Vehicle for agricultural use
First Claim
1. An agricultural vehicle comprising a frame, a pair of ground wheels each having a hub on which the wheel rotates and a tire with a ground engaging periphery for supporting the frame in movement across the ground in a direction along an axis longitudinal of the frame, the wheels being spaced to respective sides of a center line of the vehicle, parallel to said longitudinal axis and a pair of suspension devices each for connecting a respective one of the ground wheels for flexible movement relative to the frame in a vertical direction to accommodate variations in ground height, each suspension device comprising a rigid axle member, means mounting the axle member on the frame for pivotal movement about a suspension axis fixed relative to the frame and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and located inwardly of the ground wheel, the axle member comprising a first portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction from said suspension axis to another end at a position closely adjacent said ground wheel, and a second portion rigidly coupled to the first portion and extending substantially vertically downwardly from the outer end to a lower end at the hub so that the hub is located downwardly and outwardly of the suspension axis, means mounting the hub on the lower end such that all force communicated to the hub from the ground passes into the second portion and from the second portion into the first portion, the hub providing rotation about a wheel axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis and fixed relative to said axle member such that vertical movement of said ground wheel about said suspension axis causes horizontal movement of said tire periphery at the ground in a direction at right angles to said suspension axis, and spring means connected between said frame and said axle member providing a spring resistance to upward movement of said axle member relative to the frame about said suspension axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A field sprayer is self propelled and includes a frame with an engine mounted on the frame, four wheels hydraulically driven, a tank and a boom supported by the frame and extending outwardly to the sides. The frame includes a longitudinally beam, a front transverse channel and a rear transverse channel. Each of the channels supports a pair of axle members separately pivotal about axis adjacent the center line of the frame. Each axle member includes a horizontal portion which can be extended on-the-go and a vertical portion which is attached to the wheel. A gas spring is connected between the channel and the upper surface of the axle member. Articulated steering is provided by a vertical pin connecting the front portion of the frame relative to the rear portion of the frame with the pin being arranged just rearward of the front axle. The boom is adjustable in height to accommodate both fully grown crops and ground spraying conditions. The boom includes a pair of support beams and a spray shield defined by two separate pieces projecting outwardly from the respective support beams.
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Citations
31 Claims
- 1. An agricultural vehicle comprising a frame, a pair of ground wheels each having a hub on which the wheel rotates and a tire with a ground engaging periphery for supporting the frame in movement across the ground in a direction along an axis longitudinal of the frame, the wheels being spaced to respective sides of a center line of the vehicle, parallel to said longitudinal axis and a pair of suspension devices each for connecting a respective one of the ground wheels for flexible movement relative to the frame in a vertical direction to accommodate variations in ground height, each suspension device comprising a rigid axle member, means mounting the axle member on the frame for pivotal movement about a suspension axis fixed relative to the frame and extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and located inwardly of the ground wheel, the axle member comprising a first portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction from said suspension axis to another end at a position closely adjacent said ground wheel, and a second portion rigidly coupled to the first portion and extending substantially vertically downwardly from the outer end to a lower end at the hub so that the hub is located downwardly and outwardly of the suspension axis, means mounting the hub on the lower end such that all force communicated to the hub from the ground passes into the second portion and from the second portion into the first portion, the hub providing rotation about a wheel axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis and fixed relative to said axle member such that vertical movement of said ground wheel about said suspension axis causes horizontal movement of said tire periphery at the ground in a direction at right angles to said suspension axis, and spring means connected between said frame and said axle member providing a spring resistance to upward movement of said axle member relative to the frame about said suspension axis.
- 14. An agricultural vehicle comprising a frame having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, a front pair of ground wheels mounted on the front frame portion and a rear pair of ground wheels mounted on the rear frame portion, suspension means mounting the ground wheels on the frame for supporting the frame in movement across the ground in a direction along an axis longitudinal of the frame, an engine mounted on the frame providing motive power for driving at least one pair of the ground wheels, a load receiving section provided on the rear portion of the frame, and steering means comprising pivot connection means between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion and defining a vertical pivot axis, the pivot axis being arranged closer to the front pair of wheels than the rear pair of wheels.
- 22. A vehicle comprising a frame, a front pair of ground wheels mounted on the frame, a rear pair of ground wheels mounted on the frame, means mounting the ground wheels on the frame for supporting the frame in movement across the ground in a direction along an axis longitudinal of the frame, each of at least one pair of the ground wheels having a hydraulic motor mounted thereon for providing direct drive to the respective wheel, an engine having a main drive coupling at one end of the engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the main drive coupling of the engine for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motors, and means mounting the engine at one end of the frame with the main drive coupling and the hydraulic pump on that end of the engine which is adjacent said one end of the frame.
- 27. An agricultural vehicle comprising a frame having a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, a front pair of ground wheels mounted on the front frame portion and a rear pair of ground wheels mounted on the rear frame portion, spring suspension means mounting the ground wheels on the frame for supporting the frame in movement across the ground in a direction along an axis longitudinal of the frame, the spring suspension means allowing vertical movement of each ground wheel relative to the frame, an engine mounted on the frame providing motive power for driving at least one pair of the ground wheels, a load receiving section provided on the rear portion of the frame, and steering means comprising pivot connection means between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion and defining a vertical pivot axis, wherein the frame includes a single beam extending along a central axis of the frame and wherein pivotal movement of the front portion of the frame relative to the rear portion of the frame takes place solely about said vertical steering axis.
Specification