Steering device for towed implements

• US 7,147,241 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: One Pass Implements Inc.
• Original Assignee: One Pass Implements Inc.
• Inventors: Dean, Brian, Kent, Brian, Wilton, Bruce, Beaujot, Pat, Howells, Penny
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/428,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 280/442, 280/443, 280/444, 280/445, 280/441
• US Class Current: 280/442
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/004 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/208 Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle. The towed implement, for example, a farm implement such as a seeding device, comprises a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable surface engaging wheel attached to the frame. The steering device comprising a sensor means mounted on the main frame of the towed implement for sensing a misalignment of the towed implement and the work vehicle and producing a signal corresponding to the misalignment. The steering device further comprises a steering means associated with the steerable wheel for receiving the signal produced by the sensor means and for effecting movement of the steerable wheel in response to the signal until the towed implement and the work vehicle are once again realigned.

Claims

1. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) a sensor means mounted on the frame of the towed implement for sensing a sideways displacement of the towed implement and producing a signal corresponding to said displacement, said sensor means comprising a ground engaging sensor member having side to side movement about a vertical axis and a valve means responsively associated with the ground engaging sensor member for sensing the side to side movement of the ground engaging sensor member and producing the signal in response thereto; and

(b) a steering means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said signal.

2. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal comprises hydraulic fluid or air.

3. A steering device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said steering means comprises a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

4. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least two steerable ground engaging wheels attached to the rear end of said frame.

5. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said towed implement comprises a gang of individual seed openers attached to said frame for engaging the ground.

6. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ground engaging sensor member is mounted to said frame by means of a pivot.

7. A steering device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rotatable wheel that rides on the ground.

8. A steering device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rolling coulter or disc that rides on the ground.

9. A steering device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises a shaft carrying a skid that rides on the ground.

10. A steering device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sensor member engages the ground by engaging means selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic cylinder biasing means, a pneumatic cylinder biasing means, a spring biasing means or the addition of sufficient mass to cause gravity to act as a biasing means.

11. A steering device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises at least one flexible arm.

12. A steering device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flexible arm further comprises a rolling member selected from the group consisting of a wheel, a disc or a coulter.

13. A steering device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is a retractable and extensible cylinder.

41. A steering device as claimed in claims 1, 14 or 39 further comprising a second valve means for centering the at least one steerable wheel when sensor means is not in operation.

14. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one horizontal member, said implement further comprising at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) a ground engaging sensor member having a first and second end, said first end mounted to said frame such that said second end engages the ground, said ground engaging sensor member having side to side movement about a vertical axis and being in a neutral position when it is traveling in a plane substantially perpendicular to the horizontal member of the frame;

(b) a sensing means comprising a steering control valve means, said sensing means being responsively associated with said ground engaging sensor member for sensing the side to side movement of said ground engaging sensor member and for creating a signal corresponding to said side to side movement; and

(c) a steering actuating means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said signal until the ground engaging sensor member is back to the neutral position.

15. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising at least two steerable ground engaging wheels attached to the rear end of said frame.

16. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said towed implement comprises a gang of individual seed openers attached to said frame for engaging the ground.

17. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said ground engaging sensor member is mounted to said frame by means of a pivot.

18. A steering device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rotatable wheel that rides on the ground.

19. A steering device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises at least one arm carrying a rolling coulter or disc that rides on the ground.

20. A steering device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises a shaft carrying a skid that rides on the ground.

21. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said ground engaging sensor member comprises at least one flexible arm.

22. A steering device as claimed in claim 21 wherein said flexible arm further comprises a rolling member selected from the group consisting of a wheel, a disc or a coulter.

23. A steering device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said ground engaging sensor member engages the ground by engaging means selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic cylinder biasing means, a pneumatic cylinder biasing means, a spring biasing means or the addition of sufficient mass to cause gravity to act as a biasing means.

24. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said signal comprises the release of hydraulic fluid or air.

25. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said ground engaging sensor member further comprises an electrical signaling means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the side to side movement of said ground engaging sensor member and said sensing means is adapted to receive said electrical signal.

26. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said steering control valve means comprises a receiving port for receiving a source of hydraulic fluid or air from a fluid reservoir and a pair of supply ports for supplying hydraulic fluid or air to the steering actuating means, whereby when the ground engaging sensor member moves to one side the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the first supply port and when the ground engaging sensor member moves to the opposite side the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the second supply port.

27. A steering device as claimed in claim 25 wherein said sensing means comprises a steering control valve means responsive to said electrical signal produced by said electrical signaling means.

28. A steering device as claimed in claim 27 wherein said steering control valve means comprises a receiving port for receiving a source of hydraulic fluid or air from a fluid reservoir and a pair of supply ports for supplying hydraulic fluid or air to the steering actuating means, whereby when an electrical signal is given corresponding to the ground engaging sensor member moving to one side the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the first supply port and when an electrical signal is given corresponding to the ground engaging sensor member moving to the opposite side the steering control valve means releases hydraulic fluid or air through the second supply port.

29. A steering device as claimed in claims 26 or 28 wherein said steering control valve means further comprises a third supply port which supplies hydraulic fluid or air back to said fluid reservoir when said ground engaging sensor member is in the neutral position.

30. A steering device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

31. A steering device as claimed in claim 30 wherein said double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder further comprises a double-ended piston rod.

32. A steering device as claimed in claims 26 or 28 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder having first and second chambers, whereby when said steering control valve means releases fluid or air through the first supply port said fluid or air is directed to the first chamber of the cylinder and when said steering control valve means releases fluid or air through the second supply port said fluid or air is directed to the second chamber of the cylinder.

33. A steering device as claimed in claim 32 whereby when fluid or air is directed to the first chamber of the cylinder, said cylinder causes the at least one steerable wheel to move in one direction and when fluid or air is directed to the second chamber of the cylinder, said cylinder causes the at least one steerable wheel to move in the opposite direction.

34. A steering device as claimed in claim 33 whereby said the at least one steerable wheel moves in a direction necessary to return said ground engaging sensor member to a neutral position.

35. A steering device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said steering actuating means comprises a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder having first and second chambers, whereby one end of the cylinder is attached to one steerable wheel and the other end of the cylinder is attached to the other steerable wheel such that each steerable wheel moves in the same direction in response to said signal received.

36. A steering device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said ground engaging sensor member is mounted substantially in the centre of said frame.

42. A steering device as claimed in claim 25 wherein said electrical signaling means comprises a potentiometer.

37. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) sensor means for determining the location of the centre of said towed implement and the location of the centre of said work vehicle and for producing a first signal when the centre of said towed implement and the centre of said work vehicle are misaligned or not following the same path;

(b) a sensing means for receiving said first signal and creating a second signal corresponding to the position of said towed implement in relation to said work vehicle; and

(c) a steering actuating means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said second signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said second signal until the towed implement and the work vehicle are in alignment and following the same path.

38. A steering device as claimed in claim 37 wherein said sensor means comprises a first global positioning antenna located on said work vehicle, a second global positioning antenna located on said towed implement and a receiver.

39. A steering device as claimed in claim 37 wherein said sensing means comprises a steering control valve means responsive to said first signal.

40. A steering device as claimed in claim 39 wherein said steering actuating means comprises at least one double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.

43. A steering device for facilitating the steering of a seed drill towed by a work vehicle, said towed seed drill comprising a main frame having front and rear ends, a gang of individual seed openers attached to said frame for engaging the ground, and at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) a sensor means comprising a ground engaging sensor member having side to side movement about a vertical axis, said sensor means mounted on the frame of the seed drill for sensing a sideways displacement of the towed implement and producing a signal corresponding to said displacement; and

(b) a steering means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said signal.

44. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to said frame, comprising:

(a) a sensor means comprising a ground engaging sensor member having side to side movement about a vertical axis, said ground engaging sensor member comprising at least one arm or shaft carrying a ground riding means selected from the group consisting of a rolling coulter, a disc and a skid, said ground engaging sensor means pivotally mounted on the frame of the towed implement for sensing a sideways displacement of the towed implement and producing a signal corresponding to said displacement; and

(b) a steering means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said signal.

45. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one horizontal member, said implement further comprising at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to the frame, comprising:

(a) a ground engaging sensor member having a first and second end, the first end mounted to the frame such that the second end engages the ground, said ground engaging sensor member having side to side movement about a vertical axis and being in a neutral position when it is traveling in a plane substantially perpendicular to the horizontal member of the frame, and said ground engaging sensor means comprising an electrical signaling means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the side to side movement;

(b) a sensing means responsively associated with the ground engaging sensor member for receiving the electrical signal corresponding to the side to side movement and creating a second signal; and

(c) a steering actuating means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said second signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said second signal until the ground engaging sensor member is back to the neutral position.

46. A steering device as claimed in claim 45 wherein said electrical signaling means comprises a potentiometer.

47. A steering device for facilitating the steering of an implement towed by a work vehicle, said implement comprising a main frame having front and rear ends and at least one horizontal member, said implement further comprising at least one steerable ground engaging wheel attached to the frame, comprising:

(a) a ground engaging sensor member having a first and second end, the first end pivotally mounted to the frame such that the second end engages the ground, said ground engaging sensor member having side to side movement about a vertical axis and being in a neutral position when it is traveling in a plane substantially perpendicular to the horizontal member of the frame, and said ground engaging sensor member comprising at least one arm or shaft carrying a ground riding means selected from the group consisting of a rolling coulter, a disc and a skid;

(b) a sensing means responsively associated with said ground engaging sensor member for sensing the side to side movement of said ground engaging sensor member and for creating a signal corresponding to said side to side movement; and

(c) a steering actuating means associated with the at least one steerable wheel for receiving said signal and for effecting movement of the at least one steerable wheel in response to said signal until the ground engaging sensor member is back to the neutral position.