Abstract:
An agricultural implement includes a main body which includes the primary components for harvesting and processing crop material and to which peripheral components are attached along respective interfaces which are within or at dimensions corresponding the maximum allowable legal dimension of the implement for transport over public roads. The peripheral components may be hinged or removed at the interfaces so as to narrow the implement either for transport with its length transverse to the direction of travel or for endwise transport.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention refers to an agricultural apparatus featuring a transport device for transport in endwise or longitudinal, and transverse or cross wise positions. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Agricultural machines come in ever increasing dimensions, while the legally permitted width of 3 meters for pulled machinery has remained unchanged. Inside Germany, longitudinal transport on a trailer behind a tractor is permitted only for equipment not exceeding a width of 2.55 meters. 
     The prospectus “KRONE large area mowers TM 4/270 and TM 4/330, imprint 565-7-3.72” shows an agricultural mower-conditioner with a laterally hinged hitch and a chassis with horizontally swiveling wheels, jointly permitting the mower-conditioner to be transported both in a staggered and also in a transverse position behind an agricultural tractor. In order to stay within dimensional limits imposed on public roads, an ejection chute is folded upward. 
     The prospectus “Kverneland Taarup, 4024/4028/4032/4036/13269/1099 Norgard Mikkelsen A/S” also shows a pulled mower/conditioner. It features lateral guards which, during transport on the road, are folded upward in order to stay within the limit of permitted width for road transport. 
     The invention provides a simple method of construction so that the transport width of implements is not exceeded. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an implement construction that permits the implement to be transported either cross wise or endwise without exceeding the legal limits for transport over public roads. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple construction method for resulting in an implement that can be easily folded or disassembled for legal transport. 
     A more specific object of the invention is to construct an implement by superimposing a grid on the dimensions of the apparatus in plan view, showing the maximum extension and therewith the farthest possible extension of the interface areas, whereby interface lines can be drawn following the grid or staying with the limits which it maximally permits and to then position the interface areas in the connecting areas of simple attachments like outer dividers, dispersion plates, guards etc. 
     These and other objects will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a center pivot, mower-conditioner arranged in a working condition wherein it extends transversely to the normal direction of travel. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view showing the mower-conditioner mounted on a trailer for endwise transport, with the side conveyor being shown in solid lines in a raised, transport position, and in broken lines in a lowered working position. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the front left-hand corner of the implement shown in FIG. 1, with a panel extending in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing a panel extending in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a towed agricultural implement  10  having a superstructure  12  mounted for transport on a wheeled chassis  14 . The implement  10  is shown as a mower-conditioner that can be hauled for transport on the road and for operation in the field by an agricultural tractor, which is not shown. The implement  10  could be embodied as a mower, tilling machine, hay rake, or the like. The implement  10  is shown, as is common nowadays, such that it features a width that exceeds the maximum dimensions permitted for road transport. Legally, a width of 3 meters is allowed when the implement is drawn on its own wheels behind the tractor, and 2.55 meters when hauled endwise or longitudinally on a trailer  16  (FIG.  2 ). Hereafter the term “width” is used for the dimension of the implement  10  from left to right in FIG. 1, while “depth” means the dimension of the implement  10  from left to right in FIG. 2 or from top to bottom in FIG.  1 . The width of modern mower-conditioners may reach 4.5 m, for example. Superstructure  12  includes a functional unit  18  and add-on components, namely lateral guards  20   a,  front panel  20   b  and hood  20   c.    
     In the preferred embodiment, functional component  18  represents the assembly of a reciprocating cutter bar (not shown) and a crop conditioning component conceived as, e.g., an overshot rotor conveyor. Functional unit  18  generally represents the essential functional elements of the implement  10  which cannot be easily disassembled into its individual parts within a short time. Functional unit  18  is characterized in that its width and/or depth remain within the permitted transport dimensions, so that the implement  10  can be at least transported either in the direction according to FIG. 1 or according to FIG.  2 . Certain implements  10  may be transported in either orientation. 
     Add-on components  20   a-   20   c  are parts that play a subordinate role while they are interacting with the functional unit  18 , are light and shaped in a simple manner, and are easily movable or detachable. Consequently, the lateral guards  20   a,  the top front panel  20   b  for pushing down the mown matter, and part of the rear hood  20   c  belong to the components. Moreover, other parts could be considered, e.g., a side conveyor  20   d  for mowed matter, shown in an elevated transport mode in FIG. 2 to which it has been moved by a regulating mechanism, here shown as including an extensible and retractable hydraulic cylinder  21 . Other implements may feature guards, linkage or the like. 
     Between functional unit  18  and components  20   a - 20   c,  imaginary lines or interfaces are provided, of which lateral interfaces are each marked with designation number  22   a,  a frontal interface with  22   b  and a rear one with  22   c.  Each interface  22   a - 22   c  is shown as a broken line, which may, e.g., represent an articulated axis of respective hinge structures  23 , in the case of numerals  22   a;  an articulated axis of a hinge structure  25 , in the case of numeral  22   b;  and an articulated axis of a hinge structure  27 , in the case of numeral  22   c.  Depending on the nature and position of the add-on components, an interface may be also located nearer the center of the functional unit  18 . 
     The various interfaces  22   a - 22   c  permit disassembly or adjustment of the add-on components, which are located outside of the interfaces, in relation to the functional unit  18 , which is located inside of the interfaces. Thus, both attachments  20   a  can be pivoted around lateral interfaces  22   a  and/or frontal wall  20   b  and/or rearward hood  20   c  may be flapped up or down, in this way reducing width or depth respectively of the implement  10 . 
     The transport device  14  in this embodiment includes a chassis  24  and a hitch  26 . The chassis  24 , present only in the preferred embodiment, enables the implement  10  to be hauled on its own wheels  28  behind the agricultural tractor, the connection being made by the hitch  26 . 
     Hitch  26  is attached for pivoting horizontally to a location on the chassis  24  which is roughly in the middle, i.e., halfway along its width, in a bearing  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the hitch  26  features a pivoting angle wide enough to facilitate transport according to both FIGS. 1 and 2. In other embodiments, it suffices for the hitch  26  to facilitate transport according to FIG. 1 or FIG.  2 . 
     In the case of the preferred embodiment of the implement  10  as a mower-conditioner, a vertical panel  32 , subdivided into frontal section  34  and lateral section  36  is provisioned in the area of the attachments  20   a  and  20   b,  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     Panel  32  serves the purpose of screening off the frontal working area of the group of functional components  18 , so that stones and twigs propelled by the tools, or even tool segments, are deflected. This panel  32 , therefore, must be closed in the area of the interfaces  22 , and if necessary, feature interfaces of its own allowing the movement of the attachments  20   a - 20   c  in relation to the group of functional components  18 . In the preferred embodiment, panel  32  has the shape of a plastic apron made of highly resistant flexible material that hangs down vertically and is attached to solid and stable components  20   a - 20   c.  In a manner not shown, the plastic apron is fixed to a bar, a frame or the like. 
     Embodiments, according to FIGS. 3 and 4, differ with regard to the manner in which frontal section  34  and lateral section  36  abut each other. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, lateral section  36 , which extends around several edges essentially from back to front, eventually ends running parallel to the main extension of the attachment  20   b  and frontal section  34 , partly overlapping with the latter. Consequently, lateral section  36  ends below attachment  20   b  of the frontal horizontal panel. There, both sections  34  and  36  are attached at a 90° angle. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, lateral section  36  of lateral attachment  20   a  only covers the latter&#39;s open periphery and ends at the frontal section  34 . The frontal section  34  extends into the depth across the frontal edge of the lateral section  36 , overlapping it by approximately one-fifth. In this case, the end portion of lateral section  36  rests vertically on the passing-by end portion of frontal section  34 . 
     Both embodiment forms make possible pivoting of attachments  20   a  and  20   b  around respective interfaces  22   a  and  22   b,  and the existence of a closed panel  32  during the operation. 
     Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.