GB2246938A

GB2246938A - Folding rollers

Info

Publication number: GB2246938A
Application number: GB9114187A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Edwin George Lee
Original assignee: Twose of Tiverton Ltd
Current assignee: Twose of Tiverton Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-29
Filing date: 1991-07-01
Publication date: 1992-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-01
Also published as: GB9114187D0; GB9014484D0; GB2246938B

Abstract

A foldable roller comprises a central frame member 14 pivotably attached to a towing bar 11 about a transverse axis and outer frame members 18, 19 pivotably attached at each end of the central frame member, each frame member mounting a rolling element 20, 21 and 22, and transport wheels 16, 17 mounted substantially inboard of the extremities of the central frame member, in which in a rolling configuration the frame members extend laterally of the towing bar, the rolling elements are in contact with the ground and the transport wheels are raised clear of the ground and in a transport configuration the central frame member is pivoted about the transverse axis so that the transport wheels are in contact with the ground and the outer frame members are folded inwardly to lie substantially parallel with the towing bar axis, the respective pivot and fold movements being controlled by a double-acting thrust member, preferably a hydraulic ram, 24 which in one direction actuates the pivoting of the central frame member about the transverse axis and in the other direction actuates the folding of the outer frame members relative to the central frame member, releasable locking means being provided to retain the central frame member in position when in the transport configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

FORDABLE AGRICULTURAL ROLLERS This invention relates to foldable rollers for agricultural use and also for use in parks, playing fields and the like.

Foldable rollers of the general type described are known and comprise a central frame member with a towing bar pivotably attached thereto, the central frame member having outer frame members pivotably attached thereto at their ends. Each frame member carries a rolling element which in use engages the ground.

Transport wheels are provided, which in rolling use are raised clear of the ground. In one known embodiment the wheels are mounted on each outer frame member adjacent the central frame member and, to adopt the transport configuration from the rolling configuration, the frame members are pivoted about a horizontal transverse axis under hydraulic power until the wheels are in contact with the ground, and the roller is then towed forwardly to pivot the outer frame members about vertical axes until they lie folded at 900 to the central frame members, whereby the wheels are aligned in the direction of travel. In another known embodiment, the transport wheels are attached to the central frame member and the folding is achieved under hydraulic power, separate from that which causes the pivoting of the frame members about the transverse horizontal axis.However, both known arrangements suffer certain disadvantages: in the forner embodiment the folding or unfolding operation involves the transport wheels in being turned with a slewing action about a vertical axis with resulting tyre scuffing and the possibility of becoming embedded in soft ground, and in the latter embodiment the hydraulic control arrangements, being separate for each stage of the folding/unfolding operation, represent considerable added production expense.

According to the present invention, a foldable roller comprises a central frame member pivotably attached to a towing bar about a transverse axis and outer frame members pivotably attached each at one end region to respective end regions of the central frame member, each frame member mounting a rolling element, and transport wheels mounted substantially inboard of the extremities of the central frame member, in which in a rolling configuration the frame members extend laterally of the towing bar, the rolling elements are in contact with the ground and the transport wheels are raised clear of the ground and in a transport configuration the transport wheels are in contact with the ground, the central frame member is pivoted about the transverse axis so that the transport wheels are clear of the ground and the outer frame members are folded inwardly to lie substantially parallel with the towing bar axis, the respective pivot and fold movements being controlled by a double-acting thrust member, preferably a hydraulic ram, which in one direction actuates the pivoting of the central frame member about the transverse axis and in the other direction actuates the folding of the outer frame members relative to the central frame member, releasable locking means being provided to retain the central frame member in position when in the transport configuration.

The pivotal attachment of the outer frame members to the central frame member is such that in the rolling configuration the pivot axes are substantially horizontal and parallel with the axis of the towing bar, whereby the individual rolling elements can tilt as the rollers traverse undulating ground. The pivotal movement of the central frame member relative to the towing bar is through substantially 900, thereby bringing the pivotal axes of the outer frame members into a substantially vertical orientation in the transport configuration, allowing for the inboard folding movement.

To enable the rolling elements to have sufficient height for adequate ground clearance in the transport configuration, the central frame member may be connected to the towing bar via a swingable bracket member, preferably a pair thereof mounted respectively on each side of the towing bar. The towing bar is preferabfy integral with a chassis assembly to which the bracket members are pivotably attached. The central frame member thus describes an arcuate path of movement between its extremities of pivotal movement.

Preferably, the transport wheels are also attached to the bracket members on an extension thereof on the other side of the pivotable mounting point, whereby the wheels are caused to swing down into a ground-engaging position as the rolling elements on the frame members swing up, and vice versa, thereby transferring the weight between the wheels and the rolling elements.

Conveniently the releasable locking means is constructed and arranged to act between the bracket members and the chassis, and may for example comprise a spring-biased slidable pin mounted on the chassis for engagement in a cylinder carried by the bracket when the two are in registration in the transport configuration.

Movement of the operating ram is preferably transmitted to the frame members via a mechanical linkage which is mounted between the chassis and the central frame member and which includes means to permit the outer frame members to move for folding and unfolding between the inward transport position and an intermediate laterally-extending position with the central frame members remaining in the transport position, and to permit the frame members to pivot between the said intermediate position and the position for ground engagement of the rolling elements while the outer frame members remain in the extended position for the rolling configuration.

The said means may be constituted by a bracket member pivotably attached to the central frame and which can accommodate movement of the linkage while the central frame member is locked in the transport configuration.

The bracket may, for example, be of an "L" shape attached to the rear of the central frame member for movement towards and away therefrom, the limbs of the "L" fitting snugly to the rear and undersides of the central frame member when moved fully towards the same, to transmit the forces required to cause the frame members to pivot between the intermediate and rolling configuration positions.

The actuating hydraulic ram may be mounted to the chassis at the rear end and the piston thereof may be carried by a support member also attached to the chassis at a relatively forward position, for fore-and-aft pivotal movement on actuation of the ram.

Movement of the support member may be operatively transmitted to the frame members by 2 link member pivotably attached at the forward end to the support member and at the rear end to one limb of the L-shaped bracket member the other limb of which is pivotably attached to the underside (when in the rolling configuration) of the central frame member. The link member may also be attached at the rear end thereof by a mechanical linkage to each side frame member, each linkage comprising a crank member pivotably attached to the central frame member and push/pull rods connected respectively between the link member and the crank member and between the crank member and a side frame member.The push/pull rod between the link member and crank member is preferably attached via ball joints, to accommodate the pivot movement of the frame members between the rolling configuration and intermediate positions.

Any difference in travel required by the piston as between the pivoting of the frame members and the folding or unfolding thereof may be accommodated by a slot formed in the link members where the piston engages the same and a latch or other restraining means may be arranged to temporarily retain the piston at the rear end of the slot while the shorter travel is needed, and to allow the piston to traverse the slot under controlled conditions in readiness for the longer travel.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figures 1, 2 and 3 are views from above of a roller according to the invention in the folded transport configuration, in an intermediate unfolded configuration and in the unfolded rollinc configuration respectively; Figures 4 and S are rear three-quarter views of the roller in the folded configuration and the intermediate configuration respectively, Figure 5 being a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale; Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary front three-quarter views of the roller in the intermediate configuration and at the beginning of movement between the intermediate and the rolling configurations respectively; Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the folding/unfolding mechanism; and Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism looking along arrow A in Figure 8.

Referring firstly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the roller consists essentially of a chassis/towing bar 11 having outriggers 12, 13 to support the outer roller frames in the fully-folded configuration; Figure 1 shows the roller slightly unfolded with the outer roller frames just off the outriggers. A tie-bar (not shown) would in practice be secured between the outer roller frames to maintain the fully-folded configuration for transport.

A central frame member 14 is pivotably attached to the rear of the chassis by means of brackets 15; the brackets also carry transport wheels 16, 17 which in Figures 1 and 2 are in contact with the ground but in Figure 3 are raised above the ground. Outer frame members 18, 19 are pivotably attached to respective outer ends of the central frame member 14 at 18A and 19A and each frame member carries a rolling element, respectively 20, 21, 22, of the particular type for an intended rolling purpose.

The brackets include stop means in the form of lugs 23 to engage the chassis in the transport configuration to prevent further pivotal movement.

A double-acting hydraulic ram 24 is attached to the rear of the chassis and the piston 25 is supported by an apex of an "A frame assembly 26 the legs of which bridge and are pivotably connected to the chassis at 27. Also attached to the apex of the "A" frame is a link member 28 which has a pair of parallel elements each being respectively on either side of the hydraulic cylinder. The rear ends of the link member are pivotably attached firstly to an "L" bracket or saddle member 29 (see Figures 4 and S) which is itself pivotably attached to the rear of the central frame members 14 and secondly to side linkages each consisting of a crank member 30 pivotably attached to the central frame member and push rods 31, 32 pivotably connected between the link member and the crank member and the crank member and outer frame members respectively.The ends of push rods 31 are connected via ball joints, and the outer ends of push rods 32 are slotted to act as a lost motion linkage to accommodate relative up-and-down movement between the rolling elements when rolling on uneven ground.

The mechanism of operation is as follows: in the folded position illustrated in Figure 1, the piston 25 is retracted in the cylinder. The brackets 15 are in the position at which the central frame member 14 is at maximum elevation and the transport wheels are in contact with the ground; this position is determined by the lugs 23 in contact with the chassis and is temporarily locked by a spring-loaded bolt 33 mounted on each side of the chassis and engaged within a cylindrical housing 34 attached to each bracket 15.

The bolts are manually operated by cables 35 attached to a pivotable support 36, to which a further cable 37 is attached, leading to a convenient operator position.

To begin the unfolding operation, the hydraulic ram is actuated to extend to piston and pivot the "A" frame forwardly, thereby bringing the link member 28 forwards. This movement is accommodated by the saddle member 29 which initially has clearance from the central frame member 14, as shown in Figure 4.

Movement of the link member caused the side linkages to push the outer frame members 15, 16 outwardly until the intermediate position represented by Figures 2 and S is reached with the outer frame member fully laterally extended. The bolts 33 are then withdrawn from the housing 34 which unlocks the brackets 15 from the chassis; reverse movement of the piston then allows the brackets and frame members to pivot as a unit until the rolling elements 20-22 are in contact with the ground and the transport wheels 16, 17 are supported above the ground in the position as shown in Figure 3.The roller is then in the rolling configuration and the pivot joints 18A, 19A, which are in this configuration horizontal, allow the respective roller elements to ride up and down over uneven or undulating ground, this movement being accommodated by the slots in the push-rods 32 (see Figure 9).

To fold the roller to the transport configuration, the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to extend the piston, again bringing the "A" frame forwards and the link member 28 and saddle member 29 thereby causing the brackets 15 and frame members to pivot to the intermediate positions, at which the brackets are locked in relation to the chassis and the outer members are caused to swing inwardly by retraction of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder.

Referring to Figure 6, the roller is shown bringing the frame members from the rolling configuration to the intermediate position. Attached to the apex of the "A" frame assembly is a latch member 38. It is further seen that the forward end of the link member 28 carries a slot 39 in which the "A" frame member is slidingly carried. The link member also includes laterally-projecting spigots 40 and the latch member plates carry laterally-projecting studs 41. The purpose of this arrangement is to accommodate the different stroke lengths required by the pivoting and folding operations. In use, and starting from the rolling configuration, the "A" frame is at the extreme left hand end of the slot 39, as viewed (but not specifically illustrated) in Figures 6 and 7. The plates of the latch member 38 lie on either side of the link member and, as the piston is extended to pivot the frame members to the intermediate position, the angle between the "A" frame and the link member becomes narrower whereby the studs 41 are contacted by the side members of the "A" frame to cause the latch member to rise, as shown in Figure 6. At the start of the folding stroke of the piston of the hydraulic ram, the "A" frame initially moves along the slot 39 until, at the right hand end thereof, the latch member plates become engaged with the spigots 40; the folding operation then commences.At the beginning of the next folding stroke, therefore, the latch is still engaged and remains so until the frame members are fully unfolded, at which point further movement of the piston causes the latch plates again automatically to rise, thereby disengaging the latch and allowing the apex of the "A" frame to move smoothly along the slot 39 before the bracket members are unlocked from the chassis for the downward pivoting stroke. The absence of the latch would allow the weight of the frames and roller elements to cause the "A" frame to travel along the slot freely and to be arrested at the left hand end with considerable force and resulting jarring.

It will be understood that, although the roller according to the invention has been described with particular reference to a three-gang roller, further gangs could be foldably mounted externally of the described outer frame elements without departing from the inventive pivoting and folding arrangement.

Claims

1. A foldable roller comprising a central frame member pivotably attached to a towing bar about a transverse axis and outer frame members pivotably attached each at one end region to respective end regions of the central frame member, each frame member mounting a rolling element, and transport wheels mounted substantially inboard of the extremities of the central frame member, in which in a rolling configuration the frame members extend laterally of the towing bar, the rolling elements are in contact with the ground and the transport wheels are raised clear of the ground and in a transport configuration the transport wheels are in contact with the ground, the central frame member is pivoted about the transverse axis so that the transport wheels are clear of the ground and the outer frame members are folded inwardly to lie substantially parallel with the towing bar axis, the respective pivot and fold movements being controlled by a double-acting thrust member which in one direction actuates the pivoting of the central frame member about the transverse axis and in the other direction actuates the folding of the outer frame members relative to the central frame member, releasable locking means being provided to retain the central frame member in position when in the transport configuration.

2. A foldable roller according to claim 1, in which the central frame member is connected to the towing bar via one or more swingable bracket members.

3. A foldable roller according to claim 2, in which the towing bar is integral with a chassis assembly to which the or each bracket member is attached. AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS, 1. A foldable roller comprising a central frame member pivotably attached to a towing bar about a transverse axis and outer frame members pivotably attached each at one end region to respective end regions of the central frame member, each frame member mounting a rolling element, and transport wheels mounted substantially inboard of the extremities of the central frame member, in which in a rolling configuration the frame members extend laterally of the towing bar, the rolling elements are in contact with the ground and the transport wheels are raised clear of the ground and in a transport configuration the transport wheels are in contact with the ground, the central frame member is pivoted about the transverse axis so that the rolling elements are clear of the ground and the outer frame members are folded inwardly to lie substantially parallel with the towing bar axis, the respective pivot and fold movements being controlled by a double-acting thrust member which in one direction actuates the pivoting of the central frame member about the transverse axis and in the other direction actuates the folding of the outer frame members relative to the central frame member, releasable locking means being provided to retain the central frame member in position when in the transport configuration.

4. A foldable roller according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the transport wheels are attached to the said bracket members.

5. A foldable roller according to any preceding claim, in which the releasable locking means is constructed and arranged to act between a bracket member and the chassis.

6. A foldable roller according to any preceding claim, in which movement of the thrust member is transmitted to the frame members via a mechanical linkage which is mounted between the chassis and the central frame member and which includes means to permit the outer frame members to move for folding and unfolding between the inward transport position and an intermediate laterally-extending position with the central frame members remaining in the transport position, and to permit the frame members to pivot between the said intermediate position and the position for ground engagement of the rolling elements while the outer frame members remain in the extended position for the rolling configuration.

7. A foldable roller according to claim 6, in which the said folding and unfolding means comprises a bracket member pivotably attached to the central frame and which can accommodate movement of the linkage while the central frame member is locked in the transport configuration.

8. A foldable roller according to any preceding claim, in which the thrust member comprises a hydraulic ram the rear end of which is mounted to the chassis and the piston of which is carried by a support member also attached to the chassis at a relatively forward position, for fore-and-aft pivotal movement on actuation of the ram.

9. A foldable roller according to claim 8, in which movement of the support member is operatively transmitted to the frame members by a link member pivotably attached at the forward end to the support member and at the rear end to the bracket member which is pivotably attached to the underside (in the rolling configuration) of the central frame member.

10. A foldable roller according to claim 9, in which the link member is also attached at the rear end thereof by a mechanical linkage to each side frame member, each linkage comprising a crank member pivotably attached to the central frame member and push/pull rods connected respectively between the link member and the crank member and between the crank member and a side frame member.

11. A foldable roller according to claim 10, in which the push/pull rod between the link member and crank member is attached via ball joints.

12. A foldable roller according to any preceding claim, in which in order to accommodate difference in travel a slot is formed in the link members where the piston engages the same and a latch or other restraining means may be arranged to temporarily retain the piston at the rear end of the slot while the shorter travel is needed, and to allow the piston to traverse the slot under controlled conditions in readiness for the longer travel.

13. A foldable roller constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.