Implement flotation and suspension system

Embodiments of the present invention relate to implement flotation and suspension systems typically utilized with agricultural equipment wherein an “implement” can be a brush, rake, broom, or any tool utilized to contact the ground surface; “flotation” refers to the ability of the systems to maintain a substantially consistent force applied by the implement on the ground surface it contacts and thus maintain a substantially consistent spacing between the ground surface being traversed (regardless of the regularity of the surface) and the implement section not in contact with the ground surface; and “suspension” refers to the suspension of some or all of the weight of the implement in relation to the surface being traversed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to implement flotation and suspension systems typically utilized with agricultural equipment wherein an “implement” can be a brush, rake, broom, or any tool utilized to contact the ground surface; “flotation” refers to the ability of the systems to maintain a substantially consistent force applied by the implement on the ground surface it contacts and thus maintain a substantially consistent spacing between the ground surface being traversed (regardless of the regularity of the surface) and the implement section not in contact with the ground surface; and “suspension” refers to the suspension of some or all of the weight of the implement in relation to the surface being traversed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural equipment or machinery is typically operated on unpaved ground surfaces which have varying degrees of undulations. Various suspension systems have been developed for automobiles and some have been utilized in agricultural vehicles. None of the systems provide an opportunity to control the contact between an agricultural vehicle's implement(s) and the ground surface the agricultural vehicle travels across. Typical agricultural equipment implements are used in soil preparation or crop planting, cultivating or gathering and include, but are not limited to, brushes, rakes, tines, blades, containment devices, rollers and wheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide an assembly of components (or system) that is mounted to a vehicle which is typically agricultural equipment. The agricultural equipment includes an implement to “work” the ground before or after planting and/or an implement to gather crops at harvest. The implement flotation and suspension system described herein can control the relative position of the implement with respect to the ground surface the implement (or a portion of the implement) comes in contact with.

The implement flotation and suspension system described herein functions independently of the normal vehicle suspension system. The implement flotation and suspension system is typically an attachment for agricultural equipment but it can be integral to the agricultural equipment.

The general operation of the device can be understood by explanation of the flotation and suspension system's use with a sweeper brush implement attached to nut harvesting machinery. The brush is used to sweep the crop on the ground to a desired location. The float assembly allows the brush to travel in a linear motion substantially perpendicular to the ground. This enhances the brush's sweeping performance by maintaining a consistent brush-to-ground contact patch as ground height varies. An additional benefit is a reduction in brush wear. The assembly also reduces the amount of force required for the brush to rise as it hits high spots or obstacles. In addition, the assembly allows the brush to freely travel downward in low spots. Two substantially parallel arms and a compression/tension component are used to suspend the brush.

Variations in ground height are transferred from the brush, through the connecting brackets and support arms to the force translation member, which allows the brush to be raised from or lowered to the ground. A compression component (a spring for example) at least partially suspends the weight of the brush and allows it to freely raise and lower as ground height varies.

The compression component could be a tension spring (capable of compression), compression spring, gas/hydraulic cylinder or any suitable compressive component. Sliding bearings on a linkage component can reduce friction as the brush floats upward or downward. The sliding bearings could be bearings, bushings, or low friction surface, such as, UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) polyethylene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, which best show the general features of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the implement flotation and suspension system10is the assembly contained approximately between points A and B. The implement flotation and suspension system includes at least one upper support arm12and at least one lower support arm14substantially parallel to the upper support arm. The upper and lower support arms are pivotally attached to at least one front bracket16and at least one back bracket18. Typically bracket assemblies are utilized.

A first adjustment mechanism15can be attached to the lower arm, upper arm, or any other applicable component of the implement flotation and suspension system. The first adjustment mechanism15could also be attached to the implement itself. The first adjustment mechanism (or position adjustment mechanism) allows the implement (brush) to be positioned to affect the angle C between the implement and the ground.

A force translation member20is connected to the upper or lower support arm. The force translation member shown inFIG. 1is pivotally connected to the lower support arm at the front end and to a slide mechanism22at the back end. The slide mechanism illustrated inFIG. 2contains a bearing member36which travels along upper and lower slide rails38. The slide mechanism is movable along a linear path and is connected at its back end to a shaft24. The shaft is substantially parallel to the linear path of the slide mechanism and the shaft comprises a second adjustment mechanism26to adjust the linear position of the slide mechanism.

A compression component is attached to the force translation member20and, in some cases, to the shaft24. Typical compression components include, but are not limited to, a fluid-filled cylinder30or spring34or any combination of suitable compression devices.

FIG. 3shows a partial cutaway, top view of the connection between the force translation member20and the slide mechanism22, and between the slide mechanism and the shaft24. The force translation member20and shaft24can be connected to the slide mechanism through an eyelet or bushing32. The bearing36is positioned at approximately the midpoint of the slide rails38inFIG. 3. The adjustment mechanism26can be used to vary the position of the bearing36with respect to the rails38.

FIG. 4shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of the implement flotation and suspension system utilized in conjunction with a rotary brush. In this embodiment, the force translation member has a first section120A and a second section120B with the second section approximately parallel to the upper112and lower114arms. The second section of the force translation member is connected to a shaft which contains a compression or tension component, e.g. a spring. The shaft can also contain a second adjustment mechanism126to adjust the height of the implement and the force that the implement exerts on the ground.

FIG. 5shows a side view of another alternative embodiment of the implement flotation and suspension system utilized in conjunction with a rotary brush. In this embodiment, the force translation member is a two part member with the first part220pivotally connected to the second part221that is connected to a shaft. The shaft is approximately parallel to the upper212and lower214support arms.

FIG. 6is a top view of the implement flotation and suspension system utilized with a rotary brush.FIG. 7is a perspective view of the implement flotation and suspension system utilized with a rotary brush.

FIG. 8shows an alternative embodiment of the implement flotation and suspension system. In this embodiment, the upper and lower support arms can be nonadjustable and a position adjustment mechanism17is incorporated into the front bracket16. The position adjustment mechanism17allows the implement (brush) to be adjusted to affect the angle C between the implement and the ground.

The function of the implement flotation and suspension system can be understood by analysis of the initial setup of the assembly attached to or integrated with agricultural equipment. When the system is attached to an implement on one end and a harvester or sweeper (for example) on the other end, the assembly system and implement can be suspended above the ground surface just before use.

Initially the angle between the bottom of the implement and the ground (see angle C inFIG. 1) can be set by utilizing the first adjustment mechanism15. The first adjustment mechanism15is shown on the upper support arm12inFIG. 1.

At this step, the weight of the implement and the majority of the assembly will compress the spring (when a spring is utilized). The second adjustment mechanism (or tension adjustment mechanism) slightly adjusts the height of the implement with respect to the ground while approximately maintaining the initial angle between the bottom of the implement and the ground (angle C inFIG. 1for example). When the implement is put in contact with the ground for initial setup or calibration, the spring decompresses in relation to the spring strength. The amount of force exerted on the ground by the implement (brush) can be adjusted by use of the second adjustment mechanism26which adjusts the length of shaft24. Shaft24has a threaded portion (not shown) that communicates with the second adjustment mechanism26.

As the implement connected to the suspension system (the brush as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2for example) passes over an undulation (bump or small hill) in the ground surface, the force exerted on the implement by the ground will increase. This increase in ground force will thus lesson the tension on the force translation member and decompress the spring causing the front of the assembly and the implement to rise proportionally.

As the implement passes over a depression in the ground (cavity, hole, trench, etc.), the force exerted on the implement by the ground will decrease. The decrease in force by the ground surface, and the weight of the implement will cause the spring to be compressed thereby lowering the implement.

CONCLUSIONS, OTHER EMBODIMENTS, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION

First adjustment mechanism15is shown inFIG. 1on the upper arm12. The first adjustment mechanism (or position adjustment mechanism) is utilized to set the angle between the bottom of the implement and the ground (see angle C inFIG. 1). The first adjustment mechanism can be on the upper arm, lower arm or attached to the one of the brackets. Although the implement flotation and suspension system generally is within the boundaries of points A and B shown inFIG. 1, it is within the scope of the present invention to have the position adjustment mechanism attached to the implement and/or any other practical system component. Therefore the components of embodiments of the present invention are not constrained between the reference points A and BinFIG. 1.

Two additional embodiments of the implement flotation and suspension system are shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The embodiment shown inFIG. 4includes a similar first adjustment mechanism115on the lower arm (shown) or upper arm. The force translation member120is comprised of two non-parallel sections, a first section120A and a second section120B. The second section is substantially parallel to the upper112and the lower114arm.

The second adjustment mechanism126slightly adjusts the height of the implement with respect to the ground while approximately maintaining the initial angle between the bottom of the implement and the ground. When the implement is put in contact with the ground for initial setup or calibration, the spring decompresses in relation to the spring strength. The amount of force exerted on the ground by the implement (brush) can be adjusted by use of the second adjustment mechanism126which adjusts the length of shaft124. Shaft124has a threaded portion (not shown) that communicates with the second adjustment mechanism126. The embodiment shown inFIG. 4includes a fixed support plate140for the spring.

The embodiment shown inFIG. 5includes a similar first adjustment mechanism215on the lower arm (shown) or upper arm. The force translation member in this embodiment is a two part member with the rocker arm221, the second part, pivotally connected to the first part220. The rocker arm portion is pivotally connected at its other end to a shaft224and at its midpoint242to the second bracket. The shaft224is substantially parallel to the upper212and the lower214arm. The implement (brush) will be lowered when the rocker arm221rotates in a counterclockwise direction. The implement will be raised when the rocker arm rotates in a clockwise direction.

The second adjustment mechanism226slightly adjusts the height of the implement with respect to the ground while approximately maintaining the initial angle between the bottom of the implement and the ground. When the implement is put in contact with the ground for initial setup or calibration, the spring decompresses in relation to the spring strength. The amount of force exerted on the ground by the implement (brush) can be adjusted by use of the second adjustment mechanism226which adjusts the length of shaft224. Shaft224has a threaded portion (not shown) that communicates with the second adjustment mechanism226. The embodiment shown inFIG. 5includes a fixed support plate240for the spring.

An embodiment shown inFIG. 8discloses an implement flotation and suspension system with the first adjustment mechanism17incorporated into the front bracket assembly. In such embodiments, the adjustability of one or more of the support arms is optional.

Embodiments shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 8have adjustment positions19to vary the position of the translation member20. This allows positioning of the implement with respect to the ground thus affecting the force that the implement exerts on the ground.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. Although the implement flotation and suspension system has been described in conjunction with agricultural equipment, its use is not constrained to the agricultural field. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.