Cable suspension for harvesting machine

• US 3,909,022 A
• Filed: 08/03/1973
• Issued: 09/30/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerald L. Claxton
• Original Assignee: Gerald L. Claxton
• Inventors: Claxton, Gerald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodman, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carroll, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/385,456
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 280/64,104,16.5R,112R,112A,124R 267/11R,11A 56/209,212,213
• US Class Current: 280/6.155
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 46/00 Picking of fruits, vegetables, hops, or the like; Devices for shaking trees or shrubs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01925 Pendulum-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/00 Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces B60G17/033 takes precedence ; levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045; steering deflectable wheels combined with means for inwardly inclining the vehicle body on bends B62D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/10 Independent suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/83022 using cables, wires, belts or chains
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/08 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/019 Inclination due to load distribution or road gradient

Abstract

A generally rectangular frame having a vertical support column at each corner thereof each mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame. Hydraulic cylinders adjust the height of the frame relative to the columns at one end of the frame, the cylinders being operable to maintain the frame level from side to side in spite of variations in slope of the ground on which the frame is supported. A cable suspension system slaving the two columns at the other end of the frame supports the frame from the two columns at the other end together and suspends the frame therefrom in such manner that the supports may move vertically relative to the frame to maintain ground engagement of the supports in spite of variations in ground slope while supporting the frame level from side to side. The hydraulic system and cable suspension system cooperate to enable the frame to be raised or lowered on all columns simultaneously.

Claims

1. A supported frame and leveling apparatus therefor comprising:

a. a rigid frame, b. first and second ground-engaging supports mounted at one end of said frame for individual and independent vertical movement relative thereto;

c. first and second variable-length members connected between and supporting said frame on said first and second supports respectively;

d. means interconnecting said first and second variable-length members for equally and oppositely changing the length of one of said members in response to a change in the length of the other of said members;

e. third and fourth ground-engaging supports mounted at the other end of said frame for individual and independent vertical movement relative thereto;

f. third and fourth variable-length members connected between and supporting said frame on said third and fourth supPort members;

g. means including a first control means therefor for actuating at least one of said third and fourth variable-length members to change the length thereof.

2. a change in the combined length of the cable flights associated with said third and fourth supports to produce a corresponding change in the combined length of the cable flights associated with said first and second supports.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said third and fourth variable-length members are each hydraulic cylinders and further including:

h. variable-length flexible cable flight portions extending vertically from each of said third and fourth supports to said frame, and i. means operatively connecting the cable flight portions associated with said third and fourth supports to the cable flight portions associated with said first and second supports for enabling;

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third and fourth variable-length members are independently actuable and wherein said first control means controls said means (g) to actuate at one time only one of said third and fourth variable-length members to vary the combined length of said third and fourth variable-length members, and further including:

h. means for correspondingly changing the combined length of said first and second variable-length members in response to a change in the combined length of said third and fourth variable-length members.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means (g) includes interengageable stop members on said third and fourth ground-engaging supports and said frame to limit downward movement of said frame relative to said third and fourth ground-engaging supports.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second variable-length members and said means (d) comprises a flexible cable having a variable-length flight portion extending down from said first support, said cable then passing freely around pulleys on said frame and then having a variable-length flight portion extending upwardly to said second support, and wherein said third and fourth variable-length members are each hydraulic cylinders.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means (h) includes flexible cables connected to each of the third and fourth supports and having variable-length flight portions extending vertically to said frame, and means for changing the combined total length of the cable flights associated with the first and second supports in accordance with a change in the combined total length of the cable flights associated with said third and fourth supports.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and further including means responsive to a tilting of said platform for actuating said first control means to increase the length of the variable-length member associated with the side of the platform which tilts downwardly.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means (g) further includes a second control means for controlling said means (g) to actuate both of said third and fourth variable-length members to change their lengths simultaneously and in the same direction.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further including:

i. means and a third control means therefor for varying the combined length of said first and second variable-length members independently of the length of said third and fourth variable-length members.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further including:

h. means interconnecting said third and fourth variable-length members for equally and oppositely changing the length of said fourth variable-length members in response to a change in the length of said third variable-length member.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said fourth variable-length member comprises a flexible cable flight extending down from said fourth support to said frame and further including a flexible cable continuing from said fourth variable-length cable around pulleys on said frame and then upwardly to said third support.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said third and fourth variable-length members are independently actuable and wherein said first control means controls said means (g) to actuate said third and fourth variable-length members simultaneously to increase the length of one while decreasing the length of the other in an equal amount.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 and further including means responsive to a tilting of said platform for actuating said first control means.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means (g) includes a second control means for controlling said means (g) to actuate said third and fourth variable-length members simultaneously to change the lengths thereof in equal amounts and in the same direction, and further including:

h. means responsive to a change in the combined length of said third and fourth variable-length members for equally changing the combined length of said first and second variable-length members.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 and further including:

i. means and a third control means therefor for varying the combined length of said first and second variable-length members independently of said third and fourth variable-length members.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first and second variable-length members and said means (d) comprises a flexible cable having a variable-length flight portion extending down from said first support, said cable then passing freely around pulleys on said frame and then having a variable-length flight portion extending upwardly to said second support, and wherein said third and fourth variable-length members are each hydraulic cylinders.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said means (h) includes flexible cables connected to each of said third and fourth supports and having variable-length flight portions extending vertically to said frame, and means for changing the combined total length of the cable flights associated with the first and second supports in accordance with a change in the combined total lengths of the cable flights associated with said third and fourth supports.

19. A supported frame and leveling apparatus therefor comprising:

a. a horizontal rigid rectangular frame;

b. first, second, third and fourth vertical column members mounted one at each corner of said frame for vertical movement relative thereto, each column member having a ground-engaging member at the lower end thereof and each column member projecting up through said frame;

c. first and second hydraulic cylinders connecting between said frame and said third and fourth column members respectively;

d. means for supplying, maintaining and relieving hydraulic fluid under pressure into, in and from said hydraulic cylinders;

e. a plurality of pulleys mounted on said frame adjacent said column members;

f. flexible cable means trained around said pulleys and extending vertically from a fixed reference point on said third column to said frame, then along said frame, then upwardly and over a pulley on said first column member and downwardly to said frame, then upwardly and over a pulley on said second column member and then downwardly to said frame, then along said frame and then vertically to a fixed reference point on said fourth column member.

20. ApParatus as set forth in claim 19 and further including means responsive to a tilting of said frame for actuating the means (d) to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder associated with the side of the frame which tilts downwardly.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 and further including a stop collar mounted on each of said third and fourth column members and movable therewith, said stop collars being engageable with said frame to limit downward movement of said frame relative to said third and fourth column members.