Abstract:
A mower is suspended from a frame and includes a header with a cutter. A tongue is pivotally connected to the mower frame and is moveable with respect to the frame by a hydraulic cylinder. At the front of the tongue is a front gearbox rigidly attached to the tongue. The front gearbox transmits rotary power from the power take off of the tractor to a rear gearbox pivotally attached the header and from the rear gearbox rotary power is passed on ultimately to the rotary cutting units. Pivoting of the rear gearbox is controlled by a steering connection operatively attached between the front and rear gearboxes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/313,419 filed Mar. 12, 2010 entitled “Automatically Steered Gearboxes for a Mower with a Pivoting Tongue” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to crop harvesting equipment and, more particularly, to pull-type mowers or mower/conditioners having a pulling tongue which is hydraulically swingable from side-to-side so that the lateral position of the machine relative to the towing tractor can be adjusted on-the-go from the tractor seat. More particularly, the present invention involves a swing tongue harvester of the aforementioned type wherein provision is made for driving the operating components of the harvesting header, such as the crop severing mechanism and the conditioner rolls, through mechanical structures coupled with the power takeoff shaft of the towing vehicle, rather than through a hydraulic drive system. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Swing-tongue harvesters have become extremely popular over the years due in part to their ability to be quickly and easily maneuvered from the tractor seat around obstacles, through right angle turns, and otherwise operated in a manner previously reserved only for self-propelled vehicles. In the case of swing-tongue harvesters in which the tongue is pivoted about the frame, the machine is capable of being used to be positioned in an operative position behind a towing tractor to one side of the tractor when the mower is being used to cut a crop and a transport position wherein the machine is behind the towing tractor for transporting the machine from place to place. However, having a pulling tongue which is shifted between relatively sharp angular positions creates problems in the delivery of driving power from the tractor to operating components of the machine. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide solutions for the aforementioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mowing and/or conditioning machine with pivoting steered gearboxes. The design contemplated in  FIGS. 1-16  provides a mower conditioner having a header that is suspended from a frame and includes a plurality of cutting blades laterally disposed relative to the ground and conditioning rollers at the back end. The mower includes a tongue connecting the mower to a towing unit. The tongue is pivotally connected to the mower frame. At the front portion of the tongue is an upper tongue swivel gearbox, gearbox one, rigidly attached to the tongue which transmits rotary power from the power take off of the tractor to a lower tongue swivel gearbox, gearbox two, located directly below and pivotally attached to gearbox one. Gearbox two is attached to the front end of a telescoping driveline that is attached, at its rear end, to the input shaft of a rear gearbox, gearbox three. The output shaft of gear box three is connected a drive shaft that is attached to the rotary cutting units. 
     Gearbox three is mounted to the mower frame, beneath and at the rear of the tongue, with a pivoting arrangement, so that the gearbox housing and input shaft can pivot about the axis of its output shaft. 
     The pivoting rear gearbox three is attached to the header frame with the input shaft connected at a U-joint to the output end of a telescopic drive line section. The other end of the telescopic drive line section is connected at another U-joint located forward from the mower header along and below the tongue. At this forward U-joint, the telescopic drive line section connects with a gearbox two that is connected to the gearbox one above gearbox two. Gearbox one is connected to a forward section of drive line that is operatively connected to the power takeoff of the tractor. 
     In the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1-12 , also extending around the telescoping drive line and between the U-joints located between the pivoting gearbox two and the pivoting gearbox three are telescoping steering cylinders. These telescoping cylinders also serve as a guard to keep operators from becoming tangled in the driven shaft which extends between the two aforementioned U-joints. As shown in the drawings, the telescoping steering cylinders attach at one end to the U-joint adjacent the pivoting rear gear box structure three and at the opposite end to the U-joint on the other (front) end of the drive line connection, where it connects to forward lower gearbox two. 
     A second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13-15  has a pivoting rear gearbox on the header as a simple right angle gearbox that pivots along a vertical axis and is steered by a front gearbox that is operatively fixed to the tongue. A primary advantage to both concepts is to minimize the u-joint angles in the drive system. 
     A third embodiment shown in  FIG. 16  utilizes the driveline arrangement of the first embodiment, with a different configuration of the tongue and mower header, in a center pivot arrangement, where the tongue is connected to the middle of the machine, and the mower is able to swing off to either side, to mow on either side of the towing unit. 
     One aspect of the present invention is the arrangement of the tongue and the driveline with a swivel gear box assembly, the combination of gearboxes one and two, mounted at the front portion of the tongue. This combination allows the towing forces to remain contained in the tongue, not transferred through the gearboxes, while providing a driveline with the capability of allowing various angles of operation. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a towing tractor in the transport position thereof with the tongue swung in so the mower/conditioner follows behind the towing tractor; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view like  FIG. 1  shown without the towing vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a top enlarge view like  FIG. 3  but with the tongue swung out so that it can cut and windrow a crop without the crop being first driven over by the towing tractor; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view with the tongue swung in and the cutter bar raised; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevational view with the tongue swung in and the cutter bar lowered; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view taken along vertical axis b of  FIG. 5  showing the rear gearbox and the drive train from it to the cutter bar; 
         FIG. 5   b  is a cross sectional view along line  5 B- 5 B through the rotational axis of the telescoping driveline between the two U-joints connecting the lower front gearbox and the rear gearbox; 
         FIG. 5   c  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 1  showing not only the rear gearbox and the drive train from it to the cutter bar but also the header assembly, gearbox mount, a cage to protect the crop from wrapping around a spinning double U-joint and a tubular structures for enclosing the drive train from the rear gearbox to the cage; 
         FIG. 6  is a left side elevational view with the tongue swung out and the cutter bar raised; 
         FIG. 7  is a left side elevational view with the tongue swung out and the cutter bar lowered; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial top plan view showing a front part of the tongue and how the first front top gearbox is attached to the tongue; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial perspective view showing the front part of the tongue and how the first front top gearbox is attached to the tongue; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9  with the tongue swung in to the transport position thereof; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9  with the tongue swung out to the operational crop cutting position thereof; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 8  of two gearboxes, one below the other one, attached to a front part of the tongue; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment similar to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , except that the front and rear gearbox assemblies have been changed to a simplified design and those new gearbox assemblies, the gearbox steering device and the driveline between the front and rear gearboxes are all that is shown; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13  showing the two meshing gears and the input and output shafts of the front gearbox; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 13  showing two telescoping parts of the drive shaft; and 
         FIG. 16  shows a third embodiment that utilizes the driveline arrangement of the first embodiment, with a different configuration of the tongue and mower header, in a center pivot arrangement, where the tongue is connected to the middle of the machine, and the mower is able to swing off to either side, to mow on either side of the towing unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a mower ( 10 ) with automatically steered gearboxes including a frame ( 11 ) with wheels ( 12 ) operatively attached thereto for permitting the frame ( 11 ) to be towed from place to place. 
     A header ( 13 ) is operatively attached to the frame ( 11 ) by top links ( 14 ) and bottom links ( 15 ) for example in the way shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,109 in FIGS. 8-12b, which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety. Hydraulic cylinders ( 16 ) attached to the frame ( 11 ) and the header ( 13 ) in the way disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,109 are used to raise or lower the header ( 13 ) with respect to the frame ( 11 ) for example between the raised position shown in  FIG. 4  and the lowered position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Cutters ( 17 ) are operatively rotatably attached to the header ( 13 ) in the way shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   c  for cutting plants off a short distance above the ground. 
     A tongue ( 21 ) is operatively pivotally attached along a first substantially vertical axis c as shown in  FIG. 5  by a bracket ( 22 ) and pin ( 23 ) to the frame ( 11 ) at one end thereof and adapted to be attached to a prime mover ( 1 ) at the other end thereof by use of a hitch ( 24 ); 
     A hydraulic actuator ( 16 ) is operatively attached to the frame ( 11 ) and is operatively attached to the tongue ( 21 ) for adjusting an angle of the tongue ( 21 ) along the first substantially vertical axis c with respect to the frame ( 11 ) between (i) an operating position (see  FIG. 3 ), whereby the wheels of the prime mover ( 1 ) are to one side of the cutters ( 17 ) as the mower ( 10 ) is towed through a field in a forward direction so that the wheels of the towing prime mover ( 1 ) do not pass over the crop being cut by the cutters ( 17 ) as the mower ( 10 ) is being used to cut crops, and (ii) a transport position (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) whereby the angle of the tongue ( 21 ) with respect to the frame ( 11 ) is such that the wheels of the prime mover are in front of the cutters ( 17 ). 
     A first gearbox ( 31 ) is operatively rigidly attached to the tongue ( 21 ) by use of a bracket ( 32 ) with portions ( 32   t ) and ( 32   b ) on the top and the bottom of the tongue ( 21 ) as can best be seen in  FIGS. 8-11 . The first gearbox ( 31 ) has a rotary input shaft ( 33 ) best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 12 , adapted to be attached to a power take off ( 35 ) of the prime mover ( 1 ), as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a rotary output shaft ( 36 ) as shown in  FIG. 12  rotatable about a second substantially vertical axis a, shown in  FIG. 5 , whereby rotary power from the power take off ( 35 ) of the prime mover will transmit rotary power to the rotary input shaft ( 33 ) of the first gearbox ( 31 ) via shaft ( 37 ) which has unnumbered universal joints connected to each end thereof. This arrangement is well known from a variety of machines including round balers, and is configured to position the first gearbox a distance from the PTO shaft of the towing unit such that the length of the driveline is adequate to allow proper operation with as the towing unit turns to different positions. This arrangement typically uses a special type of a universal joint known as a CV (constant velocity) joint attached directly to the PTO shaft of the towing unit. CV joints are used to allow typical misalignments, while maintaining a consistent output rpm, and are an accepted component for agricultural equipment. Thus, the driveline includes a CV joint on the end that attaches to the PTO shaft of the towing unit, and a standard universal joint on the end that attaches to the first gearbox. In this way the rotary power is transferred from the PTO shaft of the towing unit ( 35 ) to the input shaft ( 33 ) and then transmitted by the first gearbox ( 31 ) to the rotary output shaft ( 36 ) of the first gearbox ( 31 ). The housing of the first gearbox ( 31 ) is rigidly mounted to the tongue ( 21 ) at the front portion of the tongue such that it is a proper distance from the hitch point. 
     The forces required to tow the machine are all transferred directly from the drawbar of a towing unit through hitch  24  to the frame  11 , without being transferred through any portion of the driveline. 
     A second gearbox ( 41 ) is operatively pivotally attached to the first gearbox ( 31 ) about the second substantially vertical axis a, the second gearbox ( 41 ) has a rotary input shaft ( 46 ) which can be in one piece with rotary output shaft ( 36 ) of the first gearbox ( 31 ) or rotary input shaft ( 46 ) and rotary output shaft ( 36 ) can be separate shafts connected together, it being noted that claiming these shafts separately is meant to include inter alia a one or two piece shaft construction between gearboxes ( 31 ) and ( 41 ). Whether shafts ( 36 ) and ( 37 ) are connected together later or manufactured in one piece at the outset is clearly equivalent. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , it is noted that the rotary input shaft ( 46 ) of the second gearbox ( 41 ) is operatively attached to the rotary output shaft ( 36 ) of the first gearbox ( 31 ) thereby transmitting rotary power from the rotary output shaft ( 36 ) of the first gearbox ( 31 ) to the rotary input shaft ( 36 ) of the second gearbox ( 41 ) for causing the rotary output shaft ( 43 ) of the second gearbox ( 41 ) to rotate. 
     A third gearbox ( 51 ) is operatively pivotally attached to the header ( 13 ) about a third substantially vertical axis b as shown in  FIG. 5 , the third gearbox ( 51 ) having a rotary input shaft ( 53 ) and a rotary output shaft ( 56 ), the rotary output shaft ( 56 ) being operatively attached to the cutters ( 17 ) through double universal joint ( 57 ) for causing the cutters ( 17 ) to move in a cutting manner, which is a rotary motion in the embodiment shown. Looking to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   c , a double universal joint ( 57 ) connects the output shaft ( 56 ) of the third gearbox ( 51 ) to the input shaft ( 58 ) of the cutter bar ( 17 ), which cutter bar structure can be of any one of many well known cutter bars which do not form part of this invention per se. 
     Looking to  FIGS. 1 and 5   b , a first universal joint ( 61 ) is operatively attached to the rotary output shaft ( 43 ) of the second gearbox ( 41 ). A telescoping driveline ( 62 ), comprising an outer sleeve ( 62   a ) and a complementary shaped inner shaft ( 62   b ), is operatively attached to the first universal joint ( 61 ) at a front end thereof. For example the sleeve ( 62   a ) could be square in cross section and the shaft ( 62   b ) square in cross section so the shaft ( 62   b ) can slid in or out in the sleeve ( 62   a ) to permit the two parts to transmit rotary power while also being able to automatically adjust the length thereof as needed. 
     Extending around the telescoping driveline ( 62 ) is a gearbox steering device which in a preferred embodiment includes two telescoping tubes ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) which serve two purposes. Primarily the two telescoping tubes ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) serve to steer the second and third gear boxes ( 41 ) and ( 51 ) as the tongue ( 21 ) pivots with respect to the frame ( 11 ). Secondly, the two telescoping tubes ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) serve as a safety shield to help prevent anything, such as clothing, from wrapping around the driveshaft parts ( 62   a ) and ( 62   b ) as they rotate. The two telescoping tubes ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) are preferably round in cross section as is typical for guards that encompass drive shafts in agricultural equipment. 
     Looking to  FIGS. 1-5  and  5   a , it can be seen that the two telescoping tubes ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) do not rotate, tube ( 64 ) being bolted along a horizontal pivotal axis (e) to bracket ( 71 ) that is connected rigidly to the bracket surrounding gearbox three ( 51 ). Similarly, tube ( 65 ) is bolted along a horizontal pivotal axis (d) to bracket ( 72 ) which is rigidly attached to gearbox two ( 32 ). 
     The telescoping drive line ( 62 ), at the rear end thereof, is connected to a second universal joint ( 66 ) and to the rotary input shaft ( 53 ) of the third gearbox ( 51 ) whereby rotary power from the rotary output shaft ( 43 ) of the second gearbox ( 41 ) will be transmitted through the first universal joint ( 61 ), the telescoping driveline ( 62 ), the second universal joint ( 66 ), the rotary input shaft ( 53 ) of the third gearbox ( 51 ) to the output shaft ( 56 ) of the third gearbox ( 51 ) to cause the cutting movement of the cutters ( 17 ). 
     Drive shaft  37  shown in  FIG. 6 , dimension D, is a minimum of thirty (30) inches. The advantage of using a longer driveline than those used in the prior art for the present invention is that the angles that the joints are subjected to are reduced, as compared to shorter drivelines. With this minimum length of 30 inches it is known that a front CV is capable of withstanding those angles. If a shorter driveline were to be used, the durability of the CV would be adversely affected. 
     In operation, with the mower/conditioner ( 10 ) attached to the tractor ( 1 ) as shown in  FIG. 1 , the mower/conditioner ( 10 ) can be towed from place to place, including on public roads, because a hydraulic cylinder ( 20 ) pivotally attached to the frame ( 11 ) along a vertical axis ( 20   a ) and to the tongue ( 21 ) at vertical axis ( 20   b ) is shortened to pull the tongue ( 21 ) to the transport position shown in  FIG. 1 . Of course when that occurs, the second and third gearboxes ( 41  and  51 ) will pivot along vertical axes (a) and (b) respectively. The input/output shafts and associated unnumbered gears shown in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   c  and  12  accommodate such pivoting along vertical axes (a) and (b). In the towing position of  FIG. 1  the header ( 13 ) would also be raised to the position shown in  FIG. 4  by lengthening the hydraulic cylinders ( 16 ) to pivot upper and lower links ( 14 ) and ( 15 ). 
     After the mower/conditioner ( 10 ) is towed to a field where it is to be used to cut and windrow a crop, hydraulic cylinder ( 20 ) is lengthened to the position shown in  FIG. 3  so that the towing vehicle&#39;s tires are to the left of the crop in front of the mower/conditioner ( 10 ) so the tires of the towing vehicle ( 1 ) will not smash down the crop and make it difficult to cut. In the towing position of  FIG. 3  the header ( 13 ) would also be lowered to the position shown in  FIG. 5  by shortening the hydraulic cylinders ( 16 ) to pivot upper and lower links ( 14 ) and ( 15 ). It can be seen in the drawings that the second and third gearboxes ( 31 ) and ( 41 ) are automatically moved or steered up/down/left/right when all of this adjusting between a transport position and an operation position is done. 
     Referring now to an alternate embodiment  100  in FIGS.  13 , 14  and  15 , the front gearboxes ( 31 ) and ( 41 ) of the  FIGS. 1-12  embodiment are replaced with a normal increaser front gearbox ( 131 ) with an input shaft ( 133 ) for attachment to the drive shaft ( 37 ) via a u-joint as in  FIG. 1 , the input shaft ( 133 ) being disposed along a rotational axis (f) and an output shaft ( 136 ) that is disposed along a rotational axis (g) that is preferably parallel to the rotational axis (f) but is not required to be parallel to the axis (f). 
     The rear gear box ( 51 ) and everything shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   c  are still the same on this alternate embodiment ( 100 ). U-joints ( 61 ) and ( 66 ) can still be used for example. This alternate embodiment ( 100 ) of  FIGS. 13 and 14  is steered by a telescoping link ( 168 ) with a first member ( 164 ) having a spherical ball joint ( 166 ) on one end thereof mounted to the top of the front gearbox ( 131 ) and a second telescoping member ( 165 ) that the first member ( 164 ) extends into. This is a similar to the setup of the  FIGS. 1-12  embodiment except the spherical ball joint ( 166 ) is attached to the front gearbox ( 131 ) instead of using the telescoping steering members ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . This can optionally eliminate the need for a CV u-joint for the rear gearbox ( 51 ) and the front one ( 61 ) is not as critical so a standard u-joint could be used there. The same telescoping drive linkage ( 62 ), including receiver ( 62   a ) having complementary shaft ( 62   b ) extending therein as shown in  FIG. 5   b  would be used but without the telescoping steering tubes ( 64 ) and ( 65 ) which have been replaced by telescoping steering tubes ( 164 ) and ( 165 ). The rear end of steering tube ( 65 ) has a bracket ( 167 ) rigidly attached thereto, which bracket ( 167 ) is pivotally attached along a substantially horizontal axis (h) to the housing of gearbox ( 51 ). Gearbox ( 51 ) still pivots about vertical axis (c) as shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, using the same structure shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   c , for example. The solid line structure of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 13  can be placed into the mower of  FIGS. 1-5  and  6 - 11  to replace all of the gearboxes  31 ,  41  and  51  and the structure connecting gearboxes  41  and  51  and such the solid line structure of  FIG. 13  is hereby incorporated into  FIGS. 1-11  by reference. 
       FIG. 15  shows that the telescoping drive shaft ( 62 ) is square in cross section, but it could be of any cross sectional shape that is not circular, such as using a splined shaft ( 62   b ) that would extend into a complementary shaped opening in shaft ( 62   a ). 
       FIG. 16  shows a mower ( 210 ) with a header ( 213 ) configured to operate when positioned to either the right side, or the left side of a towing vehicle. A header ( 213 ) is operatively attached to the frame ( 11 ) by top links ( 14 ) and bottom links ( 15 ) for example in the way shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,109 in FIGS. 8-12b, which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety. The mower can be positioned by rotating tongue ( 221 ) about the axis of pin ( 223 ). The rotational drive for the mower is transferred from the towing vehicle to the mower using the automatically steered gearboxes of the present invention including a front swivel gear box assembly ( 212 ) and a rear gearbox ( 251 ). 
     The front swivel gearbox assembly ( 212 ) is comprised of an upper gearbox ( 31 ) and a lower gearbox ( 41 ), as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 12 . Gearbox ( 31 ) is located at a distance from the hitch ( 24 ), mounted directly to the tongue ( 21 ), and positioned such that the first shaft assembly ( 37 ) is a minimum length of 30 inches. This shaft, which is also known as a driveline, is a variable length member, configured to allow variation of the distance and relative angles between the power take off (PTO) shaft of the towing vehicle and the input shaft ( 33 ) of the first gearbox. These variations occur as the machine is towed over variations in the terrain and around corners. With this minimum length, and a maximum length of 120 inches, a standard CV joint ( 214 ) can be used at the front of the shaft ( 37 ), where the shaft connects to the PTO shaft of the towing vehicle. The rear of the shaft ( 37 ) is connected to the input shaft ( 33 ) of gearbox ( 31 ) with a U-joint. While CV joints are preferred where mentioned in this document, regular U-joints can be used instead and are considered fully equivalent structures. The housing of the upper gearbox is oriented so that the axis of the input shaft ( 33 ) is approximately parallel to the axis of the driveline ( 37 ) in the top view of  FIG. 16 , with the mower positioned directly behind the towing vehicle. As the mower is swung to either the left side or the right side, the driveline and input shaft will be repositioned into a non-parallel relationship, and so will have an angular offset. The angular offset is determined by the length of the shaft ( 37 ), which is set by the position of the gearbox ( 212 ), the length of the tongue ( 221 ), and the width of the mower. The angular offset, if kept to an acceptable maximum, will not affect the performance of the machine, and a standard U-joint will be capable of providing acceptable performance. If the angular offset is too large for a standard U-Joint, then a second CV joint could be used in place of the U-joint. 
     The rest of the drive is the same as described in the other embodiments, with the rotary power transferred through the swivel gearbox ( 212 ), from gearbox ( 31 ), to gearbox ( 41 ), then to the first universal joint ( 61 ) of the telescoping driveline ( 62 ), then to the second universal joint ( 66 ) which is attached to the input shaft ( 53 ) of gearbox ( 251 ). With this configuration the steerable gearboxes of the present invention can be configured for use with a mower that can operate while swung to either the left or the right side. 
     While only exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.