Patent Application
20060243463
The present invention relates to implements adapted for mounting on working vehicles such as tractors, front-end loaders, four-wheel utility vehicles, and the like; and in particular relates to implements having powered rotating implement heads, such as power brushes, rakes, silage facers, and the like.
It is desirable to provide powered implements adapted for outdoor use that have improved durability, while maintaining a low cost, robustness, and preferably while maintaining a level of simplicity and ease of maintenance. One important aspect is to build the power equipment in a manner that provides protection for its critical and expensive components, such as its drive mechanisms. In particular, it is desirable to position these critical expensive components in locations where they are protected from dirt and abuse from exterior obstacles, yet in positions where they are easy to access, maintain, and repair. Also, it is desirable to provide implements that utilize interchangeable components that are adapted for different uses, and yet that permit flexible attachment to different working vehicles. Also, it is desirable to provide a drive mechanism that is adjustable and adaptable to widely different implement heads.
Nelson U.S. Pat. No. 3,795,279 discloses a soil stabilizer with rotating drum having an end-mounted hydraulic drive. However, the drive (20) is bolted to an outboard side of a lifting arm (9) in a position where the drive may be subjected to striking obstacles. Also, Nelson '279 teaches using bearings (25) positioned on an exterior surface of its rotating drum and further teaches using a face-type seal (28) on an inboard side of the bearings for controlling dirt infiltration. This arrangement is potentially expensive due to its complexity, its requirement for machined surfaces, and also due to its requirement of multiple parts and pieces that must be welded and bolted together. Also, it is noted that multiple components must be removed in order to repair and/or replace the bearings (25).
It is known to place a drive mechanism at an end of and in axial alignment with a rotating implement head. For example, Kuhn U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,414 discloses a rotary tiller, Taylor U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,045 discloses an asphalt pulverizer, and Lewis U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,432 discloses a litter-handling implement, each of which have end-mounted hydraulic drive mechanisms. However, in each of these apparatus, the drive mechanisms protrude from an end of the rotating drums in locations where the drive mechanisms are exposed and subject to striking obstacles (such as trees, walls, buildings, fence posts, etc) if the vehicle operator is not careful. Also, the protruding positions of the drive mechanisms prevent the rotary mechanisms from being operated very close to the obstacles, since the drive mechanisms take up space around a side and end of the apparatus. It is desirable to provide a drive system that is not subject to interferingly striking obstacles, and that, if an obstacle is struck, is not subject to a larger torsional destructive loading. Also, it is desirable to provide a drive mechanism that does not prevent a rotating implement head from being operated close to obstacles.
Hueftle U.S. Pat. No. 3,878,952 discloses a silage bucket with chain driven loading rake.
Also, Slaby U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,987 discloses a chain-driven silage facer. Notably, the chain driven mechanisms have problems associated with chains, such as high maintenance, safety, and durability issues.
Thus, a system having the aforementioned advantages and solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
In one aspect of the present invention, an implement adapted for mounting on a powered vehicle includes a frame adapted for attachment to the powered vehicle and including opposing side supports. The implement further includes a rotatable implement head extending between the side supports and defining a cavity in at least one end of the implement head. A motor is positioned at least partially within the cavity in a protected position and coupled to the implement head for rotatably driving the implement head.
In another aspect of the present invention, an implement includes a frame adapted for attachment to the powered vehicle and including opposing side support plates, a rotatable implement head extending between the side support plates and defining an axis of rotation, and a motor attached to one of the side support plates. The motor includes a power-generating part positioned at least partially inboard of the one side support plate in a position generally aligned with the axis of rotation of the implement head so that an exterior portion of the motor extends axially outwardly from the one side support plate less than a length of the power-generating part of the motor. By this arrangement, the implement head can be positioned closer to an obstacle than the length of the motor even though the motor is positioned in-line with the axis of rotation of the implement head.
In another aspect of the present invention, an implement adapted for mounting on a powered vehicle includes a frame adapted for attachment to the powered vehicle, and an implement head supported for rotation on the frame. The implement head includes a non-circular tubular driven member coupled to and adapted to rotatably drive the implement head. A drive assembly includes a motor anchored to the frame, a non-circular tubular drive member shaped to fit telescopingly into the driven member, and a coupler shaped to fit matably between the driven member and the drive member to take up clearance therebetween. In a narrower form, the coupler is made of a plastic material.
In another aspect of the present invention, an implement adapted for mounting on a powered vehicle includes a frame having a pair of spaced apart side support plates, a rotatable implement head including a tube section defining a cavity inboard of and adjacent one of the side support plates, and a motor drive assembly including a motor. A mount is provided having a first flange attached to the one side support plate and a tubular flange that extends telescopingly into the cavity from the one support plate, with the motor being positioned at least partially within the tubular flange.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling implements includes steps of providing a plurality of different frames including at least a first frame that provides an adjustable head support and a second frame that provides a different adjustable head support, providing a plurality of different implement heads configured to be supported on at least one of the different frames, and providing a plurality of identical drive motors. The method further includes selecting the first frame and a first one of the implement heads and attaching one of the drive motors operably to the first frame and to the first one implement head to drive the implement head, and still further includes selecting the second frame and a second one of the implement heads and attaching another one of the drive motors operably to the second frame and to the second one implement head to drive the second one implement head. In a narrower aspect, the implement heads include a power-sweeper/brush, a tined rake/ground-preparing cultivator, and a silage facer. Also in a narrower aspect, the different frames include an angularly adjustable frame and also a bucket with a sub-frame movable vertically across a face of the bucket.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
An implement 20 (
The illustrated implement 20 is configured for power raking at horizontally-adjustable angles of attack, and includes a rotatable implement head 31 having an implement head cross tube 32 (also called a “drum” or tube section”) supported for rotation between the side supports 29 and 30, with short projecting tines 33 extending radially from the surface of the tube 32. The drive assembly 35 extends through an aperture in the side support plate 30, and is positioned partially within the cavity inside the implement head cross tube 32 in a protected position. Notably, a motor mount 36 for attaching the drive assembly 35 to the side support plate 30 includes a sleeve-like cylindrical flange 37 that also surrounds and protects the motor 38 of the drive assembly 35. By this arrangement, the motor 38 and drive assembly 35 extend only minimally outwardly from the side support plate 30, such as only about 2 or 3 inches, allowing the implement head 31 to be positioned very close obstacles without the motor or drive assembly 35 interfering with the close positioning. The drive assembly 35 includes a non-circular motor-driven tubular drive member 40 (i.e., a 3 inch×3 inch square tube section) that extends telescopingly into a driven member 41 (i.e., a 4 inch×4 inch square tube section) attached to and located within the implement head cross tube 32. A plastic coupler 42 (also called an “adapter” herein) fits between the drive member 40 and the driven member 41 to take up clearance therebetween. As will be apparent from the discussion below, the arrangement can be used on different implement heads, such as the tined rake/ground-preparing cultivator (
It is noted that a variety of powered working vehicles (see exemplary vehicle 21 in
As noted above, the power rake implement 20 (
The illustrated vertically-angularly-adjustable sub-frame 23 includes top and bottom decks 55 and 56 with rearwardly extending sections connected by vertical reinforcement ribs 57 and 58 on each side. The ribs 57 and 58 combine with the rearwardly extending sections to form box-like sections. Holes are formed therein that align with the holes in the mounts 51 on a face of the frame 22 for receiving the pivot pins 52. The pivot pins 52 define the horizontal axis 24. An additional pivot pin can be provided for defining a three-point attachment, as is common when connecting an implement to a power vehicle 21 (see
The horizontally-angularly-adjustable implement-carrying frame 26 (
The side support plates 29 and 30 provide a double function by providing support for carrying the rotatable implement head 31 and by also acting as side shields to contain debris generated by rotation of the implement head 31. Protective bumper brackets 70 and 70′ are attached to the support plate 30 for providing additional protection to the drive assembly 35. The protective bumper bracket 70 can be any size and shape as desired. The illustrated bracket 70 extends about 2 to 3 inches outboard (i.e., sufficiently to work for its intended purpose of protecting the exposed outer end of the drive assembly 35).
As noted above, the implement head 31 includes the cross tube 32 that fits between side support plates 29 and 30. In practice, a clearance of about ¼ to ½ inch is provided from the end of the implement cross tube 32 to the support plates 29 and 30, though more or less clearance can be provided as desired. Tines 33 project radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the cross tube 32 at circumferentially-spaced and axially-spaced intervals. An adapter 71 (
The mount 36 (
The drive assembly 35 (
It is contemplated that other attachment arrangements can also be provided, such as keyed or shear pin arrangements. However, the present arrangement is both simple in construction and effective in operation. In particular, the present driving arrangement including the plastic adapter 42 permits some axial movement and also provides both axial and radial dampening of vibrations generated by the implement head 31.
The implement 20 (
The assembly of the drive system is as follows. First, the drive assembly 35 is assembled. The hydraulic wheel motor 38 is bolted to the motor mount 36 (also called a motor housing). Then the wheel motor hub 87 and motor shaft nut 86 are assembled to the end of the motor shaft. Now the drive member 40 (also called a drive tube assembly) is bolted to the wheel motor hub 87 and the plastic insert coupler 42 is slipped over the drive tube assembly 40. Then the drive assembly is inserted into the rake head 31. The plastic insert 42 will drive against the driven member 41 (also called a head drive tube) and turn the rake head 31. The wheel motor 38 will act as the carrier for that side of the rake head 31.
In operation, the implement 20 is attached to a front of a powered working vehicle 21, such as to its vertically lifting arms, and hydraulic lines on the utility working vehicle 21 are connected to the quick connects 64 as well as the remote control rods are connected to the hydraulic controls 67. The working vehicle 21 is then moved to a location of operation, rotation of the implement head 31 started by supplying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic motor 38, and the implement 20 lowered to a use position. The hydraulic power is provided to the implement head 31 at a location in an axial alignment to the implement head 31, which provides for mechanical simplicity, robustness and durability. Further, the motor 38 is in a protected position, both in terms of low dirt intrusion and also in terms of being positioned where it is less likely to engage obstructions passing near an end of the implement 20. Where the working vehicle 21 has lift arms 21′ that permit angular rotation of the implement 20 (either vertically or horizontally), or where the frame (26) is angularly adjustable via a hydraulic mechanism (61/62).
The illustrated implement 20 has a drive assembly 35 positioned at one end of the implement head 31, and a bearing 75 positioned at the other end, each carrying a weight of the implement head 31 and simultaneously supporting it for rotation. It is contemplated that a drive assembly 35 could be positioned at both ends if desired.
Two additional implements 20A and 20B are shown in
Implement 20A (
The implement head 31A can include different styles and patterns of bristles. The illustrated implement head 31A includes twelve rows of bristles 101A that extend across a length of the implement cross tube 32A. A flange bracket 102A is welded or otherwise secured to the implement cross tube 32A, and is attached to the inner end of the radially extending bristles 101A. The illustrated bristles 101A are formed by slitting a strip of rubber, such as a rubber belt or other highly durable rubber sheet material. Thus, the illustrated bristles 101A have a weight and provide substantial cleaning and rubbing energy when rotated as the implement head 31A is moved along a hard floor. By changing the angle of the rotating implement head by adjustment through use of the hydraulic actuator 61A/62A, the implement 20A can be used to move debris laterally toward one side or the other side.
The implement 20B (
The implement head 31B includes a rotatable implement cross tube 32B with radially-extending tines 120B for pulling ensilage loose and into the bucket 110B as the head 31B is rotated. The illustrated head 31B includes a center tubular section 121B having a relatively smaller cross section (which saves weight), and having axially-aligned enlarged cylindrical end sections 122B. At the end near the bearing 75B, a plate (not specifically shown, but see bearing arrangements in
A pair of actuators 126B are positioned on each side of the bucket 110B parallel the. arms 115B. Specifically, the actuators 126B each include a cylinder 128B pivoted to a bracket 129B at a location generally near the rear pivot location 116B, and further each include an extendable rod 129B pivoted by a bracket 130B near a forward end of the arms 115B. By retracting the rods 129B, the arms 115B (and implement head 31B) are moved upwardly with an arcuate motion across a front of the bucket 110B. When extended, a reverse motion occurs. By this arrangement, the bucket 110B can be positioned adjacent a front of an ensilage stack by the working vehicle (21). Then, while the implement head 31B is being rotated, the actuators 126B are operated to move the implement head 31B across the face of the ensilage stack with a sweeping motion. The operation of the tines 120B causes ensilage to be pulled loose and fall into the bucket 110B.
It is noted that the same arrangement of implement 20B can be used for other loading operations for loading the bucket 110B. For example, it can be used to load hay, dirt, gravel or sand onto the bucket. In such circumstance, it may be desirable to modify the tines to an optimal shape for the particular task to be performed. It is contemplated that such modifications are within a scope of the present invention.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
