Two Trailer Combination to Haul Combine Headers and Grain
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combination of two trailers to carry grain and grain harvesting headers for combines. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved header trailer that can move combine headers between field locations and can be carried piggyback in over the road transport within the grain bed body of a piggyback transport trailer. This invention relates also to a powered hoist that can be mounted on the combine and used to lift the improved header trailer.
Background of the Invention
.Trailers with grain bed type bodies have been manufactured for many years. These grain bed type trailers have sometimes also been equipped with grain augers that can transfer grain or other bulk cargo to bin storage or another vehicle.
The type of grain transfer trailer of this invention is novel because of the use of divider doors in combination with the under belly auger. This provides a trailer with partitioned bins that can be used to haul two or more grain loads that must be handled separately.
The use of sideboards has been common for years. But most types have not been designed for quick removal . The sideboard assembly of this invention provides a quick means to fold the sideboards to provide a lower side for easy loading or unloading of the trailer.
Trailers to haul combine headers have been used for many years. The type of trailer used has been one with a structure beneath the header. This invention places the trailer structure over the header so that a hoist can be used to pick-up and rotate the header.
A novel feature of this invention is to carry the header trailer piggyback inside the grain bed body of the grain transfer trailer. A hoist mounted to the front end of the combine is necessary. Hoists have been mounted on combines for many years. The design of prior art hoists, however, is not adequate to safely lift a combine header and header trailer for piggyback transport on the grain transfer trailer.
The combine hoist of this invention has an extendable foot. This foot protects the combine from being tipped over when lifting a heavy load on the front end hoist.
In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that improvements in trailers to transport headers and to transport and transfer grain could be useful.
Summary of the Invention
This invention provides an improved system for transportation of headers. By carrying the headers within the bed of a grain transfer trailer a more compact loading of field harvesting equipment in over the road transport is facilitated. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a grain transfer trailer which can carry two combine headers and a header trailer within the grain bed body thereof.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved header trailer that can be towed by a pick-up truck and quickly engaged and lift a grain header. The header can then be positioned beneath the horizontal overhead structure of the trailer by means of a turntable which rotates the header lifting hoist.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a grain transfer trailer with a bed that can be partitioned into separate bins to carry a plurality of grain loads which must be handled separately.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a sideboard assembly which can be quickly retracted from the large
capacity grain load or extended position to a position which will permit grain loading of the trailer from a combine auger extending over a single side of the trailer.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a powered hoist that can be mounted on the front end of the combine and can lift the improved header transfer trailer of this invention to load it and a header held within its structure into position on the grain transfer trailer.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a support structure to hold the combine mounted hoist in a vertical position when removed from the combine.
With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent to one skilled in the art as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as come within the scope of the claims.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 Is a side view of the grain transfer trailer with items above shown in loading order sequence. Fig. 2 Is a side view of the grain transfer trailer loaded with two headers and overhead pick-up header trailer. Fig. 3 Is a side view of the combine with front end hoist removing overhead pick-up header trailer from the grain transfer trailer. Fig. 4 Is a top view of the grain transfer trailer with divider doors closed and sideboards in the closed position. Fig. 5 Is a top view of the grain transfer with divider doors closed and sideboards in the extended position. Fig. 6 Is a side view of the overhead pick-up header trailer with rear-wheeled assembly and dolly jack-stands elevated trailer is being backed into position to pick-up header. Fig. 7 Is a top view of the overhead pick-up header trailer with dolly jack-stands lowered and with front-wheeled
assemblies and rear-wheeled assemblies elevated. Fig. 8 Is a side view of the overhead pick-up header trailer lifting a header for over the road transport. Fig. 9 Is a side view of the overhead pick-up header trailer carrying a header in over the road transport-. Fig. 10 Is a rear view of the overhead pick-up header trailer with dolly jack-stands partially elevated. Fig. 11 Is a top view of the header hoist and turntable for the header pick-up trailer. Fig. 12 Is a side view of the header attachment bracket with lower header cradle shown above. Fig. 13 Is a side view of the front end combine hoist stowed in an upright position using horizontal support members.■ Fig. 14 Is a side view of the front end combine hoist with the feet retracted and the lifting platform folded inward and lowered.
Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
The grain transfer trailer 30 is pulled by a semi-tractor in over the road operation. At a harvest location the grain transfer trailer would be loaded with grain in the field and carry this cargo to a storage location. The grain transfer trailer 30 would carry two combine headers 60 and the ovehead pick-up trailer 40 to the harvest location.
FIG. 1 shows the sequence in which the cargo to be carried to the harvest location is loaded into the grain transfer trailer 30. First a header 60 is loaded into the lower portion of the grain transfer trailer. A second header 60 rides above, carried within the body of the overhead pick-up header trailer 40 which is mounted piggyback on the grain transfer trailer 30.
The headers 60, and the overhead pick-up header trailer 40 are removed from the grain transfer trailer 30 as shown in FIG. 3. The front-end mounted overhead hoist 70 is mounted on the combine 57. First the overhead pick-up header trailer 40, and combine header 60 are removed as one load from their piggyback position and set on the ground. Then a header 60 is removed
from the grain transfer trailer 30.
When the grain transfer trailer 30 is unloaded the front- end mounted overhead hoist 70 is removed from the combine 57 and stowed in an upright position. The extendable support members 66 hold the front end mounted overhead hoist 70 in the upright position. The header 60 can then be attached to the combine 57 to perform harvesting operations.
The front-end mounted hoist 70 can be mounted on the combine 57 quickly if needed to provide towing power by use of the horizontal pulling winch 75. This towing power could be used to assist another vehicle that has lost traction in soft ground.
During harvesting operations the overhead pick-up header trailer would be used to move combine headers 60 from field location to field location. The overhead pick-up header trailer 40 could lift and rotate the overhead pick-up trailer to be carried under its structure in over the road transport between field locations.
The grain transfer trailer 30 could receive grain directly from the combine 57 with sideboard assembly 28 folded. With the sideboard assembly 28 in the extended position the grain carrying capacity of the grain transfer trailer 30 could be increased. With the sideboard assembly 28 in the extended position the grain transfer trailer 30 could be loaded by a second grain transfer trailer 30 or similar vehicle.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The grain transfer trailer 30 is shown in FIG. 1. Its structure includes grain bed body 10, ground engaging wheels 29 and king pin 34 for attachment to semi-tractor.
The grain transfer trailer 30 is used to haul grain during harvesting operations and transfer grain to other vehicles by using overhead auger 24, fed by vertical auger 23, powered by vertical and overhead auger drive motor 37. When used in the grain transfer mode the grain bed body 10 is divided into three bins by grain bed body divider doors 11.
With the sideboard assembly 28 folded as shown in Fig. 4,
the grain transfer trailer 30 could receive grain directly from the combine 57. The sideboard assembly 28 could be extended by rotating sideboard scissor jack drive shaft 14 causing sideboard scissor mechanism 15 to open. As sideboard scissor mechanism 15 opens front sideboard door 16, rear sideboard door 19, and sideboard divider doors 12 extend across grain bed body 10. The grain from the grain bed body 10 is unloaded by underbelly auger 22 driven by underbelly auger drive motor 36. Flow of grain from the forward part of the trailer is controlled by large bin hopper door 25. Flow of graii. from the rear part of the trailer is controlled by medium bin hopper door 26. Flow of grain from the center part of the trailer is controlled by small bin hopper door 27.
When 'the underbelly auger 22 is turned in one direction grain moves forward and is unloaded out of the forward grain discharge door 20. When the underbelly auger 22 is turned in the opposite direction grain is unloaded out of the rear grain discharge door 13 or is fed to the vertical auger 23 for overhead transfer.
When grain is unloaded from the forward part of- the grain bed body 10 the upper bin auger 21 is turned by upper bin auger drive motor 35. The grain discharged from the upper bin auger 21 flows through large bin hopper door 25.
The overhead pick-up header trailer 40 is used to move combine headers from one field location to another. Fabric belts extending from the header hoist and turntable 43 are used to lift the lower header cradle 31 or upper header cradle 32 which is mated to the header attachment bracket 33. The header attachment bracket 33 is connected to the header 60. On some combine headers the header attachment bracket could remain on the header 60 when it was mounted on the combine 57. On other models it might be necessary to remove the header attachment bracket 33 when using the header 60 to harvest grain.
To pick up a header 60, the overhead pick-up header trailer 40 is backed with dolly jack stands 46 and 47 and rear-wheeled assembly 42 elevated as shown in Fig. 6. When the trailer 40 is over the header 60 the left dolly jack-stand 46 and the right dolly jack-stand 47 are lowered to engage the ground.
The front-wheeled assembly 41 is elevated by front wheel lift cylinder 68. The header cradle 31 or 32 is lowered to mate
with header attachment bracket 33. The header attachment ball 18 is inserted into the header cradle hitch 17.
The hoist drive motor 45 rotates the hoist interconnect shaft 86 which lifts the header cradle 31 or 32 by means of four fabric belts working over hoist belt rollers 87 attached to turntable frame 90.
Once the header 60 has been lifted clear of the ground the header hoist and turntable 43 can be rotated by the turntable drive motor 44. The drive wheels 82 are rotated by drive shafts 84 which receive power from differential gearbox 83. Rolling wheels 85 provide horizontal stability for turntable frame 90.
The track wheels 81 rolling against the turntable track 80 cause the turntable frame 90 to rotate about its center. When the header hoist and turntable 43 has rotated the header 60 into position underneath the overhead pick-up header trailer the front-wheeled assembly 47 is lower by the double action hydraulic lift cylinder 68 and the rear-wheeled assembly 42 is lowered by hydraulic lift cylinder 69. The left dolly jack- stand 46 and the right dolly jack-stand 47 can then be elevated to a horizontal position and the trailer 40 can move the header 60 in over the road transport.
The front-end mounted overhead hoist 70 can be attached to the combine 57 by means of attachment to combine mounts 58. When not in use the front-end hoist 70 can be stowed with its load handling hoist chassis 50 in a vertical position. The extendable support members 66 which are attached to the ground engaging foot 65 by means of extendable support member hinges 64 are rotated to extend outward from the front-end mounted overhead hoist 70 to hold it in an upright position when removed from the combine 57 as shown in Fig. 13.
With the front-end mounted overhead hoist 70 mounted on the combine 57 the horizontal pulling winch 75 can be used to pull another vehicle that has lost traction in soft ground. The hoist support wheels 63 are unlocked so that ground engaging foot 51 can engage the ground and prevent the combine from moving forward when the horizontal pulling winch 75 is being used.
The front-end mounted hoist 70 mounted on the combine 57 can lift the header 60 and header trailer 40 by means of hoist cradle 55 as shown in Fig. 3. The overhead hoist platform 54 is
lifted to a horizontal position by hoist lift cylinder 56. The overhead hoist platform 54 is then locked into place by overhead hoist platform locking member 59.
The overhead hoist platform can be moved upward vertically by hoist lift cylinder 56 causing primary extension 52 and secondary extension 53 to telescope out of load handling hoist chassis 50. Loads can also be lifted vertically by overhead hoist drive motor 71 rotating overhead hoist shaft 91 which pulls fabric belts over overhead hoist belt rollers 92.
When the lower header cradle 31 and header 60 are to be carried in the grain transfer trailer 30 they are lifted by the front-end mounted overhead hoist 70 mounted on the combine 57. The lower header cradle access door 38 is opened by rotating it about its hinges 61. The header 60 is lowered from the overhead hoist platform 54 of the front end mounted hoist 70.
When the header 60 and lower header cradle 31 can be reached through the header cradle access door 38, fabric belts extending from the lower header cradle winches 62 are fastened to the lower header cradle 31. The belts are drawn tight by manual power to the winches 62 to hold the header 60 in position as shown in Fig. 2. The belts are passed over lower header coupling rollers 67.
The overhead pick-up header 40 trailer is loaded as shown in Fig. 3. The dolly jack stands 46 and 47 are lowered and the front-wheeled assembly 41 and rear-wheeled assembly 42 are elevated. The left dolly jack-stand 46 is inserted into receiver 48 and the right dolly jack-stand 47 is inserted into receiver 49. The header trailer hitch 95 is mated with the hitch ball for the header trailer 39.
As an aid to correlating the terms of the claims to the exemplary drawing, the following catalog of elements is provided:
10. grain bed body
11. grain bed body divider doors
12. sideboard divider doors
13. rear grain discharge
14. sideboard scissor jack drive shaft
15. sideboard scissor mechanism
16. front sideboard door
17. header cradle hitch
18. header attachment ball
19. rear sideboard door
20. grain discharge door
21. upper bin auger
22. underbelly auger
23. vertical auger
24. overhead auger
25. large bin hopper door
26. medium bin hopper door
27. small bin hopper door
28. sideboard assembly
29. rear wheeled assembly
30. grain transfer trailer
31. lower header cradle
32. upper header cradle
33. header attachment bracket
34. king pin
35. upper bin auger drive motor
36. underbelly auger drive motor
37. vertical and overhead auger drive motor
38. lower header cradle access door
39. hitch ball for header trailer
40. overhead pick-up header trailer
41. front-wheeled assembly
42. rear-wheeled assembly
43. header hoist and turntable
44. turntable drive motor
45. hoist drive motor
46. left dolly jack-stand
47. right dolly jack-stand
48. receiver for left dolly jack-stand
49. receiver for right dolly jack-stand
50. overhead hoist chassis
51. ground engaging foot
52. primary extension
53. secondary extension
54. overhead hoist platform 55-. hoist cradle
56. hoist lift cylinder
57. combine
58. attachment to combine mounts
59. overhead hoist platform locking member 60. header
61. cradle access door hinges
62. lower header cradle winches
63. hoist support wheel
64. extendable support member hinge
65. ground engaging foot
66. extendable support members
67. lower header coupling rollers
68. front-wheeled assembly lift cylinder
69. rear-wheeled assembly lift cylinder
70. front-end mounted overhead hoist
71. overhead hoist drive motor 75. horizontal pulling winch
80. turntable track
81. track wheels
82. drive wheels
83. differential gearbox
84. drive shaft
85. rolling wheels
86. hoist interconnect shaft
87. hoist belt roller
90. turntable frame
91. overhead hoist shaft
92. overhead hoist belt roller 95. header trailer hitch
This invention having been described here in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims..