Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to farm implements and, more particularly, to a central fill system having a stowable ladder for a stack-fold planter. 
         [0002]    Increasingly, farm implements have been designed to have frames that can be folded between field-working and transport positions. One such type of farm implement is a stack-fold planter, such as the 1230 Stackerbar planter from Case New Holland, LLC. Stack-fold planters generally consist of a center frame section and a pair of wing frame sections. In the field-working position, the wing frame sections are evenly aligned with the center frame section. In the transport position, however, the wing sections are lifted to a position directly above the center frame section, i.e., to a “stacked” position. In the stacked position, the width of the implement is generally that of the center frame section, thus making the implement better suited for transport along roads and between crops. 
         [0003]    Openers are mounted to the frame sections at equal intervals, with each of the wing sections typically carrying one-half the number of openers mounted to the center frame section. The openers are designed to a cut a furrow into a planting surface, deposit seed and/or fertilizer into the furrow, and then pack the furrow. In this regard, each opener will have a seed box that is manually loaded with seed and/or fertilizer. Since the size of the seed box determines how much particulate matter the box can retain, there is generally a desire to have larger seed boxes for each of the openers. Since the larger seed boxes can hold more material, fewer refilling stops are needed when planting a field. 
         [0004]    Larger seed boxes, however, have drawbacks. The additional material that can be carried by larger seed boxes adds to the overall weight of the openers, including those mounted to the wing sections. This additional weight can stress the lifting/lowering system that stacks the wing sections, or require a more robust system, which can add to the overall size, mass, complexity, and cost of the implement. Additionally, larger seed boxes can affect the spacing between adjacent openers, and thus the spacing between seed trenches that are formed by the openers. Larger spacing between seed trenches lower per acre crop yields. Further, it can be problematic and time consuming to individually fill each of the seed boxes, whether using bags or a conveyor system. 
         [0005]    Many central fill systems for such stack-fold planters have a rearward platform accessible by a ladder that is fixed to a rearward edge of the platform. The platform provides a work space for an operator when refilling the central hoppers or visually inspecting the fill level in the hoppers. The ladder provides a means to access the platform. One known central fill system for a stack-fold planter includes means for raising the hoppers when the planter is in transport. It is believed that raising the hoppers provides better weight distribution and therefore allows for faster travel speeds when the planter is in transport. The transport position is commonly used as the position for the planter when being stored and serviced, particularly, the central fill system, such as the air blower and its related components, hoses, and the like. For systems having a fixed ladder mounted to the platform, the ladder constrains the workspace around the central fill system and creates a structure of which a service technician must be cognizant to avoid unnecessary contact. Alternately, the technician may find avoiding the fixed ladder cumbersome and therefore elect to remove the ladder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to a central fill system having a stowable ladder for use with a stack-fold implement. The bulk fill hopper assembly is mounted to the center frame section of the stack-fold implement and does not affect the narrowness of the stack-fold implement when in a stacked, transport position. The hopper assembly preferably includes a pair of bulk fill hoppers or tanks supported by cradle that is in turn supported by a pair of wheels. The cradle is removably coupled to the center frame section by a pair of rigid frame members. Parallel linkages interconnected the cradle and the wheels, and allow the wheels to, in effect, float to accommodate changes in terrain as the implement is being towed in either the working or transport positions. The rigid frame members preferably hold the position of the cradle constant but the position of the wheels change in response to changes in terrain. A ladder is provided that may be stowed adjacent the cradle when not being used, but may be slid rearward and lowered when its use is desired. A platform rearward of hoppers includes catches that engage the forward end of the ladder as the ladder is being withdrawn from its stowed position. The catches prevent the unintentional removal of the ladder from the central fill system. 
         [0007]    According to one aspect of the invention, an agricultural implement is provided, and includes a tool bar adapted to be coupled to a prime mover, with the tool bar having an inner section and at least one outer section, and a plurality of row units coupled to the inner and outer sections of the tool bar. The implement further includes means for raising the outer section to a stacked position generally above the inner section, and a frame member coupled to and extending rearward from the inner section of the tool bar. A bulk fill hopper assembly is supported by the frame member and operative to deliver particulate material to the plurality of row units. The bulk fill hopper assembly includes a stowable ladder that when in use enables access to hopper(s) that store particulate matter that is ultimately delivered to the row units. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a central fill system for a stack-fold planter is provided. The central fill system includes a frame that supports one or more bulk fill hoppers or tanks, and is adapted to be coupled to a tool bar of the stack-fold planter. The frame further supports a platform rearward of the hoppers that provides a work space for adding product to the fill hoppers or visually inspecting the hoppers. A ladder is provided that is removably engaged with the platform such that when the platform is in a use-position, the ladder may be used to gain access to the platform. When not in use, the ladder may be stowed on the frame beneath the hoppers. 
         [0009]    According to one object of the invention, a more efficient, greater material capacity stack-fold planter is provided. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a stack-fold implement having a central bulk fill system. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a central bulk fill system for a stack-fold implement, such as a stack-fold planter. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a central bulk fill system having a stowable ladder for use with a stack-fold planter. 
         [0013]    Other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout. 
           [0015]    In the drawings: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of an agricultural planting system comprised of a stack-fold planter coupled to a tractor; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the stack-fold planter of  FIG. 1  in a field-working position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the stack-fold planter of  FIG. 1  in a stacked, transport position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the central bulk fill system of  FIG. 1  in a lowered, field working position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the central bulk fill system of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the central bulk fill system in a raised, transport position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a rear isometric view of the central bulk fill system with a stowable ladder in a withdrawn ready-for-use position; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the stowable ladder and platform arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a planting system  10  according to one embodiment of the invention includes a stack-fold implement  12 , shown in a field working position, coupled to a prime mover  14 , e.g., tractor, in a known manner. For purposes of illustration, the stack-fold implement  12  is a row crop planter, which as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes a frame  16  generally comprised of a center section  18  and wing sections  20 ,  22  on opposite lateral sides of the center section. The center section  18  includes a tongue (not shown) that extends forwardly of the center section  18  for hitching the implement  12  to the prime mover  14 . Gauge wheels  24  on the frame sections  18 ,  20 , and  22  set the seeding or cutting depth for the implement. 
         [0025]    In the illustrated embodiment, sixteen openers  26  are mounted to the frame  16  at equally spaced intervals, but it is understood that more than or fewer than sixteen openers could be mounted to the frame  16 . As known in the art, the wing sections  20 ,  22  may be raised to a transport position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in which the openers carried by the wing sections  20 ,  22  are stacked over the center section  18 . As also known in the art, the openers  26  are designed to cut a furrow into the soil, deposit seed and/or fertilizer into the furrow, and then pack the furrow. Seed boxes or “mini-hoppers”  28  are optionally mounted to each of the openers  26 . The mini-hoppers  28  are preferably smaller than conventional mini-hoppers used with stack-fold crop row planters and thus hold less material than conventional seed boxes. 
         [0026]    The present invention allows for smaller mini-hoppers as the invention provides for a central bulk fill assembly  30  that delivers material, such as seed and/or fertilizer, to the openers  26  and/or the mini-hoppers  28 . The central bulk fill assembly  30  preferably includes a pair of bulk fill hoppers  32  and  34  supported adjacently to one another on a cradle  36 . The cradle  36  is supported by a frame  38  that is mounted to the center section  18  by a set of rearwardly extending frame members  40 ,  42 , and  44 . In a preferred embodiment, the frame members  40 ,  42 , and  44  are removably coupled to center frame section  18  which allows the bulk fill assembly  30  to be removed from the implement  12  or added as an after-market add-on to an existing stack-fold implement. 
         [0027]    The platform  38  is supported above the work surface (or transport surface) by a pair of wheels  46 ,  48  that are each connected to the platform  40  by respective parallel linkages  50 ,  52 . Each linkage includes an upper link  54 ,  56  and a lower link  58 ,  60 , respectively. In addition to the links  54 - 60 , a pair of lift arms  62 ,  64  are provided. Lift arm  62  is coupled to frame member  44  at a knuckle  62  to which parallel linkage  50  is also connected. In a similar manner, lift arm  64  is coupled to frame member  40  at a knuckle  64  to which parallel linkage  52  is also connected. As shown particularly in  FIG. 4 , the cradle  36  further includes a Y-beam  66  that is pivotally coupled to the center frame member  42 . As is customary for most central bulk fill assemblies, an air blower  68  is mounted beneath cradle  36  is operable transfer particulate matter from the hoppers  32 ,  34  to the individual mini-hoppers  28  or directly to the openers  26  in a forced air stream. 
         [0028]    As known in the art, central bulk fill hoppers, such as those described above, provide the convenience of a central fill location rather than having to fill the individual seed boxes. Also, the central fill hoppers have greater capacity than the seed boxes, which reduces the number of fill iterations that must be taken when planting. Simply mounting a central bulk fill assembly to a stack-fold planter, such as planter  12 , can create stability issues, especially when the stack-fold planter is in the transport position. In this regard, the present invention provides a mechanism for raising the bulk fill assembly  30  when the stack-fold planter  10  is in the folded, transport position. Raising the bulk assembly  30  provides greater stability during transport as well provides increased clearance between the bulk fill assembly  30  and the roadway. 
         [0029]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a pair of hydraulic lift cylinders  70  and  72  for lifting the cradle  36 , and thus the bulk fill assembly  30 . Cylinder  70  is interconnected between forward knuckle  62  and a rearward knuckle  74 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the rearward knuckle  74  includes, or is coupled to, a mounting arm  76  that is coupled to axle  78  about which wheel  46  rotates. Cylinder  70  includes a ram  80  that is coupled to the rearward knuckle  74  whereas cylinder  70  is coupled to the forward knuckle  62 . In a similar fashion, cylinder  72  includes a ram (not shown) connected to a rearward knuckle  82  whereas the cylinder  72  is connected to the forward knuckle  64 . It will be appreciated that a mounting arm  84  is connected to, or formed with, the rearward knuckle  82 , and the mounting arm  84  is connected to an axle (not shown) about which wheel  48  rotates. 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows the central bulk fill assembly  30  in the raised-for-transport position. The bulk fill assembly  30  is raised from the lower, field or working position by the actuation of cylinders  70  and  72 . In a preferred embodiment, the cylinders  70 ,  72  are linked to the hydraulic system that raises and lowers the stack-fold planter  12 . Thus, the central bulk fill assembly  30  is automatically raised and lowered as the planter  12  is raised and lowered. It is contemplated however that the bulk fill assembly  30  could be raised and lowered independent of the stack-fold planter. Additionally, it is contemplated that a separate hydraulic system could be used to raise and lower the central bulk fill assembly  30 . 
         [0031]    The following description details how the central bulk fill assembly  30  is raised and lowered. While reference will be made to cylinder  70  and its ram  80 , it should be noted that the other cylinder  72  and its ram operate similarly and in-tandem with cylinder  70  and ram  80 . In operation, the ram  80  is extended or retracted based on the pressure in cylinder  70 . When the ram  80  is extended, the force applied against the rearward knuckle  74  causes the forward knuckle  62  to elevate. Conversely, when the ram is retracted, the forward knuckle  74  is drawn downward resulting in lowering of the central bulk fill assembly  30 . It will be appreciated that the parallel linkages  50 ,  52  maintain the lift arms at a consistent orientation throughout the range of motion provided by extension and retraction of the rams. In this regard, a substantially level central fill bulk assembly  30  is maintained during raising and lowering. Further, as shown by comparing the views of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lift arms  62 ,  64  remain above the parallel linkages throughout the range of vertical motion of the bulk fill assembly  30 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a platform  86  is mounted to the Y-beam  66  and extends rearward therefrom beneath the bulk fill hoppers  32 ,  34 . The platform  86  provides a standing area for a user to access the respective top hatches  88 ,  90  for the hoppers  32 ,  34  for inspecting the fill level of the hoppers  32 ,  34  or add additional material to the hoppers  32 ,  34 . Extending uprightly generally from a back edge of the platform  86  is a barrier  92  designed to prevent a user from falling off the back edge of the platform  86 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , even when the bulk fill assembly  30  is in the lowered, field position, the platform is substantially elevated above the field surface. Thus, to provide access to the platform, the present invention provides a stowable ladder  94  that when stowed is retained in a slot  95  formed between the bottom surface of platform  86  and a floor  97  that is mounted below the platform  86 . The ladder  94  may be slid rearwardly from the slot  95  and then lowered to a use position, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . It will be appreciated that the rearward end of the slot  95  includes catches  96  that retain the forward (top) end of the ladder  94  so that the ladder  94  is not completely removed from the slot  95  when the ladder  94  is moved to the use position. The catches  96  are shaped such that the ladder  94 , when it reaches it fully extended position, it may be pivoted or rotated downward so that the trailing (bottom) end engages the ground. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a detailed view of the stowable ladder and platform arrangement generally described above. When the ladder  94  is in the working, extended position ( FIG. 7 ), the ladder  94  may be stowed by lifting up at (or near) the ground engaging end of the ladder along pivot line  98  extending through catches  96  and then sliding the ladder toward the front of the central bulk fill assembly  30  as indicated by arrow  100  until the ladder  94  is fully seated in position in slot  97  beneath the platform  92 . It will therefore be appreciated that when the ladder  94  is in the stowed position, the ladder  94  does not interfere with access to the lower components of the central bulk fill assembly  30 , such as the air blower  68  for example. 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a stack-fold implement having a central bulk system and thus the advantages typically associated with bulk fill systems, such as reducing filling intervals, longer seeding times, and greater efficiency. Additionally, the centralized hoppers provide the convenience of a central fill location that is generally clear of the openers whether the implement  12  is in a working position or a stacked, transport position. The placement of the bulk fill system rearward of the center section  18  also provides additional stability to the implement  12  when the implement is in the stacked position. 
         [0036]    Many changes and modifications could be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of these changes will become apparent from the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1