Abstract:
An agricultural mower including a chassis, a pivotal tongue coupled to the chassis and a transport arrangement coupled to the chassis. The transport arrangement has a first suspension element pivotal about a first axis and a second suspension element pivotal about a second axis. The second suspension element additionally being pivotal about the first axis.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/265,917, entitled “Transport System for a Center Pivot Agricultural Machine” and filed Apr. 30, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The subject disclosure relates to transport arrangements for agricultural machines, and, more particularly, relates to an arrangement for the machine, such as an agricultural mower, to enable the machine to be transported in less than its operating width. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Agricultural mowers and mower/conditioners, hereinafter referred to simply as mowers, are well known and include self-propelled and pull-behind types. A problem with pull-behind mowers involves the transporting of the machines between fields, since the width of the machine may exceed practical or regulatory limits. Machine movement may be necessary over farm lanes, through gates or on highways where the machine width will not allow passage in the operating orientation. 
         [0004]    A typically solution is to place the mower-conditioner header mechanism on a separate trailer such that the lateral width of the mechanism is generally aligned with the length of the trailer (lateral transport) and then tow the trailer with the tractor. One such example is the Discbine™ Transporter (by common assignee) which is specifically configured for loading, unloading, and laterally transporting a Model 1441/1442 disc mower conditioner while attached to the operating power unit (tractor). Such special trailers add significant cost, requires significant skill to load and unload, and must be used to transport the machine between locations or separately transported. 
         [0005]    It would be advantageous to provide a reconfigurable transport arrangement for supporting a pull-behind mower header to be laterally transported while attached to a tractor without requiring an additional implement or special trailer. Further advantages would be realized by a lateral transport system that is quickly and easily operated thereby reducing the time necessary to reconfigure the implement between operating and lateral transport configurations. Still further advantages would be realized by a lateral transport system that can be produced with less cost that the separate trailer lateral transport option it replaces. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed examples. This summary is not an extensive overview and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements nor delineate the scope of such aspects. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0007]    The subject disclosure provides a reconfigurable transport arrangement for supporting a mower allowing lateral transportation of the mower while attached to a tractor without requiring an additional implement or special trailer. 
         [0008]    The disclosure in one form is directed to a transport arrangement for an agricultural machine having a chassis and a field suspension system. The transport arrangement includes a first suspension element being pivotal about a first axis, and a second suspension element being pivotal about a second axis. The second suspension element additionally being pivotal about the first axis. 
         [0009]    The disclosure in another form is directed to an agricultural mower including a chassis, a pivotal tongue coupled to the chassis and a transport arrangement coupled to the chassis. The transport arrangement has a first suspension element pivotal about a first axis and a second suspension element pivotal about a second axis. The second suspension element additionally being pivotal about the first axis. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the subject disclosure is that the lateral transport mode is accomplished without a separate implement or trailer. 
         [0011]    Another advantage is that the transport mode is achieved using hydraulic controls available on the tractor. 
         [0012]    Yet another advantage is that the transport system is stowed on the back portion of the mower. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage is that the legs of the transport system are of differing lengths to enhance stability of the mower in the transport mode. 
         [0014]    A further advantage is that the transport suspension is above the discharge zone of the mower and does not interfere with the flow of the crop material. 
         [0015]    A still further advantage is that the transport arrangement doesn&#39;t negatively effect the balance of the mower. 
         [0016]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, one or more examples comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects and are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the various aspects may be employed. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings and the disclosed examples are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an agricultural machine in the form of a mower including an embodiment of a transport arrangement of the present application in the stowed position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the mower with the transport arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mower shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the tongue shifted to a field use position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the mower of  FIGS. 1-3 , illustrating the transport arrangement of the present application being deployed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is yet another perspective view of the mower of  FIGS. 1-4 , illustrating the transport arrangement of the present application being further deployed lifting the chassis of the mower; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is yet another perspective view of the mower of  FIGS. 1-5 , illustrating the tongue of the mower being pivoted to a transport position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the mower of  FIGS. 1-6 , illustrating the transport arrangement of the present application being deployed for transporting the mower, from the perspective of the operator in a tractor; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the mower of  FIGS. 1-7 , illustrating the transport arrangement of the present application being fully deployed having lifted the chassis of the mower. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the subject disclosure, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the subject disclosure in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an agricultural machine in the form of a mower  10 , which can be attached to a tractor (not shown). Mower  10  generally includes a pair of wheels  11 A and  11 B and a chassis  12 , which carries a number of other components such as crop engaging blades  14 , and drive components  16 . A tongue  18  is pivotally connected to chassis  12 , an end of which can be connected to the tractor. A field suspension system  20  supports mower  10  while mower  10  is in a field mode. Mower  10  additionally includes a transport arrangement  22 , which, when deployed, provides the support for the transport of mower  10 . Crop engaging blades  14  can be disc cutter blades  14  or a sickle bar, or another crop cutting device. 
         [0028]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-8 , transport arrangement  22  includes suspension elements  24  and  26 , which respectively have wheels  28  and  30  connected to corresponding ends of suspension elements  24  and  26 . Suspension elements  24  and  26  are rotatable about an axis  32 , when suspension element  26  is in the position shown in  FIGS. 4-8 . Additionally, suspension element  26  is rotatable about an axis  34  as it transitions from a stowed position illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Axis  32  is generally perpendicular to axis  34 . 
         [0029]    When suspension element  26  is in the stowed position it is generally above, or at least vertically elevated above, suspension element  24 . Additionally, suspension element  26  is somewhat shorter than suspension element  24 , as can be particularly seen in  FIG. 2 , where it can also be seen that suspension element  26  is positioned such that wheel  30  is behind wheel  28  when transport arrangement  22  is in a stowed position. 
         [0030]    A sequence of movements of the elements of mower  10  will now be discussed with references to the various figures.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate transport arrangement  22  in a stowed position and tongue  18  is angularly positioned in a substantially forward direction  36 . This is a configuration in which mower  10  can be used, but generally mower  10  will be used with tongue  18  located to either side, such as that shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a predetermined position for tongue  18  to be located to allow the needed clearance for suspension element  26  to be rotated about axis  34  by a primary lateral transport cylinder  25 , as shown fully deployed, in  FIG. 4 . Initially the field wheels  11 A and  11 B associated with field suspension system  20  are fully extended by lift cylinders  13 A and  13 B, respectively, to lift chassis  12 . 
         [0031]    Once transport arrangement  22  is positioned as shown in  FIG. 4 , then both suspension elements  24  and  26  are rotated about axis  32  by a secondary lateral transport cylinder  27  causing wheels  28  and  30  to contact the ground thereby lifting chassis  12  so that field suspension system  20  is lifted off of the ground. Field suspension system  20  can be coordinated to also lift its wheels  11 A and  11 B while or after wheels  28  and  30  contact the ground. A result of this step is that transport arrangement  22  is fully deployed as seen in  FIG. 5  and is in the transport position. 
         [0032]    The next step is that tongue  18  is now swung by a cylinder  29  to a transport position as shown in  FIG. 6 . This step has to wait on the full deployment of transport arrangement  22  to prevent mower  10  from tipping to one side. The wheels  11 A and  11 B of field suspension system  20  are raised to provide ground clearance by the retraction of the lift cylinders  13 A and  13 B associated with field suspension system  20  (as can be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ).  FIGS. 7 and 8  show mower  10  in the transport mode respectively from the operator viewpoint and the right hand side of mower  10 . 
         [0033]    The steps needed to configure mower  10  for field use are the reverse of those just discussed in order to transition from the transport position to the stowed position of transport arrangement  22 . The position of tongue  18  in the transport mode is at a small angle to the tracking of mower  10 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , so as to position the hitch in the desired location for connection with the tractor. 
         [0034]    Transport arrangement  22  is coupled to chassis  12  and more particularly to trail frame  38 , which is part of chassis  12 . The coupling of transport arrangement  22  is offset to the side of the centerline of mower  10 . The folding mechanism of transport arrangement  22  is provided to allow at least portions of transport arrangement  22  to be stowed above and to the rear of the trail frame  38  during field operations. Upon placing the center pivot disc mower conditioner  10  (CPDMC) in the full field left position, the mechanism of transport arrangement  22  rotates about a pivot axis  34  that is parallel to or substantially parallel to the trail frame  38  (or the axis of the field wheels). This action can deploy the left hand (as in transport position) wheel  30  to a position ahead of the header (ahead as in the field position) while still located above the trail frame  38 . When this rotation has been completed, a secondary rotation takes place about axis  32 ; this action is a pivoting action which is above and perpendicular to the trail frame  38  and the field wheel axis. This action rotates wheels  28  and  30  from their position above trail frame  38  to a position below trail frame  38  and in contact with the ground. 
         [0035]    When this action is complete, the trail frame/header is then rotated to a position essentially in-line with tongue  18 , thus allowing a narrow transport for public roads. The steps to transition from field operation to lateral transport operation are thus: 1. Fully lift chassis  12  to the non-mowing position by extending the field wheels  11 A,  11 B of field suspension system  20  by the lift cylinders  13 A,  13 B; 2. Rotate chassis  12  to the full field left position; 3. Extend the primary lateral transport cylinder  25  to rotate suspension element  26  along with wheel  30  from a position above and behind the trail frame  38  to a position above and ahead of the trail frame  38 ; 4. Extend the secondary lateral transport cylinder  27  to rotate suspension elements  24  and  26  with wheels  28  and  30  down below the trail frame  38 , with wheel  28  being behind the header/trail frame  38  and wheel  30  being in front of the header/trail frame  38 ; 5. Initiate the system to complete the rotation of chassis  12  to the full lateral transport position and retract the lift cylinders  13 A,  13 B to raise the field wheels  11 A,  11 B. The steps to transition from lateral transport to field operation are then to reverse the actions starting with step 5 and working backward to step 1. 
         [0036]    The subject disclosure includes the action of rotating the left hand transport wheel  30  from a position above and behind the trail frame  38  to a position ahead of the trail frame  38  and the header about an axis generally parallel to the trail frame  38  and the field wheel axis. There is also the subsequent action (or precedent action depending on which way the transition is proceeding) of rotating the transport wheels  28  and  30  from a position above the header/trail frame  38  to a position below the header/trail frame  38 , where the left hand transport wheel  30  is ahead of the header with the right hand transport wheel  28  to the rear of the header (in field position) and about an axis  32  perpendicular to the trail frame  38  field wheel axis. The system stows the transport wheels  28  and  30  above and behind the trail frame  38  while having the ability to rotate the transport wheel  30  to a position ahead of the header. Any system can be used to actuate the lateral transport rotations, with hydraulic cylinders being assumed, but the actions can be accomplished with any arrangement of cylinders, actuators, linear motors, rotational motors, to name a few. 
         [0037]    Advantages of the subject disclosure include the providing of integrated lateral transport while allowing full rotation of the header for all field conditions with the transport wheels  28  and  30  stowed above and behind the trail frame  38 . The stowed position keeps the transport wheels  28  and  30  completely out of the incoming crop stream, as well as completely out of the crop stream exiting from the conditioner. Further, this system allows for the CPDMC to be balanced during both field and lateral transport operation. 
         [0038]    While this disclosure has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the subject disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the subject disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.