Foldable drill implement with differential assembly

• US 4,715,302 A
• Filed: 04/23/1986
• Issued: 12/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Briggs Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Briggs Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Briggs, Stanley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FEYRER, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US06/855,124
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 111/36, 111/57, 111/1, 111/8-14, 111/34, 111/52, 111/55, 111/56, 111/73, 111/77, 111/80, 111/85, 222/109, 222/318, 222/615, 222/56, 198/573, 198/577, 198/311-313, 198/601, 239/673, 239/675, 239/678, 239/677, 239/157, 239/159, 172/311
• US Class Current: 111/173
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/044 the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction A01B73/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/005 Undercarriages, tanks, hoppers, stirrers specially adapted for seeders or fertiliser distributors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/18 with endless chains , i.e. side transporting elements, e.g. auger or screw conveyors, swash plates

Abstract

A foldable drill implement has a supply hopper mounted on a center frame section and a rearwardly mounted broadcast hopper extending onto wing frame sections. Various augers connect the supply hopper to the broadcast hopper and maintain a level of fill in the broadcast hopper. Folding of the wing section relative to the center frame section utilizes swing plates and spacer plates to dampen oscillation of the wing sections. Controls regulate flow of material by sensing accumulated excess material and deactuating the augers. A differential assembly is provided for sensing torque pressure due to an accumulation of material in transverse broadcast augers to regulate flow.

Claims

1. A foldable drill implement comprising:

(a) an implement frame having a tow bar for connection to a prime mover and a plurality of ground-engaging wheels for movable support over the ground in a first direction;

(b) a supply hopper mounted to said frame;

(c) a broadcast hopper mounted to said frame and spaced from said supply hopper, and extending generally transversely to said first direction;

(d) said implement frame having a center frame section and a plurality of wing frame sections oppositely positioned adjacent said center frame section and having ground-engaging wheels for support, said center frame section including pivot means connecting said wing frame sections to opposite ends of said center frame section for folding;

(e) said broadcast hopper including a central drill box mounted on said center frame section;

(f) said broadcast hopper including a plurality of wing section drill boxes mounted on a respective said wing frame section and extending generally longitudinally of said central drill box and in flow communication therewith, each of said wing section drill boxes having outer ends;

(g) a plurality of planter means supported by said frame and disposed along said broadcast hopper, said broadcast hopper being in flow communication with said planter means for broadcast of said material in the ground upon operational movement of said implement frame;

(h) a first supply auger supported by said frame and extending generally in said first direction, said first supply auger being connected to said supply hopper and to said broadcast hopper and being in flow communication therebetween;

(i) a first distribution auger supported by said frame and extending generally transversely to said first direction along said broadcast hopper, said first distribution auger being in flow communication with said first supply auger and adapted to transfer material from said supply auger to said central and wing drill boxes of said broadcast hopper;

said first distribution auger having a right side auger shaft and a left side auger shaft;

(j) motive means connected to and driving said first supply auger and said first distribution auger;

(k) a differential assembly connected to said motive means for receiving power therefrom;

said differential assembly connecting said right and left side auger shafts and differentially supplying power thereto in response to torque differentials applied to said right and left side auger shafts; and

(l) control means at said wing section drill box outer ends and sensitive to the presence of excess material delivered by respective said wing distribution augers, said control means being adapted to deactuate said first supply and distribution augers upon said presence of said excess material.

2. The drill implement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said differential assembly includes:

(a) a housing rotatably connected to said right and left side auger shafts and being separately rotatable in relation thereto;

(b) a bevel pinion received in said housing and turnable about an axis radial to an axis extending through said right and left side auger shafts;

(c) a right side master gear attached to an inner end of said right side auger shaft and received within said housing;

said right side master gear being connected to said bevel pinion and meshable with said bevel pinion;

(d) a left side master gear attached to an inner end of said left side auger shaft and received within said housing;

said left side master gear being connected to said bevel pinion and meshable therewith, whereby torque differentials between said right and left side auger shafts are transmitted through said differential assembly for differentially affecting the speed of rotation of the right and left side auger shafts with respect to each other such that an accelerated motion of one of said right and left side auger shafts having a lesser amount of torque applied thereto is offset by a retarded motion of the other of said right and left side auger shafts having relatively more torque applied thereto.

3. A foldable drill implement comprising:

(a) an implement frame having a tow bar for connection to a prime mover and a plurality of ground-engaging wheels for movable support over the ground in a first direction;

(b) a supply hopper mounted to said frame;

(c) a broadcast hopper mounted to said frame and spaced from said supply hopper, and extending generally transversely to said first direction;

(d) said implement frame having a center frame section and a plurality of wing frame sections oppositely positioned adjacent said center frame section and having ground-engaging wheels for support, said center frame section including pivot means connecting said wing frame sections to opposite ends of said center frame section for folding;

(e) said broadcast hopper including a central drill box mounted on said center frame section;

(f) said broadcast hopper including a plurality of wing section drill boxes mounted on a respective said wing frame section and extending generally longitudinally of said central drill box and in flow communication therewith, each of said wing section drill boxes having outer ends;

(g) a plurality of planter means supported by said frame and disposed along said broadcast hopper, said broadcast hopper being in flow communication with said planter means for broadcast of said material in the ground upon operational movement of said implement frame;

(h) a first supply auger supported by said frame and extending generally in said first direction, said first supply auger being connected to said supply hopper and to said broadcast hopper and being in flow communication therebetween;

(i) a first distribution auger supported by said frame and extending generally transversely to said first direction along said broadcast hopper, said first distribution auger being in flow communication with said first supply auger and adapted to transfer material from said supply auger to said central and wing drill boxes of said broadcast hopper;

(j) motive means connected to and driving said first supply auger and said first distribution auger;

(k) each of said wing frame sections having a wing distribution auger in flow communication with said first distribution auger and adapted to transfer material from said central drill box to said wing drill boxes;

(l) each of said wing frame sections having a wing drive shaft running generally parallel to said wing distribution augers and operatively connected to said wing distribution augers at respective outer ends thereof;

said wing drive assembly being connected to said motive means for driving said wing drive assembly and said wing distribution auger; and

(m) control means at said wing section drill box outer ends and sensitive to the presence of excess material delivered by respective said wing distribution augers, said control means being adapted to deactuate said first supply and distribution augers upon said presence of said excess material.

4. The drill implement as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

(a) said wing drive assembly is operatively connected to said first distribution auger and to said motive means such that said first distribution auger and said wing drive assembly are driven in unison.

5. A drill implement comprising:

(a) an implement frame having a plurality of ground-engaging wheels for movable support over the ground in a first direction;

(b) a supply hopper associated with said frame;

(c) a broadcast hopper associated with said frame and spaced from said supply hopper, said broadcast hopper extending generally transversely to said first direction and having outer ends remote from said first supply auger;

(d) a first supply auger supported by said frame and extending generally horizontally in said first direction, said first supply auger being connected to said supply hopper and to said broadcast hopper and being in flow communication therebetween;

(e) a first distribution auger supported by said frame and extending generally horizontally and transversely to said first direction along said broadcast hopper, said first distribution auger being in flow communication with said first supply auger and adapted to transfer material from said supply auger to said broadcast hopper;

(f) motive means connected to and driving said first supply auger and said first distribution auger;

(g) a plurality of planter means supported by said frame and disposed along said broadcast hopper, said broadcast hopper being in flow communication with said planter means for broadcast of said material in the ground upon operational movement of said implement frame;

(h) a differential assembly connected to said motive means for receiving power therefrom;

said different assembly connecting right and left side auger shafts of said first distribution auger and differentially supplying power to said right and left side auger shafts; and

(i) control means at said broadcast hopper outer ends and sensitive to the presence of excess material delivered by said first distribution auger to said outer end, said control means being adapted to deactuate said first supply auger and said first distribution auger upon said presence of excess material and including;

(1) a sensor for sensing an accummulation of excess material; and

(2) a control switch connected to said sensor and responsive to a second accummulation of excess material to deactuate said motive means.

6. A foldable drill implement comprising:

(a) an implement frame having a tow bar for connection to a prime mover and a plurality of ground-engaging wheels for movable support over the ground in a first direction;

(b) a supply hopper mounted to said frame and having a first compartment for storing a first material;

(c) a broadcast hopper mounted to said frame, spaced from said supply hopper and extending generally transversely to said first direction;

(d) said implement frame having a center frame section and right and left wing frame sections oppositely positioned adjacent said center frame section and having ground-engaging wheels for support;

(e) said broadcast hopper including a central drill box mounted on said center frame section;

(f) said broadcast hopper including right and left side wing section drill boxes mounted on a respective said wing frame section and extending generally longitudinally of said broadcast hopper and in flow communication therewith, each of said wing section drill boxes having outer ends;

(g) a plurality of planter means connected to said center frame section and said wing frame sections and in flow communication with said broadcast hopper and said wing section drill boxes for broadcast of the first material;

(h) a first supply auger supported by said frame, extending generally longitudinally of said first direction and extending between said first compartment and said broadcast hopper in flow communication therewith;

(i) a first distribution auger supported by said frame, extending generally transversely to said first direction and extending lengthwise through said central drill box in flow communication with said first supply auger for transferring the first material from said first compartment to said broadcast hopper and maintaining a level of fill therein;

(j) right and left side wing distribution augers, each mounted in a respective wing frame section and extending the length thereof;

each of said first wing distribution augers being connected to respective opposite ends of said first distribution auger and in flow communication therewith;

(k) pivot means connecting said center frame section and said wing frame sections and providing rotational folding movement therebetween;

(l) motive means for driving said first supply auger, said first distribution auger;

(m) right and left side wing drive assemblies for driving said right and left side wing distribution augers, respectively, said wing drive assemblies each including;

(1) a central drive shaft received in said central drill box and extending lengthwise therethrough in generally parallel relation to said first distribution auger;

(2) a wing drive shaft received in a respective wing section drill box and extending lengthwise therein in generally parallel relation to a respective wing distribution auger; and

(3) a U-joint connecting said central drive shaft and said wing drive shaft along an axis about which said pivot means fold a respective wing frame section relative to said center frame section; and

(n) control means located at said wing section drill box outer ends and sensitive to the presence of excess material delivered by respective said wing distribution augers, said control means being adapted to deactuate said first supply auger upon said presence of said excess material.