INTEGRATED SUSPENSION AND CLEARANCE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A suspension and clearance assembly includes a wheel hub and a hub attachment component. A suspension component is pivotally attached to the hub attachment component at one end, and a first clearance linkage is attached to the hub attachment component with a first pivot and with a second pivot to another end of the suspension component. A second clearance linkage is attachable to an agricultural machine frame and includes a pivot end attached to a third pivot of the first clearance linkage. One end of a cylinder is attached to the first clearance linkage and another end is pivotally attached to the second clearance linkage The cylinder retracts and extends to raise and lower the agricultural machine frame for variable ground clearance. Movements and/or vibrations between the wheel hub and the agricultural machine frame may be damped or suspended hydraulically with the suspension component.

Claims

1. An integrated suspension and clearance assembly for an agricultural machine comprising: a wheel hub; a wheel hub attachment component fixedly attached to the wheel hub; a suspension component with one end pivotally attached to the wheel hub attachment component; a first clearance linkage with a first pivot attached to the wheel hub attachment component and with a second pivot attached to another end of the suspension component; a second clearance linkage fixedly attachable to a frame of the agricultural machine and including a pivot end attached to a third pivot of the first clearance linkage; and a telescopic cylinder with one end fixedly attached to the first clearance linkage and another end pivotally attached to the second clearance linkage, wherein the telescopic cylinder variably retracts and extends to change pivotal positions of the first clearance linkage and the second clearance linkage relative to each other to raise and lower the agricultural machine frame relative to the wheel hub for variable ground clearance during agricultural operations, while at the same time, the suspension component dampens or suspends movements or vibrations between the wheel hub and the frame of the agricultural machine.

2. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 1, wherein the suspension component includes a dampening and/or suspension device.

3. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 1, wherein the telescopic cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wheel hub attachment component, the first clearance linkage and the second clearance linkage include plates.

5. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 1, wherein said first clearance linkage and the second clearance linkage each include arc shaped plates, and wherein the arc shaped plates have a first end portion and a second end portion.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 5, wherein the telescopic cylinder is arranged to extend from the first end portion of the first clearance linkage to a pivot located between the first end portion and second end portion of the second clearance linkage.

9. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 5, wherein the first end portion of the second clearance linkage is fixedly attachable to the frame of the agricultural machine.

10. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 5, wherein the second end portion of the first clearance linkage and the second end portion of the second clearance linkage are linked together by the third pivot.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 1, wherein the wheel hub attachment component includes a wheel hub portion coaxially arranged to the wheel hub and a connecting portion offset from the wheel hub portion, and wherein the connecting portion incudes the first pivot of the first clearance linkage.

14. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 13, wherein the first end portion of the first clearance linkage is pivotally attached to the connecting portion of the wheel hub attachment component, and wherein the suspension component is arranged between the wheel hub and the first pivot of the first clearance linkage.

15. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 1, wherein the agricultural machine is one of a self-propelled sprayer, a trailed sprayer, a windrower, or a tractor.

16. Agricultural machine comprising: a machine frame that includes a plurality of ground engaging wheels; and a plurality of integrated suspension and clearance assemblies, wherein each integrated suspension and clearance assembly includes: a wheel hub, a wheel hub attachment component fixedly attached to the wheel hub, a suspension component with one end pivotally attached to the wheel hub attachment component, a first clearance linkage with a first pivot attached to the wheel hub attachment component and with a second pivot attached to another end of the suspension component, a second clearance linkage fixedly attachable to the machine frame and that includes a pivot end attached to a third pivot of the first clearance linkage, and a telescopic cylinder with one end fixedly attached to the first clearance linkage and another end pivotally attached to the second clearance linkage, wherein the telescopic cylinder variably retracts and extends to change pivotal positions of the first clearance linkage and the second clearance linkage relative to each other to raise and lower the machine frame relative to the wheel hub for variable ground clearance during agricultural operations, while at the same time, the suspension component dampens or suspends movements or vibrations between the wheel hub and the machine frame, and wherein each ground engaging wheel of the plurality of ground engaging wheels is mounted on a wheel hub of a different integrated suspension and clearance assembly of the plurality of integrated suspension and clearance assemblies.

17. The agricultural machine of claim 16, wherein the telescopic cylinder of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly is a hydraulic cylinder.

18. The agricultural machine of claim 16, wherein the first clearance linkage and the second clearance linkage of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly include arc shaped plates having a first end portion and a second end portion.

19. The agricultural machine of claim 18, wherein the telescopic cylinder of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly is arranged to extend from the first end portion of the first clearance linkage to a pivot located between the first end portion and second end portion of the second clearance linkage.

20. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 18, wherein the first end portion of the second clearance linkage of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly is fixedly attached to the machine frame.

21. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly of claim 18, wherein the second end portion of the first linkage and the second end portion of the second clearance linkage of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly are linked together by the third pivot.

22. The agricultural machine of claim 16, wherein the wheel hub attachment component of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly includes a wheel hub portion coaxially arranged to the wheel hub and a connecting portion offset from the wheel hub portion, and wherein the connecting portion incudes the first pivot of the first clearance linkage.

23. The agricultural machine of claim 22, wherein the first end portion of the first clearance linkage of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly is pivotally attached to the connecting portion of the wheel hub attachment component, and wherein the suspension component of each integrated suspension and clearance assembly is arranged between the wheel hub and the first pivot of the first clearance linkage.

24. The agricultural machine of claim 16, wherein the agricultural machine is one of a self-propelled sprayer, a trailed sprayer, a windrower, or a tractor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an agricultural machine incorporating principles of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a frame and wheel portion of the agricultural machine of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of an integrated suspension and clearance assembly in a retracted position.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of FIG. 3.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a side view of the integrated suspension and clearance assembly of FIG. 3 in an extended position.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of FIG. 5.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a front view of the frame and wheel portion of FIG. 2 traveling through a crop row.

[0026] In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an agricultural machine such as a self-propelled sprayer 10. The self-propelled sprayer 10 includes a frame 12 that provides a structure for mounting numerous components associated with the self-propelled sprayer 10 thereon. For example, the self-propelled sprayer 10 includes a cab 14 which is mounted on the frame 12. The cab 14 houses a seat for an operator and several controls which may be manipulated by the operator in order to control operation of the self-propelled sprayer 10 during performance of a work function such as an agricultural spraying function.

[0028] The self-propelled sprayer 10 further includes a storage tank 16 which stores a spray liquid including chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers that are to be sprayed on a field. The storage tank 16 is mounted on the frame 12 at a location which is aft of the cab 14. The self-propelled sprayer 10 also includes a spray boom assembly 18 operable to distribute the chemicals in the storage tank 16 over a wide area in a field. In particular, the liquid chemicals are distributed by a number of nozzles (not shown), which are spaced along the spray boom assembly 18, through which the liquid chemicals are sprayed as the self-propelled sprayer 10 is propelled along the rows associated with a field of crop or plants. In alternative embodiments, spray boom assembly 18 may be located at different locations on the self-propelled sprayer 10 such as at the front end or in the mid-portion of the self-propelled sprayer 10.

[0029] As best shown in FIG. 2, the frame 12 is supported by front and rear ground engaging wheels 20. The ground engaging wheels 20 are each mounted on a wheel hub 22. On the inner side of each wheel 20 and wheel hub 22, respectively, the self-propelled sprayer 10 is equipped with integrated suspension and clearance assemblies 23, best shown in FIG. 2. The integrated suspension and clearance assemblies 23, as shown in more detail in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, each includes a wheel hub attachment component 24, fixedly attached to a respective wheel hub 22. The wheel hub attachment component 24 includes a wheel hub portion 26 and a connecting portion 28. The wheel hub portion 26 is coaxially arranged on the wheel hub 22 and the connecting portion 28 is offset from the wheel hub portion 26. Further, each integrated suspension and clearance assembly 23 includes a suspension component 30 and a first clearance linkage 32. One of the ends 34 of the suspension component 30 is pivotally attached at a pivot 36 to the wheel hub attachment component 24. The suspension component 30 includes accumulator and telescopic cylinder assembly or pneumatic spring or similar motion regulating assembly.

[0030] As shown further in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the first clearance linkage 32 has two end portions, a first end portion 38 and a second end portion 40. The first end portion 38 of the first clearance linkage 32 is attached pivotally to a first pivot 42 to the connecting portion 28 of the wheel hub attachment component 24 and further attached pivotally with a second pivot 44, also shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 as dotted line, to another end 46 of the suspension component 30.

[0031] Hence, the suspension component 30 is arranged between the wheel hub 22 and the first pivot 42 of the first clearance linkage 32 and is extending from its one end 34 with pivot 36 on the connecting portion 28 of the wheel hub attachment component 24 to its other end 46 with pivot 44 on the first end portion 38 of the first clearance linkage 32. Vibration and shocks generated due to field undulations or irregularities in the field will be transferred to the wheel hub 22. In motion of the self-propelled sprayer 10, this will cause to move the wheel hub attachment component 24 and the first clearance linkage 32 to move relative to each other. Such movements are effectively absorbed by the suspension component 30 of the self-propelled sprayer 10.

[0032] Like the first clearance linkage 32, a second clearance linkage 48 has two end portions, namely a first end portion 50 and a second end portion 52 or pivot end. The first end portion 50 of the second clearance linkage 48 is fixedly attached to the frame 12 at point 54 and the second end portion 52 of the second clearance linkage 48 is pivotally attached to a third pivot 56 on the second portion 40 of the first clearance linkage 32. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the wheel hub attachment component 24, the first clearance linkage 32 and the second clearance linkage 48 are all made of flat-shaped plates or any similar flat surfaces, wherein the first clearance linkage 32 and the second clearance linkage 48 includes an arc-curved, bend, bow, half-moon, semi-circular or any similar shaped form.

[0033] Continuing with FIG. 4, a telescopic cylinder 58 has two ends. One of the ends 60 of the telescopic cylinder 58 is fixedly attached at point 62 to the first end portion 38 of the first clearance linkage 32. Another end 64 of the telescopic cylinder 58 is pivotally attached at pivot 66 between the first end portion 50 and second end portion 52 of the second clearance linkage 48. The telescopic cylinder 58 is arranged to extend and retract between the first clearance linkage 32 and the second clearance linkage 48, so as to move the first and second clearance linkage (32, 48) in a scissor-type relative movement to each other when in motion. In some implementations, the telescopic cylinder 58 is a hydraulic cylinder.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the telescopic cylinder 58 may be extended and retracted hydraulically in a variable manner to variably increase and decrease ground clearance of the self-propelled sprayer 10. Extension and retraction of the telescopic cylinder 58 leads to change in pivotal positions of the first clearance linkage 32 and the second clearance linkage 48 relative to each other which raises and lowers the frame 12 of the self-propelled sprayer 10 relative to the wheel hub from its initial position to maximum height. Simultaneously, the suspension component 30 hydraulically damps the movements and/or vibrations between the wheel hub 22 and the frame 12.

[0035] Thus, in the above described implementation, the integrated suspension and clearance assembly 23 is mounted on each ground engaging wheel 20 of the agricultural sprayer 10. The integrated suspension and clearance assembly 23 is combined or arranged integrally which allows for a compact design with a width “W” as shown in FIG. 7. Further, the compact design of such an assembly 23 allows easy travel of the self-propelled sprayer 10 from the crop rows, where the ground engaging wheels 20 can travel at distance “D” from either side of the ground engaging wheel 20 to the crop rows. Moreover, the assembly allows increased stability for the self-propelled sprayer 10 in lowered position due to its compact width “W”. The maximum ground clearance of the self-propelled sprayer 10 is defined by height “H” above the ground.

[0036] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0037] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.” The term subset does not necessarily require a proper subset. In other words, a first subset of a first set may be coextensive with (equal to) the first set.