Patent Publication Number: US-6334492-B2

Title: Breakaway for field marker on agricultural implement

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/428,528, filed Oct. 28, 1999, which claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,252,296, filed Oct. 30, 1998. The entirety of each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a field marker for mounting on an agriculture implement to generate a marked line on the ground indicative of the path of the implement. 
     Field markers are commonly used on farming implements to score a mark outward from one side of an implement when making an operating pass so that the mark may act as a directional guide to the operator on a subsequent pass. Folding field markers are also common so that long arms may be compactly folded inward to the implement for more compact transportation between operating locations. 
     An example of a folding field marker is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,525, issuing to Haukass, which shows a bi-fold field marker having a device which automatically folds the outer arm to lie along the inner arm when an actuator acts on the inner arm to fold it inward to the implement on which it is mounted. This particular field marker is also exemplary of the incorporation of a breakaway device which allows the arm to fold rearwardly when it encounters an obstacle. The spring of this breakaway device includes a spring serving two functions, one being to provide resetting force for the break action provided by a cradle, the other being to serve as a down force biasing means. The spring provides bias to relieve some of the weight of the marker arm to vary the downward force with which the end of the marker scores the ground. The spring of the Haukaas patent, depending on soil hardness or other variables, can be difficult to adjust to give the most desirable combination of resetting force and down force. It is known that the design disclosed in the Haukaas patent is often manufactured with a shear pin to retain the marker in the field position and which must be replaced after a breakaway action occurs; otherwise the resetting spring is not able to return and maintain the arm in the operating position. 
     The Haukaas design has a mount structure with two members connected by a horizontal pivot to allow the outer end of the marker arm vertical movement relative to the implement over uneven ground. An additional member, a cradle, is provided with a vertical joint to allow a breakaway action. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a field marker with an automatically re-setting breakaway mechanism. 
     It is a feature of this invention that the field marker allows for independent setting of breakaway resetting force and down force biasing. 
     It is still another object of this invention to improve the action of the folding arm in a folding field marker. 
     It is an advantage of this invention to provide a mounting for a field marker that is manufactured with fewer parts than previously known in the prior art. 
     A field marker for mounting on an agricultural implement in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes an elongated arm adapted to project outwardly laterally of the implement when in its operating position and being adapted to carry a field marking device at its outer distal end for making a score mark on the ground, a mount for said arm at an inner proximal end thereof allowing pivoting of said arm about first and second generally transverse axes whereby to allow the arm to swing upwardly and downwardly about the first one of said axes when operating on uneven ground while also allowing said arm to swing around the second one of said axes from its outwardly projecting operating position into another position; and a breakaway link pivotally connected to said mount and extending alongside said arm to retain said arm in the operating position but which permits said arm to swing relative to said mount about the second axis away from its outwardly projecting operating position when an obstacle is encountered and a predetermined force on said arm has been exceeded, said breakaway link having a resetting device associated therewith to assist in returning said arm to the operating position once the obstacle has been cleared. 
     The breakaway link preferably extends in general parallelism to said arm when the latter is in the operating condition. 
     In one embodiment the breakaway link extends from a pivot point on said mount which is spaced from the second axis to a pivot point associated with said arm, said breakaway link comprising a pair of link members hinged together and adapted to move from (a) a slightly misaligned condition where the breakaway link acts as a rigid link capable of withstanding compressive forces arising from draft forces on said arm during normal operation whereby to inhibit the arm from swinging about the second axis on said mount to (b) a collapsed condition corresponding to a breakaway position of the arm after an obstacle has been encountered. 
     The above-noted resetting device typically comprises a biasing device which tends to hold the breakaway link members in the slightly misaligned condition until the predetermined force has been exceeded and the collapsed condition of the breakaway link members occurs. 
     Adjustment means may be provided for varying the degree of misalignment between said breakaway link members whereby to enable the force causing breakaway to be predetermined. 
     In another embodiment the breakaway link may include a compressible member which compresses when the predetermined force has been exceeded to permit swinging of the arm away from its operating position. The compressible member preferably includes a pair of telescoping members having a compression spring thereon to bias said members in directions away from one another. 
     The field marker arm typically includes inner and outer arm sections secured together by a folding joint to permit said inner and outer arm sections to be folded and brought into the transport position. An actuator is preferably provided for effecting the folding about said folding joint of said inner and outer arm sections into and out of the transport position, said actuator also holding said inner and outer arm sections in general alignment as the arm is swung away from its operating position when an obstacle is encountered. 
     The folding joint in one embodiment includes a crank arm and a fold link associated therewith and wherein said breakaway link extends from said pivot point on said mount in spaced generally parallel relation to said inner arm section to a pivot point on said crank arm, with the crank arm and fold link adapted to cooperate with the breakaway link such that as said inner arm section is rotated, said outer arm section rotates relative thereto. 
     Preferably said actuator is connected between said inner arm section and said crank arm whereby extension and retraction of said actuator effects rotation of the crank arm relative to said inner arm section and at the same time by virtue of the interaction between the linkages defined by said breakaway link, crank arm, mount and inner arm section effects the rotation of the inner arm section relative to said mount. 
     The field marker preferably includes a biasing device acting between said mount and said arm to apply lifting forces to the arm whereby the field marking device is provided with the required degree of total down force as to enable a suitable score mark to be made. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention has a simplified marker arm mounting structure having only two main members. The marker arm is connected to the second member on a generally vertical axis to allow folding and unfolding of the marker arm. In the present embodiment this same vertical axis also provides for the breakaway action. The second member is attached to a first member directly on a horizontal axis. This allows the second member to pivot about the first member, and allows the outer end of the marker arm vertical movement when operating over uneven ground. In the transport position the vertical axis is held generally vertical or slightly inclined inwardly. In the operating position, the vertical axis is slightly inclined outwardly. 
     A field marker for mounting on an agricultural implement in accordance with another aspect of the invention includes an elongated arm adapted to project outwardly laterally of the implement when in its operating position and being adapted to carry a field marking device at its outer distal end for making a score mark on the ground, a mount for said arm at an inner proximal end thereof allowing pivoting of said arm about first and second generally transverse axes whereby to allow the arm to swing upwardly and downwardly about the first one of said axes when operating on uneven ground while also allowing said arm to swing around the second one of said axes from its outwardly projecting operating position into a transport position; said arm including inner and outer arm sections secured together by a folding joint to permit said inner and outer arm sections to be folded into juxtaposition with one another and brought into the transport position, an actuator mounted to said inner arm section for effecting rotation of said inner and outer arm sections, and a mechanism interacting between said mount and said inner and outer arm sections and connected to said actuator such that as said inner arm section is pivoted by said actuator through a selected angle relative to said mount, said outer arm section is pivoted about said foldingjoint through an angle relative to said inner arm section substantially greater than the extent of said selected angle. 
     The above-noted mechanism in a preferred form of the invention is adapted to effect pivoting of said outer arm section through an angle approximately twice the extent of the angle through which said inner arm section pivots. 
     The mechanism noted above preferably includes an elongated link extending generally parallel to said inner arm section from said mount, and a crank arm pivotally connected between distal end portions of the inner arm section and said elongated link, said crank arm being linked to said outer arm section, and said actuator being connected such that as it extends and retracts said crank arm is rotated and said inner and outer arm sections are caused to pivot relative to one another. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages can be accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a field marker for mounting on an agricultural implement, the field marker including an elongated arm adapted to project outwardly laterally of the implement when in its operating position and being adapted to carry a field marking device at its outer distal end for making a score mark on the ground. A mount for the arm at an inner proximal end thereof allows pivoting of the arm about first and second transverse axes whereby to allow the arm to swing upwardly and downwardly about the first one of said axes when operating on uneven ground while also allowing the arm to swing around the second one of said axes from its outwardly projecting operating position into another position. The arm includes inner and outer arm sections secured together by a folding joint to permit the inner and outer arm sections to be folded into juxtaposition with one another and brought into the transport position. An extensible actuator effects relative rotation of the inner and outer arm sections, and a mechanism interacts with the inner and outer arm sections and the actuator such that as the inner arm section is pivoted through a selected angle, the outer arm section is pivoted about said folding joint relative to the inner arm section. A breakaway link on the arm permits the arm to swing as a whole relative to the mount about the second axis away from its outwardly projecting operating position when an obstacle is encountered and a predetermined force on said arm has been exceeded. The breakaway link has a resetting device associated therewith for returning the arm to the operating position once the obstacle has been cleared. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a field marker incorporating the principles of the present invention, the field marker is depicted in an operational position; 
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C are top plan views of the inner, middle and outer portions respectively of the field marker as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  are top plan views respectively of the field marker as the marker arm swings away after encountering an obstacle; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the relative position of the various components following the breakaway action; 
     FIGS. 5 a,    5   b  and  5   c  are top plan views showing the field marker being folded up from its extended operating position into a folded position alongside an agricultural machine for transport; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the field marker in the fully folded transport position; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a modified version of the field marker in operating position; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the modified field marker showing a close up view of the compression spring in operating position; 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the modified field marker in a partial breakaway position; 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of the modified field marker showing a close up view of the compression spring in a partial breakaway position; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the disk end of a field marker having a shield or fender thereon and with the disk positioned to provide a less aggressive mark in accordance with a further aspect of the invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the disk end of the field marker with the disk positioned to provide a more aggressive mark. 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a field marker incorporating the principles of the present invention, the field marker being depicted in transport position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An agricultural implement  10  is shown with the field marker  12  attached to it. The marker  12  has a mounting structure for attaching it to the implement. The mount structure comprises two main members  14  and  16 . The mount member  14  attaches the marker to the implement and mount member  16  is attached to mount member  14  via a generally horizontal pivot shaft  18 . The marker has an elongated arm generally designated  20 . The arm is comprised of two sections: an inner arm section  22  is attached at one end to mount member  16  via a generally vertical pivot joint  25 , and an outer arm section  24  is pivotally attached at one end to the second end of the inner arm section  22  via a folding joint  26 . A ground engaging element  28  is attached to the distal end of the outer arm section  24  for scoring a mark in the field when operating. 
     In operating position, the marker inner and outer arm sections  22 ,  24  are held generally aligned and are extended laterally outward from the implement by rotating the arm  20  about the vertical pivot shaft  25  so that the marker arm  20  is generally transverse to the direction of travel for scoring a mark on the ground to the side of the implement as the implement moves across the field. 
     As the implement moves across the ground, the marker arm can pivot about the horizontal pivot shaft  18  so the outer end of the arm can move vertically relative to the implement. This accommodates variations in ground elevation between the implement and the outer end of the marker, so that the ground element  28  is allowed to follow uneven ground surfaces. 
     A coil tension spring  30  extending between an adjustable anchor on mount  14  and the mount member  16  provides bias to raise the arm  20  upwardly, relieving some of the weight of the arm from the ground element  28 . The tension in spring  30  is adjustable so the down force on the ground element resulting from the weight of the marker arm  20  can be adjusted. Alternately this bias force can be provided by a hydraulic actuator acting under controlled pressure, possibly with use of a pressure reducing-relieving valve, and possibly in combination with soil hardness sensing. 
     The marker arm  20  may be folded toward the implement so it is more compact for transport. The spring  30  biases mount member  16  relative to mount member  14  about the horizontal axis of shaft  18 . As the marker is folded, it&#39;s center of gravity is brought closer to this horizontal axis and the spring  30  begins to support the marker clear of the ground and keeps it in a raised position when it is fully folded for transport. As the marker is being extended, the spring  30  keeps the marker clear of the ground until it has been substantially extended. 
     The outer arm section  24  is folded relative to the inner arm section  22  by the action of folding crank  32  which is pivotally connected at pivot  33  near the distal end of the inner arm section  22  at a distance offset from the folding joint  26 . A fold link  34  is pivotally connected at one end  36  to another point on the crank  32 , and at it&#39;s second end is pivotally connected to the outer arm section  24  at a pivot point  38  offset from the joint  26 . An actuator  40  is connected between the inner arm section  22  and the crank  32  and is controlled to rotate the crank. The crank  32  and fold link  34  arrangement acts to fold or unfold the outer arm section  24  relative to the inner arm section  22  through a range of about 180 degrees when the crank  32  is operated by the actuator. 
     A breakaway link generally designated  42  is also pivotally connected to the crank  32 , link  42  extending substantially parallel to inner arm section  22 . Pin  44  by which the actuator  40  is connected to the crank provides a convenient pivotal connection for the link  42 . It is not required that they are connected at the same point; however the connection point is selected so that the geometry of the parallel breakaway link  42  in combination with the arrangement of the crank  32  and fold link  34  causes the inner arm section  22  to rotate through a range of about 90 degrees, when the outer arm section  24  is folded 180 degrees. The parallel breakaway link  42  is therefor also pivotally connected to the mount member  16  at pivot point  45  offset from pivot joint  25  by a selected amount which causes the action described above. Various combinations of offsets between the pivot joints of the parallel link, crank, fold link, and arm sections can be selected for a similar resulting folding motion. 
     The parallel breakaway link  42  is constructed of an inner link  42   a  and an outer link  42   b,  pivotally connected to each other at one end by a joint  50 . The inner or proximal end of the inner link  42   a  is connected to mount member  16  at pivot  45  as described previously. The distal end of the outer link  42   b  is connected to the crank  32  as described previously. The breakaway link members  42   a ,  42   b  are biased toward substantial straight alignment; however the joint  50  between them is maintained slightly offset of a straight line between pivot joints  44  and  45 , to the side opposite of the marker arm  20 . 
     During operation, draft forces against the end of the marker arm  20  results in compressive forces in the parallel breakaway link  42 . Since the joints are slightly misaligned as described above, the compressive force causes resulting reaction couples at joints  44 ,  45 , and  50  which would tend to cause breakaway link members  42   a ,  42   b  to fold about joint  50 . Outer link  42   b  has an extension  43  on its first end to which a resetting tension spring  52  is attached at point  54 . The resetting spring  52  is also attached to the inner link  42   a  via a threaded tension adjusting eye bolt  56 . The attachment points are arranged so that the resetting spring  62  produces a biasing moment about joint  50  which opposes the folding couples. The outer link  42   b  is also provided with an abutment  58  at its inner end. The inner link  42   a  has a corresponding abutment  60 , which rests on abutment  58  when the outer and inner breakaway links  42   a ,  42   b  are in operational alignment, and maintains a selected amount of misalignment between the joints  44 ,  45  and  50 . The abutment  60  is made adjustable by a threaded stud so that the offset of joint  50 , when the link members  42   a ,  42   b  are in operational alignment, can be set to provide the desired breakaway force. The threaded adjustment bolt  56  as described above enables adjustment of the tension of resetting spring  52  for additionally setting the breakaway force and also for setting the resetting force. 
     The breakaway link members  42   a ,  42   b  will fold or collapse about joint  50  when the breakaway threshold is exceeded and the marker arm  12  will fold rearwardly about joint  24 . During breakaway folding the marker arms sections  22 ,  24  are maintained in alignment by the actuator  40  and folding joint  26 , which are not affected by the breakaway action. The present embodiment thus allows the arm to swing back, away from an obstacle, rather than wrap around an obstacle, (and without need for a third mount member) to allow for the breakaway action. 
     The force of the resetting spring  52  can be set independently of the down force biasing spring  30 . The resetting spring can be set with enough force so that the marker resets automatically in many instances. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the fold actuator, as described above, does not restrict the breakaway action. Furthermore, the parallel link arrangement for folding the inner and outer arms of the marker is more reliable than the cable arrangement of certain prior art designs in which there can be slip between components. When the outer end of the marker arm is naturally being raised from the ground, as the marker arm rotates back in a breakaway manner because the axis it rotates about is inclined, the marker rotates in a plane inclined from horizontal. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the parallel breakaway link has a compressible section rather than a pivotal joint. In this design the spring bears all of the breakaway force. 
     A modified field marker is shown in FIGS. 7-10. This marker is much the same as described and shown in FIGS. 1-6. However, the folding breakaway link  42  has been replaced with a telescoping spring-biased breakaway link  60 . The parallel breakaway link arrangement  60  includes two telescoping members  62  and  64 , and coil compression spring  66 . Spring  66  is joined to two annular mounting plates  68  and  70 ; with mounting plate  68  being located on member  62  and mounting plate  70  being located on member  64 . 
     When the field marker is traveling in soil in the direction indicated and an obstruction is encountered, the breakaway system will collapse the marker arm to allow it to swing back and pass the obstruction as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Member  64  is sized to telescope in and out of member  62 . When the obstruction creates a force on the field marker in the direction opposite the direction of travel, member  64  telescopes into member  62 . To allow this to occur, spring  66  must compress as the two mounting plates are pushed closer together. 
     As the members telescope to shorten the overall length of the parallel breakaway link  60  and the spring compresses, the entire parallel link system will pivot about vertical axes  24  and  45 . In this way, the field marker is able to swing back until the obstacle is passed. When the obstacle has been passed and the force in the direction opposite the direction of travel has been removed, spring  66  will push the mounting plates  68 ,  70  apart and with it, push member  64  out of member  62 . The parallel link system will pivot about points  24  and  25  to the full operating position again as shown in FIG.  7 . 
     Although this embodiment is shown in conjunction with bi-fold markers, it also has applications for tri-fold markers. For example, a tri-fold marker could have an inner section pivotally attached to the implement frame. The mount structure  14 ,  16  would be located at the distal end of the inner arm section. During breakaway, the marker arm outer portion(s) would swing back about the vertical pivot axis defined by the mount as described previously but the inner arm section would remain fixed and act in effect as an extension of the implement frame. 
     Another aspect of the invention is concerned with the fact that as field markers travel through the soil, they frequently encounter obstacles. Obstacles such as tree branches can easily get wedged between the disk at the end of the arm and the disk mounting plate. Thus, then, the rotation of the disk can be hindered and a proper marking in the ground may not be formed. 
     Another frequent problem with field marker disks is that of adjusting the angle of the disk with respect to the direction of travel. The angled position of the disk dictates whether the mark left in the field is more aggressive or less aggressive. 
     Therefore, the objectives of this aspect of the invention are to provide a shield or fender giving smooth transition from the outer arm of a field marker to the marker disk to allow the disk to slip cleanly off any obstacles encountered, to provide means of simplifying the disk angle adjustment and to provide means to maintain the smooth transition from the outer arm to the disk throughout the entire range of angle adjustment. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, this embodiment of the field marker arm  100  has mounting plate  102  at the end of the marker arm. Shaft  103  rotatably mounts the coulter disk  105 . Shaft  103  is seated in a shield or fender  104  bolted to the mounting plate  102 . The fender  104  (made from steel plate) provides a smooth transition from the mounting plate  102  to the disk  105 . The fender  104  in essence only has to be located to the side facing the direction of travel. Having the fender located on the backside of the field marker is not necessary in order to keep debris from being caught in the marker. However, a feature of the specific field marker described above is that it can be mounted on either side of the implement. Having a symmetrical fender that is located on both sides of the disk would allow the marker to be used on either side of the implement. 
     The fender  104  is of simple construction and provides a pair of arms  108  which extend out from the mounting plate  102  with the arms  108  having sloping shoulder portions  109  curving smoothly around toward their distal ends  112  to embrace diametrically opposed edge portions of the disc. The distal ends are notched at  110  to receive the disc edge portions loosely therein so as not to interfere with the disc rotation. 
     By virtue of the smooth shape of the fender  104  debris encountered in the field tends to slide along the shoulders  109  and off the arms of the fender thus avoiding fouling of the disc  105 . 
     Fender  104  also includes two arcuate slots  107  that receive bolts  106  on the mounting plate  102 . This mechanism allows for very easy angle adjustment. The bolts simply are loosened, the angle adjusted and bolts re-tightened. FIG. 11 shows the orientation of the disk for a less aggressive mark while FIG. 12 shows the orientation of the disk for a more aggressive mark. 
     This fender mount system can be implemented on a field marker of any configuration and any folding sequence. 
     It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.