Multi-functional self-propelled farm tractor

• US 6,460,643 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Degelman Industries LP
• Original Assignee: Degelman Industries Limited
• Inventors: Degelman, Wilfred J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/595,011
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 180/89.12, 180/235, 180/242, 180/308, 180/900, 180/418, 280/400, 280/515, 280/6.154, 280/6.155
• US Class Current: 180/89.12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0607 Straddle tractors, used for instance above vine stocks, rows of bushes, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/02 comprising a uniaxle tractor unit and a uniaxle trailer unit see B60B11/00 - B60B11/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/90 Argicultural-type tractors

Abstract

A high clearance farm tractor is capable of accepting different front attachments to enable it to operate as either a swather or a sprayer. The front and rear sections of the vehicle'"'"'s chassis are connected by an articulating oscillating joint which permits the vehicle'"'"'s rear wheels to follow the path of the front wheels while turning thereby reducing damage to crops. The oscillating nature of the joint improves traction by allowing the wheels to always have full contact with the ground. A rear mounted engine counterbalances the weight of a front mounted attachment such as a swather head. The mounting of the cab on the front section of the vehicle away from the engine reduces noise experienced by the operator and permits the operator to have a direct line of sight to the operation of the vehicle. The use of active suspension and chemical application rates permit the vehicle to be transported and operated at higher speeds.

Claims

1. A vehicle capable of receiving interchangeable front mounted attachments, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a front section and a rear section, each section supported by respective wheels,

active suspension means for mechanically coupling the wheels to the chassis, wherein the active suspension means controls a height between the chassis and the wheels and is operably able to dampen and absorb motion of the wheels relative to the chassis so as to maintain the chassis at a uniform height;

an operator'"'"'s cab mounted on the front section;

means on the front sections for mounting interchangeably one of a plurality of different attachments;

an engine mounted on the rear section for propelling the vehicle;

an articulated joint having a horizontal and vertical axis connecting the front and rear sections, the articulated joint permitting relative lateral movement between the front and rear sections about the vertical axis and relative axial rotation between the front and rear sections about the horizontal axis; and

wherein the front and rear wheels are spaced from the articulated joint so that a path of the rear wheels substantially follows a path of the front wheels when the vehicle turns.

2. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein the articulated joint is an oscillating articulated joint, which allows the front and rear sections of the vehicle to pivot and move independently of each other about the oscillating articulated joint, whereby the wheels maintain full contact with a ground surface.

3. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a high clearance tractor.

4. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein the engine counterbalances a front mounted attachment.

5. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein the distance between mar wheels is adjustable.

6. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein the distance between front wheels is adjustable.

7. A vehicle of claim 1 wherein a swather head or a high clearance sprayer is mounted on said front section.

8. A vehicle of claim 1, wherein the active suspension means is an air spring suspension system.

9. A vehicle of claim 1, wherein the active suspension means is an air bag suspension system.

10. A vehicle capable of receiving interchangeable front mounted attachments, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis having a front section and a rear section, each section supported by a respective front and rear wheels;

an active suspension for mechanically coupling the respective front and rear wheels to the front and rear sections and independently maintaining the front and rear sections at a uniform height relative to the ground;

an operator'"'"'s cab mounted on the front section;

an attachment device on the front section for mounting interchangeably one of a plurality of different attachments;

an engine mounted on the rear section for propelling the vehicle; and

an articulated joint having a horizontal and vertical axis connecting the front and rear sections, the articulated joint permitting relative lateral movement between the front and rear sections about the vertical axis and relative axial rotation between the front and rear sections about the horizontal axis; and

wherein the front and rear wheels are spaced from the joint so that a path of the rear wheels substantially follows a path of the front wheels when the vehicle turns.

11. An articulated vehicle capable of receiving interchangeable front mounted attachments for performing different farming and construction tasks, the articulated vehicle comprising:

a segmented chassis having a front portion supporting an operator'"'"'s cabin and a rear portion having an engine for propelling the vehicle;

at least a first and second independent front wheels supporting the front portion and at least a first and second independent rear wheels supporting the rear portion;

an active wheel suspension mechanism coupling each said first and second independent front and rear wheels to the respective front and rear portions of the segmented chassis;

an attachment apparatus positioned on the front portion for mounting interchangeably one of a plurality of different farming and construction tool attachments; and

wherein the front and rear portions of the segmented chassis are connected by an articulated joint having a separate vertical axis and a horizontal axis permitting simultaneous relative oscillation between the front and rear portions in both a horizontal and vertical plane to ensure that each said first and second independent front and rear wheels are maintained in full contact with an undulating ground surface.

12. The articulated vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the front and rear wheels are equidistantly spaced from the joint connecting the front and rear portions of the chassis so that a path of the rear wheels substantially follows a path of the front wheels when the vehicle turns in order to reduce crop damage.

13. The articulated vehicle as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a hydrostatic drive wherein each said first and second independent front and rear wheels are independently driven by separate motors powered by a hydrostatic oil pump driven by the engine.

14. The articulated vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein the front and rear portion of the segmented chassis are also connected by at least a stabilizing cylinder adjacent the joint to facilitate articulated steering of the vehicle.

15. The articulated vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first and second independent rear wheels are parallel spaced from one another.

16. The articulated vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first and second independent front wheels are axially adjustable relative to one another.

17. An articulated vehicle capable of receiving interchangeable front mounted attachments for performing different farming and construction tasks, the articulated vehicle comprising:

a segmented chassis having a front portion supporting an operator'"'"'s cabin and a rear portion having an engine for propelling the vehicle;

at least a first and second independent front wheels supporting the front portion and at least a first and second independent rear wheels supporting the rear portion;

an active wheel suspension mechanism independently coupling each said first and second independent front and rear wheels to the respective front and rear portions of the segmented chassis;

an attachment apparatus positioned on the front portion for mounting interchangeably one of a plurality of different farming and construction tool attachments;

the front and rear portions of the segmented chassis are connected by an articulated joint having a vertical axis and a horizontal axis permitting simultaneous relative oscillation between the front and rear portions in both a horizontal and vertical plane to ensure that each said first and second independent front and rear wheels are maintained in full contact with an undulating ground surface;

the front and rear wheels are equidistantly spaced from the joint connecting the front and rear portions of the chassis so that a path of the rear wheels substantially follows a path of the front wheels when the vehicle turns in order to reduce crop damage; and

the vehicle is provided with a hydrostatic drive wherein each said first and second independent front and rear wheels are independently driven by separate motors powered by a hydrostatic oil pump driven by the engine to provide increased clearance of the vehicle.