A unitary-frame, straddle-type, crop-working vehicle with independent adjustability of straddle height, track width, and tool position is described. The vehicle features two lower tool-mounting arms and lateral and fore-and-aft adjustment to a center upper tool-mounting arm. Independent height adjustment of each of the vehicle's vertical mast structures facilitates upright hillside operation. Crawler tracks are utilized for ground travel and provide desirable weight distribution during crop-working operations.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a vehicle for farming operations. More 
particularly, the invention concerns a dimensionally-adjustable 
straddle-type crop-working vehicle which is capable of performing farm 
operations on crops of various heights and row-spacing. The invention 
further concerns a lightweight vehicle with evenly-distributed weight at 
its ground-traveling members and which is easily adapted to hillside field 
operations. 
Prior to the general mechanization of farming, crops were planted in rows 
spaced apart a distance dictated by the plant's requirements, such as 
proper sunlight penetration, and the necessity for humans or animals to 
walk between the rows. With the advent of mechanized farm methods, 
additional spacing between rows of crops was often required to accommodate 
tractors and other machinery. Accordingly, the time-efficiency provided by 
such machinery is often accompanied by a reduction in land-use efficiency. 
Associated problems include nonproductive ground requiring continuous 
cultivation, weeding, and watering; overabundance of sunlight at ground 
level which encourages weed growth and loss of moisture; and the tendency 
of farm vehicle wheels to pack soil adjacent the plant rows, hampering 
crop root growth between the rows thereby depriving crops of moisture and 
nutrients in that area. 
Conventional farm equipment also fails to provide an effective means for 
operation on hillsides. Further, conventional tractors are not built to 
fit between narrow rows or high enough to straddle moderate height crops 
such as cane berries, grapes, blueberries, and the like. Accordingly, the 
present invention has the following objects: 
(1) to provide a crop-working vehicle that permits rows of crops to be 
spaced apart the optimum distances for the particular plant rather than a 
non-optimum distance dictated by the equipment; 
(2) to provide a crop-working vehicle with an adjustable width between the 
ground-contacting members to accommodate working a variety of plants; 
(3) to provide a farm vehicle adaptable to hillside operation such that the 
vehicle and operator maintain a stable, upright attitude; 
(4) to provide a crop-working vehicle which can straddle rows of crops, yet 
which has a center of gravity sufficiently low to afford adequate 
stabilization; 
(5) to provide a crop-working vehicle with an adjustable straddle height; 
(6) to provide an agricultural vehicle combining light weight and improved 
ground contact weight distribution to minimize ground compaction adjacent 
the rows of crops; 
(7) to provide a farm vehicle small enough to be transported on an ordinary 
truck, yet versatile enough to carry or pull standard farm tools and able 
to straddle wide, high crops; 
(8) to provide a unitary frame vehicle with fore-and-aft stability; and 
(9) to provide a relatively inexpensive crop-working farm vehicle. 
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent 
upon consideration of the following detailed description, such description 
makes reference to the following drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, a vehicle as contemplated is shown generally 
at 10. The vehicle includes, adjacent its base and on either side of the 
vehicle, a pair of crawler track assemblies, shown at 12 and 14, which 
support the vehicle for movement over the ground. The crawler track 
assemblies are similar in construction; accordingly, only one will be 
described in detail. 
Thus, each comprises an elongate, substantially horizontal traveling frame 
shown for assembly 14 at 16. Extending about the traveling frame is an 
elongate crawler track 18. The crawler track is suitably trained for 
movement about the traveling frame by means including rollers 20. The 
crawler track has an elongate lower reach contacting the ground. The 
construction described results in minimal ground compaction upon the 
vehicle traveling over the ground by reason of the weight distribution 
which results from the provision of the crawler track. 
The crawler track in each crawler track assembly is moved under power to 
propel the vehicle in forward or reverse directions. Thus, and as shown in 
FIG. 1 with respect to track assembly 14, partially shown at 22 is a 
hydraulic motor. Such is drivingly connected to a drive gear 24, the teeth 
of this gear engaging the crawler track to produce movement of the track 
with rotation of the gear. Pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied and 
exhausted from the motor through hoses partially shown at 26. 
In the vehicle described, the crawler tracks constitute ground-traveling 
means promoting movement of the vehicle. Crawler tracks are preferred 
because of the reduced compaction of the ground resulting through their 
use earlier discussed and because they provide optimum fore-and-aft 
stability to upwardly extending frame structure provided in the vehicle. 
In some instances, other ground-traveling means might be appropriate, such 
as a multiplicity of pneumatic tires. Tires, however, because of their 
cushioning and rebounding characteristics, in some applications tend to 
result in an undesirable fore-and-aft porpoising action in the traveling 
frames with the vehicle moving. 
Upright masts 28, 30, also referred to as upright mast structures, consist 
of upright tubular sections 32, 34 and lower upright sections 36, 38. The 
lower sections are rigidly attached to the traveling frames by means of 
U-shaped brackets 40, 42. As can be seen in FIG. 1, lower upright sections 
36, 38 are preferably square in cross section and are received in passages 
of similar cross section extending within upright tubular sections 32, 34. 
The combination of the rigid connection of lower upright sections 36, 38 
to traveling frames 16 and the noncircular cross section of the lower 
upright sections affords stability to masts 28, 30 by maintaining these 
masts perpendicularly to traveling frame 16 and by resisting any tendency 
of the masts to twist. 
Upper tubular sections 32, 34 are individually extensible from the lower 
sections through operation of fluid-operated rams 44, 46. Each has a 
cylinder end connected to an upper section and a rod end connected to a 
bracket joining a lower section to a traveling frame. 
Turning to FIG. 3, it can be seen that fluid-operated rams 44, 46, if 
extended to unequal lengths, render one mast shorter than the other. This 
type of adjustment readily adapts the vehicle to operations where the 
vehicle travels transversely of a slope in the ground. Thus, in FIG. 3, 
track assembly 14 is shown in phantom outline at 14A in a position which 
is raised relative to the position of track assembly 12. This is done by 
contracting ram 44 with resultant shortening of mast 28. With this 
adjustment the vehicle can travel over sloped ground 48 with the mast 
upright and resultant stability. 
Interconnecting mast 28, 30 is horizontal beam assembly 50. This beam 
assembly comprises a horizontal section 52 which is joined to upper 
section 32 of mast 28, and a horizontal tubular section 54 which is joined 
to upper section 34 of mast 30. Section 52 is telescopically received 
within a passage in horizontal tubular section 54. Operatively interposed 
between sections 52, 54 is a fluid-operated ram 56 used to produce 
extension and contraction of the beam assembly. 
As with the mast assemblies, horizontal section 52 has a square cross 
section. The passage within horizontal tubular section 54 has a matching 
cross section. This noncircular, tubular design affords rigidity to the 
respective horizontal sections and resists any tendency of the masts to 
move away from their desired mutually parallel orientation. 
What has been just described is a pair of masts, interconnected by a 
horizontal beam assembly which constitutes the sole structurally unifying 
framework interconnecting the traveling frame. By reason of this type of 
structure, the weight of the vehicle tends to be minimized. This has the 
effect of tending to reduce the compaction effect of the vehicle. Further, 
maneuverability in the vehicle is enhanced. 
Rigidly attached to upright tubular sections 32, 34 of the masts are 
horizontally extending farm-tool-mounting arms 66, 68. Each is directly 
adjacent the base of its respective upright tubular section. These 
mounting arms include bolt plates 70 on the extremities of the arms 
providing means for coupling any of several types of farm tools which 
might be utilized in operating the vehicle. 
An operator's station 58 is shown mounted adjacent the lower portion of 
upright tubular section 34. This station includes an operator's seat 59 
supported by arm 68 and section 34. It also includes operator controls 
partially indicated at 62 which the vehicle operator manipulates in 
controlling movement of the vehicle and extension and contraction of the 
mast and other structures in the vehicle. Providing protection for the 
vehicle operator is a cage assembly 60 partially supported on arm 68 and 
having an upper part secured to and extending from an upper portion of 
tubular section 34. 
Shown at 64 is an internal combustion engine and such is appropriately 
supported on arm 68. The engine is suitably drivingly connected to a 
hydraulic pump partially shown at 65 which provides the pressure fluid for 
operating the vehicle. A fuel supply tank, a reservoir for hydraulic fluid 
utilized in running the vehicle, and related equipment are provided in the 
vehicle including housing structure 67. The pump described provides the 
pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied through hoses 26 which power the 
hydraulic motors driving the crawler tracks in the crawler track assembly. 
An upper farm-tool-mounting arm or arm assembly is illustrated generally at 
72. This arm assembly is used in the mounting of implements or tools where 
it is desirable that such be supported at an elevated height. 
Specifically, arm assembly 72 includes a carriage portion 74 which is 
supported on tubular section 54 of the horizontal beam assembly in a 
manner which permits travel of the carriage portion along the length of 
the tubular section. Fixed to and extending horizontally outwardly from 
one side of this carriage portion is a tubular section 76 having a passage 
of rectangular cross section extending along its interior. Telescopically 
received within this passage is a tubular member 78 which may be extended 
and contracted with respect to section 76. The outer extremity of this 
member has a mounting plate 80 affixed thereto used in the mounting of a 
working tool or implement. Extension and contraction of member 78 with 
respect to 76 is performed under power utilizing fluid operated ram 82 
having its cylinder end mounted on section 76 and its rod end mounted on 
member 78. 
In a somewhat similar manner, the opposite side of carriage portion 74 has 
affixed thereto a tubular section 84 extending horizontally outwardly from 
the carriage portion and having an internal passage of rectangular cross 
section extending therealong. Telescopically received within this tubular 
section is a tubular member 86. Extension and contraction of this tubular 
member with respect to section 84 is performed under power utilizing ram 
88 operatively interposed between the tubular section and member 86. 
Mounted on the remote end of member 86 is a mounting plate 90. 
Movement of the carriage portion along the lengths of tubular section 54 is 
produced utilizing fluid operated ram 92 which has its cylinder end 
connected to section 54 and its rod end operatively mounted on the 
carriage portion. 
The structure just described provides a great deal of flexibility in the 
mounting of a tool or implement from an elevated position in the vehicle. 
This flows from the type of adjustable extensibility provided in the arm 
assembly and the capability of moving the arm assembly to adjusted 
positions along the length of the beam assembly interconnecting the mast. 
The operation of the vehicle as has been described should be obvious. To 
propel the vehicle in either a forward or reverse direction, the operator, 
through suitable adjustments in the vehicle controls, operates the 
hydraulic motors in the crawler track assemblies to produce the movement 
desired. Turning or steering of the vehicle is accomplished by moving one 
crawler track assembly at a different speed or direction than the crawler 
track of the other assembly. During such movement the masts are maintained 
upright with maximum stability to the operator whose operator's station is 
incorporated with one of the masts. The visibility of the operator is 
excellent, which includes excellent visibility of the tracks which support 
the vehicle and the paths such move along in traversing the ground. 
The structurally interconnecting framework which interconnects the 
traveling beams in the crawler track assemblies has minimal mass, 
contributing to lack of overall weight in the vehicle. This is important 
in reducing the compaction effects of the crawler tracks. The type of mast 
construction selected minimizes the necessary length of the vehicle. 
The lateral spacing of the crawler track assemblies is readily adjusted by 
varying the length of beam assembly 50 interconnecting the mast in the 
framework. In this way the vehicle is placed in condition to handle a vast 
variety of row crop spacings. Of particular importance, the individual 
masts in the vehicle are adjustably extensible whereby the vehicle is 
readily used in the working of a field while traversing a slope in the 
field. 
The design further provides a great deal of flexibility in the mounting of 
tools or implements used in conjunction with the vehicle. These can be 
mounted at either or both ends of the vehicle simultaneously and at 
different mounting elevations. When utilizing arm assembly 72, the 
mounting of a tool or implement may be shifted in a direction extending 
axially of the vehicle as well as in a direction extending transversely of 
the vehicle. 
While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described, it is 
appreciated that variations and modifications are possible without 
departing from the invention. It is desired, therefore, to cover all such 
modifications and variations as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill 
in the art.