CA1133027A - Steerable wheeled assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

7702-L0l TITLE: STEERABLE WHEELED ASSEMBLY

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE: A steerable wheeled assembly for a vehicle such as a harvesting or windrowing machine of the type adapted to be drawn over crop rows in the ground is disclosed. The assembly includes rotatable vertical members and a horizontal axle member which are arranged in a "C" frame supportingly connected to the vehicle and which provides clearance under the axle.
Ground engaging wheels rotate on stub axles which pivot in steering movement when the vertical members are rotated.
Steering or pivot arms are mounted on each of the vertical members and are connected together by a tie rod. A fluid power actuated cylinder, operatively associated with one of the arms, applies a pivoting action thereto and, through the tie rod, to the other pivot arm provides a steering movement for the wheels.

Description

1~330'Z7 TITLE: ST~R~BLE Wl-IEELED ~SS~rlBLY
B~CKG~UI~D ~r Tll~ NTIO~l Field of the Invcntion This invention relates, generally to steerable c~round 5 engaging wheeled assemblies for vehicles and more partic-ularly to steerable axle wheeled assemblies for drawn or trailed vehicles which are provided with wheel turn angle and direction indicator means and which is arranged on the vehicle in supportin~ relationi ample clearance between the 10 axle and crop rows in the ground over which it is clra~n being provided.
Descri~tion of the Prior ~.rt Various forms of wheeled assemblies with both steer-able and non-steerable axles have been pro~osed ancl used 15 in the prior art. In addition, some prior art steerable axle wheeled asse~blies have been equipped with turn ana3e -indicators. ~n example o a steerable wheel assembly for an automobile with turn angle indicator is disclosecl in U. S. 1 1~6,6~0, issued January 4 1"16, in which a turn 20 indicator has a pointer in the form of an arrow fi~:cdly mounted at the upper end of an upstllldinl rotary sh(l~
which is pivotally attached via a rearwardly projecting crank arm connected to one cnd of a link. Ilhe lin]~ at its opposite end is pivoted to the steering rod of the 25 front wheels of the auto~obile. When the steering wlleel of the automobile is turned by the driver the front ~heels also turn in parallel and the pointer arrow pivots correspondingly to give an indication o~ the direction in which the wheels are headecl. Such front wheel turn in-~, *
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1~330Z7 dicators have been found useful in automobiles in the pastto provide the driver with information concerning the position of his front wheels. Such devices have the disadvantage however, of at least partially obstructing the driver's view in front resulting in an unsafe or hazardous driving condition. In addition, in automobiles, such appurtenances are, by present day standards of design, rather unsightly and aesthetically undesirable.
U. S. 3,103,909, issued on September ~7, 1968 discloses a turn indicator also intended for automobiles to indicate the turn angle or position of the front wheels when turning.
This indicator operates through associated split gears on shafts and bearings when the steering wheel is turned on its shaft through the steering gear box of the automobile.
The indicator also includes a pointer and guage dial to provide information relative to turning angle and left to right direction of the front wheels. Such an arrangement has the disadvantage, however, of being unduly complex and mechanically complicated and impractical. In addition, such a device can provide front wheel turning angle information only because of its attachment to and dependence on the automobile's steering gear system. While overcoming the disadvantage of poor aesthetics which attended the previously described patented device, this invention is too costly because of its relative complexity and mechanical impractic-ability to have application to implements and vehicles of the type with which the present invention is concerned.
U. S. 3,463,507, issued August 26, 1969 discloses a diringible wheeled assembly for a trailing or drawn vehicle in which a steering linkage is attached to a pair of wheels mounted for steering movement about their respective vertical axes. The assembly supports an agricultural implement such as a trailing plow and features a telescoping linkage or steering arm which permits the wheels to turn sharply without undue scuffing or dragging during the turn. However, this machine has the disadvantage that no means is provided ~1330Z7 whereby observation from the tractor will ~rovide inforrla-tion as to the position of the trailing vehicle with re- r spect to the crop rows in the terrain over which the ~ehi~le is bcing (31-.~WIl nor inrol-matioll as to the turn an~le and 5 direction of the wheels of the wheeled assembly with re-spect to the vehicle. Information of this sort is ordin- L
arily very useful desirable and important .o an operator using these machines and implements. I~ot.e~er W lell o~e--at-ing them on hilly or contoured terrain ~ithout some m als 10 to tell the direction and turnin~ anctle or altitute of the wheels it is almost impossihle to keep the vellicle trail-ing along the intended coursc in the crop row.
Other prior art patents are kno-"n which disclose high clearance dirigible axles for wheeled assemblies for e~-15 ample, U. S. 2 507 000 issued ~ay 9 1950. This patent discloses a front axle havin~ a horizontal me~ber and a pair of vertical members which are arrancJed to pivot abc~t their long axes when actuated through associa-ted linkartc members by action of an attach~d stcerinc~ c~ear mechanism.
20 The wheels are arranged on stub axles at the bottom of thc verticai members and pivot therewith in a steerinq lr,ove-ment. Such an assembly is useful on a tractor whicl is arranged to move over the ground in crop rows in plantins fields and provides amplc ~roun~ clearance above tl-c ground.
25 Such devices however have thc disadvantage that there is no indicator means to inform the operator oE the direct on or turning angle of the wheels during operation. Unless the assemhly is used on a tractor wl1ercin thc wlleels are entirely and easily in the view of the operator tne lat-cr 30 has no way of knowing or determininq the anqular position of the front wheels when turning or when standing before the vehicle is put in motion. r In addition since the wheeled assembly disclose(i in this patent is intended for use as the front wheel asserlbl~
35 of a tractor this patent does not address itself to the problem faced by the operator of a tractor which is draw- -_ ..

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~330'~7 ing or trailing a whceled vehicle in crop ro~s in the ground behislc3 it, nalllely of obtaini3~ y obsel-vcltion, inLormatio as to the position of the trailin~l vehicle wheels with rc-s~ect to the cro~ rows and/or other information as to thc S turn angle and direction of the wheels of tlle wheeled as-sembly with res~ect to the vehicle.
Another problem which attends wheeled assemblics o.
the prior art, both steerable andi non-stcerable, particul-arly when used with agricultural implenlcllts sucil as l-OOt 10 plant crop harvesting machines, e g., potato, onion and/o-beet harvesting machines, winc1~o~ers and the like eaui~lent used either in conjunction there~ith, or indePendently thereof, concerns the location of the ~?heeled assembly axles. In the prior art, these axles are conventionallv 15 positioned and located on the tra.iling vehicle so as to pass transversely under or between the digger chains and conveyor belts and the li~e of the harvestinq or win~rowill4 machine vehicle and, as a result, an unclesirable accu~ula-tion of dirt, debris and other materials such as plant vines 20 and the li}~e, occurs which means the machine must be stop?ed to clear away the offendiny material, th~reb~ interfering with harvesting operations.
surv~Ry ~ TI~ VENTION
A~ong the objects of the l)resent invention is the p~o-25 vision of a wheeled assembly for a vehicle ada~ted to bedrawn or trailed over the ground which is steerable and in-cludes an indicator system for indicating the turning an~le and direction of the wheels of the assembly.
Another object of the precent invention is tG pL-OV'.de 30 a wheeled assembly of the character described in W'hiCil tnc steerable axle is located on the vehicle where the accumula-tion of dirt and other debris ancl li}e material unc~cr thc vehicle is substantially obviated.
~ further object of t],c Prcscnl- invcntioll is L~ ~ro-35 vide a steerable axle for a grc)ur.cl engagin~ wheel.ec as-sembl~
of the character described which has a 4enerally "C" sh.~e~
frame havillg horizontâl and vcl^tical mc~m~ers on wh:ich tl~c vehicle is supported and on which the w}leels arc pivotally , .

302'7 --5-- .
and rotatably cal^rie(l for stool-in-l allcl l-ollinl moven~ellt ,.
rcspectivo.ly, the forn,cr by mean(., ol' a~ ;(>ci~ cd :lin};a(;c ,-and an actuator dovice whic}l operatcs a pivot arm on the vertieal members and the latter by mcans o a spindlc 5 assembl~ including axles on ~7hich the ~.1hce]s rotatc said assembly further includinc3 an indicator system Cor l~ro-viding information relevant to thc-l steerinc; angle an~
direetion of the wheels.
Still another object of t!~e prcse;lt i.n~cl~tioll i.s t,o 10 provide a qround enc~agi.llc3 steerable wheeled assembly for a vehicle of the character described in ~^?hjcll the turn angle indieator system is loeated suhstantially eentrally of the vehicle whereby observation thereof provic'es in-formation as to the position Gf the vehiele with respect 15 to erop rows in the ground over ~hich the v~hicle is drawn and the turn angle and direction of the .~7heels of the ~7heeled vehicle Wit]l respect to the cjrouncl.
~ still further objeet of the Present inventioil is to provide a ground engaging steerable ~heeled assembly for 20 a vehicle of the character described which in addition tG
having a C -silaped frame which ma~-es for a relatively high elearanee overhead a~le an operator ohscrvable turn angle indicator system means and an aetuating pivotinq device also ineludes e~ten(li~lc .~nd rigitlifiable loc~.i.nq 25 means for fixinc3 the angle and clirection of the w~leels at a selected angular position or in a straight ahead alicr.ed position.
In aceomplishinc3 these and other objects there i.s providecl according to the ~rcsent in~rentiol1 a dirigiblc 30 axle for a ground engaqing wheeled assembly supportinc,ly connected to a vehiele adapted to be drawn or trailcd over the ground ~hieh axle eomprises a horizontal ~ember pre-ferably connected i.n the form of a C frame to rotatable spaced apart generally vertical rembers havi.nc3 spir.c;le 35 assemblies including ground engaging wheels which rotate on the ground and pivot in a steerinq Moverent ~.~hen the r !
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1~330'27 vertical. mcml~crs are ro~atecl. ~hc vertical mcrll~el-s have ~ivot arms which are intel--conllected through a stecring link or tie rod. ~ po~.~er actu~tor in the form of a fluid po~er cylinclc~r is mounted on the vehicle and connectec' to 5 one of the pivot arms so that ~-~hen actuatcd, the arms and the vertical mer~lbers are made to pivot in unison about their long axes and steering motion i~ impartcd to the wheels. A turn indicator preferably cornDri.sincl a pointc--and a gauge di~l is arrar.ged c~n tlle vehicle substalltial.lv 10 centrally thereof and positioned so that ~Jhen observed it provides in ormation as to the position of the dra~l. or driven trailing vehicle with resect to crop rows in the gxound over ~hich it is heinq drawn, as ~el.1 as information about the turn angle and direction of the ~heels of the 15 wheeled assembly relative to the vehicle. Tn thc above preferred embodiment the "C" frame construction advan-tagec,usly allows the axle to be located, and the vehicle positioned, ~Ihere the accumulation of clirt, plant crop material such as vines and the like, or other debri.s, is 20 substantially eliminated because of the relacivel~y high ground clearance provided. Prior to the present invent~on, these machines, particular].y harvesting, ~iindro~7inc~ and li,:e machines and equipment, conventionally used standarc-' axles whicll are located under, or l-e-t~7een the dic;cler chains and/or 25 belt conveyor devices carried thereon reducing the cround clearance and causing clogging ~,ith dirt, vines and other debris which accumulates undcr the ax]e. l;arJestin~ opera-tions beintJ thus interfcrrecl t.~i.th, must bc (.1i.scontin~cd at least temporarily, to clean out the o~fellclincl matter fror 30 beneath the axle.
In the preferred embodirnent of the invention, the in-dicator gauge dial is carried on the vchicle, usually and preferably on the horizontal member and the pojnter is attached to the linkage or tie rod, whereas i.n another ~orm 35 of the invention the tie rocl carries the claucle c~ial .hilc the pointer is fixed to the vehicle.

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~ric~f ~cscri~tiol1 c-~ the Dr.~in~r1s Fi(3u]c~ 1 is ~r~ lo(lo(1 T~o~ )cctiv~ vi~l~ OJr ~ )rC~ r felred stceral~le wl~c~c!lec-l asscrlbly, somc~
parts ~rohen a~ay and other, non-essential parts omitl:ecl;
Fi~Jure 2 is a front elcvc-ltional, partially sectioncd view of the invcntion used a~s a st~erable wheel~d supportinc assembly ror 2 winc;.-o-.:e~-vehicle beinc1 drawn Ol- trailcd i!l CLOI~ ro~.s over the qround, sore parts omi.tted;
~igure 3 is a c3eneral].y diaqran~atic ~lan View~ some parts omitted, of the wheele~ asse~blv of the invention, the wl1eels thereo~ haJinc~
been Pivoted in a steering ~oven1ent to a straight ahead or aliqne~ 0sitiOI1, beinc3 drawn in the di.rection of. the arrowi Figure 4 i.s a fraqmentarv, perspective view O r a turning anqle indicator systcm used in another embodin1el1t of. the invention;
Figure 5 is a generall~ diagra~matic plan view. of th_ 1-wheeled assembly accordinq to .~iqure 3, the ~heels i.n this instance pivoted in a steex-ina move7~ent to a new position to thc left being drawn in the di.rection Gf the arrow, and the turnincr indicator beinc; the system shown in Figure ~; and FicJure ~ is a cJenerally di.agra~matic ?lan ~j.e~
of the wheeled asse~ ly according to Ei(1ure 3, the wheels ~i.voted in a stecrinc3-;1oveme to still another ~o.sition to tl~c- right hei11g dra~7n in the direction of the arrow, and the turning indicator heinq the system shown in Figures l, 2 and 3.
D~SCRI~TION 0~ T~IE Pr;~F~ lD ~ 'ODI
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A preferrecl for~ o.f steerahle wheeled assembly in accordance with the present invention is depicted ir. ,he ~ t .~

1~33027 drawinys With particular rerercnce tG 7'i(lure~s ] an-l 2, a wheeled assclllbly 10 i, sho~,~n togethcr wi~h a portion of the frame ofa driv~ar drawn trailinc~ vehicle 1~ to ~hic~ it is supportin(Jly attaci~e~, as by ~ieldillq, to the lower ends of S the vertical housinqs 14 of a pair of spaced apart, rctat-able members 16. A horizontal a~;le memher ]8 is positioned o.
and lies across the tops of housinqs 14 bein~ attachcd thereto, as by welding, formin~ a "C" frar~e structure 20.
~Tertical members 16 c~:tcnd upwarc'lv in hou~in~s 1' 10 with their top ends 22 protruding througl~ member 18 ancl extendinq above it a short distance. ~ac~ top end 22 carries a bushinq 24, as sho~n in ~igure , pivotally supporting a steerinq or ~ivot arm 26. ~rms 26 are pivot-a~ly connected to vertical me~bers 16 on ends 22 being so lS mounted thereon so that when Pivoted in a cranking movement members 16 rotate about their respective lony, or vertical a~es.
The lower ends of vertical ~embers 16 extend belo~ "C"
frame 20 from housincrs 14 alld terminate in ~he nivotable 20 spindle assemblies 28. Each spilldle asse!nl)ly 28 comnrises a short, do~n~ardly extendins tube end piecc 30, a la.erally cxtending stub axle 32 and a l~ushin~ or thrust ~asher 34 positioned on tu~e piece 30 bet~?een the top thereof and the bottom of housing 14. It has been found that the latter 25 may be dispensed with, ho~7ever its use is generally desir-able since it provides a wear plate for these surfaces ~ -ground engaging t~heel 36 is rotatably secured on each stub axle 32 and, as will be apr,reciated rom Eigures 1 and 2, when arms 26 pivot to rotate vertical members 16, l~heels 36 30 also pivot in a steerin~ movement t}-ere~ith A steerinq linkaqe or tie rod 38 is fle~ibly attached at its opposite ends to the outer ends o~ each pivot arm 26 by suitable connectors, for e~ample, the pin connected clevises 40 on the ends of tie rod 38 Each arm 26 has a pair of nre-formed or re-drilled holes, one outboard and one inboard, the former for re-ceiving the clevis pin of clevises 40 to connect the ends -.
i, il~33027 of tie rod 3~ and the latter for attacllin~ the rod end o,' a j)ivo~ d~-ivcr oL- ac~uati.llg cievicc, for e~:ar.-l~le, thc doubl-actincJ :f~ icl l~owereci cylinde]- 42, it beinc~ understood that the particular type of actuating device selected for use is 5 not eritical since other devices ~ell-known to the skilled arti.san may also be uscd.
P~eferring again to ~ic)ure 1, actuator ~2 is mounted on ,t vehicle 12 toward the right sicle thereof, one end beinc, ?in connected to a ric3ht-11allc1 moulltillcl ~rac};ct or ~ittin(, ;~
10 the vertical side of a~le member 18, the other, or piston rod end being pin connected in thc inboard drilled hole in the right-hand arm 26. On the opposite side, corresponcl- P
ing left-hand pivot arm 26, also has outboard and inboard pre-drilled holes, the former or pin connectinc-J the left-15 hand clevis 40 of tie rod 3~ and the latter for connectincJ
one end of an extendible, rigidifiable lockir,g device 46.
The other end of extendible device 46 is flexi~ly pivotcd to a second, or left-hand bracket or fitting 48 on axle member 18.
To provide an operator of a tractor which may be usecl to drive or draw trailing vehicle 12, which vehicle may be a harvestincJ machine, particular:Ly a harvcsting machille having a digging mechanism inc~.uding a digy~r chain 52 in-cluding a conveyor belt or the like, which is depicted in 25 diagrammatic form only in Fiqure 2, for diggin~3 up ancl harvestinq certain types of tuber-F)ro]?agatecl plants or crops SUC]l as potatoes, beets and onions, or a l~re-h~rvest-ing maehine such as the wi.lldrowin~ apparatus 50 also il-lustrated in ~ic~ure 2, ~"ith information conccrni.ncJ t!le~ r~o.i-30 tion of vehicle 12 relative to the crop rows in the c3roun('together with additional information as to the turning angle and the direetion of wheels 36 of assembly 10, an indicator system 54 is provic3ed which is shown locatccl substantially eentrally of vchicle 12 for easy o~servation 35 by the operator.
In the preferred embodirnent of the invention, in-~ . . ~ ~ .

113302~7 --10-- ,-dicator s~stcm 54 comprises a gauqe dial 5G fixcdly mGuntecl on a~lc mcmbcr 18, the dial facc 5~ o which has a ~)rintc(l sca~.e of anclular ~raduations 60 wilich are ca]ihrated Ulli-formly from a central, or zero point so that corresponclin(, 5 angles may be indicated to the right or left thereof ac-cordingly as the whcels are turned to thc ric~ht or ~e~t, and a pointer 62 fixedly mounted on and carried by tie rod 38.
In operation with rec~rcllcc to l;igure G, \~ en ~ eel.s 10 36 on axl~s 32 are turned, or steered to the ri.ql-t by thc operator in thc tractor, (not shown) as indicated by the arrow, ~luid pressure supplied from a Eluicl pressure supply (not shown) to the top, or front side of the piston 64 of pivot actuator 42, causes ~rms 26 to pivot in unison owing 15 to the connection thereto of tie rod 38. Tie rod 38 moves to the right carrying pointer 62 with it. ~ointer 62 takcs up a new position in front of scale 60 on dial face 58 of gauge dial 56, which when observed by the operator in the tractor povides him with in~ormation as to the position of 20 the vehicle with respect to the crop rows in ~hich the vehicle is being drawn, as shown in ~igure 2, and also tells him the angular position and c3irection of wheels 36 of as-sembly 10.
To describe the invention in a slightly moclified form, 25 reference will be made to Figure 4 in which a different indicator system 154 is dePicted. GaucJe cli.al 56 of thc previous embodiment is mounted on linkage OJ- tie rod 3 for movement there~7ith and a modified pointer 152 is moun~
ed on axle memb~r 36 being stati.Gnarv thercc)n and sha)cd or 30 formed as shown in Figure 4 with its pointcr end suspendc~ -above and in front of graduated scale 60 o- dial face 58 of gauge dial 56.
In operation of this embocliment, when wheels 3~ arc turned in steering movement, say, to the lef-t, as inc'icat2d 35 by the arrow in Fiqure 5, by fluid pressure supplicd from a supply (not shown) to the bottom or backside of pistol~ 54, arms 26 pivot to the left in unison by connection thcreto o~

] 1 tie rod 38 whicll also moves to the left carryin~7 gaucle dial 56 to a new p~sition uncler stationary poillter 1~2. ~s in the previously described instance, observation of indicator system 154 provides tlle operator in the tractor (not sho~n) 5 with complete information as to the position of vehicle 12 as it trails behind the tractor relative to the crop rows and also as to angle of turn and direction of wheels 3G of wheeled assembly 10 relative to vchicle 12 Referring now to Fic~urcs 1 alld 3, e~te~ le iu~ id-10 ifiable loc~.ing device 46 will be described. I,ockil,~ de-vice 46 comprises a pair o. longitudinally slotted merlbers 66 and 68, the former being dimensionally, sufficiently small to slide in the latter in telescopinc3 relation.
The opposite end of member 66 is pin connected to left-15 hand pivot arm 2~ in its inboard, pre-drilled hole and the opposite end of member 68 is pin connected to left-harld bracket 4~ on axle member 18. ~ lonaitudinal slot 7C is formed on member 66 whieh lies adjacent a corresponding slot 72 in member 6g when these members are assembled zr.d 20 a elamping deviee 74 in the forn of a bolt with asso~iate~
washers and a nut is used to hold members 66 and 68 toget}ler.
In operation, tightening of the nut on the bolt of elamp 74 clam~s these members a;ld rigidifies lockinc3 ae-vice 46 in a locking action. Loosening of the nut and bol'.
25 of elamp 74 unlocks device 4~ permitting member 66 to e~-tend or contract into and out of member 68 It will ke appreeiated, therefore, by this means ~heels 36 and as-sembly 10 can be locked in any selected anc3ll1ar position, the e~tent of wnich is limited by the lengt`ns of slots 70 30 and 72, or in a straight ahead position as is illustrated in Figure 3.
In addition to being fully steerable, wheeled assembly 10 of the present invention as described previously being arranged with its main members into a "C" frame structure 35 20 a high clearance, overhead axle which, particularll whe used on digging machines, particularly potato anc~ li}:e ~ "

crop has the advanta~lc o~ its axle be~ ]ocatcd t~ Cl-C i' cannot accumulatc dirt, vincs, ~lant matcrial and otl~cr debris, thereby avoidinq the con~estion caused by convcn-tional axles. In addjtion, the overhcad axle "C" ~rarne 5 20 can be loc~ed in place or used as a steerable a~le.

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Claims (2)

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The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1 . Steerable axle means for a ground engaging wheeled assembly of a trailed or drawn vehicle having a frame supported on said assembly comprising:
a horizontal member supported on said frame in vertically spaced, laterally extending overhead relation to said vehicle;
a pair of spaced apart, generally vertical rotatable members having upper ends coupled to said horizontal member and lower ends including pivotal means for rotatably supporting and pivoting the wheels of said assembly;
steering means on said vertical members for rotating said members and pivoting said wheels;
linkage means between said vertical members pivot-ally connected to said steering means;
actuating means on said vehicle operably connected to said steering means for rotating said vertical members and steering said axle means; and severally componented visible indication means disposed on said vehicle for providing information respecting the turn angle and position of said wheels relative to said vehicle including a component which, in normal use providing said information, is relatively stationary and at least one additional component which, in normal use providing said in-formation, is relatively movable with respect to said stationary component, said relatively stationary component being fixed to said horizontal member and comprising a gauge dial, the additional component being a pointer carried by said linkage means.

2. Steerable axle means for a ground engaging wheeled assembly of a trailed or drawn vehicle having a frame supported on said assembly comprising:
a horizontal member supported on said frame in vertically spaced, laterally extending overhead relation to said vehicle;
a pair of spaced apart, generally vertical rotatable members having upper ends coupled to said horizontal member and lower ends including pivotal means for rotatably supporting and pivoting the wheels of said assembly;
steering means on said vertical members for rotating said member and pivoting said wheels;
linkage means between said vertical members pivotally connected to said steering means;
actuating means on said vehicle operably connected to said steering means for rotating said vertical members and steer-ing said axle means; and severally componented visible indication means dis-posed on said vehicle for providing information respecting the turn angle and position of said wheels relative to said vehicle including a component which, in normal use providing said informa-tion, is relatively stationary and at least one additional com-ponent which, in normal use providing said information, is relatively movable with respect to said stationary component, said relatively stationary component being fixed to said hori-zontal member and comprising a pointer, the additional component being a gauge dial carried by said linkage means.