Patent Publication Number: US-2023157196-A1

Title: Agricultural implement with end wheel assembly

Description:
The present invention relates to agricultural implement and more particularly an end wheel assembly for an agricultural implement to transform the agricultural implement between a transport position and an operating position. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Agricultural implements, such as land rollers, are pulled behind a tractor or other tow vehicle to perform an agricultural function in a field. In the case of a land roller, the land roller is used to compact the soil and press stones into the field to create a flat field surface and to increase the soil density in the field before or after a crop is planted in the field. 
     These agricultural implements are typically of a substantial size because the wider the working path of the implement as it is pulled through a field, the more surface area of the field that can be covered with each pass of the tow vehicle and implement. However, when the implement is to be transported to another field, often down a roadway, this width of the implement is a problem because a wide implement is harder to transport and the implement has to be narrow enough to fit on the roadway. These implements often have a first wing section and a second wing section containing the soil tools, such as rollers for a land roller. These wing sections can be pivoted into a field position, with the wing sections positioned perpendicular to a travel direction of the agricultural implement when the agricultural implement is to be pulled through a field in order to increase the width of the implement. The wing sections can also be pivoted into a transport position, with the wing sections pivoted parallel to the travel direction of the agricultural implement so that the width of the agricultural implement is reduced when the agricultural implement is to be transported to another field. 
     To convert the implement from a transport position to a field position, and vice versa, can be difficult and require a number of components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an aspect, an implement is provided. The implement can have a center section, a first wing section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first wing section pivotally connected to the center section, a first positioning member connected to the second end of the first wing section, a second wing section having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second wing section pivotally connected to the center section, a second positioning member connected to the second end of the second wing section, a hitch assembly attached to the center section so the implement can be towed in a travel direction, a first and second end wheel assembly. The first end wheel assembly can be attached to the second end of the first wing section and have an end wheel, a wheel pivot rotatably connected to the end wheel, a wheel member pivotally connected to the wheel pivot, at least one attachment bracket attached to the wheel member and pivotally attached to second end of the first wing section, and a guide plate. The guide plate having a channel, a first end connected to the wheel member, and a second end connected to the wheel pivot, the channel positioned to receive the first positioning member when the first wheel assembly is pivoted downwards and to rotate the guide plate causing the wheel pivot and end wheel to rotate relative to the wheel member and turn the end wheel outwards. The second end wheel assembly can be attached to the second end of the second wing section and have an end wheel, a wheel pivot rotatably connected to the end wheel, a wheel member pivotally connected to the wheel pivot, at least one attachment bracket attached to the wheel member and pivotally attached to second end of the second wing section, and a guide plate. The guide plate having a channel, a first end connected to the wheel member, and a second end connected to the wheel pivot, the channel positioned to receive the second positioning member when the first wheel assembly is pivoted downwards and to rotate the guide plate causing the wheel pivot and end wheel to rotate relative to the wheel member and turn the end wheel outwards. 
     In another aspect, an end wheel assembly for transforming an implement frame from a transport position to a field position is provided. The end wheel assembly can have an end wheel, a wheel pivot rotatably connected to the end wheel, a wheel member pivotally connected to the wheel pivot, at least one attachment bracket attached to the wheel member and pivotally attachable to the implement frame, a wheel actuator to raise and lower the end wheel assembly, and a guide plate. The guide plate can have a channel, a first end connected to the wheel member, and a second end connected to the wheel pivot. The channel can be positioned to receive a positioning member attached to the implement frame when the end wheel assembly is pivoted downwards and to rotate the guide plate causing the wheel pivot and end wheel to rotate relative to the wheel member and turn the end wheel outwards. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an agricultural implement having end wheel assemblies; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the implement of  FIG.  1    in a field position and being towed by a tow vehicle; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the implement of  FIG.  1    being transformed from the transport position into the field position; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the implement of  FIG.  1    in the transport position; 
         FIG.  5    is a close up view of an end wheel assembly on an end of a wing section of an implement with the end wheel assembly in a field position; 
         FIG.  6    is a close up view of end wheel assemblies on ends of wing sections of an implement with the end wheel assemblies in a transport position; 
         FIG.  7    is a close up view of an end wheel assembly on an end of a wing section of an implement with the end wheel assembly in an unfolding position; 
         FIG.  8    is a rear perspective view of an end wheel assembly; 
         FIG.  9    is a front perspective view of the end wheel assembly of  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a rear view of the end wheel assembly of  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a side closeup view of the end wheel assembly of  FIG.  8    showing the guide plate; 
         FIG.  12    is a top view of an end wheel assembly in a transport position; and 
         FIG.  13    is a top view of an end wheel assembly in an unfolding position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an agricultural implement  10  that is typically towed behind a tractor or other tow vehicle in an agricultural field. Implement  10  is shown as a land roller with rollers  22 ,  42 , and  62  for flattening a field to create a smoother surface for spraying, harvesting, etc. and to increase the soil density of the field before or after planting a crop. The implement  10  can have a center section  20 , a first wing section  40 , and a second wing section  60 . The first wing section  40  can be pivotally connected at a first end  44  to the center section  20  and the second wing section  60  can be pivotally connected at a first  64  to the center section  20 . Although  FIG.  1    illustrates the implement  10  as a land roller, the implement could be any agricultural implement with a pair of wing sections where soil tools are provided on the wing sections. If the implement  10  is a land roller, the center section  20  can be provided with a center roller  22 , the first wing section  40  can be provided with a first wing roller  42 , and the second wing section  60  can be provided with a second wing roller  62 . 
     Ground wheels  32  can be provided attached to the center section  20  and vertically moveable, with an actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, so that the ground wheels  32  can be moved downwards to lift the center section  20 , and the center roller  22 , if the implement is a land roller, off of the ground surface for transport of the implement  10  and the ground wheels  32  can be moved upwards to lower the center section  20  relative to the ground surface. 
     A first end wheel assembly  100 A can be provided at a second end  46  of the first wing section  40  and a second end wheel assembly  100 B can be provided at a second end  66  of the second wing section  60 . The first end wheel assembly  100 A and the second end wheel assembly  100 B can have end wheels  105   
     A hitch assembly  80  can be provided attached to the center section  20  to hitch the implement  10  to a tow vehicle (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the implement  10  can be hitched to a tow vehicle  2 , such as a tractor, and towed in a travel direction T of the implement  10 . The implement  10  can be converted between a field position, as shown in  FIG.  2   , and a transport position, as shown in  FIG.  4   .  FIG.  3    shows the implement  10  in the midst of being transformed from the transport position into the field position. Referring to  FIG.  2   , in the field position the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are pivoted forward to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the travel direction T of the implement  10 . This allows the center section  20 , the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  to cover a wide swath of field as the implement  10  is pulled through the field by a tow vehicle  2 . When the implement  10  is in the field position, the end wheels  105  in the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B can be in their up position so they are not supporting the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  and the first wing roller  42  and the second wing roller  62  are resting on the ground surface. The ground wheels  32  can also be moved vertically upwards so the ground wheels  32  are not supporting the center section  20  off the ground surface and center roller  22  is resting on the ground surface. 
     When the implement  10  is to be pulled to another location or field, such as when the implement  10  is to be transported down a roadway, the implement  10  can be put in the transport position. Referring to  FIG.  4   , in the transport position the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  can be pivoted backwards behind the center section  20  with the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  positioned substantially parallel to the travel direction T of the implement  10 . The end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B can be positioned with their end wheels  105  in their down position so that the end wheel assembly  100 A is supporting the first wing section  40  above the ground surface and the end wheel assembly  100 B is supporting the second wing section  60  above the ground surface. The grounds wheels  32  can also be place in their down positions so that the center section  20 , the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are all positioned above the ground surface. 
     To transform the implement  10  from the field position, shown in  FIG.  2   , to the transport position, shown in  FIG.  4   , positioning members  26  connected between the center section  20  and the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60 , respectively, can be disconnected. These positioning members  26  are used when the implement  10  is in the field position to prevent the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  from pivoting around their first ends  44 ,  46  and keeping the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  positioned substantially perpendicular to the travel direction T of the implement  10 . When the positioning members  26  are disconnected, the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are free to pivot around their first ends  44 ,  64 , so that the tow vehicle  2  simply has to drive forwards in the travel direction T for the wing sections  40 ,  60  to pivot from their field position shown in  FIG.  2   , to the transport position shown in  FIG.  4   , with the wing section  40 ,  60  substantially parallel to the travel direction T of the implement  10 . The end wheels  32  and the end wheels assemblies  100 A,  100 B can all be lowered so that the center section  20 , the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are all supported above the ground surface and the implement  10  can be easily towed. 
     While the implement  10  can be transformed from the field position to the transport position by simply disconnecting the positioning members  26  and pulling the implement  10  forwards in the travel direction T, it is not so straightforward to transform the implement  10  from the transport position to the field position. When the implement  10  is in the transport position, the end wheels  105  on the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B must be positioned so that the end wheels  105  are pointed in the travel direction T of the implement  10  so that the implement  10  can be towed in the travel direction T and the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  will remain substantially parallel to one another. However, to transform the implement  10  from the transport position to the field position, the end wheels  105  of the end wheels assemblies  100 A,  100 B have to be angled so that the end wheels  105  are toed out when the implement  10  is being reversed in a direction opposite to the travel direction T. In this manner, with the toed out end wheels  105  on the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B, the reversing of the implement  10  in a direction opposite the travel direction T will cause the second end  46  of the first wing section  40  and the second end  66  of the second wing section  60  to move outwards from the travel direction T as the implement  10  is reversed because the second ends  46 ,  66  will be following the direction the end wheels  105  of the end wheels assemblies  100 A,  100 B are pointed. This will cause the second end  46  of the first wing section  40  and the second end  66  of the second wing section  60  to move apart from one another, as shown in  FIG.  3   . The implement  10  can continued to be backed up in a direction opposite the travel direction T until the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are substantially perpendicular to the travel direction T and the implement  10  is in the field position. 
     When first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are substantially perpendicular to the travel direction T, the end wheels  105  on the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B can be raised and the positioning members  26  used to connect the center section  20  to the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60 . 
     The end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B are attached at second end  46  of the first wing section  40  and the second end  66  of the second wing section  60 , respectively, and can be transformed between the field position ( FIG.  5    shows end wheel assembly  100 B in the field position), a transport position shown in  FIG.  6   , and an unfolding position shown in  FIG.  7   . Referring to  FIG.  5   , in the field position, end wheel assembly  100 B is pivoted upwards so that the end wheel  105  is lifted up and off the ground surface and the second wing roller  62  is resting on the ground surface. Referring to  FIG.  6   , in the transport position, the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B are pivoted downwards so that the ends wheels  105  are positioned down and in contact with the ground surface and the first wing roller  42  and the second wing roller  62  is lifted off of the ground surface. 
     The end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B can also be placed in an unfolding position where the end wheels  105  of the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B where the end wheels  105  are raised slightly causing the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B to angle the end wheels  105  outwards. Referring to  FIG.  7   , the end wheel assembly  100 B is in an unfolding position where the end wheel  105  of the end wheel assembly  100 B is in contact with the ground surface, but the end wheel  105  is raised slightly causing the end wheel assembly  100 B to angle the end wheel  105  outwards so that when the implement  10  is backed up the outward-pointing end wheel  105  causes the second end  66  of the second wing section  60  to move outwards from one another. 
       FIGS.  8 - 10    illustrates an end wheel assembly  100  for use in transforming the implement  10  between the transport position and the field position. End wheel assembly  100  has the same orientation as end wheel assembly  100 A shown in  FIGS.  1 - 7   . End wheel assembly  100 B can be a mirror image of end wheel assembly  100 . The end wheel assembly  100  can include an end wheel  105 ; a wheel pivot  110 ; a wheel member  120 ; a pair of attachment brackets  130 A,  130 B; a wheel actuator bracket  140 ; a biasing device  150 ; and a guide plate  160  having a channel  162 . 
     The end wheel  105  can be rotatably connected to the wheel pivot  110  so that the end wheel  105  can rotate around an axis A when the end wheel  105  is positioned against a ground surface and the implement  10  is towed by a tow vehicle. 
     The wheel pivot  110  can have a vertical member  112  and a horizontal member  116  attached to the top of the vertical member  112 . The wheel pivot  110  can be rotatably connected to the wheel member  120  so that the wheel pivot  110  and the end wheel  105  can pivot around axis B relative to the wheel member  120 . In one aspect, the horizontal member  116  can have a first end  117  and a second end  118  and be pivotally connected to the wheel member  120 . The vertical member  112  can be rotatably connected to the end wheel  105 . 
     The wheel member  120 , and therefore the wheel pivot  110  and the end wheel  105 , can be attached to the implement frame by a pair of attachment brackets  130 A,  130 B. First ends  132 A,  132 B of the attachment brackets  130 A,  130 B can be connected to the wheel member  120  and second ends  134 A,  134 B of the attachment brackets  130 A,  130 B can be pivotally connected to the implement frame so that the entire end wheel assembly  100  can pivot relative to the implement frame around axis C. Referring to  FIGS.  5 - 7   , end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B are rotatable around axis C to move them between the field position shown in  FIG.  5   , the transport position shown in  FIG.  6   , and the folding position shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  8 - 10   , the wheel actuator bracket  140  can be connected to one of the attachment brackets  130 A,  130 B to allow an actuator to be attached to the wheel actuator bracket  140  and pivot the end wheel assembly  100  around axis C. Referring to  FIGS.  5 - 7   , wheel actuators  142  can be actuators, such as double acting hydraulic cylinders, positioned between the wheel actuator brackets  140  on the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B connected to brackets  144  on the first wing frame  40  and the second wing frame  60  so that the wheel actuators  142  can pivot the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B around axis C thereby raising and lowering the end wheels  105 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  9  and  10   , the biasing device  150  can be operatively connected between the wheel bracket  110  and one of the brackets  130 B (or the wheel member  120 ) to create a rotational biasing force on the wheel bracket  110  (and therefore the ground wheel  105 ) to pivot the wheel bracket  110  around the axis B and prevent the ground wheel  105  and the wheel bracket  110  from rotating freely. This biasing device  150  can pretension the end wheel  105  to prevent movement of the end wheel  105  when the wheel assembly  100 A,  100 B is in the field position and the end wheel  105  is pivoted upwards off of the ground surface. 
     In one aspect, the biasing device  150  can have a shaft  151  connected to the attachment brackets  130 B, a biasing bracket  152  with an aperture  153  through which the shaft passes through; a spring  155  such as a compression spring; and a stopping element  156 . The spring  155  can be positioned around the shaft  151  with one end of the spring  155  seated against the biasing bracket  152  and another end of the spring  155  seated against the stopping element  156  on an end of the shaft  151 . When end wheel  105  and the wheel bracket  110  rotate around the axis B outwards, the spring  155  will be compressed between the biasing bracket  151  and the stopping element  156  on the shaft  151  and create a biasing force of rotational force on the wheel bracket  110  and end wheel  105  around axis B back in the direction of turning the end wheel  105  in a direction parallel to a centerline CL of an implement frame  200  shown in  FIG.  12   . The implement frame  200  could be the frame of the first wing section  20  or the frame of the second wing section  40  depending on which wing section the end wheel assembly is attached to. 
     The guide plate  160  can be connected between the wheel member  120  and the wheel pivot  110  with the channel  162  in the guide plate  160  opening towards the implement frame. A first end  164  of the guide plate  160  can be connected to the wheel member  120  and a second end  166  of the guide plate  160  can be connected to the wheel pivot  110  by a spherical bearing  168  so that the guide plate  160  can remain straight while the wheel pivot  110  may be angled relative to the guide plate  160 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  11   , the channel  162  can have an open end  170  and a terminating end  172  with the channel  162  being directed generally upwards as the channel  162  extends from the terminating end  172  to the open end  170 . An angled entry  174  can be provided at the open end  160 . 
     Referring again to  FIG.  5    a positioning bracket  146  holding a rounded positioning member  148  can be provided extending from the second end  66  of the second wing section  60 . Referring to  FIGS.  5  and  11   , the positioning bracket  146  positions the positioning member  148  relative to the guide plate  160  so that when the end wheel assembly  100 B is pivoted downwards, the positioning member  148  comes into contact with the angle entry  174  on the guide plate  160 . Further pivoting downwards of the end wheel assembly  100 A forces the angled entry  174  against the positioning member  148 , causing the guide plate  160  to rotate so the positioning member  148  can enter the channel  162  in the guide plate  160 . The positioning member  148 , secured to the second end  66  of the second wing frame  60  by the positioning bracket  146 , can travel through the channel  162  in the guide plate  160  from the open end  170  of the channel  162  to the terminating end  172  of the channel  162  as the end wheel assembly  100 B continues to be pivoted downwards around axis C. 
     A similar positioning bracket and member can be provided on the second end  46  of the first wing section  40  to receive the channel  170  on the guide plate  160  of the end wheel assembly  100 A is pivoted downwards. 
     Referring to  FIG.  11   , when the end wheel assembly  100 B is pivoted downwards so that the positioning member  148  comes into contact with the angled entry  174 , the positioning member  148 , securely fixed in place by the positioning bracket  146 , will force the guide plate  160  to rotate in order to accommodate the unmoving positioning member  148 . The first end  164  of the guide plate  160  is connected to the wheel member  120  which remains fixed in place on the end wheel assembly  100 B so the guide plate  160  will be rotated downwards by the positioning member  148  being forced against the angled entry  174  around its first end  165 . This rotation of the guide plate  160  around the first end  164  of the guide plate  160  will cause the second end  166  of the guide plate  160  to rotate the wheel pivot  110 , the second end  166  is attached to, around the axis B and relative to the wheel member  120 . The rotation of the wheel pivot  110  will, in turn, rotate the end wheel  105  around the axis B. The use of the spherical bearing  166  allows the second end  166  of the guide plate  160  to have motion (or play) relative to the wheel pivot  110 . 
     As the downward rotation of the guide plate  160  forces the wheel pivot  110  and the end wheel  105  to rotate around axis B, the end wheel  105  will turn outwards from a centerline CL of the implement frame  200 , as shown in  FIG.  13   . Referring to  FIG.  13   , this rotation or turning out of the wheel pivot  110  and the end wheel  105  will cause the direction of the end wheel  105  to be angled relative to the centerline CL of the implement frame  200  so that the end wheel is turned outwards from the center CL of the implement frame  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  11   , the downward direction of the channel  162  from the open end  170  to the terminating end  172  causes the positioning member  148  to rotate the guide plate  160  back upwards, in a direction opposite to the direction that the angled entry  174  caused the guide plate  160  to rotate in. This rotating of the guide plate  16  in the opposite direction will cause the wheel pivot  110  and the end wheel  105  to rotate in the opposite direction around axis B so that the ground wheel  105  is turned back towards a direction parallel the centerline CL of the implement frame  200 . When the end wheel assembly  100  is in the fully down position, the positioning member  148  will have reached the terminating end  172  of the channel  162  in the guide plate  160  and the end wheel  105  will again be pointing in direction parallel to the centerline CL of the implement frame  200  as shown in  FIG.  12   . 
     In operation, with the implement  10  in the transport position shown in  FIG.  4   , the implement  10  can be transformed into the field position by using the wheel actuators  142  to partially raise the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B which will rotate the end wheels  105  outwards so that the end wheels  105  are angled outwards from the travel direction T of the implement  10 . 
     When the end wheel assembly  100  is in the transport position, as shown in  FIG.  13   , the end wheel  105  will be pointing in a direction parallel to the centerline CL and the positioning member  148  will be positioned against the terminating end  172  of the channel  162  in the guide plate  160 . Referring to  FIGS.  8 - 10   , when the end wheel assembly  100  is pivoted around axis C, the positioning member  148  will travel along the channel  162  in the guide plate  160  from the terminating end  172  to the open end  170 . Because of the upward direction of the channel  162  as it runs from its terminating end  172  to its open end  170 , as the positioning member  148  travels along this channel  162  the guide plate  160  will rotate downwards because of the force of the positioning member  148  against the bottom of the channel  162  since the positioning member  148  is fixed in place by the positioning bracket  146 . The rotation downwards of the guide plate  160  will cause the guide plate  160  to rotate around the first end  164  of the guide plate  160  which is attached to the wheel member  120 , while the second end  166  of the guide plate  160 , which is attached to the wheel pivot  110  by the spherical bearing  168 , will rotate the wheel pivot  110  and therefore the end wheel  105  around axis B. Referring to  FIG.  13   , this will cause the ground wheel  105  to be angled outwards from the centerline CL of the implement frame  200 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  2  and  4   , with the end wheels  105  angled outwards, the tow vehicle  2  can be used to back up the implement  10  in a direction opposite to the travel direction T. The outward angling of the end wheels  105  at the ends  46 ,  66  of the wing sections  40 ,  60  will cause the ends  46 ,  66  of the wing sections  40 ,  60  to follow the direction of the end wheels  105  causing the ends  46 ,  66  to move outwards and apart from one another as the wing sections  40 ,  60  rotate around their first ends  44 ,  64 , respectively. 
     The implement  10  can continue to be backed up by the tow vehicle  2  until the first wing section  40  and the second wing section  60  are position substantially perpendicular to the travel direction T of the implement  10 . When the wing sections  40 ,  60  reach this point, the tow vehicle  2  can stop backing up the implement  10  and the positioning members  26  can be used to secure the wing sections  40 ,  60  in this position. The wheel actuators  142  can then be used to fully raise the end wheel assemblies  100 A,  100 B so the end wheels  105  are raised above the ground surface as shown in  FIG.  5   . At this point, the implement  10  should be in the field position shown in  FIG.  2    and can be used in a field. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.