Drive assembly for locking one or several operating units of an agricultural implement or of a self-propelled implement

• US 7,464,526 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walterscheid GmbH (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: GKN Walterscheid GmbH
• Inventors: Coenen, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres; Alicia
• Application Number:
  US10/243,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,286 Days
• Field of Search: 56/103, 56/112, 56/113, 56/102.J, 56/102.R, 192/150, 192/220, 192/220.1, 192/54.1, 192/55.1, 192 561- 5662, 192/15, 464 30- 48
• US Class Current: 56/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/025 the driving connections
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/20 Devices for protecting men or animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 15/0841 Drives for balers

Abstract

A drive assembly driven by a drive unit locks one or several operating units (6) of an agricultural implement (1) or of a self-propelled implement. The operating unit (6) can be locked when switching off the drive unit or upon reaction of an overload coupling (4). The drive assembly (3) has an overload coupling (4) connected to the drive unit and driven by the drive unit in one driving direction of rotation. The overload coupling (4) is also connected to the operating unit (6). The drive assembly (3) further has a brake unit (5) connected to the overload coupling (4). The brake unit (5) is intended to be arranged in the driveline between the overload coupling (4) and the operating unit (6). Actuating mechanism (10) actuates the brake unit (5) when the operating unit is running so that the operating unit is braked and locked. Thereafter, the overload coupling is disconnected.

Claims

1. A drive assembly driven by a drive unit for locking one or several operating units of an agricultural implement or a self-propelled implement in a driveline, said drive assembly comprising:

an overload coupling connected to a drive unit and driven by said drive unit in one driving direction of rotation, and said overload coupling connected to an operating unit and said overload coupling being self-actuating and disconnecting when a specific torque limit is exceeded;

a brake unit connected to the overload coupling, said brake unit including a friction brake member biased directly by a spring in a braked position, said brake unit adapted to be arranged in the driveline between the overload coupling and the operating unit, such that when said brake unit is in a braked position, said overload coupling is disconnected and torque is not provided to said operating unit;

an actuating mechanism for actuating the brake unit, said actuating mechanism being activated to move said brake unit into a release or unbraked position which enables torque from said overload coupling to pass to said operating unit for running the operating unit, and when the actuating mechanism is deactivated, the brake unit is braked and locked by the spring engaging the friction brake member causing the overload coupling to be disconnected.

2. A drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism is actuated manually.

3. A drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein penetration of foreign bodies into the operating range of the agricultural implement or of the self-propelled implement or into the operating range of the operating unit is detected by sensors and when said sensors identify foreign bodies, the brake unit is actuated automatically.

4. The drive assembly according to claim 1, wherein said friction brake member being a disk brake, multiple disk brake or a drum brake assembly.