AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WITH PIVOTING TOOL FRAME

• US 20140116736A1
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Dietrich, Willliam J. Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,609,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/664
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/044 the connection enabling a yielding pivoting movement around a substantially horizontal and transverse axis
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/32 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means without automatic control

Abstract

An agricultural implement may include a main frame with a tool frame pivotally coupled thereto. The agricultural implement includes a front row of ground engaging tools having a first plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to the tool frame and a rear row of ground engaging tools having a second plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to the tool frame. The agricultural implement includes a front linkage assembly extending between the main frame and the tool frame. The front linkage assembly is coupled to the tool frame vertically above the front row. The agricultural implement also includes a central linkage assembly extending between the main frame and the tool frame. The central linkage assembly is coupled to a central portion of the tool frame between the front row and the rear row. The front row is configured to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the rear row.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement comprising:

a main frame configured to be coupled to a tow vehicle;

a tool frame pivotally coupled to the main frame;

a front row of ground engaging tools having a first plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to the tool frame;

a rear row of ground engaging tools having a second plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to the tool frame;

a front linkage assembly extending between the main frame and the tool frame, wherein the front linkage assembly is coupled to the tool frame vertically above the front row of ground engaging tools; and

a central linkage assembly extending between the main frame and the tool frame, wherein the central linkage assembly is coupled to a central portion of the tool frame between the front row of ground engaging tools and the rear row of ground engaging tools;

wherein the front row of ground engaging tools is configured to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the rear row of ground engaging tools using the front linkage assembly and the central linkage assembly.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1, comprising a spring assembly coupled to the main frame and configured to bias the tool frame downwardly.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 2, wherein the spring assembly comprises a plurality of springs.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 1, comprising an actuator extending between the main frame and the front linkage assembly and configured to drive the front row of ground engaging tools upwardly and downwardly relative to the main frame.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 1, comprising an actuator extending between the main frame and the central linkage assembly and configured to drive the central portion of the tool frame upwardly and downwardly relative to the main frame.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein the front linkage assembly comprises a plurality of pivot joints.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein the central linkage assembly comprises a plurality of pivot joints.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein the front linkage assembly comprises a front rockshaft rotatably coupled to the main frame, the front linkage assembly comprises a plurality of members pivotally coupled between the tool frame and the front rockshaft, and the front rockshaft is disposed forward of the front row of ground engaging tools relative to a direction of travel.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein the central linkage assembly comprises a central rockshaft rotatably coupled to the main frame, the central linkage assembly comprises a plurality of members pivotally coupled between the tool frame and the central rockshaft, and the central rockshaft is disposed between the front row of ground engaging tools and the rear row of ground engaging tools.

11. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein the tool frame is configured to be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the main frame using the front linkage assembly and the central linkage assembly.

12. An agricultural implement comprising:

a frame assembly;

a front row of ground engaging tools having a first plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to a front portion of the frame assembly; and

a rear row of ground engaging tools having a second plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to a rear portion of the frame assembly;

wherein the frame assembly is configured to pivot during operation of the agricultural implement to facilitate contact between the rear row of ground engaging tools and a soil surface while the front row of ground engaging tools is raised above the soil surface via contact with an obstruction, and to facilitate contact between the front row of ground engaging tools and the soil surface while the rear row of ground engaging tools is raised above the soil surface via contact with an obstruction.

13. The agricultural implement of claim 12, wherein the frame assembly comprises a central linkage coupled to a central portion of the frame assembly between the front row of ground engaging tools and the rear row of ground engaging tools.

14. The agricultural implement of claim 12, wherein the frame assembly comprises a front rockshaft configured to rotate to adjust the front row of ground engaging tools upwardly and downwardly when force is applied to the front rockshaft by the front row of ground engaging tools.

15. The agricultural implement of claim 12, wherein the frame assembly comprises a central rockshaft configured to rotate to adjust the front row of ground engaging tools and the rear row of ground engaging tools upwardly and downwardly when force is applied to the central rockshaft by the front row of ground engaging tools, the rear row of ground engaging tools, or some combination thereof.

16. The agricultural implement of claim 12, wherein the frame assembly comprises a front linkage configured to facilitate pivoting of the front row of ground engaging tools upwardly and downwardly.

17. The agricultural implement of claim 12, comprising a spring assembly coupled to the frame assembly, the spring assembly configured to bias the rear row of ground engaging tools downwardly relative to the front row of ground engaging tools.

18. An agricultural implement comprising:

a main frame configured to be coupled to a tow vehicle;

a tool frame pivotally coupled to the main frame;

a front row of ground engaging tools having a first plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to the tool frame;

a rear row of ground engaging tools having a second plurality of ground engaging tools coupled to the tool frame;

an actuator configured to control a first penetration depth of the front row of ground engaging tools into soil, and a second penetration depth of the rear row of ground engaging tools into the soil;

a front linkage extending between the main frame and the tool frame, wherein the front linkage is coupled to the tool frame vertically above the front row of ground engaging tools;

a central linkage extending between the main frame and the tool frame, wherein the central linkage is coupled to a central portion of the tool frame between the front row of ground engaging tools and the rear row of ground engaging tools; and

a spring assembly coupled to the main frame and configured to bias the tool frame relative to the main frame;

wherein the front row of ground engaging tools is configured to pivot upwardly and downwardly relative to the rear row of ground engaging tools using the front linkage and the central linkage.

19. The agricultural implement of claim 18, comprising a central rockshaft coupled to the main frame and pivotally coupled to the central linkage, the central rockshaft disposed between the front row of ground engaging tools and the rear row of ground engaging tools.

20. The agricultural implement of claim 18, comprising a front rockshaft rotatably coupled to the main frame and pivotally coupled to the front linkage, the front rockshaft disposed forward of the front row of ground engaging tools relative to a direction of travel.