Patent Application
20240008381
The present disclosure relates generally to work vehicles and, more particularly, to agricultural systems and assemblies for supporting a drawbar of an agricultural work vehicle, such as a tractor.
Agricultural work vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, etc., are commonly used to perform a variety of agricultural tasks (e.g., to tow planters or seeders for planting seeds, to tow spraying implements for applying fertilizer, to tow tillage implements for tillage operations, for harvesting agricultural product, etc.). Typically, towed implements are attached to the work vehicle by a hitch or drawbar assembly at the rear end of the work vehicle. For instance, a drawbar may be coupled at a first end to a frame of the work vehicle and at a second end to an implement to be towed. The second end of the drawbar may generally be supported at the rear end of the work vehicle by a drawbar hanger. In some instances, a safety chain may be coupled between the drawbar hanger and the towed implement in case the towed implement unintentionally uncouples from the second end of the drawbar.
If the drawbar hanger hits the ground and/or if the towed implement suddenly uncouples from the drawbar, a force is applied to the drawbar hanger by the ground or by the towed implement via the safety chain. The force applied by the ground or the safety chain may cause the drawbar hanger to torque, which can damage the drawbar hanger. If the drawbar hanger is damaged beyond a certain extent, the drawbar hanger has to be replaced, which can be expensive.
Accordingly, an improved agricultural system and assembly for supporting a drawbar of an agricultural vehicle would be welcomed in the technology.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to an agricultural system for supporting a drawbar of an agricultural vehicle. The agricultural system may include a drawbar hanger couplable to a rear frame of the agricultural vehicle, with the drawbar hanger defining an opening along a longitudinal direction. The agricultural system may further include a drawbar extending between a proximal end and a distal end along the longitudinal direction, with the proximal end being receivable in the opening defined by the drawbar hanger, and with the distal end being couplable to the rear frame. Additionally, the agricultural system may include an adjustable stop member receivable within a slot defined within one of the drawbar hanger or the drawbar. The adjustable stop member may be selectively movable within the slot to allow the adjustable stop member to be brought into contact with the other of the drawbar hanger or the drawbar.
In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to an assembly for supporting a drawbar of an agricultural vehicle. The assembly may include a drawbar hanger configured to be fixed relative to a rear frame of the agricultural vehicle, with the drawbar hanger comprising a bar support portion and a saddle portion. The saddle portion may be fixed to the bar support portion such that an opening along a longitudinal direction is formed between the saddle portion and the bar support portion for receiving a drawbar of the agricultural vehicle. The assembly may further include an adjustable stop member receivable within a slot defined within the saddle portion. The adjustable stop member may be selectively movable within the slot to allow the adjustable stop member to be brought into contact with a drawbar when a drawbar is received within the opening.
Additionally, in one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to an agricultural system for supporting a drawbar of an agricultural vehicle. The agricultural system may include a drawbar hanger couplable to a rear frame of the agricultural vehicle, with the drawbar hanger comprising a bar support portion and a saddle portion. The saddle portion may be fixed to the bar support portion such that an opening is formed along the longitudinal direction between the saddle portion and the bar support portion. Additionally, the agricultural system may include a drawbar extending between a proximal end and a distal end along the longitudinal direction, with the proximal end being receivable in the opening formed between the saddle portion and the bar support portion, and with the distal end being couplable to the rear frame. The proximal end of the drawbar may at least partially overlap a longitudinal end surface of the drawbar hanger in both a lateral direction and a vertical direction.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present technology.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In general, the present subject matter is directed to agricultural systems and assemblies for supporting a drawbar of an agricultural work vehicle, such as a tractor. Particularly, a drawbar hanger may be supported at a rear end of the work vehicle, where the drawbar hanger includes a laterally extending bar support portion, and a saddle portion fixed to the bar support portion such that an opening for receiving a drawbar of the work vehicle is formed along the front-rear direction of the work vehicle between the bar support and saddle portions. Additionally, the drawbar and/or the drawbar hanger may have one or more adjustable stop members that allow the drawbar and the drawbar hanger to be in contact along the front-rear direction of the work vehicle. As such, if the drawbar hanger hits the ground during travel, any forces applied to the drawbar hanger by the ground that would otherwise typically result in a torsional force on the drawbar hanger can, instead, be transferred to the drawbar to prevent damage to the drawbar hanger. Similarly, if the drawn implement uncouples from the drawbar, any forces applied to the drawbar hanger by a safety chain coupled between the drawbar hanger and the implement that would otherwise typically result in a torsional force on the drawbar hanger can, instead, be transferred to the drawbar to prevent damage to the drawbar hanger.
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown in
The work vehicle 10 may also include a hood 26 configured to least partially surround and/or cover the various under-hood components stored within the vehicle's engine compartment 40, such as the engine 20 and any other suitable under-hood components (e.g., hydraulic components, pneumatic components, electrical components, mechanical component(s), storage tank(s), etc.). As particularly shown in
The work vehicle 10 may be generally configured to tow an implement. As such, the work vehicle 10 includes a drawbar 150 extending between a proximal end 152 and a distal end 154. The distal end 154 is generally configured to be couplable to the frame 16 of the work vehicle 10. The drawbar 150 includes an implement coupling structure 156 (
Referring now to
The drawbar hanger 108 further includes a bar support portion 122 and a saddle portion 124. The bar support portion 122 has a lateral width defined between a first or left lateral end 126A and a second or right lateral end 126B along the lateral direction LT1, and a thickness defined between an upper side 132 and a lower side 134 (
The saddle portion 124 is formed by a first saddle wall 140A, a second saddle wall 140B, and a bottom or third saddle wall 142 such that the saddle portion 124 has a u-shaped cross-section when viewed along the longitudinal direction LG1. For instance, the first and second saddle walls 140A, 140B extend along the longitudinal direction LG1 and are spaced apart in the lateral direction LT1 by the third saddle wall 142 extending along the lateral direction LT1, the third saddle wall 142 being coupled to a vertical end of the first and second saddle walls 140A, 140B along the vertical direction V1. The saddle portion 124 is fixable or fixed to the bar support portion 122 such that the saddle portion 124 is supported relative to frame 16 at least by the bar support portion 122. The saddle portion 124 is fixed or fixable to the bar support portion 122 such that an open side of the u-shaped cross-section, opposite the third saddle wall 142, is closest to the bar support portion 122. As such, an opening 144 is defined between the bar support portion 122 and the saddle portion 124 where the opening 144 is configured to receive the proximal end 152 of the drawbar 150 of the work vehicle 10 such that the implement coupling structure 156 is connectable to an implement.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the drawbar support assembly 100 includes one or more gusset members configured to help support the left and right sidewalls 106A, 106B of the rear plate 102 and the saddle portion 124 of the drawbar hanger 108. More particularly, in one embodiment, at least one first gusset member 148A extends from the first support wall 110A to the second support wall 110B in the lateral direction LT1 and defines an opening 149 in which the saddle portion 142 is received such that the first gusset member(s) 148A at least partially wraps around each of the saddle walls 140A, 140B, 142. In some instances, each of the lateral ends of the first gusset member(s) 148A may be received in a respective slot 111 defined in the respective support wall 110A, 110B. In one embodiment, the first gusset member(s) 148A extends higher than the bar support portion 122 and the saddle portion 124 in the vertical direction V1. In some embodiments, at least one pair of second gusset members 148B is similarly provided, where each of the pair of second gusset members 148B extends from a respective one of the first support wall 110A or the second support wall 110B in the lateral direction LT1 to the saddle portion 142. Each pair of second gusset members 148B together defines another opening 149 in which the saddle portion 142 is received such that the pair of second gusset members 148B together at least partially wraps around each of the saddle walls 140A, 140B, 142.
In some instances, when the work vehicle 10 is traveling in the forward direction of travel DT1, the drawbar hanger 108 may scrape or hit the ground and/or an implement (not shown) attached to the drawbar 150 may uncouple from the drawbar 150. In such instances, the ground and/or the implement (via a chain (not shown) coupled between the implement and the drawbar hanger 108) may apply a force F1 to the drawbar hanger 108 in a direction generally opposite the direction of travel DT1. The force F1 may create a moment about or torque through the drawbar hanger 108 that tilts the drawbar hanger 108 rearward and upward relative to the forward direction of travel DT1, which may damage the drawbar hanger 108. As such, as will be described in greater detail below, the drawbar support assembly 100 may additionally include one or more adjustable stop assemblies 200 to help protect the drawbar hanger 108 from such force F1.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, each of the stop members 202 is configured to contact a longitudinal end surface of the drawbar hanger 108. For instance, the stop member(s) 202 may be configured to contact one of the longitudinal end surfaces 142G (one of which is shown in
The slot(s) 204 may extend substantially along and parallel to the longitudinal direction LG1 when the drawbar 150 is received within the hanger 108, such that the stop member(s) 202 is movable perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal end surface 142G of the third saddle wall 142 until it contacts the longitudinal end surface 142G. It should be appreciated that, instead of vertically and laterally overlapping with the longitudinal end surface 142G of the third saddle wall 142, the extension portion(s) 152P may instead, or additionally, at least partially vertically and laterally overlap with a longitudinal end surface 140AG of the first saddle wall 140A and/or a longitudinal end surface 140BG of the second saddle wall 140B in the vertical direction V1 and the lateral direction LT1, in which case, the stop member(s) 202 would be configured to be movable into contact with the longitudinal end surface 140AG of the first saddle wall 140A and/or the longitudinal end surface 140BG of the second saddle wall 140B.
In one embodiment, as shown, the slot(s) 204 extend through the entire longitudinal thickness of the extension portion(s) 152P in the longitudinal direction LG1. However, in other embodiments, the slot(s) 204 may only extend through part of the longitudinal thickness of the extension portion(s) 152P in the longitudinal direction LG1, with the slot(s) 204 extending into the longitudinal end of the portion(s) 152P closer to the hanger 108. In one embodiment, the extension portion(s) 152P may be integrally formed as part of the implement coupling structure 156 as shown in
The drawbar 150 may have any suitable number of adjustable stop assemblies 200. For instance, in some embodiments, the drawbar 150 includes two adjustable stop assemblies 200 spaced apart along the lateral direction LT1 so that the stop assemblies 200 do not create a torque force that causes the hanger 108 to additionally twist laterally (e.g., left or right). For example, the adjustable stop assemblies 200 may be at least approximately equidistant from a longitudinal central axis of the drawbar 150. However, the drawbar 150 may include any other suitable number of adjustable stop assemblies 200. For instance, the drawbar 150 may instead include only one stop assembly 200, or three or more stop assemblies 200.
The force F1 applied by the ground when the drawbar hanger 108 hits the ground and/or by an implement through the safety chain when the implement detaches from the drawbar 150′ while the work vehicle 10 is traveling in the forward direction of travel DT1 is transferred from the drawbar hanger 108 to the drawbar 150 via the adjustable stop assemblies 200. As such, the drawbar hanger 108 is prevented from torque-related damage derived from ground contact or drag forces from the implement. Additionally, because the position of the stop members 202 of the stop assemblies 200 is adjustable, the drawbar hanger 108 and the drawbar 150 may be in contact, or closer to contact, with each other before a ground impact or implement drag forces regardless of differences in manufacturing or assembly tolerances, which further reduces the potential for damage to the drawbar hanger 108.
In one embodiment, instead of the adjustable stop assemblies 200 being part of the drawbar 150, one or more adjustable stop assemblies 200′ may instead be part of a hanger 108′. For instance, referring now to
For example, in one embodiment, as shown in
The position of each of the stop members 202 within the respective slot 204′ is variable such that the stop member(s) 202 may be brought into contact with the drawbar 150′ when the drawbar 150′ is received within the hanger 108′ (
It should be appreciated that the slot(s) 204′ may instead or additionally be defined in any other suitable part of the drawbar hanger 108′. For instance, the slot(s) 204′ may instead or additionally be defined in the longitudinal end surface 140AG of the first saddle wall 140A and/or the longitudinal end surface 140BG of the second saddle wall 140B, in which case the extension portion(s) 152P of the drawbar 150′ would instead or additionally overlap longitudinal end surface 140AG of the first saddle wall 140A and/or the longitudinal end surface 140BG of the second saddle wall 140B.
The hanger 108′ may have any suitable number of adjustable stop assemblies 200. For instance, in some embodiments, the hanger 108′ includes two adjustable stop assemblies 200 spaced apart along the lateral direction LT1 such that the adjustable stop assemblies 200 are at least approximately equidistant from a longitudinal central axis of the hanger 108′ so that the stop assemblies 200 do not create a torque force that causes the hanger 108′ to additionally twist left or right. However, the hanger 108′ may include any other suitable number of adjustable stop assemblies 200. For instance, the hanger 108′ may instead include only one stop assembly 200, or three or more stop assemblies 200.
Similar to the stop assemblies 200, the force F1 applied to the drawbar hanger 108′ by the ground when the drawbar hanger 108′ hits the ground or by an implement via a safety chain when the implement uncouples from the drawbar 150′ while the work vehicle 10 is traveling in the forward direction of travel DT1 is transferred from the drawbar hanger 108′ to the drawbar 150′ via the adjustable stop assemblies 200′. As such, the drawbar hanger 108′ is prevented from torque-related damage derived from ground contact or implement drag forces. It should further be appreciated that, because the position of the stop members 202 of the stop assemblies 200′ is adjustable, the drawbar hanger 108′ and the drawbar 150′ may be in contact, or closer to contact, with each other before a ground impact or implement drag forces regardless of differences in manufacturing or assembly tolerances, which further reduces the potential for damage to the drawbar hanger 108′.
It should be appreciated that the extension portion(s) 152P of the drawbar 150, 150′ used alone, without the stop member(s) 202, may also provide some protection against torque of the drawbar hanger 108, 108′ as the extension portion(s) 152P may limit how far the drawbar hanger 108, 108′ may torque rearward and upward before transmitting at least some of the force F1 to the drawbar 150, 150′. Additionally, it should be appreciated that due to the reduced torque on the drawbar hanger 108, 108′ when the extension portion(s) 152P and/or the stop assemblies 200, 200′ are present, the drawbar hanger 108, 108′ may not require the gusset members 148A, 148B (
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
