Implement Wheel Steered Patents (Class 172/280)
  • Patent number: 8818652
    Abstract: An assembly for facilitating steering of an agricultural implement linkable to a work vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises at least a first ground-engaging wheel to engage a ground surface below a frame of the agricultural implement to support the frame above the ground surface. The assembly further comprises a positioning system for receiving a positioning signal from a positioning source. The positioning system determines a current position of the agricultural implement from at least the positioning signal, and the positioning system generates a control signal derived from the current position of the agricultural implement. The assembly further comprises a steering cylinder connected to the first ground-engaging wheel. The steering cylinder operatively connects to the positioning system to steer the first ground-engaging wheel based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dennis Thompson, Terry Friggstad
  • Patent number: 8700269
    Abstract: A steerable agricultural implement configured to be coupled to a tractor by a multi-point hitch system that restrains side-to-side articulation between the tractor and the implement. The agricultural implement includes a steering controller that receives a positional attribute from a steering system of the tractor and controls a degree of pivot of a wheel assembly of the agricultural implement based on the positional attribute of the tractor steering system. The wheel assembly is configured with a steering actuator that is operable to pivot a portion of the wheel assembly without transmitting force beyond the wheel assembly, abutment stops to define maximum degrees of pivot of the portion of the wheel assembly and relieve the steering actuator without transmitting force beyond the wheel assembly, and a quick release free-wheel mechanism to enable a disconnected or “free wheel” operation of the wheel assembly independent of the steering actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Verne Hubalek
  • Patent number: 8428831
    Abstract: An assembly for facilitating steering of an agricultural implement linkable to a work vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises at least a first ground-engaging wheel to engage a ground surface below a frame of the agricultural implement to support the frame above the ground surface. The assembly further comprises a positioning system for receiving a positioning signal from a positioning source. The positioning system determines a current position of the agricultural implement from at least the positioning signal, and the positioning system generates a control signal derived from the current position of the agricultural implement. The assembly further comprises a steering cylinder connected to the first ground-engaging wheel. The steering cylinder operatively connects to the positioning system to steer the first ground-engaging wheel based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dennis Thompson, Terry Friggstad
  • Publication number: 20120261146
    Abstract: A wheel attachment assembly (10) mountable to an agricultural implement (22) that is drawn by a vehicle having front steering wheels and, the assembly including: at least one ground engaging wheel (14, 14?); a lift actuator (34, 34?) for lifting the implement with respect to the wheel a mounting arrangement for mounting the assembly to the rear of the implement; and a steering mechanism (60) for steering the wheel, wherein the steering mechanism is controllable such that the at least one wheel is steered in cooperation with the vehicle front wheels when the vehicle is turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: FRIEDRICH GEORG BOLTEN
  • Publication number: 20070289754
    Abstract: The lawn aerating vehicle has front and rear steering sections, each of which supports an aerator drum. Each drum has multiple cutting tines extending radially outward for soil penetration during the aerating process. A hydraulic motor and a belt or chain drive connected to the front drum propel the vehicle. Steering actuators provide pivotal torque to the drums for steering. A hydraulic pump and reservoir provide hydraulic power to the hydraulic motor and actuators. A cylindrical member forms part of a vehicle suspension by connecting the rear and front steering sections. Frame members and an operator's cab are disposed above the suspension and can be pivoted around the cylindrical member to provide cab leveling by means of a cab leveling actuator. The two drums provide for double coverage per pass. External vehicle lights permit operation during nighttime and otherwise poor visibility conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: James O. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6179315
    Abstract: A steerable machinery trailer (1) has a chassis (2, 33, 35, 36) intermediate a pivotal towing attachment (26, 29, 30, 46) and trailer wheels (3) proximate a rear portion of the chassis. The trailer wheels have pivotal attachment to the trailer and are pivotal for steering with a steering shaft (4) that is length-controllable intermediate rigid positioning on the chassis and a steering arm (6) attached to a steering rod (7) that is connected to a pivotal attachment of the trailer wheels to the chassis. Separately and optionally from being pivotal on the pivotal towing attachment by wheel-following of the trailer wheels, the chassis is pivotal on the pivotal towing attachment with a positioning shaft (8) that is length controllable intermediate rigid positioning on the chassis and a rigid lateral attachment (5, 9) to the towing vehicle. Length changes of the steering shaft steer the trailer wheels to guide the rear portion of the trailer from-side-to-side for selective turn-positioning of the trailer wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Cale N. Boriack
  • Patent number: 4892152
    Abstract: An implement for cutting one or more strip of sod is provided which can be attached to standard vehicles, such as tractors. The cutting head of the implement is mounted in a subframe which is pivoted about a longitudinal axis with respect to the vehicle such that it will follow any unevenness of the ground. A remotely controllable depth adjustment means is also provided for varying sod thickness. The adjustment means includes a large eccentric bushing for rough adjustment and a smaller hydraulically controlled eccentric bushing for fine adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: Johannes van Vuuren
  • Patent number: 4135582
    Abstract: This invention is a plough consisting of at least two booms pivotally connected together about a joint which can be locked to enable the booms to extend in line with each other, each carrying plough shares extending to one and the other side of the tractor so that a very large number of shares can be pulled by a single tractor. The pivot joint can be released to enable one boom to swing in relation to the other when not ploughing so that the total width of the tractor and plough is not too great to be driven along roads and through narrow openings into fields and so on. There may be boom at the other end of the fixed boom capable of pivoting about a similar joint towards the tractor. The one boom is arranged to be mounted on the tractor three point linkages so that it can be lifted by that linkage when not ploughing, and the other, or other booms can have wheels associated with jacks for lifting the shares clear of the ground enabling the wheels to run over the ground when not ploughing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Inventor: David J. Farrant