,520
• US Class Current: 180/213
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/00 Harvesting of standing crops A01D44/00 takes precedence; threshing machines adapted for special crops, threshing devices for combines adapted for special crops A01F11/00; harvesting of mushrooms A01G18/70
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/16 of tobacco
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20189 Foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20528 Foot operated

Abstract

A hydraulic propulsion system utilized to propel and steer the front wheel of a harvesting vehicle under the control of a driver. The hydraulic system includes a manually operable forward-reverse-speed control mechanism, for selectively controlling a hydraulic motor which is operatively connected with the front wheel, as well as a foot-pedal operated steering mechanism whereby the driver can effectively control the propulsion of the vehicle and, at the same time, assist with the harvesting operation.

Claims

1. A self-propelled harvesting vehicle comprising, a frame, wheel means supporting said frame and including a steerable front wheel, hydraulic motor means connected with said front wheel for rotating said wheel about a horizontal axis, hydraulic steering means connected with said front wheel for rotating said wheel about a vertical axis, fluid pressure means connected with said hydraulic motor and hydraulic steering means for hydraulically energizing the same, hydraulic control means connected with said fluid pressure means, said hydraulic motor means and said hydraulic steering means to selectively regulate the energization of said hydraulic motor and steering means whereby said front wheel is selectively actuated to controllably propel and steer the harvesting vehicle, said hydraulic control means including first valve means connected with said fluid pressure means and said hydraulic motor means, and second valve means connected with said fluid pressure means and said hydraulic steering means, said second valve means including foot-pedal means to control said hydraulic steering means for steering the vehicle, and said first valve means includes a first hydraulic valve having a pressure fluid inlet connected to said fluid pressure means, a pressure fluid outlet connected to said second valve means, and first and second controlled fluid outlets connected to said hydraulic motor means.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first valve means includes mechanical linkage means connected with said first hydraulic valVe to enable manual control of said first hydraulic valve whereby the horizontal rotation of said front wheel can be manually controlled.

3. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said second valve means includes a second hydraulic valve having a pressure fluid inlet connected to said pressure fluid outlet of said first hydraulic valve, a pressure fluid outlet connected to said fluid pressure means, and first and second controlled fluid outlets connected to said hydraulic steering means.

4. A self-propelled harvesting vehicle comprising, a frame, wheel means supporting said frame and including a steerable front wheel, hydraulic motor means connected with said front wheel for rotating said wheel about a horizontal axis, hydraulic steering means connected with said front wheel for rotating said wheel about a vertical axis, fluid pressure means connected with said hydraulic motor and hydraulic steering means for hydraulically energizing the same, hydraulic control means connected with said fluid pressure means, said hydraulic motor means and said hydraulic steering means to selectively regulate the energization of said hydraulic motor and steering means whereby said front wheel is selectively actuated to controllably propel and steer the harvesting vehicle, said hydraulic control means including first and second hydraulic valves, each having a pressure fluid inlet and outlet and each having first and second controlled fluid outlets, the pressure fluid inlet of said first hydraulic valve and the pressure fluid outlet of second hydraulic valve being connected to said fluid pressure means, the pressure fluid outlet of said first hydraulic valve being connected to the pressure fluid inlet of said second hydraulic valve, the first and second controlled fluid outlets of said first hydraulic valve being connected to said hydraulic motor means, the first and second controlled fluid outlets of said second hydraulic valve being connected to said hydraulic steering means, and foot-pedal means connected with said second hydraulic valve to enable foot control of said hydraulic valve whereby the vertical rotation of said front wheel may be controlled thereby to steer the harvesting vehicle.

5. In a steerable vehicle, a hydraulic propulsion and steering system comprising hydraulic propulsion means operatively connected with a steerable front wheel of the vehicle and including a hydraulic motor for selectively imparting rotary motion to said steerable front wheel to propel the vehicle in forward and reverse directions, said hydraulic motor having an output shaft and first and second fluid connecting ports permitting a fluid flow through said motot in either of first and second directions for causing rotation of said shaft in either of clockwise and counterclockwise direction, hydraulic steering means operatively connected with said steerable front wheel of the vehicle and including a hydraulic cylinder for selectively controlling the angular position of said steerable front wheel about a vertical axis, said hydraulic cylinder having an operator mechanism and first and second fluid connecting ports permitting a fluid flow therethrough in either of first and second directions for causing axial expansion and contraction, respectively, of said operator mechanism, fluid pressure means having a hydraulic pump and a reservoir and being serially connected with said hydraulic propulsion means and said hydraulic steering means for hydraulically energizing both said hydraulic propulsion means and said hydraulic steering means whereby said steerable front wheel is hydraulically rotated about horizontal and vertical axes for controllably driving the vehicle, said fluid pressure means including a manually operable motor valve having an inlet port connected with said hydraulic pump, an outlet port connected with said reservoir, and first and second controlled ports respectively connected with said fIrst and second fluid connecting ports of said hydraulic motor whereby said hydraulic motor may be manually controlled, and said fluid pressure means including a pedal operated steering valve having an inlet port connected to said outlet port of said motor valve, an outlet port connected with said reservoir, and first and second controlled ports respectively connected with said first and second fluid connecting ports of said hydraulic cylinder.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said motor valve and said steering valve each include control means selectively establishing fluid flow from said first controlled port to said second controlled port and from said second controlled port to said first controlled port whereby the rotational direction of said hydraulic motor and the expansion and contraction of said operator mechanism may be selectively regulated.

7. In a three-wheeled harvesting vehicle, a hydraulic propulsion and steering system comprising fluid pressure means including a pump and a fluid reservoir, hydraulic propulsion means operatively connected with one of the wheels of the vehicle for imparting rotary motion thereto about a horizontal axis for propelling the vehicle, propulsion control means connecting said fluid pressure means with said hydraulic propulsion means for selectively controlling the propulsion of the vehicle by said hydraulic propulsion means, hydraulic steering means operatively connected with said one of the wheels of the vehicle for imparting rotary motion thereto about a vertical axis to enable steering of the vehicle, steering control means connecting said fluid pressure means with said hydraulic steering means for enabling selective controlling of the steering of the vehicle, said propulsion control means and said steering control means being serially connected with said fluid pressure means to form a single closed hydraulic system whereby the vehicle is both hydraulically propelled and hydraulically steered, said propulsion control means comprising a hydraulic propulsion valve having an inlet, an outlet, a plurality of controlled outlets, and a manual operator mechanism, and said steering control means comprising a hydraulic steering valve having an inlet connected with said outlet of said hydraulic propulsion valve, an outlet, a plurality of controlled outlets, and a foot pedal operator mechanism.