Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
AGRICULTURAL LAND ROLLER IMPLEMENT WITH TRANSPORT
WHEEL ARRANGEMENT HAVING A REDUCED TURNING RADIUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural land roller implement
comprising a plurality of frame sections having land levelling rollers thereon
in which
the frame sections which are foldable relative to one another from a laterally
oriented
working position to a trailing transport position, and more particularly the
present
invention relates to a land roller implement having an arrangement of
transport wheels
that can be deployed to support the land levelling rollers above the ground
when trailing
a towing vehicle in transport position.
BACKGROUND
Land roller implements are commonly used in agriculture for levelling
land, pushing rocks down into the soil, breaking up soil mounds and clods, or
packing
seed for example. A typical land roller includes a plurality of frame
sections, each
supporting at least one roller thereon. The roller may be a steel drum, a
series of packer
wheels or any other rolling packing element. Due to the low draft resulting
from the
rolling movement of the rollers over the ground and the desirability to cover
as much
area as possible with each pass over an agricultural field with the implement,
land roller
implements are known to deploy wings comprised of two or more sections each
.. extending laterally outward from opposing sides of a center section. These
wings are
then folded rearwardly in trailing relationship from the center section in a
transport
position with transport wheels that are deployed to support the rollers spaced
above
the ground.
United States Patent No. 8,820,428 by McCrea et al discloses a land roller
implement having transport wheels at the trailing end of each wing section
which can
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
2
be pivoted between a field position shown in Figure 5 in which the wheel is
oriented for
rolling with the roller and a transport position shown in Figure 6 in which
the wheel is
rotated through 90 degrees about an upright steering axis from the field
position to be
oriented at right angles to the roller. The transport wheel at the trailing
end of each
wing section must be locked in the transport position while transporting the
implement
along a roadway due to the instability resulting from the lateral offset
location of the
upright steering axis relative to the transport wheel. The turning radius of
the implement
when towing the implement in the transport position is very large due to the
fixed
orientation of the transport wheel at the trailing end of each wing section so
that it can
be difficult to manoeuvre the implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a land roller
implement arranged to be towed in a forward working direction by a towing
vehicle for
flattening and levelling land, the implement comprising:
(a) a main frame section arranged for connection to the towing vehicle,
the main frame section supporting a main roller thereon for rolling movement
in the
forward working direction;
(b) two wing assemblies extending along respective longitudinal axes
from inner ends of the wing assemblies to outer ends of the wing assemblies
respectively, the inner ends of the wing assemblies being pivotally coupled at
opposing
sides of the main frame section respectively whereby the wing assemblies are
movable
relative to the main frame section between a working position in which the
longitudinal
axes of the wing assemblies extend laterally outward in opposing directions
from the
main frame section and a transport position in which the longitudinal axes of
the wing
assemblies extend rearwardly from the main frame section;
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
3
(c) each wing assembly comprising:
(i) an outer frame section at the outer end of the wing assembly,
the outer frame section including an outer roller supported thereon for
rolling movement
in the forward working direction in the working position of the wing assembly;
(ii) an intermediate frame section supported between the outer
frame section and the inner end of the wing assembly, the intermediate frame
section
including an intermediate roller supported thereon for rolling movement in the
forward
working direction in the working position of the wing assembly; and
(iii) an inner end of the outer frame section being coupled to an
outer end of the intermediate frame section;
(d) set of transport wheels supporting the frame sections for rolling
movement in the forward working direction in the transport position, the set
of transport
wheels including:
(i) two leading wheel assemblies supported on the main frame
section;
(ii) two trailing wheel assemblies supported at the outer ends of the
outer frame sections respectively, each trailing wheel assembly including at
least one
trailing wheel; and
(iii) two steerable wheel assemblies supported on the wing
assemblies respectively at a location nearer to the inner ends of the wing
assemblies
than the trailing wheel assemblies, each steerable wheel assembly including an
actuating arrangement associated with the steerable wheel assembly, the
actuating
arrangement being arranged to controllably pivot the steerable wheel about an
upright
steering axis between a transport configuration oriented for rolling movement
about a
wheel axis lying perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the wing assembly
and a field
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
4
configuration oriented transversely to the transport configuration;
(e) each steerable wheel assembly being supported on the respective
wing assembly adjacent to a connection of the inner end of the outer frame
section and
the outer end of the intermediate frame section; and
(f) said at least one trailing wheel of each trailing wheel assembly is
supported for free pivotal movement about an upright caster axis of the
trailing wheel
assembly and said at least one trailing wheel being laterally centered
relative to the
caster axis of the trailing wheel assembly in a trailing relationship with the
caster axis.
By locating a steerable wheel that can be fixed in a transport orientation
at a location spaced forward from a free pivoting trailing wheel, a
considerable length
at the trailing end of each wing remains well supported by the transport
wheels for
rolling movement in the forward working direction, while the steerable wheels
define a
much shorter turning radius that is comparable with much shorter implements.
This
increases the manoeuvrability of the implement when towing in the transport
position.
Each actuating arrangement may be further arranged to lock the
associated steerable wheel assembly in the transport configuration.
Each actuating arrangement may be arranged to pivot the associated
steerable wheel assembly between the transport configuration and the field
configuration through a range of less than 90 degrees whereby the wheel axis
of the
steerable wheel assembly is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of
the wing
assembly in the field configuration.
Preferably each actuating arrangement is arranged to pivot the
associated steerable wheel assembly between the transport configuration and
the field
configuration through a range of less than 60 degrees, and more preferably
through a
range of approximately 45 degrees.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
5
When each steerable wheel assembly is supported on a first one of the
inner end of the outer frame section or the outer end of the intermediate
frame section
of the wing assembly, the set of transport wheels may further comprise an
intermediate
wheel assembly supported on each wing assembly. In this instance, (i) the
intermediate
wheel assembly is supported on a second one of the inner end of the outer
frame
section or the outer end of the intermediate frame section of the wing
assembly, (ii) the
intermediate wheel assembly is supported for free pivotal movement about an
upright
caster axis of the intermediate wheel assembly, and (iii) the intermediate
wheel
assembly comprises at least one intermediate wheel in which said at least one
intermediate wheel is laterally centered relative to the caster axis of the
intermediate
wheel assembly in a trailing relationship with the caster axis.
In the illustrated embodiment, each steerable wheel assembly is
supported on the inner end of the outer frame section of the respective wing
assembly.
When two intermediate wheel assemblies are supported on the wing
assemblies respectively, each intermediate wheel assembly is preferably
supported on
the outer end of the intermediate frame section of the respective wing
assembly. In this
instance, each intermediate wheel assembly is preferably supported for free
pivotal
movement about an upright caster axis of the intermediate wheel assembly and
the
intermediate wheel assembly of each wing assembly preferably comprises at
least one
intermediate wheel in which said at least one intermediate wheel is laterally
centered
relative to the caster axis of the intermediate wheel assembly in a trailing
relationship
with the caster axis.
Each wing assembly may further include an inner frame section supported
between the intermediate frame section and the inner end of the wing assembly
such
that an inner end of the intermediate frame section is supported on an outer
end of the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
6
inner frame section, in which the inner frame section includes an inner roller
supported
thereon for rolling movement in the forward working direction in the working
position of
the wing assembly.
The implement may further include two inner wheel assemblies supported
on the two wing assemblies respectively in which (i) each inner wheel assembly
is
supported on a first one of the outer end of the inner frame section or the
inner end of
the intermediate frame section of the respective wing assembly, (ii) the inner
wheel
assembly is supported for free pivotal movement about an upright caster axis
of the
inner wheel assembly, and (iii) the inner wheel assembly of each wing assembly
comprises at least one inner wheel in which said at least one inner wheel is
laterally
centered relative to the caster axis of the inner wheel assembly in a trailing
relationship
with the caster axis.
The implement may further include two auxiliary wheel assemblies
supported on the two wing assemblies respectively in which (i) each auxiliary
wheel
assembly is supported on a second one of the outer end of the inner frame
section or
the inner end of the intermediate frame section of the respective wing
assembly, (ii) the
auxiliary wheel assembly is supported for free pivotal movement about an
upright caster
axis of the auxiliary wheel assembly, and the auxiliary wheel assembly of each
wing
assembly comprises at least one auxiliary wheel in which said at least one
auxiliary
wheel is laterally centered relative to the caster axis of the auxiliary wheel
assembly in
a trailing relationship with the caster axis.
According to a further embodiment, each steerable wheel assembly may
be supported on the outer end of the intermediate frame section of the
respective wing
assembly. In this instance, two intermediate wheel assemblies may be supported
on
wing assemblies respectively in which (i) the intermediate wheel assembly is
supported
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
7
on the inner end of the outer frame section of the respective wing assembly,
(ii) each
intermediate wheel assembly being supported for free pivotal movement about an
upright caster axis of the intermediate wheel assembly, and (iii) the
intermediate wheel
assembly of each wing assembly comprising at least one intermediate wheel in
which
said at least one intermediate wheel is laterally centered relative to the
caster axis of
the intermediate wheel assembly in a trailing relationship with the caster
axis. In this
instance, the inner ends of the intermediate frame sections are preferably
directly
connected to the main frame section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Some embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the land roller
implement in a transport position;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the land roller implement according to the
first embodiment of figure 1 in the transport position, showing the steerable
wheels in a
field deployment orientation for rolling rearwardly at a laterally outward
slope to steer
and deploy the wing assemblies from the transport position to the working
field position
when the implement is reversed across a field;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the land roller implement according
to the first embodiment of figure 1 in the transport position;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the land roller implement according to the
first embodiment of figure 1 in the working field position;
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the land roller implement according
to the first embodiment of figure 1 in the working position;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the steerable wheel assemblies
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
8
of the land roller implement according to the first embodiment of figure 1 in
a lowered
transport configuration;
Figure 7 is a side view of the steerable wheel assembly of figure 6 in the
lowered transport configuration;
Figure 8 is a side view of the steerable wheel assembly of figure 6 in a
raised field configuration;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the steerable wheel assembly of figure 6 in
a road transport orientation for rolling in the forward working direction with
the
implement in the transport position;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of the steerable wheel assembly of figure 6
in the field deployment orientation;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the auxiliary wheel assemblies
in a lowered transport configuration in which the inner wheel assemblies and
the
intermediate wheel assemblies are substantially identical to the auxiliary
wheel
assemblies;
Figure 12 is a side view of the inner or auxiliary or intermediate wheel
assembly of figure 11 in the lowered transport configuration;
Figure 13 is a side view of the inner or auxiliary or intermediate wheel
assembly of figure 11 in a raised field configuration;
Figure 14 is a top view of one of the trailing wheel assemblies in a lowered
transport configuration;
Figure 15 is a side view of the trailing wheel assembly of figure 13 in the
lowered transport configuration;
Figure 16 is a side view of the trailing wheel assembly of figure 13 in a
raised field configuration;
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
9
Figure 17 is a top plan view of the land roller according to a second
embodiment with the wing assemblies in a working field position; and
Figure 18 is a top plan view of the land roller implement according to the
second embodiment of figure 17 showing the wing assemblies in a transport
position
and the steerable wheels in a field deployment orientation for rolling
rearwardly at a
laterally outward slope to steer and deploy the wing assemblies from the
transport
position to the working field position when the implement is reversed across a
field.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring the accompanying figures there is illustrated a land roller
implement generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The land roller
implement 10
is suited for connection to a towing vehicle to be towed in a forward working
direction
for flattening and levelling land across which the implement is displaced. A
typical
towing vehicle with which the implement is associated is an agricultural
tractor (not
shown) including a hitch for connecting to the implement and a hydraulic
system
providing a supply of hydraulic fluid for controlling the various actuators of
the
implement as described in further detail below.
The implement supports various rollers thereon which are rolled across a
.. ground surface to be levelled when the implement is in use in a working
position. In
the working position, the rolling axes of the rollers are oriented in a
lateral direction
perpendicular to the forward working direction of the towing vehicle while
extending
laterally outward from opposing sides of the vehicle for maximum coverage of
the
ground surface across which the implement is towed. The rollers can be
displaced from
the working position into a transport position in which the rolling axes of
the rollers
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
10
extend longitudinally rearward in a trailing relationship while being
suspended spaced
above the ground to reduce the overall width in the lateral direction for
transport
between different locations of use.
Turning now to the first embodiment of the implement 10 shown in figures
1 through 16, in this instance the structural frame of the implement includes
a main
frame section 12 from which a hitch frame 14 protrudes forwardly for
connection to the
towing vehicle, and two wing assemblies 16 which are coupled at opposing sides
of the
main frame section 12. Each wing assembly 16 is elongate along a respective
longitudinal axis from an inner end 18 of the wing assembly that is coupled to
the main
frame section 12 to an outer end 20 that is distal relative to the main frame
section 12.
In the working position when the implement is used for leveling land, the wing
assemblies are supported to extend laterally outward in opposing directions
from the
main frame section 12. In the transport position, the two wing assemblies 16
extend
rearward from the main frame section 12 to be substantially parallel to one
another
when towed in the forward working direction.
The main frame section 12 is comprised of two longitudinal beams 22
which extend laterally across the full width of the main frame section between
opposing
ends at respective front and rear sides of the main frame section. A pair of
crossbars
24 are connected between the longitudinal beams 22 at the laterally opposing
ends. A
support member 26 including bearings mounted therein extends downward from
each
crossbar 24 to support opposing ends of a main roller 28 rotatably thereon
such that
the main roller 28 is oriented for rolling movement in the forward working
direction about
an axis oriented perpendicularly to the forward working direction.
The hitch frame 14 comprises two frame members 30 which are coupled
at rear ends at laterally spaced apart positions along the forward
longitudinal beam 22.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
11
The frame members 30 are tapered inwardly towards one another from the rear
ends
to the front ends thereof such that the front ends are joined at a hitch
connector 32
which serves to form a towing connection to the hitch of the tow vehicle.
In the first embodiment, each wing assembly includes an inner frame
section 34 at the inner end 18 of the wing assembly, an outer frame section 36
at the
outer end of the wing assembly, and an intermediate frame section 38 extending
longitudinally between the inner frame section 34 and the outer frame section
36 of the
wing assembly.
Each inner frame section 34 extends longitudinally between the inner end
18 of the wing assembly coupled to the main frame section to an opposing outer
end
40 of the inner frame section onto which the intermediate frame section of the
wing
assembly is supported. Each inner frame section comprises two longitudinal
beams 42
extending longitudinally between opposing ends of the inner frame section at
opposing
front and rear sides of the frame section in the working position. The
longitudinal beams
42 are joined with one another at the opposing ends by crossbars 44. A pair of
support
members 46 including bearings mounted therein extend downward from the
crossbars
44 respectively to support opposing ends of an inner roller 48 rotatably
thereon such
that the inner roller is oriented for rolling movement in the forward working
direction
about an axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wing assembly
and
perpendicularly to the forward working direction in the working position. The
inner roller
spans the full length of the inner frame section and is oriented for rolling
movement in
the forward working direction in the working position.
A pivot coupling 50 is operatively connected between the inner end of
each inner frame section and a respective mounting location on the main frame
section
in the form of a two axis universal joint. More particularly, each pivot
coupling 50 serves
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
12
to couple the wing assembly to the main frame section for pivotal movement
about a
vertical axis between the working and transport positions of the wing
assemblies
respectively, while also coupling the wing assembly for pivotal movement
relative to the
main frame section about a horizontal axis that is oriented perpendicularly to
the
longitudinal axis of the wing assembly for following various ground contours
and for
flexing of the overall structural frame in both the working and transport
positions
respectively.
A brace arm 52 is pivotally coupled on a forwardmost longitudinal beam
42 of each inner frame section for selective connection to the main frame
section at a
location forwardly of the respective pivot coupling 50 to provide bracing for
the wing
assemblies to remain perpendicular to the forward working direction in the
working
position of the implement. The brace arms 52 can be released at the forward
ends
thereof for releasing the wing assemblies into the transport position. A
connecting link
54 is associated with each brace arm 52 to support the forward end of the
brace arm in
the transport position when the forward ends are disconnected from respective
mounting locations in the working position.
Each inner frame section 34 further includes a mounting frame comprised
of two mounting frame members 56 which are mounted transversely across the two
longitudinal beams 42, in proximity to the outer end 40 of the inner frame
section, so
that the mounting frame members 56 protrude laterally outwardly from the inner
frame
section 34 by a width of the intermediate frame sections in the transport
position. More
particularly the two mounting frame members 56 are joined to one another at
the distal
ends relative to the inner frame section to form a triangular arrangement with
the
rearward longitudinal beam 42 of the inner frame section. Each mounting frame
.. receives the inner end of the respective intermediate frame section 38 of
the wing
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
13
assembly mounted thereon at the distal ends of the mounting frame members so
as to
support the intermediate frame sections offset laterally outwardly relative to
the inner
frame sections in the transport position, corresponding to the intermediate
frame
section 38 being positioned forwardly of the inner frame sections 34 in the
working
position.
Each intermediate frame section 38 extends longitudinally between a
respective inner end 58 of the intermediate frame section which is coupled
onto the
mounting frame at the outer end of the respective inner frame section 34 and a
longitudinally opposed outer end 60. Each intermediate frame section comprises
two
longitudinal beams 62 extending longitudinally between opposing ends of the
intermediate frame section at opposing front and rear sides of the frame
section in the
working position. The longitudinal beams 62 are joined with one another at the
opposing
ends by crossbars 64. A pair of support members 66 including bearings mounted
therein extend downward from the crossbars 64 respectively to support opposing
ends
of an intermediate roller 68 rotatably thereon such that the intermediate
roller is oriented
for rolling movement in the forward working direction about an axis oriented
parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the wing assembly and perpendicularly to the forward
working
direction in the working position. The intermediate roller spans the full
length of the
intermediate frame section and is oriented for rolling movement in the forward
working
direction in the working position.
Two pivots 70 are supported at spaced apart positions across the leading
crossbars 64 of the intermediate frame section in the transport position for
pivotal
connection to one of the frame members 56 of the mounting frame of the inner
frame
section that is perpendicular to the forward working direction in the
transport position.
The two pivots 70 serve to couple the intermediate frame section to the
respective inner
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
14
frame section for relative pivotal movement about a horizontal floating axis
oriented
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the wing assembly for providing
flexibility to
the structural frame to follow varying ground contours in the transport and
working
positions. The mounting frame members 56 are positioned slightly inwardly of
the outer
end of the inner frame section 34 such that the intermediate roller 68
longitudinally
overlaps the inner roller 48 in the longitudinal direction of each wing
assembly. This is
accomplished by offsetting the intermediate frame section 38 laterally
outwardly relative
to the inner frame sections in the transport position, corresponding to the
intermediate
rollers being offset forwardly of the inner rollers in the working position.
Each outer frame section 36 extends longitudinally between an inner end
72 of the frame section and an opposing outer end of the frame section
defining the
outer end 20 of the overall wing assembly. The inner end 72 of each outer
frame section
36 is coupled to the outer end of the corresponding intermediate frame section
38. Each
outer frame section comprises two longitudinal beams 74 extending
longitudinally
between opposing ends of the outer frame section at opposing front and rear
sides of
the frame section in the working position. The longitudinal beams 74 are
joined with
one another at the opposing ends by crossbars 76. A pair of support members 78
including bearings mounted therein extend downward from the crossbars 76
respectively to support opposing ends of an outer roller 80 rotatably thereon
such that
the outer roller is oriented for rolling movement in the forward working
direction about
an axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wing assembly and
perpendicularly to the forward working direction in the working position. The
outer roller
80 spans the full length of the outer frame section and is oriented for
rolling movement
in the forward working direction in the working position.
Each outer frame section further includes a mounting frame comprised of
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
15
two mounting frame members 82 which are mounted transversely across the two
longitudinal beams 74, in proximity to the inner end 72 of the outer frame
section so
that the mounting frame members 82 protrude laterally outwardly from the outer
frame
section by a width of the intermediate frame sections in the transport
position. The
.. mounting frame members 82 are joined to one another at the distal ends
relative to the
outer frame section to form a triangular arrangement with the rearward
longitudinal
beam 74 of the outer frame section. The mounting frame of each wing assembly
receives the outer end of the respective intermediate frame section 38 of the
wing
assembly mounted thereon at the distal ends of the mounting frame members 82
to
support the outer frame sections offset laterally inwardly relative to the
intermediate
frame sections in the transport position, corresponding to the outer frame
sections being
positioned rearwardly of the intermediate frame sections in the working
position.
Two pivots 84 are supported at spaced apart positions across the trailing
crossbar 64 of the intermediate frame section in the transport position for
pivotal
connection to one of the frame members 82 of the mounting frame of the outer
frame
section that is perpendicular to the forward working direction and the
transport position.
The two pivots 84 serve to couple the outer frame section to the intermediate
frame
section for relative pivotal movement about a horizontal floating axis
oriented
perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the wing assembly for providing
flexibility to
the structural frame to follow varying ground contours in the transport and
working
positions. The mounting frame members are positioned slightly outwardly of the
inner
ends of the outer frame sections respectively such that the intermediate
roller 68
longitudinally overlaps the outer roller 80 in the longitudinal direction of
each wing
assembly. This is accomplished by offsetting the intermediate frame section
laterally
outwardly relative to the outer frame sections in the transport position,
corresponding
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
16
to the intermediate rollers being offset forwardly of the outer rollers in the
working
position.
The implement according to the first embodiment includes a set of
transport wheels which serve to support the various rollers of the implement
spaced
above the ground when the implement is towed in the transport position.
The transport wheels include two leading wheel assemblies 86 which are
laterally spaced apart along the rearmost longitudinal beam 22 of the main
frame
section. Each leading wheel assembly 86 includes a trailing arm or parallel
arms (not
shown) which are hinged by a horizontal axis pivot at a forward end on the
main frame
section and which supports a pair of leading wheels at the trailing end of the
trailing
arm. A leading wheel actuator (not shown) is operatively coupled between the
main
frame section and the trailing arms for raising and lowering the leading
wheels relative
to the main frame section. In a transport configuration, the wheels are
lowered below
the elevation of the bottom of the main roller for engaging the ground for
rolling motion
in the forward working direction while supporting the main roller spaced above
the
ground. In a working configuration, the actuators raise the trailing arm and
the wheel
supported thereon so that the bottom of the leading wheels is spaced above a
bottom
of the main roller and the leading wheels are out of use.
The leading wheels are supported for free pivotal movement about a
vertical axis relative to the parallel arms that raise and lower the height of
the leading
wheels. The leading wheels being laterally centred relative to the vertical
axis. A
rotation axis of the leading wheels is spaced rearwardly in a trailing
relationship relative
to the vertical axis so that the leading wheels are self-steering in the
forward working
direction. For example, the leading wheels may be supported on a parallel set
links to
.. be raised and lowered substantially as described below with regard to the
steerable
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
17
wheels, but with the leading wheels instead being freely pivotal about the
vertical axis
thereof.
The transport wheels further include an inner wheel assembly 94
associated with each wing assembly in which the inner wheel assembly is
supported at
the outer end of the inner frame section. The inner wheel assembly includes a
pivot
frame 96 connected to the outer end of the inner frame section by a pair of
parallel links
98 so that the pivot frame is adjustable in height relative to the inner frame
section. The
pivot frame 96 supports a vertical pivot thereon from which a wheel frame 100
is
supported to extend downwardly and rearwardly from the caster axis of the
vertical pivot
so that the wheel frame is freely pivotal relative to the pivot frame. A
single inner wheel
102 of the inner wheel assembly is supported at the trailing end of the wheel
frame 100
in trailing relationship to the caster axis of the vertical pivot while being
laterally centred
relative to the pivot axis. An inner actuator 104 is operatively connected
between the
inner frame section and one of the links 98 or the pivot frame 96 to control
raising and
.. lowering of the inner wheel 102 relative to the inner roller between
transport and
working configurations thereof. In the transport configuration, the bottom of
the inner
wheel 102 is spaced below the bottom of the inner roller to support the roller
spaced
above the ground in the transport position. The free pivot enables the inner
wheel to be
self-steering relative to the vertical pivot axis which remains vertical as
the parallel links
98 are pivoted relative to the inner frame section. In the working
configuration of the
implement, the inner wheel assembly is raised so that the bottom of the inner
wheel is
spaced above the bottom of the inner roller for rolling engagement of the
inner roller
across the ground without interference by the inner wheel.
The transport wheels further include an intermediate wheel assembly 106
associated with each wing assembly in which the intermediate wheel assembly is
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
18
supported at the outer end of the intermediate frame section. The intermediate
wheel
assembly includes a pivot frame 108 connected to the outer end of the
intermediate
frame section by a pair of parallel links 110 so that the pivot frame is
adjustable in height
relative to the intermediate frame section. The pivot frame 108 supports a
vertical pivot
thereon from which a wheel frame 112 is supported to extend downwardly and
rearwardly from the caster axis of the vertical pivot so that the wheel frame
is freely
pivotal relative to the pivot frame. A single intermediate wheel 114 of the
intermediate
wheel assembly is supported at the trailing end of the wheel frame 112 in
trailing
relationship to the caster axis of the vertical pivot while being laterally
centred relative
to the pivot axis. An intermediate actuator 116 is operatively connected
between the
intermediate frame section and one of the links 110 or the pivot frame 108 to
control
raising and lowering of the intermediate wheel 114 relative to the
intermediate roller
between transport and working configurations thereof. In the transport
configuration,
the bottom of the intermediate wheel 114 is spaced below the bottom of the
intermediate roller to support the roller spaced above the ground in the
transport
position. The free pivot enables the intermediate wheel to be self steering
relative to
the vertical pivot axis which remains vertical as the parallel links 98 are
pivoted relative
to the intermediate frame section. In the working configuration of the
implement, the
intermediate wheel assembly is raised so that the bottom of the inner wheel is
spaced
above the bottom of the intermediate roller for rolling engagement of the
intermediate
roller across the ground without interference by the intermediate wheel.
The transport wheels further include a trailing wheel assembly 118
supported at the outer end of the outer frame section corresponding to the
outer end of
the wing assembly. The trailing wheel assembly comprises a single trailing arm
120
extending generally downwardly and rearwardly from a leading end pivotally
coupled to
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
19
the outer frame section to an opposing outer end. The outer end of the arm 120
supports
a vertical pivot thereon defining a vertical caster axis when the trailing
wheel assembly
is in a working configuration. A wheel frame 122 is coupled to the arm 120 by
the
vertical pivot so that the wheel frame is freely pivotal about the caster axis
relative to
the arm 120. The wheel frame supports a single trailing wheel 124 thereon for
rotation
about a wheel axis that is supported in a trailing relationship to the caster
axis while the
single trailing wheel 124 is laterally centred relative to the caster axis
such that the
trailing wheel is self steering relative to the structural frame of the
implement when
towed in the forward working direction. A trailing actuator 126 is operatively
connected
between the outer frame section and the arm 120 to raise and lower the arm 120
relative
to the outer frame section. In the transport configuration with the arm
extending
rearwardly at a downward slope, the bottom of the trailing wheel is spaced
below the
bottom of the outer roller to support the roller spaced above the ground. In
the working
configuration of the implement, the trailing actuator is actuated so that the
arm 120
extends upwardly and rearwardly and the trailing wheel assembly is raised so
that the
bottom of the trailing wheel is spaced above the bottom of the outer roller
for rolling
engagement of the outer roller across the ground without interference by the
trailing
wheel.
The transport wheels further include an auxiliary wheel assembly 128
associated with each wing assembly in which the auxiliary wheel assembly is
supported
at the inner end of the intermediate frame section 36. The auxiliary wheel
assembly
includes a pivot frame 130 connected to the inner end of the intermediate
frame section
by a pair of parallel links 132 that extend forwardly in the transport
position so that the
pivot frame is adjustable in height relative to the outer frame section. The
pivot frame
130 supports a vertical pivot thereon from which a wheel frame 134 is
supported to
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
20
extend downwardly and rearwardly from the caster axis of the vertical pivot so
that the
wheel frame is freely pivotal relative to the pivot frame. A single auxiliary
wheel 136 of
the auxiliary wheel assembly is supported at the trailing end of the wheel
frame 134 in
trailing relationship to the caster axis of the vertical pivot while being
laterally centred
relative to the pivot axis. An auxiliary actuator 138 is operatively connected
between
the intermediate frame section and one of the links 132 or the pivot frame 130
to control
raising and lowering of the auxiliary wheel 136 relative to the outer roller
between
transport and working configurations thereof. In the transport configuration,
the bottom
of the auxiliary wheel 136 is spaced below the bottom of the intermediate
roller to
support the roller spaced above the ground in the transport position. The free
pivot
enables the auxiliary wheel to be self-steering relative to the vertical pivot
axis which
remains vertical as the parallel links 132 are pivoted relative to the
intermediate frame
section. In the working configuration of the implement, the auxiliary wheel
assembly is
raised so that the bottom of the auxiliary wheel is spaced above the bottom of
the
intermediate roller for rolling engagement of the intermediate roller across
the ground
without interference by the auxiliary wheel.
The transport wheels further include a steerable wheel assembly 140
associated with each wing assembly in which the steerable wheel assembly is
supported at the inner end of the outer frame section 36. The steerable wheel
assembly
includes a pivot frame 142 connected to the inner end of the outer frame
section by a
pair of parallel links 143 that extend generally forwardly from the outer
frame section to
the pivot frame 142 so that the pivot frame is adjustable in height relative
to the outer
frame section while a pivot axis of a pivot of the pivot frame 142 remains
vertically
oriented throughout the height adjustment. A wheel frame 144 extends
downwardly
and rearwardly from the pivot on the pivot frame so that the wheel frame is
pivotal
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
21
relative to the pivot frame about a vertical steering axis of the pivot on the
pivot frame
142. Two steerable wheels 146 are rotatably mounted on the pivot frame for
rotation
about a common wheel axis that is spaced rearwardly of the vertical steering
axis by
the downward and rearward slope of the wheel frame 144. The collective
arrangement
of the two steerable wheels 146 is laterally centred relative to the upright
steering axis.
A steering actuator 148 is operatively connected between the pivot frame and
the wheel
frame to control orientation of the wheel frame and the steerable wheels 146
supported
thereon relative to the pivot frame about the upright steering axis.
A lift actuator 150 is operatively connected between the outer frame
section and one of the pivot frame 142 or the parallel links 143 so that
height of the
steerable wheels 146 relative to the outer roller can be controlled. In the
transport
configuration, with the links extending forwardly at a downward slope, the
bottom of the
steerable wheels is spaced below the bottom of the outer roller to support the
outer
roller spaced above the ground. In the working configuration of the implement,
the lift
actuator 150 is actuated so that the links extend upwardly and forwardly and
the
steerable wheels are raised so that the bottom of the steerable wheels is
spaced above
the bottom of the outer roller for rolling engagement of the outer roller
across the ground
without interference from the steerable wheels.
When in the transport configuration with the steerable wheels engaged
upon the ground, the steering actuator 148 can be further actuated for
controlling the
orientation of the wheels about the upright steering axis between (i) a road
transport
configuration in which the wheel axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the wing
for rolling in the forward working direction in the transport position of the
wings and (ii)
a field deployment configuration in which the wheel axes of the steerable
wheels are
oriented transversely to the transport configuration, for example at a slope
of between
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
22
20 and 70 degrees from the longitudinal axes of the wing assemblies
respectively. More
preferably the wheels can be steered into an orientation of the wheel axes of
approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the wing. In the
illustrated
embodiment of figure 2, the wheels are pivoted through a range of less than 30
degrees
from the road transport configuration to the field configuration. The steering
actuator
148 is a hydraulic actuator which can be locked using valve controls for the
hydraulics
at any selected position corresponding to the road transport configuration,
the field
configuration or a selected position between the two. Optionally an additional
locking
pin 152 may be provided for insertion through cooperating apertures in the
pivot frame
142 and the wheel frame 144 to fix the orientation of the wheel frame relative
to the
pivot frame at any one of numerous selected orientations. All other wheels
assemblies
can be similarly locked in the transport position if desired.
The steering of the steerable wheels 146 into the field configuration is
used to assist in displacing the wings from the working position to the
transport position.
In the working position of the wing assemblies for use in leveling land, all
of the transport
wheels are typically raised to be spaced above the ground and out of use. For
converting to the transport position, the brace arms 52 are disconnected and
all
transport wheels are displaced downward into a transport configuration by
actuating the
appropriate actuators to lift the land leveling rollers off the ground and
support the frame
of the implement entirely on the transport wheels. The implement is then
displaced in
the forward working direction using the towing vehicle. The drag of the
transport wheels
on the ground causes the wings to be gradually displaced from the working
position to
the transport position in a trailing relationship with the towing vehicle. The
steerable
wheels can remain locked in the transport configuration while the other wheels
remain
freely pivotal about the upright axes thereof for road transport. As the
towing vehicle
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
23
executes a turn, the arrangement of the steerable wheels 146 locked in the
forward
rolling transport configuration define the turning radius of the towed
implement while
the remaining transport wheels remain freely pivoting as castor wheels to
support the
weight of the frame sections of the implement without affecting the turning
radius during
towing.
When it is desirable to displace the implement from the transport position
to the working position, the steerable wheels are pivoted into the field
configuration
thereof by steering both steerable wheel assemblies so that the forward ends
of the
steerable wheels are displaced inwardly while the rearward ends of the
steerable
.. wheels are displaced outwardly resulting in the axes of rotation of the
steerable wheel
assemblies being sloped rearwardly and inwardly towards one another.
Subsequent
reversing of the implement by displacing the towing vehicle rearwardly results
in the
steerable wheels steering the wings outwardly and away from one another
towards the
working position. Once fully deployed in the working or field position, the
brace arms
152 are latched to the main frame section to retain the wings in the working
position.
All transport wheels are then raised and lifted out of use so that the rollers
engage the
ground while being oriented for rolling in the forward working direction.
Turning now to figures 17 and 18, a second embodiment of the implement
10 will now be described. In this instance, the structural frame of the
implement
includes a main frame section 12 with a hitch frame 14 for connection to the
towing
vehicle in a manner which is identical to the previous embodiment. Also
similarly to the
previous embodiment, the implement includes two wing assemblies 16 which are
coupled that opposing sides of the main frame section. Each wing assembly is
again
elongate along a respective longitudinal axis from an inner end 18 of the wing
assembly
.. that is coupled to the main frame section 12 to an outer end 20 that is
distal relative to
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
24
the main frame section 12. In the working position when the implement is used
for
leveling land, the wing assemblies are supported to extend laterally outward
and
opposing directions from the main frame section 12. In the transport position,
the two
wing assemblies 16 extend rearward from the main frame section 12 to be
substantially
parallel to one another when towed in the forward working direction.
In the second embodiment, each wing assembly includes only an
intermediate frame section 200 at the inner end 18 of the wing assembly and
outer
frame section 202 which remains at the outer end of the wing assembly. Each
intermediate frame section 200 is identical to the inner frame section 34 of
the previous
embodiment to be coupled at the inner end thereof by suitable pivot couplings
50 at
spaced apart positions on the main frame section 12. Each intermediate frame
section
200 of the second embodiment thus further includes a mounting frame comprised
of
two frame members 56 similar to the frame members of the previous embodiment
for
pivotal connection of a subsequent frame section about a horizontal floating
axis
oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the wing assembly.
Each outer frame section 202 of the second embodiment is nearly
identical to the intermediate frame sections 38 described above with regards
to the first
embodiment. The roller of the outer frame section 202 is thus arranged in
longitudinal
overlapping configuration with the roller of the intermediate frame section
200 while the
outer frame section is offset laterally outwardly relative to the intermediate
frame section
in the transport position corresponding to the outer frame sections being
offset forwardly
of the intermediate frame sections in the working position.
The transport wheels in this instance include leading wheel assemblies
86 mounted on the main frame section identically to the leading wheel
assemblies of
.. the previous embodiment.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
25
Furthermore, the transport wheels include trailing wheel assemblies 118
which may be identical to the trailing wheel assemblies of the previous
embodiment so
as to be mounted at the outer end of the outer frame section corresponding to
the outer
end of the wing assembly and so as to be freely pivotal and self-steering
about
respective vertical axes.
Furthermore, the transport wheels include intermediate wheel assemblies
204 which are supported to extend forwardly from the inner ends of the outer
frame
sections in the transport position. The intermediate wheel assemblies 204 are
identical
to the auxiliary wheel assemblies 128 that extend forward from the
intermediate frame
sections 38 as described in the previous embodiment.
In this embodiment steerable wheel assemblies 206 are provided which
are identical to the steerable wheel assemblies 140 of the previous embodiment
with
the exception of the steerable wheel assemblies 206 being mounted to extend
rearwardly from the intermediate frame sections 200 at the outer ends of the
intermediate frame sections in the transport position instead of extending
forwardly from
the inner ends of the outer frame sections 36 in the previous embodiment. In
this
manner the parallel links 143 of the steerable wheels 206 extend generally
rearwardly
to support a vertical pivot shaft on the pivot frame at the rear ends of the
links. Each
steerable wheel assembly 206 again comprises two steerable wheels 146 which
are
laterally centred relative to the upright steering axis of the assembly. A
steering actuator
148 and a lift actuator 150 are again operatively connected to the steerable
wheel
assemblies 206 for controlling the implement between working and transport
positions
of the wing assembly as described above regarding the previous embodiment. By
providing the steerable wheel assemblies 206 at a location spaced forwardly of
the
trailing wheels 118 the same advantages of shortening the turning radius of
the
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
26
implement in the transport position while providing stable support for all of
the rollers in
a manner similar to the previous embodiment can be achieved. Similar to the
previous
embodiment, all other transport wheels other than the steerable wheel
assemblies 206
are typically freely pivoting and self-steering in a transport position so
that the turning
radius when towing is dictated solely by the steerable wheel assemblies 206
that are
spaced forwardly of the trailing ends of the wing assemblies.
Since various modifications can be made in the invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-08
