Abstract:
An agricultural machine includes a center section having a first aperture, a wheel supporting the center section, a wing section connected to the center section and having a second aperture, and a hinge positioned between the center section and the wing section to permit the wing section to pivot about the center section. The hinge includes a pin having a first end and a second end. The pin extends through the first and second apertures to connect the wing section to the center section. A first fastener engages the center section or the wing section and is adjacent to the first end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. A second fastener engages the center section or the wing section and is adjacent to the second end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to pivoting pins and hinges. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Agricultural implements and machines, including various cultivators, plows, tillers, rippers, seeders, nutrient applicators, etc., are used to work the soil of crop fields. These two to five thousand pound implements and machines are often towed behind tractors. Tillage and other agricultural implements in particular perform a variety of tasks, such as breaking up tough ground, turning the soil, and eradicating weeds. Traveling at 10 to 15 mph, the impact of portions of these implements or machines with the ground generates large forces on certain components (e.g. hinges, flanges, shanks, disks, gangs, and electronics). 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Various aspects of example embodiments are set out below and in the claims. Embodiments include hinges or pivotal joints that are buttressed by bolts or bushings so that the hinge pin does not fall out. Other embodiments are disclosed in the detailed description, accompanying drawings and claims. 
         [0004]    Some embodiments include an agricultural machine having a center section, a wheel supporting the center section, a wing section coupled to the center section, and a hinge positioned between the center section and the wing section. The hinge permits the wing section to pivot about the center section. The hinge includes a first part having a first protrusion defining a first aperture, the first part is connected to the center section, a second part having a second protrusion, the second protrusion defining a second aperture, the second part is coupled to the wing section, and a pin having a first end and a second end. The pin extends through the first and second apertures to connect the first part and the second part such that the wing section can be pivoted with respect to the center section. A first fastener is positioned adjacent the first end of the pin. The first fastener is operable to couple the first part to the center section and to abut the first end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. A second fastener is positioned adjacent the second end of the pin. The second fastener operable to couple the first part to the center section and to abut the second end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. 
         [0005]    Some embodiments include a hinge for an agricultural machine having a center section, a wheel supporting the center section, a wing section connected to the center section, and a hinge positioned between the center section and the wing section. The hinge permits the wing section to pivot about the center section. The hinge includes a first part having a first protrusion and defining a first aperture, the first part is connected to the center section, a second part having a second protrusion and defining a second aperture, the second part is connected to the wing section, and a pin having a first end and a second end. The pin extends through the first and second apertures to connect the first part and the second part such that the wing section can pivot with respect to the center section. A first fastener is adjacent to the first end of the pin. The first fastener connects the second part to the wing section and abuts the first end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. A second fastener is adjacent to the second end of the pin. The second fastener connects the second part to the wing section and abuts the second end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. 
         [0006]    Some embodiments include an agricultural machine that has a center section having a first aperture, a wheel supporting the center section, a wing section connected to the center section and having a second aperture, and a hinge positioned between the center section and the wing section to permit the wing section to pivot about the center section. The hinge includes a pin having a first end and a second end. The pin extends through the first and second apertures to connect the wing section to the center section. A first fastener engages the center section or the wing section and is adjacent to the first end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. A second fastener engages the center section or the wing section and is adjacent to the second end of the pin to thereby retain the pin in the first and second apertures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The Detailed Description refers to the following example figures: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example tillage implement, a cultivator containing many pivot points and hinges. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective magnified view of an example foldable section of the tillage implement of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective magnified view of the circled section of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial exploded view of an example hinge plate region of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial exploded view of an example buttressed hinge system of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of part of buttressed hinge system of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side view of another example buttress. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of another example buttress. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an example sunken buttress. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view of another example sunken buttress. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9A  is a side view of another example sunken buttress. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9B  is a side view of another example sunken buttress that is interlocked to an example hinge plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows an example tillage implement in which hinges are incorporated. The hinged tillage implement is illustrated as a multi-section, articulated field cultivator  20  with wings. Arrow  21  indicates the direction of travel of the cultivator  20 . The cultivator  20  includes five frame sections, which are pivotally-hinge joined in a foldable configuration. From left to right in  FIG. 1 , the frame sections include: (i) a first outer wing section  23 , (ii) a first inner wing section  24 , (iii) a main frame section  25 , (iv) a second inner wing section  26 , and (v) a second outer wing section  27 . The inner wing sections  24  and  26  are hinged together at opposing lateral sides of the main frame section  25  and can pivot about first and second inner hinge lines  30 , respectively. The outer wing sections  23  and  27  are pivotally hinged together at the lateral outer sides of the inner wing sections  24  and  26 , respectively, and can pivot about first and second outer hinge lines  32 . In embodiments where the hinge lines  30  and  32  extend substantially parallel to the fore-aft axis, the hinge lines  30  and  32  may alternatively be referred to as “fore-aft hinge axes.” The cultivator wing sections fold above and rotate over (pivot around) the hinge lines  30  and  32 . Such a multi-section hinged design enables the cultivator  20  to transition from the unfolded operational state shown in  FIG. 1  to a laterally compact, folded state to facilitate transport on roadways. The cultivator  20  is supported by a plurality of wheels  40 . 
         [0021]    Other than tillage machines, other agricultural machines include planters or sprayers that have articulated sections. For instance, sprayers have articulated air booms or fluid distribution booms. The pivoting hinge joints between the boom sections, especially the joint region between the boom and the center rack of the vehicle, encounter large shearing and rotational forces. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a top perspective magnified view of the main frame section  25  and the second inner wing section  26  of the cultivator of  FIG. 1 . A hinge system  50  is circled. Hinge systems  50  are located where the frame of the cultivator  20  rotates about hinge lines  30  or  32 . The frame of cultivator  20  bends and folds so that a plane of the wing sections  23  and  24  can be positioned upright and perpendicular to the ground. The hinge system  50  can include jointed devices, pin joints, pivot hinges, barrel hinges, leaf hinges, butt hinges, and so on. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts an example embodiment of the hinge system  50  that includes a first hinge part  52  and a second hinge part  54  that mate to each other. Sometimes the first hinge part  52  is termed a receiving or female part of a hinge and the second hinge part  54  is a tongue or male part of a hinge. The illustrated hinge parts  52  and  54  are joined together by a pivot connection via a hinge pin  82 . The hinge parts  52  and  54  are mounted to frame members on adjacent sections of field cultivator  20  (e.g.  FIG. 1 ). For example, the first hinge part  52  is mounted to an end of a lateral frame member  62  in the main frame section  25  ( FIG. 1 ), while the second hinge part  54  is mounted to an end of a lateral frame member  70  included in the second inner wing section  26 . Any combination of structural features, welding, mounting hardware, and/or joinder techniques can be utilized to attach the hinge parts  52  and  54  to their respective frame members  62  and  70 . 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the illustrated first hinge part  52  includes a hinge plate  56  and two half circular rings or clevises  58 . In the illustrated embodiment, the clevises  58  are manufactured as a single piece (e.g. casting) with the hinge plate  56 . The illustrated hinge plate  56  can extend out beyond an outer lateral width W 1  of the pair of clevises  58 . The hinge illustrated hinge plate  56  extends out a distance W 2  on either side of the two clevises  58  of hinge part  52 . The overall hinge plate width is W 3 . In some embodiments, the hinge plate  56  is narrower than depicted in  FIG. 5 . For example, the width W 3  of hinge plate  56  can be only 5% to 10% wider than the outer lateral width W 1  of the pair of clevises  58 . Hinge plate  56  is bolted to or mounted to a flange  60  that is attached to the rest of the frame section of the cultivator  20 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the hinge parts  52  and  54  can include any number and type of mating features to form the pivotal or hinge coupling. Either or both of the hinge parts  52  and  54  can include one or more male connector features, female connector features, or combinations thereof. For example, in certain embodiments, the hinge parts  52  and  54  include a number of knuckles and fingers, respectively, which mate in an interleaved or alternating configuration to form a hinge joint. In the illustrated example, the hinge part  52  includes a pair of clevises  58  that protrude out substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange  60 . The two clevises  58  are substantially parallel to each other and separated by a groove  72 . The second hinge part  54  includes a male connector feature in the form of a tongue  68 , which is received within the groove  72  when the hinge system  50  is assembled. When received within the groove  72 , the tongue  68  can rotate relative to the first hinge part  52  about a hinge line axis  51  (see  FIG. 5 ), which is coaxial with the rightmost fore-aft hinge line  30  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 5 , openings  74  are defined by the first hinge part  52  and an opening  76  is defined by the tongue  68  of second hinge part  54 . When the tongue  68  is received within the groove  72 , the opening  76  aligns with corresponding openings  74  located in the clevises  58 . A hinge pin  82  is inserted into aligning openings  74  and  76  to provide the hinge coupling. The hinge pin  82  has a smooth-surface cylindrical section for pivotally joining together the hinge parts  52  and  54 . In some embodiments, the hinge pin  82  can include an anchor, bolt, dowel pin or flag pin. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate bolts  64 , bushings  120 , bolts  122 , and nuts  124  (located behind flange  60 , a nut, or nut and washer, or cap nut, and so on). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bushings  120  have a first length L 1  protruding from the hinge plate  56 . The top of the hinge pin  82  is positioned a second length L 2  from the hinge plate  56 . The first length L 1  is greater than L 2  so that the bushings  120  overlap at least a portion of the respective ends of the pin  82 . The illustrated bushings  120  are substantially centered with the hinge pin  82 . In the illustrated embodiment, the bushings  120  overlap a majority of the end of the hinge pin  82 . In some embodiments, the bushings  120  can cover the entire ends of the hinge pin  82 . The bushings  120  prevent the pin  82  from falling out of the openings  74  and  76 . 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the bottom of bushing  120  either directly contacts the hinge plate  56  or there is an epoxy or some other adhesive between the bushing  120  and the hinge plate  56 . In some embodiments, the contact surface between the hinge plate  56  and the bottom of the bushing  120  is sanded or roughened so as to increase the friction to form a better contact. The nut  124  that is screwed onto the bolt  122  can also be adhesively contacted to the flange  60 . In yet other embodiments, a combination of these techniques is used to form a tighter contact or bond between the bushing  120  and the hinge plate  56 . 
         [0029]    The illustrated bushings  120  have a circular cross section with a substantially constant diameter. In other embodiments, the bushings can have a hexagonal, an octagonal or a square cross section. In some embodiments, the bushings can have a variable cross section. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a bushing  122 ′ that is tapered in shape. The base of the bushing  120 ′ is larger nearest the hinge plate  56 . A larger base can increase the stability of the bushing  120 ′, increasing its ability to remain stationary if the hinge pin  82  presses against the bushing  120 ′. 
         [0031]    Alternatively,  FIG. 7A  depicts another embodiment where a bushing  120 ″ has a narrower surface area where the bushing  120 ″ meets the hinge plate  56 . A narrower surface area is useful in situations where the extended area of the hinge plate  56  is small and can only accommodate a thinner or more slender buttress. Also since the bushing  120 ″ widens up near the hinge pin  82 , the hinge pin  82  can be abutted by the bushing  120 ″. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, the hinge plate can be recessed to receive at least a portion of the bushing.  FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of a hinge plate  256  including a recess  257  into which a bushing  320  fits. The recess  257  is an opening that is large enough to accommodate the base diameter of the bushing  320 . The depth of the recess  257  depends on the thickness of hinge plate  256 . For example, the depth may nominally be 5-10% of the thickness of hinge plate  256 . But if the hinge plate  256  is thick (e.g. 1-2 inches), the depth can be increased to 10-25%. The bushing  320  is more anchored and stable when placed in the recess  257  and less likely to move than if it were located only on the surface of hinge plate  256 . The remaining elements of  FIG. 8  correspond to  FIGS. 3-6 , but are numbered in the “200” series. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  depicts another embodiment of a hinge plate  256  including a recess  257  that receives a portion of a bushing  320 ′. The recess  257  is an opening that is large enough to accommodate at least the base diameter of the half-cone bushing  320 ′. The illustrated bushing  320 ′ is conical, but in other embodiments, the bushing may be a half-pyramid or have a cross section that is hexagonal, octagonal or square. The depth of recess  257  again depends on the thickness of hinge plate  256 . The recess  257  can extend about 5-10% of the thickness is suitable without compromising the structural integrity of the hinge plate  256 . The remaining elements of  FIG. 9  correspond to  FIGS. 3-6 , but are numbered in the “200” series. 
         [0034]      FIG. 9A  depicts yet another embodiment of a hinge plate  456  including a recess  457  that receives a portion of a bushing  520 . The recess  457  is large enough to accommodate at least the top (narrower) diameter of the half-cone bushing  520 . Since the area of the bushing  520  that contacts the hinge plate  456  is now smaller, the diameter or area of the recess  457  is now also correspondingly smaller. The remaining elements of  FIG. 9A  correspond to  FIGS. 3-6 , but are numbered in the “400” series. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9B  depicts yet another embodiment a hinge plate  656  that includes a recess  657  in which a bushing  720  fits. The recess  657  has an opening that is shaped so as to key-mated (interlocked) to the shape of the base diameter of the bushing  720 . The opening of recess  657  extends to the top edge of the hinge plate  656 . During assembly, the larger end of the bushing  720  is first slid into the recess  657 . Then the bolt  722  is inserted through the bushing  720  and the nut  724  is screwed onto the bolt  722 . Since the recess  657  has a narrow collar opening  659  that is smaller in surface area than the surface area of the bottom end of bushing  720 , the bushing  720  is unlikely to fall out. The depth of the recess  657  is greater than 10% (e.g. 10-40%) to prevent the bushing  720  from falling out. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9B , even if the bushing  720  were not bolted down by bolt  722  and nut  724 , there is decreased chance for a hinge pin  682  to fall out because the bushing  720  alone is already retained in the recess  657 . The remaining elements of  FIG. 9B  correspond to  FIGS. 3-6 , but are numbered in the “600” series. 
         [0036]    In operation, the hinge system  50  provides a pivot connection between the frame member  62  of the main frame section  25  and the frame member  70  of the second inner wing section  26 . This hinged connection, along with other hinged connections included within the winged field cultivator  20 , allows the second inner wing section  26  to rotate upwardly with respect to the main frame section  25  when the winged field cultivator  20  transitions from its unfolded operational to the folded transport state. The bushings  120 ,  120 ′,  120 ″,  320 ,  320 ′,  520  and  720  prevent the respective hinge pin  82 ,  282 ,  482  and  682  from falling out. 
         [0037]    Many of the orientations stated in this disclosure and claims are with reference to the direction of travel of the machine (e.g. rearward is opposite the direction of travel). But, the directions, e.g. “behind” are merely illustrative and do not orient the embodiments absolutely in space. That is, a structure manufactured on its “side” or “bottom” is merely an arbitrary orientation in space that has no absolute direction. Also, in actual usage, for example, the tillage machine or construction excavator equipment may be operated or positioned at an angle because the implements may move in many directions on a hill; and then, “top” is pointing to the “side.” Thus, the stated directions in this application may be arbitrary designations. 
         [0038]    In the present disclosure, the descriptions and example embodiments should not be viewed as limiting. Rather, there are variations and modifications that may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The hinge disclosed can also be utilized on other equipment, such as construction equipment or forestry equipment.