Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INTRODUCTION
1 This invention relates to harvesting implements, and in
par-ticular to pull-type swathers. The invention facilitates
the conversion of the pull-type swather between a field/
harves-ting configuration and a transport configuration.
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVh`NTION
In pull-type swathers, the working width is advantageously
large in order to cut the greatest amount of crop. This large
traverse length, is however an impediment to its travel on and
between fields~ For road travel, this width is reduced by
towing the swather in a longitudinal manner. Also, when the
swather terminates its task, it usually does so in the middle
of the field; as a result, in crops which are subject to
shattering or shelling, it is desirable to convert the
l swather to a transport configuration prior to removing the
¦ machine from the field. This conversion however, necessitates
the moving and xeorienting of wheels, detaching of hitches,
uncoupling of hydraulic hoses and of the PTO shaft. This
time consuming task can be difficult for the lone operator
when on other than very level and firm terrain.
Other methods have been employed in prior pull-type
implements for facilitating road transportation of the
machine. One such method is Canada Patent #1028859. This
concept is suitable on hay/forage windrowers where the header
width does not exceed its wheel suspension by a ratio of
more than two to one. ~hen this ratio is surpassed, the
implements' field stability deteriorates. Further, those
skilled in the art have found that field stability is
enhanced by placing the wheels far apart as is practical.
The result is, in most current pull-type swathers, the
(1) ' ~.. ~
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1 dis-tance between wheels is equal or greater than two thirds
of the header wid~h. Therefore, on swathers whose field
wid-th can exceed thirty-six feet, and on whose -transport
width mus-t be less than ten feet, this prior method is
inadequate. Also, the prior approach did not address itself
to the problem of power transfer from the PTO on the tractor
to the trailing swather. The prior method used hyarastatic
power in order to circumvent this problem; a method limited
in capacity and more costly than direct PTO power.
SUM~IARY OF TE~E INVENTION
The present invention is apparatus which, when incorporated
in a pull-type swather, allows the operator to convert the
implement between a harvesting con-figura-tion and a -transport
configuration without the operator having to dismount from
his tractor.
Essentially, in order to convert the swather from one
configuration to another, it is necessary to perform the
following:
la)Relocate and reorien~ the suspension~wheels) in
such a manner so as to change their direction of travel.
(b)Incorporate mechanism within the hitch which will
permit movement of that hitch from a lateral position to a
longitudinal position on the swather frame.
(c)Include within that hitch assembly, an associate
¦ mechanism which allows the PTO to transfer its' power
I irrespective of the position of that hitch, i.e. the
configuration of the implement.
(d)Include within the hydraulic control system, while
contributing to the above (a) & (b), mechanism which will
prevent the improper or accidental application of hydraulic
power to the converting mechanism.
(2)
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1 Accordingly, the invention is made oE the following:
(a~ a rotatable axle assembly of two ground wheels which
support the outermosk half of the swather. This axle is
horizontally offset on a vextical axis about which it i;s
rotated 90 degrees by a double acting hydraulic cylinder.
When this hydraulic cylinder is fully retracte~d, -the axle
assembly is held parallel to, and behind the header, with
the wheels oriented to a harvesting position. When the
cylinder is fully extended, the ground wheel farthermost
from the a~is prescribes an arc where this wheel is placed
under the header, with the axle astride the traverse length
of the swather.
(b) a hitch beam assembly which supports the innermost half
of the swather a~a point between the tongue and the swathers'
third wheel. This hitch beam is articulated to a frame
member at this point where it is free to swivel when in a
transport configuration. However, when this hitch beam is
rotated to its' clockwise limit, part thereof, enters an
encompassing and latching mechanism which makes this h:itch
beam integral to the frame.
(c) a right angle drive whose location and orientation
effect a positional input compatible with the tractor ~PTO,
and simultaneously maintains an output axially compatible
with the operating mechanism on the main frame. The body
of this drive rotates on an axis common to both its output
pulley and to the axis about which the hitch beam rotates.
By h~ving its output pulley on the same axis as its body,
the pulleys' distance is kept at a constan-t distance from the
driven pulley on the main frame irrespective of the
orientation of the body of the drive. Similarly, by having
the body of the drive on the same axis as that of the hitch
beam, the distance between the PTO and the input of th!e right
angle drive remains essentially the same.
(3)
1 (d) a hydraulic apparatus consisting of two valves, a
double ac-ting cylinder~ and a hydraulic actuated latch which,
when operated in a proper sequence, perEorms two functions:
position the outer axle assembly and latch or unlatch the
hitch beam. The two valves are in series while the cylinder
and latch are in parallel. The first valve is mounted on a
frame member adjoining the hitch beam where this valve is
open only when the hitch beam has been swivelled to its
clockwise limit. The second ~alve is mounted on a frame
member adjoining the header where this second valve is open
only when the header has been raised to such height so as to
permit the ground wheel of the outer axle assembly ~o be
rotated under this header. Consequently, this improved
apparatus cannot be placed inadvertently in a travers~e fieid
position when being towed on the roadi also, the operator
cannot rotate the outer axle assembly by accident when
swathiny the crop.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIMGS
In the drawings, most of the mechanisms involvecl in
~0 the cutting conveying have been omitted for sake of clarity;
also r not shown are braces, hydraulic lines r and safety
shields, as these elements are well known and form no part of
the present invention.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the swather when in a field
configuration.
Figure 2 is a plan view of same after the outex axle
assembly has been rotated to a transport configuration, but
before the towing tractor has been driven ahead.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the swather when in a transport
configuration. This view shows how the main frame swivels
about the ball joint on the hitch beam.
(4)
1 Figure 4 is a ground level view of that part furthermost
from the tractor. This illustration shows the he~ight the
header must be raised in order to permit the ro~a~tion of the
outer axle assembly.
Figure 5 is the same view, but when the outer axle
assembly is held in a field configuration and the header
has been lowered to a harvesting position.
Figure 6 is an oblique view of the swather when in a
field configuration with the header lowered.
Figure 7 is an oblique view when in a transport
configuration.
Figure 8 is a fragmented view of the hitch beam, the
right an~ledrive, and the valve with the hydraulic latch.
Figure 9 is an ~xplode~ view oE the outer a~e ascen~ly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention is made of mechanism which is required to
perform four distinct, but interrelated unctio]~s; therefore,
the invention will be described in four parts~
la) A rotatable axle assembly of two wheel 36,38 spaced apart
such distance as to provide support when placed astride
the traverse length of the swather (Fig.7). This
horizontal assembly(Fig.9) has affixed near one wheel 38
a vertical shaft 4~, which is rotatable wit:hin an upright
tubular member 30(fig.7)integral to the swathers' main
frame 10. To this shaft 41, an arm 43 is attached from
which a hydraulic cylinder 15(Fig.7) is linked.
The hydraulic cylinder 15 provides the motive force which
by its extension/retraction determines the position and
orientation of the two wheels 36,38 in (Fig.6 and Fig.7).
Further, within this assembly IFig.9), the cross member 44
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] ~a) is made pi~otal at its center 47; axis z-z. Limiting
the degree of rotation abou-t this pivot 47 is a spring
leaf 46 which by being fastened to the uppermost part
42 by fasteners at 45, comes into play when astride the
traverse length of the swathertFig.7). When this axle
assembly is in a field mode, this pivoting action on
axis z-z has an averaging effect on the transmission of
ground variations. As a result, this oscillating axl~_
further contributes to the advantages of the inven-tion
by permitting greater field speeds.
(b) a hitch beam assembly 17(Fig. 6 & 7) to which one end
is the swathers' single hitch tongue and at the
opposite end is the implements' third wheel 39. This
~hird wheel becomes the second point of suspensiorl when
in a field mode(Fig.6) supporting innermost half of the
swather. The hitch beam 17 is joined at axis y-y to a
frame member 20 by means of a ball joint 25 when the
swather is drawn ahead (Fig.2 to Fig.3). In this mode
(FigO3 & 7), the ground wheel 39 supports most of the
weight of the innermost half of the swather and as a
result, is easier to hitch or to unhitch. However, when
this hitch beam 17 is swivelled to its' clockwise limit
(Fig. 6 & 8),part(s) of that beam enters an encompassing
and locking mechanism 9,16 and 22 which makes this hitch
beam 17 integral with the main frame 10 & 20. When in
this field mode(Fig.6), the three wheels 36,38,39 share a
common axis w-w and the hitch tongue assumes the usual
half of the implement weight.
(c) a right angle drive which is the transfer means of PTO
power from the tractor to the swathers' operating
mechanism.
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1 (c) this righ-t angle drive is shown as being of the helt
operated typei a gear type would be as efficient and no
advantage is claimed for this particular type. However,
in order to make any right an~ edrive perform the
functions required, the same positional criteria must be
met.
The body 14 of this right angle drive rotates on an axis
y-y which is also the axis on which the hitch beam 17
swivels, and ~urther, the axis about which the output
pulley 24 turns. Since output double pulley 2~ is on
the same axis y-y as shaft 26 whichis mounted on frame
member 20, the distance between pully 24 and pulley 28
is consistent. However, when pulley 2~ transmits its
power to pulley 2~ by belt 23, an equal and opposite
torque is exerted on the body 14 of the drive. Also,
since the body of the right angle drive 14 rotates on
the same axis y-y upon the hitch beam 17 swivels, the
distance between the input 15 of the drive and the PTO
on the tractor remains the same. The orientation of the
input 15 & 2.7 is maintained towards the hitch tongue by
a connecting telescoping :member 18 between the body 14
at axi.s v v by hinge pin 21 and by ball joint 19 at the
hitch beam. This connecting member serves the second
purpose of countering the torque exerted by output
pulley 24. The connecting ::.member is made longitudinally
variable because of thrust variations exerted on it when
the swather is being drawn in a transport configuration.
(d) a hydraulic apparatus consisting of two valves in series
with a double acting cylinder 15 connected parallel to a
double acting latch 16. The first valve 13 is mounted on
fxame member 20 where it i5 actuated open only when the
hitch beam 17 is swivellecl to its clockwise limit(Fig.8)
and the striker plate 12 comes in contact with the
plunger.
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1 The second valve (not shown) is mounted on the frame where
it is actu..,ed open only when the header is raised to such
height as to permit the rotation of the outer axle as in
Fig. 4. Consequently, this improved apparatus cannot be
actuated inadvertently where this actuation could result in
damage or injury. When the operator wishes to place the
swather into a field configuration from a -transport
configuration, he reverses his tractor while turning until
the hitch beam is at right angles to the length of the
implement, he then insures that the header is raised before
applying hydraulic pressureto the latch and the outer axle
assembly.
A second method (not shown) can be employed to operate the
hitch beam latch. The latch cylinder 16 is replaced by a
spring returnable latch with a bevelled bolt whi~h is
controlled by a linkage to the outer axle assembly. This
latch is actuated unlocked only when the outer axle assembly
reacl1es its maximum ccunterclockwise rotation i.e. the
transport position.
(8)
