All wheel 180-degree steer transport

A steering system for a towed farm implement or wagon, such as a header transport, is provided that allows the tongue of the header transport to pivot approximately 90 degrees to the right or the left (i.e., 180 degrees in total) and translates the movement of the tongue to all of the wheels of the header transport. Front steering linkages are coupled to the tongue, and are configured to oscillate front wheels in response to rotation of the tongue. Rear steering linkages are coupled to the front steering linkages by front-to-rear linkages, and the rear steering linkages are configured to oscillate rear wheels in response to rotation of the tongue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to a steering system for a towed farm implement. More particularly, the present invention relates to a four-wheel steering mechanism with a 180-degree steering system for a header transport.

2. Description of the Related Art

Towed farm implements can be difficult to turn at a sharp angle. For example, header transports generally include a tongue that can be coupled to a towing vehicle (e.g., a tractor) that pulls the header transport. Steering systems for towed farm implements exist in which the tongue of the wagon is pivoted as it is pulled, and the angle at which the tongue pivots is translated to the wheels. However, existing steering systems are only able to achieve a low degree of tongue movement. The limited range of movement makes it hard to maneuver during towing. Further, the limited range of movement causes the front tires to slide sideways during constricted maneuvers, which results in tire damage and puts undue stress on the transporter frame and joints.

Thus, there is a need for a new and improved steering system for towed form implements, such as header transports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a steering system for a towed implement is provided. The towed implement has a frame. The steering system includes a tongue pivotably coupled to a front support beam of the frame such that the tongue is capable of rotating approximately 180 degrees. The steering system further includes a plurality of wheels pivotably coupled with the frame. The steering system also includes front steering linkages coupled to the tongue and configured to oscillate front wheels of the plurality of wheels in response to rotation of the tongue, and rear steering linkages coupled to the front steering linkages by front-to-rear linkages configured to oscillate rear wheels of the plurality of wheels in response to rotation of the tongue.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tongue includes a lip including a protrusion. The front steering linkages can be rotatably coupled to the tongue protrusion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front-to-rear connecting linkage causes a rear right wheel coupling and a rear left wheel coupling to turn in the opposite direction of a front right wheel coupling and a front left wheel coupling.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front support beam includes a top protrusion and a bottom protrusion extending outwardly from a front face of the front support beam. The tongue can be pivotably coupled to the top protrusion and the bottom protrusion of the front support beam. The tongue can be pivotably coupled to the top protrusion and the bottom protrusion by a pin.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front steering linkages include a front right link and a front left link. The front right link can be coupled to the tongue and a front right wheel coupling, and the front left link can be coupled to the tongue and a front left wheel coupling. The front right wheel coupling can be rotatably coupled to the front support beam, and the front left wheel coupling is rotatably coupled to the front support beam.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear steering linkages includes a rear link coupled to a rear right wheel coupling and a rear left wheel coupling. The rear right wheel coupling can be rotatably coupled to a rear support beam, and the rear left wheel coupling can be rotatably coupled to the rear support beam.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front-to-rear connecting linkages include a front connecting link, a front connecting coupling, a rear connecting link, a rear connecting coupling and a front-to-rear connecting link. The front connecting link can be coupled to the front steering linkages and the front connecting coupling. The rear connecting link can be coupled to the rear steering linkages and the rear connecting coupling, and the front-to-rear connecting link can be coupled to the front connecting coupling and the rear connecting coupling. In another embodiment of the present invention, the rear connecting coupling includes at least two coupling points for the connecting link, wherein each location causes the rear steering linkage to oscillate the rear wheels at a different ratio relative to the oscillation of the front wheels.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a header transport steering system for a towed farm implement with a plurality of wheels includes means for pulling the header transport, wherein the means for pulling can be pivotably coupled to a front supporting means and capable of rotating approximately 180 degrees. The steering system further includes means for steering front wheels of the plurality of wheels coupled to the means for pulling, wherein the means for steering front wheels oscillates the wheels in response to rotation of the means for pulling. The steering system also includes means for steering rear wheels coupled to the means for steering front wheels by a means for connecting front-to-rear steering means, wherein the means for steering rear wheels oscillates the wheels in response to rotation of the means for pulling.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the means for connecting front-to-rear steering means is capable of being adjusted to change the ratio at which the means for steering rear wheels turns the rear wheels of the plurality of wheels relative to the front wheels of the plurality of wheels.

The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of various embodiments will be further appreciated in view of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Various embodiments can include or exclude different aspects, features or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments can combine one or more aspects, features, or advantages where applicable. The descriptions of the aspects, features, or advantages of a particular embodiment should not be construed as limiting any other embodiment of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are described herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the invention and such examples are not intended to limit the invention to the preferred embodiment described herein and/or illustrated herein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a steering system for a towed farm implement or wagon, such as a header transport, is provided that allows the tongue of the header transport to pivot approximately 90 degrees to the right or the left (i.e., 180 degrees in total) and translates the movement of the tongue to all of the wheels of the header transport.

FIG. 1is a top view of a header transport with an all-wheel 180-degree steering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The header transport100includes a support frame formed by a front support beam104, a rear support beam106and side support beams108and110. The frame beams can be connected by connecting means such as by bolts or welding. The header transport is a 4-wheel transport and accordingly, wheels can be provided at the ends of beams104and106. All four wheels are turnable and are, therefore, rotatably coupled to the frame. A front steering linkage112, a rear steering linkage114and a connecting linkage116are provided. A tongue102is pivotably coupled to the front support beam104. The linkages are mechanically coupled with the tongue102so that movement of the tongue102controls the oscillation (rotation) of the wheels of the header transport.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the header transport100includes a front rest bracket118and a rear rest bracket120. The front rest bracket118is coupled to the front support beam104and the rear rest bracket120is coupled to the rear support beam106. The rest brackets118and120are configured to support a large object to be transported, such as a header or grain platform. In an embodiment of the present invention, rest brackets118and120can be adjustable such that the angle of the rest bracket118and120relative to the support beam it is coupled to can be changed.

FIG. 2illustrates the front steering linkage112of a header transport according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front steering linkage112is adapted to translate the movement of the tongue102to the front wheels212and216such that, as the tongue102is pivoted left or right, the front wheels oscillate in the direction that the tongue is being pivoted, up to 180 degrees.

As shown, in the neutral position, the tongue102is disposed approximately perpendicular to the front face of the front support beam104. The tongue102can be pivotably connected to the front support beam104at joint200. The tongue102is capable of rotating180degrees about the joint200. The front steering linkage112can include a front right link202, a front left link204, a front right wheel coupling206and a front left wheel coupling208(SeeFIG. 4). The front right link202and the front left link204can be pivotably coupled to the tongue102on one end and the wheels212and216on the other end. Thus, as the tongue102is rotated about the joint200, the front right link202and the front left link204are pushed or pulled by the movement of the tongue102, thereby, turning wheels212and216.

Wheel couplings206and208(SeeFIG. 4) can be provided. The front right link202can be connected to the front right wheel coupling206. The front right wheel coupling206can be rotatably coupled to the front support beam104. The front left link204can be connected to the front left wheel coupling208. The front left wheel coupling208can be rotatably coupled to the front support beam104. The front right wheel coupling206can be coupled to the axle210of the front right wheel212. The front left wheel coupling208can be coupled to the axle214(SeeFIG. 4) of the front left wheel216.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the front support beam104includes an extension218to accommodate joint200. The joint200can include a pin222. The tongue102can be pivotably connected to the front support beam106by a pin222that passes through the extension218and the tongue102.

FIG. 3illustrates a bottom perspective view of a front steering linkage of a transport header according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the tongue102is in the neutral position, approximately perpendicular to the front face of the front support beam104. The front portion of the front-to-rear connecting linkage or the connecting linkage116is shown. The connecting linkage116can mechanically connect the front steering linkage112to the rear steering linkage114. The connecting linkage116translates the oscillation of the front wheels212and216caused by the front steering linkage112to the rear steering linkage114. The rear steering linkage114is adapted to cause the rear wheels610and614(SeeFIG. 6) to oscillate in response to the movement of the connecting linkage116. In an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting linkage116is adjustable so that the rear wheels610and614can oscillate at various ratios relative to the oscillation of the front wheels212and216.

The connecting linkage116includes a front connecting link302, a front connecting coupling304, a rear connecting coupling616(SeeFIG. 6), and a rear connecting link618(SeeFIG. 6). One of the front wheel couplings, in this case, the front right wheel coupling206, can be coupled to the front connecting link302. The front connecting link302can be coupled to the front connecting coupling304. The front connecting coupling304can be coupled to the connecting link306. The connecting link306can be coupled to the rear connecting coupling616. The connecting link306translates movement in the front steering linkage112to the rear steering linkage114. In an embodiment of the present invention, the front connecting coupling304is approximately L-shaped with the front connecting link302coupled to the end of one end and the connecting link306coupled to the opposite end.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the tongue102can include a lip308that extends beyond the bottom protrusion220of the front support beam104and a protrusion310that extends outwardly from the lip308towards the ground. In an embodiment of the present invention, the front right link202and the front left link204can be rotatably coupled to the protrusion310such that, when the tongue102is pivoted, the front right link202and the front left link204are push or pulled by the protrusion310.

FIG. 4illustrates a view of the front steering linkage when the tongue102is turned a full 90 degrees to the left, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tongue102can be made possible to turn a full 90 degrees to the side by providing extension218(i.e., the extension218protrudes outwardly from the front support beam104such that nothing inhibits the rotation of the tongue10290 degrees to either side). Further, the oscillation of the wheels212and216as the tongue102is pivoted allows the tongue218to rotate 90 degrees to either side without being inhibited by the wheels (i.e., as the tongue102is rotated to the left, the front left wheel216oscillates to the left such that the front portion of the wheel, which protrudes beyond the front support beam in a neutral position (SeeFIG. 2), will not block the tongue102from rotating 90 degrees).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as the tongue102is pivoted to the left, the front steering linkage112drives the front wheels212and216to oscillate to the left. The tongue102rotates about the pivot200to the left, and, as the tongue102rotates, the front right link202is pulled to the left and the front left link204is pushed to the left. As the front left link204is pushed to the left, the front portion of the front left coupling208is rotated to the left. The rotation of the front left coupling208drives the front left wheel216to oscillate into a left turn position. As the front right link202is pulled to the left, the front portion of the front right coupling206(not shown) is rotated to the left, and the front right wheel212is oscillated into a left turn position. The connecting linkage116translates the oscillation of the front wheels212and216to the left to the rear steering linkage114, which causes the rear wheels610and614to oscillate. The rotation of the front right coupling206drives the front connecting link302towards the right, and this causes the front connecting coupling304to rotate in the direction of the pulling. The rotation of the front connecting coupling304drives the connecting link306towards the front of the header transport, and this causes the connecting link306to rotate the rear connecting coupling616(SeeFIG. 6). The rotation of the rear connecting coupling616causes the rear steering linkage114to turn the rear wheels.

FIG. 5illustrates a view of the front steering linkage when the tongue102is turned a full 90 degrees to the right, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As discussed above, the tongue102is able to turn a full90degrees to the side because of the configuration of the extension218and the oscillation of the front wheels212and216. The front right wheel212oscillates to the right such that the front portion of the wheel, which protrudes beyond the front support beam in a neutral position (SeeFIG. 2), will not block the tongue102from rotating 90 degrees.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as the tongue102is pivoted to the right, the front steering linkage112drives the front wheels212and216to oscillate to the right. As the tongue102is rotated, the front right link202is pushed to the right and the front left link204is pulled to the right. As the front left link204is pulled to the right, the front portion of the front left coupling208(not shown) is rotated to the right. The rotation of the front left coupling208drives the front left wheel216(not shown) to oscillate into a right turn position. As the front right link202is pushed to the right, the front portion of the front right coupling206is rotated to the right, and the front right wheel212is oscillated into a right turn position. The rotation of the front right coupling206drives the front connecting link302towards the left, and this causes the front connecting coupling304to rotate in the direction of the pushing. The rotation of the front connecting coupling304drives the connecting link306towards the rear of the header transport, and this causes the connecting link to rotate the rear connecting coupling616(SeeFIG. 6).

FIG. 6illustrates a view of the rear steering linkage of a header transport according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rear steering linkage114can be similar to the front steering linkage. As shown, the rear steering linkage114can be connected to the front steering linkage112by the connecting linkage116. The movement of the tongue102is translated to the rear wheels610and614through the rear steering linkage114via the front steering linkage112and the connecting linkage116, as will be discussed in further detail below.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rear steering linkage114can include a rear link602, a rear left wheel coupling604and a rear right wheel coupling606. The rear left wheel coupling604can be rotatably coupled to the rear support beam106. The rear right wheel coupling606can be rotatably coupled to the rear support beam106. The rear link602can be coupled to the rear left wheel coupling604and the rear right wheel coupling606such that movement in either coupling is translated to the other coupling. The rear left wheel coupling604can be coupled to the rear left wheel axle608. The rear left wheel axle608can be coupled to the rear left wheel610. The rear right wheel coupling606can be coupled to the rear right wheel axle612. The rear right wheel axle612can be coupled to the rear right wheel614.

The rear potion of the connecting linkage116is visible inFIG. 6. In an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting linkage116can include a rear connecting coupling616and a rear connecting link618. The rear connecting coupling616can be coupled to the connecting link306. The rear connecting link618can be coupled to the rear connecting link616and the rear right wheel coupling606. The connecting linkage116can be configured to translate movement in the front steering linkage112to the rear steering linkage114through the connecting link306coupled to the front connecting coupling304and the rear connecting coupling616. Rotation in the front connecting coupling304is translated to the rear connecting coupling616through the connecting link306, and the movement of the rear connecting coupling616causes the rear connecting link618to rotate the rear right wheel coupling606. The rotation of the right wheel coupling606causes the rear link602to be pushed or pulled, and this causes the left wheel coupling604to be rotated.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the rear connecting coupling616has at least two coupling points620and622. The connecting link306can be coupled to the rear connecting coupling616at any of the coupling points620and622. Each coupling point620and622causes the rear steering linkage114to oscillate the rear wheels610and614at a different ratio relative to the front wheels212and216.

FIG. 7illustrates a view of a rear steering linkage of a header transport in a left turning position according to an embodiment of the present invention. As discussed above, when turning left, the tongue102is pivoted to the left, which causes the front steering linkage112to oscillate the front wheels212and216to the left. The rotation of the front right wheel coupling206causes the front connecting link302to rotate the front connecting coupling304. The rotation of the front connecting coupling304causes the connecting link306to be pulled towards the front of the header transport100, and this causes the connecting link306to rotate the rear connecting coupling616. The rotation of the rear connecting coupling616causes the rear wheels610and614to oscillate. In an embodiment of the present invention, the rear wheels610and614oscillate in the opposite direction of the front wheels212and216, thus reducing the turning radius of the header transport100. The connecting link306can be coupled to the rear connecting coupling616at any of the coupling points620and622, and the various coupling points cause the rear connecting coupling616to rotate at different ratios relative to the front connecting coupling304, which causes the rear wheels610and614to oscillate at different ratios relative to the front wheels212and216.

FIG. 8illustrates a view of the connecting linkage of a header transport according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the connecting linkage800includes a front connecting link802, a front connecting coupling804, a rear connecting link806, a rear connecting coupling808and a connecting link810. The front connecting coupling804can be a pulley sector, and the rear connecting coupling808can be a pulley sector. The connecting link810can be a cable adapted to transmit motion of the front connecting coupling804to the rear connecting coupling808. In an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting link810can be two cables. The ratio of movement of the rear connecting coupling808relative to the front connecting coupling804can be adjusted by sizing the pulley sectors appropriately.

Thus, a number of preferred embodiments have been fully described above with reference to the drawing figures. Although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions could be made to the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the steering system could be used on any farm implement that is towed.