Patent Description:
A farmer may use an agricultural mowing device, such as mower or mower conditioner, to cut crop material like hay or grass and deposit the cut crop material onto the field in windrows or swaths. Typically, the mowing device is towed behind an agricultural vehicle, such as a tractor. For cutting large fields, many mowing assemblies include a driving vehicle that pushes a mower conditioner in front of the vehicle while simultaneously pulling another mower conditioner behind the vehicle.

A mower generally includes a tongue connectable to the tractor, a subframe, i.e., trail frame, a cutting device, and a transport system. A mower conditioner additionally includes conditioning rollers for conditioning the cut crop material. The mower can be variously configured as a disc, sickle, or drum mower wherein the cutting device includes a series of rotatable discs, a sickle bar, or a rotating drum, respectively. In a disc-type mower, such as a discbine®, the disc cutter bar may generally include multiple juxtaposed cutterheads for cutting the standing crop. Each cutterhead may consist of a rotating disc with diametrically opposed cutting blades or knives affixed to the body of the disc.

The transport system of a pull-behind mowing device is used to reduce the overall profile of the mowing device for transportation thereof. Generally, due to practical or regulatory limits, the width of the mowing device in its operating orientation prevents the towed transportation of the mowing device on farm lanes, roadways, or through gates. To reduce the width of the mowing device, the transport system may include a separate transport trailer or an integrated transport subframe with transport wheels that selectively support the mowing device.

The separate transport trailer may reorient the mowing device and carry the mowing device with its width extending along the longitudinal length of the transport trailer. In this regard, the mowing device is arranged parallel to the forward direction of travel of the towing vehicle. Such transport trailers may be useful; however, these transport trailers may add significant cost to the overall mowing operation. For instance, such transport trailers must be separately purchased, maintained, and transported between the various fields and farm headquarters, which increases the operating cost of a mowing operation.

Integrated transport systems typically include a pivotable subframe with wheels for selectively supporting the mower and multiple actuators for pivoting the mower to be parallel with the forward direction of travel of the towing vehicle. Such an integrated transport system is shown in <CIT> and <CIT>. Integrated transport systems can be more convenient than separate transport trailers; however, the added components may significantly increase the overall weight of the mower package. Also, in the transport position, the weight of the mowing device as shown in <CIT> and <CIT> may be unevenly distributed amongst the transport wheels. For instance, in the transport position, a traditional integrated transport system may unevenly balance the weight of the cutter bar such that the right wheel may carry more weight, such as <NUM>-<NUM> times more weight, than the left wheel. This uneven weight distribution may lead to excess wear on the system and increase the overall cost of the transport system since larger wheels are typically required to support the uneven weight, even though only one wheel actually supports the excess weight. Furthermore, traditional transport systems for center pivot mowers attach to the trail frame of the mower. Therefore, the transport systems move with the trail frame during field maneuvers, for example when the mower moves in between its field left and right positions. The added weight of the transport system introduces a large amount of inertia to the system, which may cause discomfort and instability to the operator when the field position changes quickly.

What is needed in the art is a cost-effective and efficient integrated lateral transport system for a mowing device.

In one embodiment formed in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an agricultural mowing device configured for being towed behind an agricultural vehicle. The agricultural mowing device is configurable in a field position for cutting a crop material in a field and a transport position for transporting the agricultural mowing device. The agricultural mowing device includes a tongue configured for connecting to the agricultural vehicle, a trail frame rotatably connected to the tongue about an axis of rotation, a first trail-frame wheel and a second trail-frame wheel each being rotatably connected to the trail frame and configured for supporting the trail frame in the field position, and a cutter bar connected to the trail frame and configured for cutting the crop material in the field position. The cutter bar includes a front end and a back end being located behind the front end in a direction of crop material flow. The agricultural mowing device also includes a transport system that includes a transport frame rotatably connected to the tongue and a first transport wheel and a second transport wheel each being rotatably connected to the transport frame and configured for supporting the tongue in the transport position. The front end of the cutter bar is located in front of the first transport wheel and in front of the second transport wheel when the agricultural mowing device is in the transport position.

One possible advantage of the exemplary embodiment of the transport system of the mowing device is that the weight of the mower is more evenly distributed onto the transport wheels in the transport position because the transport wheels are both located behind the front end of the cutter bar of the mower.

Another possible advantage of the exemplary embodiment of the transport system of the mowing device is that the transport actuating mechanism may reduce the overall cost and complexity of the transport system because only a single transport actuator is needed to deploy and retract the transport wheels.

The terms "forward", "rearward", "left" and "right", when used in connection with the agricultural mower and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the towing vehicle, but they should not be construed as limiting. The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the towing vehicle and are equally not to be construed as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to <FIG>, there is shown an agricultural mowing assembly <NUM> that includes an agricultural vehicle <NUM> and an agricultural mowing device <NUM>, which is towed by the agricultural vehicle <NUM> in a forward direction of travel F. The agricultural vehicle <NUM> generally includes a chassis, a prime mover, wheels and/or tracts, and a cab for housing the operator. The vehicle <NUM> can be in the form of any desired agricultural vehicle, such as a tractor or self-propelled windrower.

The mowing device <NUM> may be in the form of a center pivot mower or mower conditioner <NUM>. As shown, the mowing device <NUM> is in the form of a center pivot mower conditioner <NUM>. However, the mowing device <NUM> may be in the form of any desired mowing device. The mowing device <NUM> is configurable in a field position for cutting a crop material in the field (<FIG>) and a transport position for transporting the agricultural mowing device <NUM> (<FIG>). The mowing device <NUM> may generally include a tongue <NUM> connected to the agricultural vehicle <NUM>, a trail frame <NUM> rotatably connected to the tongue <NUM> about an axis of rotation A1, trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, a cutter bar <NUM>, a pair of conditioning rollers <NUM>, a pair of lift actuators <NUM> connected to the trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, a trail-frame actuating mechanism <NUM> for rotating the trail frame <NUM> and the cutter bar <NUM> therewith, and a lateral transport system <NUM> connected to the tongue <NUM> for selectively supporting the mowing device <NUM> in the transport position. The mowing device <NUM> may also include a controller <NUM>, with a memory <NUM>, for automatically controlling the trail-frame actuating mechanism <NUM> and the transport system <NUM>.

The tongue <NUM> removably connects to the agricultural vehicle <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> has a first, proximal end and a second, distal end. The first end of the tongue <NUM> is connected to the agricultural vehicle <NUM>. The second end of the tongue <NUM> rotatably mounts the trail frame <NUM> about the axis of rotation. The second end of the tongue <NUM> may rotatably mount the trail frame <NUM> via any desired mounting bracket <NUM>. The tongue <NUM> may comprise any desired material, such as metal.

The trail frame <NUM> is rotatably connected to the tongue <NUM> via the mounting bracket <NUM> and the trail frame <NUM> accordingly rotates about the vertical axis of rotation A1. The trail frame <NUM> has a horizontal main beam <NUM> and a pair of vertical side beams <NUM> which downwardly extend from the main beam <NUM>. The main beam <NUM> is rotatably connected to the tongue <NUM> about the axis of rotation A1. The main beam <NUM> is located underneath the transport system <NUM>. The side beams <NUM> respectively rotatably mount the trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM>. The trail frame <NUM> supports the weight of the mowing device <NUM> in the field position but the trail frame <NUM> does not support the weight of the mowing device <NUM> in the transport position. Hence, the trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM> support the trail frame <NUM> in the field position but do not support the trail frame <NUM>, or any other component of the mowing device <NUM>, in the transport position (<FIG>). The trail frame <NUM> may comprise any desired shape and material.

The cutter bar <NUM> is connected to the trail frame <NUM>. The cutter bar <NUM> cuts the crop material in the field position. The cutter bar <NUM> may be in the form of any desired cutter bar <NUM>, such as a sickle bar or rotating disc cutter bar. The cutter bar <NUM> has a front end or edge and a back end or edge that is located behind the front end in a direction of crop material flow, i.e., opposite to the forward direction travel F. The front end of the cutter bar <NUM> defines a front longitudinal axis 130LA (<FIG>). It should be appreciated that the front edge of the cutter bar <NUM> may be defined by the front edge of the rock guards.

The conditioning rollers <NUM> are located downstream of the cutter bar <NUM>. The conditioning rollers <NUM> condition the crop material as it exits the mowing device <NUM>. The conditioning rollers <NUM> may be in the form of any desired rollers. As can be appreciated, the mowing device <NUM> may or may not include conditioning rollers <NUM>.

The lift actuators <NUM> are respectively connected in between the trail frame <NUM> and the trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM>. More particularly, each lift actuator <NUM> is transversely connected in between the trail frame <NUM> and an extension bracket (unnumbered) of a respective trail-frame wheel <NUM>, <NUM>. The lift actuators <NUM> pivot the trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM> up or down to thereby raise or lower the trail frame <NUM>, i.e., the rear of the mowing device <NUM>. Thereby, the lift actuators <NUM> may create additional clearance or space for allowing the transport system <NUM> to move into a position for supporting the mowing device <NUM>. The lift actuators <NUM> may be in the form of any desired hydraulic and/or electric cylinders. For example, the lift actuators <NUM> may be in the form of hydraulic lift cylinders <NUM> which are hydraulically connected to the hydraulic system of agricultural vehicle <NUM> via one or more fluid lines.

The trail-frame actuating mechanism <NUM> is operably connected to the trail frame <NUM> and the tongue <NUM>. The trail-frame actuating mechanism <NUM> rotates the trail frame <NUM> in between its field right or left positions and its lateral position for transport. As used herein, the field right and left positions of the trail frame <NUM> may refer to any desired field-operating orientation of the trail frame <NUM> in which the trail frame <NUM> is not perpendicular to the tongue <NUM>. The trail-frame actuating mechanism <NUM> includes a rotational link <NUM>, a first trail-frame actuator <NUM>, and a second trail-frame actuator <NUM>. The rotational link <NUM> is rotatably connected to the tongue <NUM> and extends outwardly from the tongue <NUM>. The rotational link <NUM> may be in the form of a flat plate. The rotational link <NUM> operably connects the first and second trail-frame actuators <NUM>, <NUM> to the tongue <NUM> at a location which is distally located away from the tongue <NUM> so that the first and second trail-frame actuators <NUM>, <NUM> may act in conjunction to swing the trail frame <NUM> between its field right and left positions and also rotate the trail frame <NUM> into and out of its lateral position in the transport position. The rotational link <NUM> is capable of rotating forwardly or rearwardly relative to the tongue <NUM> upon retraction or extension of the first and/or second trail-frame actuators <NUM>, <NUM>. The first trail-frame actuator <NUM> is connected to the trail frame <NUM> and the rotational link <NUM>. The second trail-frame actuator <NUM> is connected to the tongue <NUM> and the rotational link <NUM>. The first and/or second trail-frame actuator <NUM>, <NUM> may be used to rotate the trail frame <NUM> throughout any desired position of the trail frame <NUM>. By way of example only, the first trail-frame actuator <NUM> may be in the form of a field swing actuator <NUM> for rotating the trail frame <NUM> in between its field intermediate, right, and left positions. The second trail-frame actuator <NUM> may be in the form of a transport swing actuator <NUM> for rotating the trail frame <NUM> in between its lateral position for transport and its extended, e.g. substantially perpendicular, position for field operation. The first and second trail-frame actuators <NUM>, <NUM> may be in the form of any desired hydraulic and/or electric cylinders. For example, the first and second trail-frame actuators <NUM>, <NUM> may be in the form of hydraulic cylinders <NUM>, <NUM> which are hydraulically connected to the hydraulic system of agricultural vehicle <NUM> via one or more fluid lines. As can be appreciated, the first and second trail-frame actuators <NUM>, <NUM> may or may not be identical actuators.

The transport system <NUM> supports the mowing device <NUM>, e.g. the trail frame <NUM>, the cutter bar <NUM>, and/or the tongue <NUM>, in the transport position (<FIG>) but does not support the mowing device <NUM> in the field position (<FIG>). The transport system <NUM> includes a transport frame <NUM> rotatably connected to the tongue <NUM>, transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> rotatably connected to the transport frame <NUM>, and a transport actuating mechanism <NUM> for movably, i.e., rotatably, connecting the transport frame <NUM> to the tongue <NUM>. Since the transport system <NUM> is connected to the side of the tongue <NUM>, the transport system <NUM> does not move in conjunction with the trail frame <NUM>. Also, the side or lateral location of the transport system <NUM> allows the weight of the mowing device <NUM> to be more evenly distributed between the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM>.

The transport frame <NUM> is rotatable in between a retracted stowed position in the field position wherein the transport frame <NUM> is located above the trail frame <NUM> (<FIG>) and an extended support position in the transport position wherein the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> support the trail frame <NUM> (<FIG>). The transport frame <NUM> is rotatably connected to the tongue <NUM>, via the transport actuating mechanism <NUM>, at a location which is forward of the axis of rotation A1 of the trail frame <NUM> in the direction of forward travel F. Hence, the transport frame <NUM> is at least partially located in front of the axis of rotation A1 of the trail frame <NUM> in the direction of forward travel F in the field position (<FIG>), and the transport frame <NUM> is located rearwardly of the axis of rotation A1 of the trail frame <NUM> in the direction of forward travel F in the transport position (<FIG>). The transport frame <NUM> rotates about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, plus or minus <NUM> degrees. Also, the connection point of the transport frame <NUM> is located vertically above the main beam <NUM> of the trail frame <NUM>. Thus, the main beam <NUM> is located underneath the transport frame <NUM> in the field position such that the main beam <NUM> passes underneath the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> when the transport frame <NUM> is in the retracted stowed position in the field position. The transport frame <NUM> may include one or more beams which define a bent, elongated member and an axle for mounting the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM>. Hence, the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are jointly mounted on a common axle. The transport frame <NUM> may comprise any desired shape and material.

The first and second transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> support the weight of the mowing device <NUM>, e.g. the weight of the trail frame <NUM>, the cutter bar <NUM>, and/or the tongue <NUM>, upon being fully deployed in the transport position of the mowing device <NUM>. The first transport wheel <NUM> may be considered a front or left transport wheel <NUM>, and the second transport wheel <NUM> may be considered a back or right transport wheel <NUM>. The transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> may be identical and thus have the same material, size, and weight capacity. The transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise any desired wheels. The first transport wheel <NUM> is radially located closer to the axis of rotation A1 of the trail frame <NUM> than the front end of the cutter bar <NUM> in the transport position (<FIG>). Hence, both transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are located behind the front longitudinal axis 130LA of the front end of the cutter bar <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, both transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are located behind the front end of the cutter bar <NUM>. In more detail, the front end, i.e., front longitudinal axis 130LA, of the cutter bar <NUM> is radially spaced apart from the axis of rotation A1 of the trail frame <NUM> at a first radial distance RD1 in the transport position, and the first transport wheel <NUM> is radially spaced apart from the axis of rotation A1 of the trail frame <NUM> at a second radial distance RD2 in the transport position (<FIG>). The second radial distance RD2 is shorter than the first radial distance RD1. Since the front end of the cutter bar <NUM> is located in front of the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM>, more weight is applied onto the first transport wheel <NUM>, which in turn more evenly distributes the weight of the mowing device <NUM> between the front and rear transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM>.

The transport actuating mechanism <NUM> includes a linkage assembly <NUM>, with multiple links <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and a transport actuator <NUM> (<FIG>). The transport actuating mechanism <NUM> may also include one or more brackets <NUM>, <NUM> for mounting the linkage assembly <NUM> and the transport actuator <NUM> to the side of the tongue <NUM>. For instance, one bracket <NUM> may be in the form of an elongated bracket that extends outwardly and perpendicularly from the side of the tongue <NUM>, and another bracket <NUM> may be in the form of a shorter actuator bracket <NUM> that is connected to the side of the tongue <NUM> in front of the location point of the elongated bracket <NUM>. The linkage assembly <NUM> is rotatably connected in between the transport frame <NUM> and the tongue <NUM>. The linkage assembly <NUM> may include a first link <NUM> connected in between the elongated bracket <NUM> and the transport frame <NUM>, a second, upper link <NUM> connected in between the elongated bracket <NUM> and the transport frame <NUM>, a third link <NUM> connected to the second link <NUM>, and a fourth link <NUM> connected to the elongated bracket <NUM>, the third link <NUM>, and the transport actuator <NUM> (<FIG>). It should be appreciated that the linkage assembly <NUM> may include any desired number of links, such as two, three, four, five, or more links. The transport actuator <NUM> may be connected in between the linkage assembly <NUM>, i.e., fourth link <NUM>, and the tongue <NUM> via the actuator bracket <NUM>. The transport actuator <NUM> may be in the form of any desired hydraulic and/or electrical cylinder. For instance, the transport actuator <NUM> may be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder <NUM> which is hydraulically connected to the hydraulic system of agricultural vehicle <NUM> via one or more fluid lines. The transport actuator <NUM> may be the only actuator for moving the transport frame <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is operably connected to the lift, trail-frame, and transport actuators <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may also be operably connected to a user interface within the cab of the agricultural vehicle <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may automatically position the mowing device <NUM> in its transport position or field position upon the user inputting a corresponding command into the user interface. The controller <NUM> may be a standalone controller or integrated into the existing hardware and/or software of the agricultural vehicle <NUM> and/or mowing device <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a flowchart of a method <NUM> for operating an agricultural mowing assembly <NUM>. The method <NUM> initially includes the step of providing the mowing device <NUM> with the transport system <NUM> as described above (at block <NUM>). The transport hydraulics may be prevented from operation until the mowing device <NUM> is positioned in its full field right or left position and then in its fully lifted position. Therefore, the mowing device <NUM> may be initially positioned in its full field right or left position by the field swing actuator <NUM> (at step <NUM>). For example, the mowing device <NUM> may be positioned in its full field right position by fully retracting the field swing actuator <NUM>. Then, the mowing device <NUM> may be raised, by the lift actuators <NUM>, in order to lift or raise the mowing device <NUM> in a fully elevated position (at block <NUM>). This fully elevated position provides additional ground clearance that enables the deployment of the transport system <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the method step <NUM> may occur first before the method step <NUM>. At this point, once the mowing device <NUM> is oriented in this lockout position, the transport hydraulics of the transport system <NUM> may be unlocked for allowing the operation thereof. Next, the trail frame <NUM> may be rotated once again by fully extending the transport swing actuator <NUM> (at block <NUM>). Thus, the trail frame <NUM> may be substantially perpendicular to the tongue <NUM>, plus or minus <NUM> degrees, even though the field swing cylinder <NUM> has remained fully retracted. Then, to position the mowing device <NUM> in the transport position, the transport frame <NUM> may be fully deployed and the trail frame <NUM> may be rotated to accordingly reduce the overall width of the mowing device <NUM>. For example, the transport system <NUM> may be deployed by rotating the transport frame <NUM>, by the transport actuator <NUM>, from its retracted stowed position into its extended support position (at block <NUM>; <FIG>). Thereby, the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are moved toward the ground, and the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> accordingly lift the trail-frame wheels <NUM>, <NUM> off the ground. When the transport wheels <NUM>, <NUM> are fully deployed, the trail frame <NUM> may be rotated, by fully extending the field swing actuator <NUM>, so that the trail frame <NUM> is substantially aligned with the tongue <NUM>, for example essentially parallel to the tongue <NUM>, plus or minus <NUM> degrees (at block <NUM>; <FIG>). In this laterally aligned position of the trail frame <NUM>, both of the field and transport cylinders <NUM>, <NUM> may be fully extended. Thereafter, the mowing device <NUM>, which now has a smaller overall width, may be towed by the agricultural vehicle <NUM>. As can be appreciated, the mowing device <NUM> may be positioned in the field position by performing the method steps <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the method <NUM> in reverse order. Therein, the transport frame <NUM> may be rotated from its extended support position into its retracted position, the trail frame <NUM> may be rotated to be substantially perpendicular to tongue <NUM>, plus or minus <NUM> degrees, for increasing the overall width of the mowing device <NUM>, and the mowing device <NUM> may be lowered by the lift actuators <NUM>. It should be appreciated that the operator may stay within the cab of the agricultural vehicle <NUM> while the method <NUM> is conducted by the controller <NUM>.

It is to be understood that the steps of the method <NUM> are performed by the controller <NUM> upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the controller <NUM> described herein, such as the method <NUM>, is implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The controller <NUM> loads the software code or instructions via a direct interface with the computer readable medium or via a wired and/or wireless network. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the controller <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may perform any of the functionality of the controller <NUM> described herein, including any steps of the method <NUM> described herein.

Claim 1:
An agricultural mowing device (<NUM>) configured for being towed behind an agricultural vehicle (<NUM>), the agricultural mowing device (<NUM>) being configurable in a field position for cutting a crop material in a field and a transport position for transporting the agricultural mowing device (<NUM>), the agricultural mowing device (<NUM>) comprising:
a tongue (<NUM>) configured for connecting to the agricultural vehicle (<NUM>);
a trail frame (<NUM>) rotatably connected to the tongue (<NUM>) about an axis of rotation (A1);
a first trail-frame wheel (<NUM>) and a second trail-frame wheel (<NUM>) each being rotatably connected to the trail frame (<NUM>) and configured for supporting the trail frame (<NUM>) in the field position;
a cutter bar (<NUM>) connected to the trail frame (<NUM>) and configured for cutting the crop material in the field position, the cutter bar (<NUM>) comprising a front end and a back end being located behind the front end in a direction of crop material flow; and
transport system (<NUM>) comprising:
a transport frame (<NUM>) rotatably connected to the tongue (<NUM>); and
a first transport wheel (<NUM>) and a second transport wheel (<NUM>) each being rotatably connected to the transport frame (<NUM>) and configured for supporting the tongue (<NUM>) in the transport position,
characterised by
the front end of the cutter bar (<NUM>) being located in front of the first transport wheel (<NUM>) and in front of the second transport wheel (<NUM>) when the agricultural mowing device (<NUM>) is in the transport position.