Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1~330'Z7
TITLE: ST~R~BLE Wl-IEELED ~SS~rlBLY
B~CKG~UI~D ~r Tll~ NTIO~l
Field of the Invcntion
This invention relates, generally to steerable c~round
5 engaging wheeled assemblies for vehicles and more partic-
ularly to steerable axle wheeled assemblies for drawn or
trailed vehicles which are provided with wheel turn angle
and direction indicator means and which is arranged on the
vehicle in supportin~ relationi ample clearance between the
10 axle and crop rows in the ground over which it is clra~n
being provided.
Descri~tion of the Prior ~.rt
Various forms of wheeled assemblies with both steer-
able and non-steerable axles have been pro~osed ancl used
15 in the prior art. In addition, some prior art steerable
axle wheeled asse~blies have been equipped with turn ana3e -
indicators. ~n example o a steerable wheel assembly for
an automobile with turn angle indicator is disclosecl in
U. S. 1 1~6,6~0, issued January 4 1"16, in which a turn
20 indicator has a pointer in the form of an arrow fi~:cdly
mounted at the upper end of an upstllldinl rotary sh(l~
which is pivotally attached via a rearwardly projecting
crank arm connected to one cnd of a link. Ilhe lin]~ at
its opposite end is pivoted to the steering rod of the
25 front wheels of the auto~obile. When the steering wlleel
of the automobile is turned by the driver the front ~heels
also turn in parallel and the pointer arrow pivots
correspondingly to give an indication o~ the direction in
which the wheels are headecl. Such front wheel turn in-
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dicators have been found useful in automobiles in the pastto provide the driver with information concerning the position
of his front wheels. Such devices have the disadvantage
however, of at least partially obstructing the driver's
view in front resulting in an unsafe or hazardous driving
condition. In addition, in automobiles, such appurtenances
are, by present day standards of design, rather unsightly
and aesthetically undesirable.
U. S. 3,103,909, issued on September ~7, 1968 discloses
a turn indicator also intended for automobiles to indicate
the turn angle or position of the front wheels when turning.
This indicator operates through associated split gears on
shafts and bearings when the steering wheel is turned on
its shaft through the steering gear box of the automobile.
The indicator also includes a pointer and guage dial to
provide information relative to turning angle and left to
right direction of the front wheels. Such an arrangement
has the disadvantage, however, of being unduly complex and
mechanically complicated and impractical. In addition, such
a device can provide front wheel turning angle information
only because of its attachment to and dependence on the
automobile's steering gear system. While overcoming the
disadvantage of poor aesthetics which attended the previously
described patented device, this invention is too costly
because of its relative complexity and mechanical impractic-
ability to have application to implements and vehicles of
the type with which the present invention is concerned.
U. S. 3,463,507, issued August 26, 1969 discloses a
diringible wheeled assembly for a trailing or drawn vehicle
in which a steering linkage is attached to a pair of wheels
mounted for steering movement about their respective vertical
axes. The assembly supports an agricultural implement
such as a trailing plow and features a telescoping linkage
or steering arm which permits the wheels to turn sharply
without undue scuffing or dragging during the turn. However,
this machine has the disadvantage that no means is provided
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whereby observation from the tractor will ~rovide inforrla-
tion as to the position of the trailing vehicle with re- r
spect to the crop rows in the terrain over which the ~ehi~le
is bcing (31-.~WIl nor inrol-matioll as to the turn an~le and
5 direction of the wheels of the wheeled assembly with re-
spect to the vehicle. Information of this sort is ordin- L
arily very useful desirable and important .o an operator
using these machines and implements. I~ot.e~er W lell o~e--at-
ing them on hilly or contoured terrain ~ithout some m als
10 to tell the direction and turnin~ anctle or altitute of the
wheels it is almost impossihle to keep the vellicle trail-
ing along the intended coursc in the crop row.
Other prior art patents are kno-"n which disclose high
clearance dirigible axles for wheeled assemblies for e~-
15 ample, U. S. 2 507 000 issued ~ay 9 1950. This patent
discloses a front axle havin~ a horizontal me~ber and a
pair of vertical members which are arrancJed to pivot abc~t
their long axes when actuated through associa-ted linkartc
members by action of an attach~d stcerinc~ c~ear mechanism.
20 The wheels are arranged on stub axles at the bottom of thc
verticai members and pivot therewith in a steerinq lr,ove-
ment. Such an assembly is useful on a tractor whicl is
arranged to move over the ground in crop rows in plantins
fields and provides amplc ~roun~ clearance above tl-c ground.
25 Such devices however have thc disadvantage that there is
no indicator means to inform the operator oE the direct on
or turning angle of the wheels during operation. Unless
the assemhly is used on a tractor wl1ercin thc wlleels are
entirely and easily in the view of the operator tne lat-cr
30 has no way of knowing or determininq the anqular position
of the front wheels when turning or when standing before
the vehicle is put in motion. r
In addition since the wheeled assembly disclose(i in
this patent is intended for use as the front wheel asserlbl~
35 of a tractor this patent does not address itself to the
problem faced by the operator of a tractor which is draw- -
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ing or trailing a whceled vehicle in crop ro~s in the ground
behislc3 it, nalllely of obtaini3~ y obsel-vcltion, inLormatio
as to the position of the trailin~l vehicle wheels with rc-
s~ect to the cro~ rows and/or other information as to thc
S turn angle and direction of the wheels of tlle wheeled as-
sembly with res~ect to the vehicle.
Another problem which attends wheeled assemblics o.
the prior art, both steerable andi non-stcerable, particul-
arly when used with agricultural implenlcllts sucil as l-OOt
10 plant crop harvesting machines, e g., potato, onion and/o-
beet harvesting machines, winc1~o~ers and the like eaui~lent
used either in conjunction there~ith, or indePendently
thereof, concerns the location of the ~?heeled assembly
axles. In the prior art, these axles are conventionallv
15 positioned and located on the tra.iling vehicle so as to
pass transversely under or between the digger chains and
conveyor belts and the li~e of the harvestinq or win~rowill4
machine vehicle and, as a result, an unclesirable accu~ula-
tion of dirt, debris and other materials such as plant vines
20 and the li}~e, occurs which means the machine must be stop?ed
to clear away the offendiny material, th~reb~ interfering
with harvesting operations.
surv~Ry ~ TI~ VENTION
A~ong the objects of the l)resent invention is the p~o-
25 vision of a wheeled assembly for a vehicle ada~ted to bedrawn or trailed over the ground which is steerable and in-
cludes an indicator system for indicating the turning an~le
and direction of the wheels of the assembly.
Another object of the precent invention is tG pL-OV'.de
30 a wheeled assembly of the character described in W'hiCil tnc
steerable axle is located on the vehicle where the accumula-
tion of dirt and other debris ancl li}e material unc~cr thc
vehicle is substantially obviated.
~ further object of t],c Prcscnl- invcntioll is L~ ~ro-
35 vide a steerable axle for a grc)ur.cl engagin~ wheel.ec as-sembl~
of the character described which has a 4enerally "C" sh.~e~
frame havillg horizontâl and vcl^tical mc~m~ers on wh:ich tl~c
vehicle is supported and on which the w}leels arc pivotally
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and rotatably cal^rie(l for stool-in-l allcl l-ollinl moven~ellt ,.
rcspectivo.ly, the forn,cr by mean(., ol' a~ ;(>ci~ cd :lin};a(;c ,-
and an actuator dovice whic}l operatcs a pivot arm on the
vertieal members and the latter by mcans o a spindlc
5 assembl~ including axles on ~7hich the ~.1hce]s rotatc said
assembly further includinc3 an indicator system Cor l~ro-
viding information relevant to thc-l steerinc; angle an~
direetion of the wheels.
Still another object of t!~e prcse;lt i.n~cl~tioll i.s t,o
10 provide a qround enc~agi.llc3 steerable wheeled assembly for
a vehicle of the character described in ~^?hjcll the turn
angle indieator system is loeated suhstantially eentrally
of the vehicle whereby observation thereof provic'es in-
formation as to the position Gf the vehiele with respect
15 to erop rows in the ground over ~hich the v~hicle is drawn
and the turn angle and direction of the .~7heels of the
~7heeled vehicle Wit]l respect to the cjrouncl.
~ still further objeet of the Present inventioil is to
provide a ground engaging steerable ~heeled assembly for
20 a vehicle of the character described which in addition tG
having a C -silaped frame which ma~-es for a relatively
high elearanee overhead a~le an operator ohscrvable turn
angle indicator system means and an aetuating pivotinq
device also ineludes e~ten(li~lc .~nd rigitlifiable loc~.i.nq
25 means for fixinc3 the angle and clirection of the w~leels at
a selected angular position or in a straight ahead alicr.ed
position.
In aceomplishinc3 these and other objects there i.s
providecl according to the ~rcsent in~rentiol1 a dirigiblc
30 axle for a ground engaqing wheeled assembly supportinc,ly
connected to a vehiele adapted to be drawn or trailcd over
the ground ~hieh axle eomprises a horizontal ~ember pre-
ferably connected i.n the form of a C frame to rotatable
spaced apart generally vertical rembers havi.nc3 spir.c;le
35 assemblies including ground engaging wheels which rotate
on the ground and pivot in a steerinq Moverent ~.~hen the
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vertical. mcml~crs are ro~atecl. ~hc vertical mcrll~el-s have
~ivot arms which are intel--conllected through a stecring
link or tie rod. ~ po~.~er actu~tor in the form of a fluid
po~er cylinclc~r is mounted on the vehicle and connectec' to
5 one of the pivot arms so that ~-~hen actuatcd, the arms and
the vertical mer~lbers are made to pivot in unison about
their long axes and steering motion i~ impartcd to the
wheels. A turn indicator preferably cornDri.sincl a pointc--
and a gauge di~l is arrar.ged c~n tlle vehicle substalltial.lv
10 centrally thereof and positioned so that ~Jhen observed it
provides in ormation as to the position of the dra~l. or
driven trailing vehicle with resect to crop rows in the
gxound over ~hich it is heinq drawn, as ~el.1 as information
about the turn angle and direction of the ~heels of the
15 wheeled assembly relative to the vehicle. Tn thc above
preferred embodiment the "C" frame construction advan-
tagec,usly allows the axle to be located, and the vehicle
positioned, ~Ihere the accumulation of clirt, plant crop
material such as vines and the like, or other debri.s, is
20 substantially eliminated because of the relacivel~y high
ground clearance provided. Prior to the present invent~on,
these machines, particular].y harvesting, ~iindro~7inc~ and li,:e
machines and equipment, conventionally used standarc-' axles
whicll are located under, or l-e-t~7een the dic;cler chains and/or
25 belt conveyor devices carried thereon reducing the cround
clearance and causing clogging ~,ith dirt, vines and other
debris which accumulates undcr the ax]e. l;arJestin~ opera-
tions beintJ thus interfcrrecl t.~i.th, must bc (.1i.scontin~cd at
least temporarily, to clean out the o~fellclincl matter fror
30 beneath the axle.
In the preferred embodirnent of the invention, the in-
dicator gauge dial is carried on the vchicle, usually and
preferably on the horizontal member and the pojnter is
attached to the linkage or tie rod, whereas i.n another ~orm
35 of the invention the tie rocl carries the claucle c~ial .hilc
the pointer is fixed to the vehicle.
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1133027
~ric~f ~cscri~tiol1 c-~ the Dr.~in~r1s
Fi(3u]c~ 1 is ~r~ lo(lo(1 T~o~ )cctiv~ vi~l~ OJr ~ )rC~ r
felred stceral~le wl~c~c!lec-l asscrlbly, somc~
parts ~rohen a~ay and other, non-essential
parts omitl:ecl;
Fi~Jure 2 is a front elcvc-ltional, partially sectioncd
view of the invcntion used a~s a st~erable
wheel~d supportinc assembly ror 2 winc;.-o-.:e~-
vehicle beinc1 drawn Ol- trailcd i!l CLOI~ ro~.s
over the qround, sore parts omi.tted;
~igure 3 is a c3eneral].y diaqran~atic ~lan View~ some
parts omitted, of the wheele~ asse~blv of
the invention, the wl1eels thereo~ haJinc~
been Pivoted in a steering ~oven1ent to a
straight ahead or aliqne~ 0sitiOI1, beinc3
drawn in the di.rection of. the arrowi
Figure 4 i.s a fraqmentarv, perspective view O r a
turning anqle indicator systcm used in
another embodin1el1t of. the invention;
Figure 5 is a generall~ diagra~matic plan view. of th_ 1-
wheeled assembly accordinq to .~iqure 3, the
~heels i.n this instance pivoted in a steex-
ina move7~ent to a new position to thc left
being drawn in the di.rection Gf the arrow,
and the turnincr indicator beinc; the system
shown in Figure ~; and
FicJure ~ is a cJenerally di.agra~matic ?lan ~j.e~
of the wheeled asse~ ly according to Ei(1ure
3, the wheels ~i.voted in a stecrinc3-;1oveme
to still another ~o.sition to tl~c- right hei11g
dra~7n in the direction of the arrow, and the
turning indicator heinq the system shown in
Figures l, 2 and 3.
D~SCRI~TION 0~ T~IE Pr;~F~ lD ~ 'ODI
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A preferrecl for~ o.f steerahle wheeled assembly in
accordance with the present invention is depicted ir. ,he
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1~33027
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drawinys With particular rerercnce tG 7'i(lure~s ] an-l 2, a
wheeled assclllbly 10 i, sho~,~n togethcr wi~h a portion of the
frame ofa driv~ar drawn trailinc~ vehicle 1~ to ~hic~ it is
supportin(Jly attaci~e~, as by ~ieldillq, to the lower ends of
S the vertical housinqs 14 of a pair of spaced apart, rctat-
able members 16. A horizontal a~;le memher ]8 is positioned o.
and lies across the tops of housinqs 14 bein~ attachcd
thereto, as by welding, formin~ a "C" frar~e structure 20.
~Tertical members 16 c~:tcnd upwarc'lv in hou~in~s 1'
10 with their top ends 22 protruding througl~ member 18 ancl
extendinq above it a short distance. ~ac~ top end 22
carries a bushinq 24, as sho~n in ~igure , pivotally
supporting a steerinq or ~ivot arm 26. ~rms 26 are pivot-
a~ly connected to vertical me~bers 16 on ends 22 being so
lS mounted thereon so that when Pivoted in a cranking movement
members 16 rotate about their respective lony, or vertical
a~es.
The lower ends of vertical ~embers 16 extend belo~ "C"
frame 20 from housincrs 14 alld terminate in ~he nivotable
20 spindle assemblies 28. Each spilldle asse!nl)ly 28 comnrises
a short, do~n~ardly extendins tube end piecc 30, a la.erally
cxtending stub axle 32 and a l~ushin~ or thrust ~asher 34
positioned on tu~e piece 30 bet~?een the top thereof and the
bottom of housing 14. It has been found that the latter
25 may be dispensed with, ho~7ever its use is generally desir-
able since it provides a wear plate for these surfaces ~ -
ground engaging t~heel 36 is rotatably secured on each stub
axle 32 and, as will be apr,reciated rom Eigures 1 and 2,
when arms 26 pivot to rotate vertical members 16, l~heels 36
30 also pivot in a steerin~ movement t}-ere~ith
A steerinq linkaqe or tie rod 38 is fle~ibly attached
at its opposite ends to the outer ends o~ each pivot arm
26 by suitable connectors, for e~ample, the pin connected
clevises 40 on the ends of tie rod 38
Each arm 26 has a pair of nre-formed or re-drilled
holes, one outboard and one inboard, the former for re-
ceiving the clevis pin of clevises 40 to connect the ends
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of tie rod 3~ and the latter for attacllin~ the rod end o,'
a j)ivo~ d~-ivcr oL- ac~uati.llg cievicc, for e~:ar.-l~le, thc doubl-
actincJ :f~ icl l~owereci cylinde]- 42, it beinc~ understood that
the particular type of actuating device selected for use is
5 not eritical since other devices ~ell-known to the skilled
arti.san may also be uscd.
P~eferring again to ~ic)ure 1, actuator ~2 is mounted on ,t
vehicle 12 toward the right sicle thereof, one end beinc, ?in
connected to a ric3ht-11allc1 moulltillcl ~rac};ct or ~ittin(, ;~
10 the vertical side of a~le member 18, the other, or piston
rod end being pin connected in thc inboard drilled hole in
the right-hand arm 26. On the opposite side, corresponcl- P
ing left-hand pivot arm 26, also has outboard and inboard
pre-drilled holes, the former or pin connectinc-J the left-
15 hand clevis 40 of tie rod 3~ and the latter for connectincJ
one end of an extendible, rigidifiable lockir,g device 46.
The other end of extendible device 46 is flexi~ly pivotcd to
a second, or left-hand bracket or fitting 48 on axle member
18.
To provide an operator of a tractor which may be usecl
to drive or draw trailing vehicle 12, which vehicle may be
a harvestincJ machine, particular:Ly a harvcsting machille
having a digging mechanism inc~.uding a digy~r chain 52 in-
cluding a conveyor belt or the like, which is depicted in
25 diagrammatic form only in Fiqure 2, for diggin~3 up ancl
harvestinq certain types of tuber-F)ro]?agatecl plants or
crops SUC]l as potatoes, beets and onions, or a l~re-h~rvest-
ing maehine such as the wi.lldrowin~ apparatus 50 also il-
lustrated in ~ic~ure 2, ~"ith information conccrni.ncJ t!le~ r~o.i-
30 tion of vehicle 12 relative to the crop rows in the c3roun('together with additional information as to the turning
angle and the direetion of wheels 36 of assembly 10, an
indicator system 54 is provic3ed which is shown locatccl
substantially eentrally of vchicle 12 for easy o~servation
35 by the operator.
In the preferred embodirnent of the invention, in-
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dicator s~stcm 54 comprises a gauqe dial 5G fixcdly mGuntecl
on a~lc mcmbcr 18, the dial facc 5~ o which has a ~)rintc(l
sca~.e of anclular ~raduations 60 wilich are ca]ihrated Ulli-
formly from a central, or zero point so that corresponclin(,
5 angles may be indicated to the right or left thereof ac-
cordingly as the whcels are turned to thc ric~ht or ~e~t,
and a pointer 62 fixedly mounted on and carried by tie rod
38.
In operation with rec~rcllcc to l;igure G, \~ en ~ eel.s
10 36 on axl~s 32 are turned, or steered to the ri.ql-t by thc
operator in thc tractor, (not shown) as indicated by the
arrow, ~luid pressure supplied from a Eluicl pressure supply
(not shown) to the top, or front side of the piston 64 of
pivot actuator 42, causes ~rms 26 to pivot in unison owing
15 to the connection thereto of tie rod 38. Tie rod 38 moves
to the right carrying pointer 62 with it. ~ointer 62 takcs
up a new position in front of scale 60 on dial face 58 of
gauge dial 56, which when observed by the operator in the
tractor povides him with in~ormation as to the position of
20 the vehicle with respect to the crop rows in ~hich the
vehicle is being drawn, as shown in ~igure 2, and also tells
him the angular position and c3irection of wheels 36 of as-
sembly 10.
To describe the invention in a slightly moclified form,
25 reference will be made to Figure 4 in which a different
indicator system 154 is dePicted. GaucJe cli.al 56 of thc
previous embodiment is mounted on linkage OJ- tie rod 3
for movement there~7ith and a modified pointer 152 is moun~
ed on axle memb~r 36 being stati.Gnarv thercc)n and sha)cd or
30 formed as shown in Figure 4 with its pointcr end suspendc~ -
above and in front of graduated scale 60 o- dial face 58 of
gauge dial 56.
In operation of this embocliment, when wheels 3~ arc
turned in steering movement, say, to the lef-t, as inc'icat2d
35 by the arrow in Fiqure 5, by fluid pressure supplicd from a
supply (not shown) to the bottom or backside of pistol~ 54,
arms 26 pivot to the left in unison by connection thcreto o~
] 1
tie rod 38 whicll also moves to the left carryin~7 gaucle dial
56 to a new p~sition uncler stationary poillter 1~2. ~s in
the previously described instance, observation of indicator
system 154 provides tlle operator in the tractor (not sho~n)
5 with complete information as to the position of vehicle 12
as it trails behind the tractor relative to the crop rows
and also as to angle of turn and direction of wheels 3G of
wheeled assembly 10 relative to vchicle 12
Referring now to Fic~urcs 1 alld 3, e~te~ le iu~ id-
10 ifiable loc~.ing device 46 will be described. I,ockil,~ de-
vice 46 comprises a pair o. longitudinally slotted merlbers
66 and 68, the former being dimensionally, sufficiently
small to slide in the latter in telescopinc3 relation.
The opposite end of member 66 is pin connected to left-
15 hand pivot arm 2~ in its inboard, pre-drilled hole and the
opposite end of member 68 is pin connected to left-harld
bracket 4~ on axle member 18. ~ lonaitudinal slot 7C is
formed on member 66 whieh lies adjacent a corresponding
slot 72 in member 6g when these members are assembled zr.d
20 a elamping deviee 74 in the forn of a bolt with asso~iate~
washers and a nut is used to hold members 66 and 68 toget}ler.
In operation, tightening of the nut on the bolt of
elamp 74 clam~s these members a;ld rigidifies lockinc3 ae-
vice 46 in a locking action. Loosening of the nut and bol'.
25 of elamp 74 unlocks device 4~ permitting member 66 to e~-
tend or contract into and out of member 68 It will ke
appreeiated, therefore, by this means ~heels 36 and as-
sembly 10 can be locked in any selected anc3ll1ar position,
the e~tent of wnich is limited by the lengt`ns of slots 70
30 and 72, or in a straight ahead position as is illustrated
in Figure 3.
In addition to being fully steerable, wheeled assembly
10 of the present invention as described previously being
arranged with its main members into a "C" frame structure
35 20 a high clearance, overhead axle which, particularll whe
used on digging machines, particularly potato anc~ li}:e
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1133
crop has the advanta~lc o~ its axle be~ ]ocatcd t~ Cl-C i'
cannot accumulatc dirt, vincs, ~lant matcrial and otl~cr
debris, thereby avoidinq the con~estion caused by convcn-
tional axles. In addjtion, the overhcad axle "C" ~rarne
5 20 can be loc~ed in place or used as a steerable a~le.
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