Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
AGRICULTURAL HEADER WITH FLEXIBLE JOINT
Field of the Disclosure
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an agricultural header for use with
an
agricultural harvester.
Background of the Disclosure
[0002] Agricultural headers are used with agricultural harvesters to harvest a
crop.
In one type of agricultural header, the agricultural header has two side
draper belts
and a center draper belt positioned laterally between the side draper belts
relative to
the direction of travel of the agricultural harvester and header. The belts
receive
crop cut by a cutter bar ahead of the belts relative to the direction of
travel. The
side draper belts convey crop laterally toward the center draper belt. The
center
draper belt receives cut crop from the side draper belts and convey cut crop
rearwardly toward the feederhouse of the agricultural harvester opposite to
the
direction of travel.
Summary of the Disclosure
[0003] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is disclosed an
agricultural header for use with an agricultural harvester. The agricultural
header is
configured to cut crop when the agricultural harvester moves in a direction of
travel.
The agricultural header comprises a first frame, a side draper belt supported
by the
first frame and positioned to receive cut crop and advance cut crop laterally
relative
to the direction of travel, a second frame, a center draper belt supported by
the
second frame and positioned in register with the side draper belt to receive
cut crop
laterally therefrom and advance cut crop rearwardly toward the agricultural
harvester opposite to the direction of travel, and a joint interconnecting the
first
frame and the second frame and enabling relative fore-aft and lateral
translation
between the first frame and the second frame.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
[0004] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an agricultural
header for use with an agricultural harvester is configured to cut crop when
the
agricultural harvester moves in a direction of travel. The agricultural header
comprises a side frame, a side draper belt supported by the side frame and
positioned to receive crop cut by the agricultural header and advance cut crop
laterally relative to the direction of travel, a center main frame to which
the side
frame is coupled for movement relative to the center main frame, a center belt
frame, a center draper belt supported by the center belt frame and positioned
in
register with the side draper belt to receive cut crop laterally therefrom and
advance
cut crop rearwardly toward the agricultural harvester opposite to the
direction of
travel, and a joint coupled to the center main frame and the center belt frame
enabling relative fore-aft and lateral translation between the center main
frame and
the center belt frame.
[0005] The above and other features will become apparent from the following
description and accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0006] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying
figures
in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an agricultural header having a
center
draper belt and two side draper belts that convey cut crop laterally relative
to a
direction of travel toward the center draper belt for transport to the
feederhouse of
an agricultural harvester (shown diagrammatically);
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, with portions broken away, showing
the
agricultural header;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view showing coupling of a side section of
the
agricultural header to a center section of the header, and showing coupling of
a
center main frame of the center section to an attachment frame;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a pivot point between a side frame
of
the side section and the center main frame of the center section;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the center section;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a top view, with portions broken away, showing a joint
interconnecting the center main frame and a center belt frame of the center
section
and enabling relative fore-aft and lateral translation between those frames;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a bottom view, with portions broken away, showing the joint;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a sectional view, taken along lines of 8-8 of FIG. 6, showing
the
joint;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 6, showing
the joint;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a clevis of the joint integrated
with a
component of the center belt frame;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view showing the clevis; and
[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a tang of the joint integrated
with a
component of the center main frame.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an agricultural header 10 is provided for use
with an
agricultural harvester 12 shown diagramatically (e.g., a combine harvester).
The
agricultural header 10 is configured to cut crop when the agricultural
harvester 12
moves in a direction of travel 14 over a field. The agricultural header 10 has
a pair
of joints 114 positioned to enable translation between frames of the header 10
to
promote terrain-following of the header 10, as discussed herein.
[0020] The header 10 includes a cutter bar 18 extending laterally relative to
the
direction of travel 14 and configured to cut crop. The cutter bar 18 has a
reciprocating knife that severs the stalk of the crop. A reel 20 of the header
10
moves the cut crop rearwardly, opposite to the direction of travel 14, onto a
conveyor system 22 of the header 10 behind the cutter bar 18.
[0021] The conveyor system 22 transports the cut crop to a feederhouse 23 of
the
harvester 12 (feederhouse 23 shown diagrammatically) for intake into the
harvester
12 and processing thereby. The conveyor system 22 includes a center conveyor
24
and two side conveyors 26. Each of the conveyors 24, 26 receives cut crop
directly
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
from the cutter bar 18. The side conveyors 24 transport the cut crop laterally
inwardly to the center conveyor 26. The center conveyor 26 receives cut crop
from
the side conveyors 24, and transports cut crop received from the side
conveyors
and from the cutter bar 18 rearwardly to the feederhouse 23 for intake into
the
harvester 12.
[0022] The header 10 includes a center section 28 and two side sections 30
(left
and right) positioned on and coupled to laterally opposite sides of the center
section
28. The center section 28 includes the center conveyor 24, and each side
section
30 includes a respective one of the side conveyors 24. The description herein
of
one side section 30 applies to the other side section 30.
[0023] The center section 24 is supported by and in communication with the
feederhouse 23. The center section 24 includes a center support frame 32
coupled
to the feederhouse 23 and a center main frame 34 coupled to the center support
frame 32 for movement relative thereto. The center support frame 32 includes
an
attachment frame 36 coupled to the feederhouse 23 in fixed relation thereto.
[0024] The center main frame 34 is coupled to the attachment frame 36 via a
four-bar linkage of the header 10 for movement relative to the attachment
frame 36
in response to changes in the terrain. The four-bar linkage includes two upper
links
40, which are similar to one another, and two lower links 42, which are
similar to
one another (left lower link 42 not shown). The upper and lower links 40, 42
are
coupled to the center main frame 34 and the attachment frame 36 so as to
interconnect the frames 34, 36. The center main frame 34 includes an upper
lateral
member 44, a lower lateral member 45, a first (right) upright side member 46,
and a
second (left) upright side member 46, the upper and lower lateral members 44,
45
coupled fixedly (e.g., welded) to the upright side members 46. The attachment
frame 36 includes an upper lateral member 37, a lower lateral member 38, a
first
(right) upright side member 39, and a second (left) upright side member 39
(not
shown but similar to first upright side member 39), the upper and lower
lateral
members coupled fixedly (e.g., welded) to the upright side members. The upper
links 40 are coupled pivotally to the upper lateral members 37, 44 of the
attachment
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
frame 36 and the center main frame 34. The lower links 42 are coupled
pivotally to
the lower lateral member 38 of the attachment frame 36 and coupled pivotally
respectively to the first and second upright side members 46 of the center
main
frame 34. The center main frame 34 is an example of a first frame of the
agricultural header 10.
[0025] The center main frame 34 is coupled to the attachment frame 36 via a
first
(right) and a second (left) hydraulic cylinder 48 of the header 10, which are
similar
to one another (second hydraulic cylinder 48 not shown) (FIG. 3). Pressure in
the
two cylinders 48 is regulated to establish a desired terrain-following
capacity. The
first cylinder 48 is coupled pivotally to the lower lateral member 38 of the
attachment
frame 36 and the first upright side member 46 of the center main frame 34, and
the
second cylinder 48 is coupled pivotally to the lower lateral member 38 of the
attachment frame 36 and the second upright side member 46 of the center main
frame 34.
[0026] Each side section 30 has a side frame 56 and a side conveyor 26
supported by the side frame 56. The cutter bar 18 is coupled to the side frame
56
of each side section 30. The side conveyor 26 includes a side draper belt 58
supported by the side frame 56. The side draper belt 58 is positioned behind
the
cutter bar 18 relative to the direction of travel 14 to receive cut crop
therefrom and is
arranged to advance cut crop laterally relative to the direction of travel 14
to the
center section 24. A center draper belt 60 of the center conveyor 24 is
positioned in
register with the side draper belt 58 to receive cut crop laterally therefrom
and
advance cut crop rearwardly toward the harvester 12 opposite to the direction
of
travel 14. Each belt 58, 60 forms a closed loop. Each of the center draper
belt 60
and side draper belts 58 may include texture elements (not shown) on its
surface
between adjacent cleats (shown) to hinder fore-aft movement of crop material
on
the surface.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the side conveyor 26 includes a number of rollers
supported by the side frame 56 and spaced laterally apart from one another and
about which the side draper belt 34 is entrained. The rollers include a
proximal
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
roller, a distal roller, and a number of rollers therebetween. The proximal
roller,
shown at 80 (FIG. 2), is positioned adjacent to the center section 24 and is
the
laterally innermost roller of the rollers of the side conveyor 32. The distal
roller is
the laterally outermost roller of the rollers of the side conveyor 32. A motor
of the
side conveyor 32 drives the distal roller in rotation to circulate the side
draper belt
34 in a closed-loop path about the rollers of the side conveyor 32.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, the side frame 56 may be coupled to the center
main
frame 34 in a wide variety of ways. For example, each side frame 56 is coupled
to
the center main frame 34 with a set of links for movement relative thereto.
The set
includes an upper link 62 and a lower link 64. Each of the upper and lower
links 62,
64 is coupled pivotally to the side frame 56 and the center main frame 34. The
set
includes a first support link 66, a second support link 68, and a hydraulic
cylinder
70. The first support link 66 is coupled pivotally to the side frame 56 and an
axle.
The second support link 68 is coupled pivotally to the center main frame 34
and the
axle. The hydraulic cylinder 70 is coupled pivotally to the axle and the side
frame
56, such that operation of the hydraulic cylinder 70 pivots the side section
30 and
the side frame 56 thereof relative to the center main frame 34. The side
conveyor
26, along with its side frame 56 and side draper belt 58, may thus be coupled
to and
supported by the center main frame 34.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the side conveyor 26, along with its side
frame
56 and side draper belt 58, is further coupled to and supported by the center
main
frame 34 at a front pivot point 72. The side frame 56 is coupled to the center
main
frame 34 at the front pivot point 72. The pivot point 72 is configured, for
example,
as a hinge with a first hinge portion 74 included in the side frame 56, a
second
hinge portion 76 included in the center main frame 34, and an axle (shown in
phantom) interconnecting the hinge portions 74, 76. The axle is positioned in
apertures of two respective lugs of the first hinge portion 74 and in an
aperture of
the second hinge portion 76. A bushing is positioned in the aperture of the
second
hinge portion 76, and the axle is positioned in the bushing. A seal is
positioned on
either side of the bushing to establish a sealed connection with the aperture
of the
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
second hinge portion 76 and the axle. An end cap is fixed to the front lug of
the first
hinge portion 74 (e.g., with two fasteners screwed to the front lug) to block
forward
egress of the axle from the pivot point 72.
[0030] The side conveyor 26, along with its side frame 56 and side draper belt
58,
is coupled to and supported by the center main frame 34 at the front pivot
point 72.
The proximal roller 80 is coupled to the pivot point 72. For example, a first
(forward)
bracket 78 of the side frame 56 is fixed (e.g., with two fasteners so as to be
bolted)
or otherwise coupled to the hinge portion 74, and a first (forward) end of the
proximal roller 80 is rotatably coupled to the bracket 78 via a bearing
positioned in
the bracket 78. The bearing is positioned in a collar of the bracket 78 such
that an
outer race of the bearing mates with the collar, and a stub shaft of the
proximal
roller 80 extends into the bearing such that the stub shaft mates with an
inner race
of the bearing.
[0031] The opposite, second (rearward) end of the proximal roller 80 is
rotatably
coupled to the side frame 56. The second end of the proximal roller 80 is
rotataby
coupled to a second (rearward) bracket 82 via a bearing positioned in the
bracket
82. The bearing is positioned in a collar of the bracket 82 such that an outer
race of
the bearing mates with the collar, and a stub shaft of the proximal roller 80
extends
into the bearing such that the stub shaft mates with an inner race of the
bearing.
The first and second brackets 78, 82 are fixed (e.g., with fasteners so as to
be
bolted) or otherwise coupled to a bar 83 of the side frame 56.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the center main frame 34 includes a first
(right)
and a second (left) fore-aft side member 50, a laterally-extending front
member 52,
and a first (right) and second (left) corner 54. The first fore-aft side
member 50 is
coupled fixedly (e.g., welded) to, and projects forwardly from, the first
upright side
member 46 of the center main frame 34. The second fore-aft side member 50 is
coupled fixedly (e.g., welded) to, and projects forwardly from, the second
upright
side member 46 of the center main frame 34. The first corner 54 interconnects
the
first fore-aft side member 50 and the front member 52, and the second corner
54
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
interconnects the second fore-aft side member 50 and the front member 52. The
cutter bar 18 is coupled to the front member 52.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the center support frame 32 includes a feed
frame 84 and a center belt frame 86 (which may also be called a center tension
frame or a center draper frame). The center belt frame 86 is an example of a
second frame of the agricultural header 10, and is positioned laterally
between the
first and second fore-aft side members 50 of the center main frame 34. The
feed
frame 84 is positioned between the attachment frame 36 and the center belt
frame
86 relative to a fore-aft dimension parallel to the direction of travel 14.
The feed
frame 84 is coupled fixedly to the attachment frame 36 (e.g., bolted). The
center
belt frame 86 is coupled pivotally to the feed frame 84 to pivot about an axis
88. A
drum 90 of the header 10 is coupled rotatably to, and positioned between,
first
(right) and second (left) side walls 92 of the feed frame 84. The drum 90 has
tines
about its periphery and is driven by a motor to advance cut crop toward the
intake of
the feederhouse 23.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5-7, the center conveyor 24 is supported by
the
center belt frame 86. The center conveyor 24 includes a rear drive roller 94
operable in rotation by a motor, a front idler roller 96, and the center
draper belt 60
entrained about the rollers 94, 96. The rear drive roller 94 and the front
idler roller
96 are coupled rotatably to, and positioned between, first (right) and second
(left)
fore-aft side members 98 of the center belt frame 86. The fore-aft side
members 98
are similar to one another (the left fore-aft side member 98 not shown). The
first
and second fore-aft side members 98 are coupled rotatably respectively to the
first
and second side walls 92 of the feed frame 84. Alternatively, the first and
second
fore-aft side members 98 may be coupled fixedly (e.g., bolted) to the first
and
second side walls 92 of the feed frame 84. The center draper belt 60 can thus
be
supported by the center support frame 32 and the center belt frame 86.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 6, the front idler roller 96 is urged forwardly by a
tensioner
110 of the center conveyor 24 to tension the center draper belt 60. The front
idler
roller 96 is coupled to the first and second fore-aft side members 98 with a
joint 112
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
at each end of the roller 96. The joints 112 are similar to one another, with
only the
first (right) joint 112 being shown.
[0036] Each joint 112 may be, for example, a tang-and-clevis joint 112. In
such a
case, the tang of the joint 112 may be integrated into the respective fore-aft
side
member 98. The clevis of the joint 112 is supported respectively on the tang
of the
joint 112. The tang is rather wide so as to be configured, for example, as a
puck.
The ends of the front idler roller 96 are coupled respectively to the clevises
of the
joints 112. A bar of the tensioner 110 largely spans the gap between the side
members 98 and has its ends also coupled respectively to the clevises of the
joints
112. On each side of the center belt frame 86, the tensioner 110 has a post, a
spring surrounding the post, and an arm biased forwardly by the spring and
extending through the side member 94 to the bar of the tensioner 110 to urge
the
roller 96 forwardly so as to tension the center draper belt 60.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 6-9, the center main frame 34 is coupled to the
center
belt frame 86 for movement relative thereto. The center main frame 34 is
coupled
to the center belt frame 86 with a flexible joint 114 on either side of the
center belt
frame 86 such that each joint 114 is positioned laterally between the center
main
frame 34 and the center belt frame 86 (the joints 114 are similar to one
another,
with only the joint 114 on the right side being shown). Each joint 114
interconnects
the frames 34, 86 and enables relative fore-aft and lateral translation
between the
frames 34, 86. Each cylinder 48 is coupled to the attachment frame 36 and the
center main frame 34 to cause relative fore-aft and lateral translation
between the
center main frame 34 and the center belt frame 86 enabled by each joint 114.
[0038] The first fore-aft side member 50 of the center main frame 34 is
coupled to
the first fore-aft side member 98 of the center belt frame 86 with a first
(right) joint
114 such that the first joint 114 is coupled to, and positioned laterally
between, the
first fore-aft side member 50 of the center main frame 34 and the first fore-
aft side
member 98 of the center belt frame 86. The second fore-aft side member 50 of
the
center main frame 34 is coupled to the second fore-aft side member 98 of the
center belt frame 86 with a second (left) joint 114 (not shown) such that the
second
9
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
joint 114 is coupled to, and positioned laterally between, the second fore-aft
side
member 50 of the center main frame 34 and the second fore-aft side member 98
of
the center belt frame 86.
[0039] Each of the joints 114 may be a sliding joint. For example, each joint
114
comprises a clevis 116 and a tang 118 positioned in the clevis 116. The clevis
116
of the first joint 114 is coupled to the first fore-aft side member 50 of the
center main
frame 34 or the first fore-aft side member 98 of the center belt frame 86, and
the
tang 118 of the first joint 114 is coupled to the other of the first fore-aft
side member
50 of the center main frame 34 or the first fore-aft side member 98 of the
center belt
frame 86. The clevis 116 of the second joint 114 is coupled to the second fore-
aft
side member 50 of the center main frame 34 or the second fore-aft side member
98
of the center belt frame 86, and the tang 118 of the second joint 114 is
coupled to
the other of the second fore-aft side member 50 of the center main frame 34 or
the
second fore-aft side member 98 of the center belt frame 86. In the illustrated
example, the clevises 116 of the first and second joints 114 are coupled
respectively to the first and second fore-aft side members 98 of the center
belt
frame 86, and the tangs 118 of the first and second joints 114 are coupled
respectively to the first and second fore-aft side members 50 of the center
main
frame 34.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 8-12, with respect to each joint 114, the clevis 116
comprises an interior region 120 into which the tang 118 extends for relative
fore-aft
and lateral translation between the clevis 116 and the tang 118. The clevis
116
comprises an upper lug 122 and a lower lug 124, and the interior region 120 is
defined between the upper and lower lugs 122, 124. The upper lug 122 comprises
a convex surface 126 facing the interior region 120 to guide relative fore-aft
and
lateral translation between the clevis 116 and the tang 118. The lower lug 124
comprises a ramp 128 facing the interior region 120 to guide relative fore-aft
and
lateral translation between the clevis 116 and the tang 118. The clevis 116
comprises a laterally inner support wall 130 from which the upper and lower
lugs
122, 124 extend laterally relative to the direction of travel 14, and the tang
118
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
comprises a distal, laterally innermost end 132 spaced apart from the support
wall
130.
[0041] The tang 18 projects laterally inwardly from the center main frame 34.
The
width of the tang 118 decreases as the tang 118 extends from a proximal,
laterally
outermost end 137 to the distal, laterally innermost end 132, such that the
proximal,
laterally outermost end 137 is wider than the distal, laterally innermost end
132. As
such, it may be said that the tang 18 is configured as a puck. The proximal,
laterally
outermost end 137 is coupled to the center main frame 34. The laterally
outermost
end 137 is, for example, integrated with the fore-aft side member 50 and the
corner
54.
[0042] The interior region 120 is larger than a thickness 136 of the tang 118,
allowing relative vertical movement between the clevis 116 and the tang 118
and
thus between the center main frame 34 and the center belt frame 86. The
thickness
136 of the tang 118 is defined between an upper surface of the tang 118 and a
lower surface of the tang 118. The interior region 120 has a dimension 134
parallel
to the thickness 136 of the tang 118 and normal to the upper and lower
surfaces of
the tang 118. That dimension 134 is larger than the thickness 136 of the tang
118.
[0043] The clevis 116 of the joint 114, and the tang of the joint 112 may be
integrated into a single piece (e.g., casting) (FIG. 8). The single piece
includes an
eye extending from the upper lug 122 of the clevis 116 of the joint 114. The
post of
the respective tensioner 110 is coupled to the eye by a pin-and-clevis joint
(FIG. 9).
The single piece includes an extension portion included in the fore-aft side
member
98 of the center belt frame 86 and including an aperture through which the arm
of
the tensioner 110 extends. In other embodiments, the single piece may be
constructed as multiple pieces.
[0044] Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 8, the header 10 may include an inter-
frame
first (right) and second (left) flexible seal 138. Each inter-frame flexible
seal 138 is
coupled to the center main frame 34 and the center belt frame 86. The first
seal
138 spans a first gap between the first fore-aft side member 50 of the center
main
frame 34 and the first fore-aft side member 98 of the center belt frame 86.
The
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
second seal 138 spans a second gap between the second fore-aft side member 50
of the center main frame 34 and the second fore-aft side member 98 of the
center
belt frame 86. The first seal 138 underlies the side draper belt 58 of the
first side
conveyor 26 to receive cut crop that falls from that side draper belt 58 and
is
arranged relative to the center draper belt 60 to guide fallen crop toward the
center
draper belt 60. The first joint 114 underlies the first seal 138 in the first
gap. The
second seal 138 underlies the side draper belt 58 of the second side conveyor
26 to
receive cut crop that falls from that side draper belt 58 and is arranged
relative to
the center draper belt 60 to guide fallen crop toward the center draper belt
60. The
second joint 114 underlies the second seal 138 in the second gap. Each seal
138 is
configured to flex to accommodate movement of the center main frame 34
relative
to the center belt frame 86, and may be made, for example, of an elastomeric
material (e.g., butyl rubber).
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, relative movement between the center main
frame 34 and the center belt frame 86 can occur in response to terrain-
following of
the header 10 as modified by cylinders 48. The joints 114 enable relative fore-
aft,
lateral, and vertical translation between the center main frame 34 and the
center
belt frame 86. The upper lugs 122 of the clevises 116 ordinarily rest
respectively on
the tangs 118. The lower lugs 124 may contact respectively the tangs 118 in
response to an acute change in terrain due, for example, to a berm, stone, or
other
terrain feature. Twisting of the center main frame 34 (lateral movement about
a
fore-aft axis) may cause the tang 118 on one side of the center belt frame 86
to
contact the upper lug 122 on that side and the tang 118 on the other side to
contact
the lower lug 124 on the other side. The roll axes of the center main frame 34
and
the center belt frame 86 (lateral axes about which the frames 34 and 86 can
pivot
fore and aft) are, for example, different from one another, which may further
result in
relative translation between the frames 34, 86. For example, there can be a
relative
rocking motion between the frames 34, 86 about the roll axes. The lower
surfaces
126 of the upper lugs 122 are convex for smooth contact between the upper lugs
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
122 and the tangs 118 during such rocking motion. The ramps 128 also provide
for
smooth contact with the tangs 118.
[0046] The joints 114 may be configured in a variety of other ways, with
associated structure reconfigured accordingly. In an embodiment, each joint
may
include a pin and a slot into which the pin projects and is positioned to the
side of
the center belt frame. For example, the pin may extend laterally outwardly
from the
center belt frame into the slot formed in the respective fore-aft side member
of the
center main frame. In another example, the pin may extend laterally inwardly
from
the center main frame into a slot formed in the center belt frame. As such, in
each
example, the joint interconnects the center main frame and the center belt
frame
and enables relative fore-aft and lateral translation between the center main
frame
and the center belt frame.
[0047] In another embodiment, each joint is configured as another type of pin-
and-
slot joint but is positioned at the front of the center belt frame on a
respective side of
a fore-aft centerline of the center belt frame. For example, the pin is bowed
and
coupled at each end of the pin to respective points at the front of the center
belt
frame such that an intermediate portion of the pin between the ends of the pin
extends through the slot, and the slot is included in a plate coupled to the
front
member of the center main frame with the slot angled linearly upwardly and
forwardly. In another example, the pin is coupled to the front member of the
center
main frame, and the slot is included in a structure coupled to the front of
the center
belt frame. As such, in each example, the joint interconnects the center main
frame
and the center belt frame and enables relative fore-aft and lateral
translation
between the center main frame and the center belt frame.
[0048] In another embodiment, each joint is configured as a hinged linkage.
For
example, each joint includes a first link and a second link. The first link is
pivotally
coupled to the center main frame at a pivot joint. The second link is
pivotally
coupled to the center belt frame at another pivot joint. The first and second
links
are pivotally coupled to one another at another pivot joint. As such, the
joint
interconnects the center main frame and the center belt frame and enables
relative
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
fore-aft and lateral translation between the center main frame and the center
belt
frame.
[0049] It is to be understood that the hatching in the drawings is general in
nature,
rather than material-specific.
[0050] While the above describes example embodiments of the present
disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense.
Rather,
other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the
scope
and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-04-30
