A protected tread widening system for a self-propelled high clearance sprayer. The system includes a frame with side rails and a first cross member and a second cross member extending between the opposite side rails, with the cross members being substantially hollow. Each of the cross members form slider receivers. The system also includes axle slider assemblies that are telescopically inserted into the slider receivers. Additionally, actuators are mounted within the cross members. These actuators are secured to the frame and to the axle slider assemblies to allow for telescopic movement of the axle slider assemblies into and out of the cross members. The actuators run substantially through a central axis of the first cross member and a central axis of the second cross member. This minimizes the bending moment of each actuator. Additionally, this system isolates the actuators from materials outside of the cross members.

A chassis frame includes side rails and cross-members that intersect at a number of intersection points, which collectively define a chassis frame with front and rear portions that define a main support section and an integral engine support section. Each side rail includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and first and second side plates extending between the top and bottom plates. The first and second side plates each have a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top plate and a second end coupled to the top surface of the bottom plate. Each cross-member includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and first and second side plates extending between the top plate and bottom plates. The first and second side plates each have a first end coupled to a bottom surface of the top plate and a second end coupled to the top surface of the bottom plate. A plurality of gusset portions is formed between the top plates of the side rails and cross-members at each intersection point.

A vehicle platform comprises a central body that can support one or more implement configurations, such as sprayer booms, or planting row units. A plurality of adjustable legs extends downward from the central body. An arm assembly has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is pivotably coupled the central body and the second end coupled to a support beam. A plurality of nozzle assemblies is supported from the support beam. An arm actuator is arranged to control a transverse position of the support beam and the nozzle assemblies with respect to a reference point on the central body, such that each nozzle assembly may be aligned with a row of seeds or plants.

A chassis frame including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a top plate having a first thickness, a bottom plate, and a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. The second section includes a top plate having a second thickness, a bottom plate, and a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. The first section and the second section are joined at least one transition joint. Each transition joint includes a protrusion configured to engage a pocket. Each pocket is defined by angular edges of the top and bottom plates of the first section. Each protrusion defined by angular edges of the top and bottom plates of the second section.

A vehicle frame having a calibrated frame stiffness gradient is provided by fixedly attaching a series of cladding plates to an external surface of a tubular member of the frame, with the series of cladding plates including at least one immediately preceding cladding plate and one successive cladding plate. The cladding plates have thicknesses and peripheral shapes that are cooperatively configured to provide the desired stiffness gradient in the frame member. A trailing raised bead extending from the last cladding plate in the series along the surface of the frame member provides a further means for achieving the desired stiffness gradient.

A system, apparatus and method for providing task-specific ride-height control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. Each trailing arm suspension system includes upper and lower suspension arms, an extensible air strut, and an angular position sensor operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel independently supported by that suspension system and a point of attachment of the suspension system to the frame, such that the position sensor detects a relative angular position between the upper and lower suspension arms at a present extension of the air strut. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to control the air struts in a manner providing a ride-height corresponding to the desired task input.

The present invention is directed to an applicator having an agricultural product pneumatic conveying system which meters particulate material from one or more source containers at the application equipment and transports the particulate material to evenly distribute the particulate material from the applicator. The pneumatic conveying system employs large diameter supply lines connected between the metering devices at the source containers and delivery nozzles, where the supply lines operate to move and mix the particulate material from the source containers to the nozzles. The particulate material is metered from the source containers into the supply lines via a number of airlocks that can be operated without allowing airflow from the large diameter supply lines to enter the source containers through the airlocks. In addition, the metering devices can b e operated in collective or independent variable manners to allow for sectional control and turning compensation.

An agricultural trailed implement includes a chassis with tongue for hitching to a tractor. A housing is integrated into a loadbearing section of the tongue. A pump or generator is mounted inside the housing and is driven by a PTO shaft connected to an attached tractor. The pump housing may define a sump which provides a fluid reservoir to supply the pump in a hydraulic circuit.

A ground drive hose routing system and method for a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize drive hose bulkhead connection arrangements mounted on transversely movable axle members to define segments of a hose arrangement that are constrained to lie and move primarily in only one direction, to isolate horizontal hose movement related to track-width adjustment from vertical hose movement resulting from action of suspension members. For steerable wheels, an additional pivotable segment is utilized in conjunction with the drive hose bulkhead connection arrangements to accommodate turning motion while maintaining isolation between other primarily horizontally and vertically constrained movable segments of the hose arrangement.

An apparatus and method are provided for removably mounting an agricultural product sprayer, having at least one foldable boom, on an agricultural product applicator having a chassis adapted for removably receiving the agricultural product sprayer, by attaching the foldable boom to a skid adapted for operative, removable mounting on the applicator chassis. The skid further has a boom cradle adapted for supporting the foldable boom in a folded position when the skid is mounted on the chassis, and when the skid is separated from the chassis of the agricultural applicator.