ZA201101065B - Support frame - Google Patents

Description

SUPPORT FRAME

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support frame.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a folding and stacking support - 5 frame for supporting agricultural implements. . BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Due to economic changes and industrial advances in the agricultural industry, farms have tended to increase in size while the workforce has been reduced.

This has been as a result of more powerful tractors being developed, which are able to draw larger and wider multipurpose implements. An example of such is the use of wider planter frames in no-tillage or minimum tillage agricultural methods, which carry between 6 to 24 planter units, as these provide a cost saving relative to using smaller planter frames.

These wider planter frames have a drawback in that they are often too wide for road transport, either in not fitting on the road or through farm gates at all, or because they do not comply with the relevant traffic regulations.

For this reason, two kinds of “collapsible” planter frames have been developed, namely the forward rotating frame and the stack folding frame.

The stack folding frame 1s normally used in frames having for up to 12 planter units. The stack folding frame has three sections: a centre section and two wing sections that can be folded upwardly and inwardly to be located above the centre section in such a way that the main tubular sections of the centre section and that of the wing section stay parallel to each other. The advantage of this type of frame is that it folds to a very compact unit. However, it has a limitation in that it can only be used for planters with up to 12 row units as any wider frame will not fold narrow enough for road transport.

Alternatively, the forward rotating frame is a popular choice for wider frames supporting more than 12 planter units. The forward rotating frame also has three sections: a centre section and two wing sections that can be folded

DrG Ref 686014

Bb forwardly and inwardly to be located between the tractor and the centre section. . . . .

The advantage of this frame is that you can have very wide wing sections folding forward into a narrow unit for road transport. However, the disadvantage is that the machine requires a very long drawbar to accommodate the wing sections that fold forward. In some instances such machines are equipped with telescopic extended drawbars that pull out before folding to accommodate the folded ’ section. Unfortunately, this also makes the frame very long in the transport configuration and thus causes large turning circle because the wheels of the planter frame are very far behind that of the tractor.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a support frame, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a support frame for supporting agricultural implements includes a central section; opposite wing sections movably joined to the central section; and movement means being adapted to permit movement of the wing sections between an extended position, wherein the wing sections extend substantially laterally from the central section, and a retracted position, wherein the wing sections are rotated inwardly and stack-folded closer to the central section.

The central section may include a drawbar being adapted for operative : attachment to a tractor.

The drawbar may be telescopic.

A pillar may be provided on the drawbar, whereby the wing sections may be attached to the drawbar and pillar when in their retracted position. :

The wing sections may Include a set of rotating sections joined to the central section and a set of stack-folding sections joined to the rotating sections.

The rotating sections may be forward rotating being adapted to be located closer to the drawbar when in the retracted position. )

DrG Ref 686014

The rotating sections may be adapted to be positioned adjacent to the drawbar when in the retracted position.

The rotating sections may be joined to the central section at a pivot around which the rotating sections can rotate in substantially horizontal plane.

The stack-folding sections may be upwardly and inwardly folding being adapted to be located closer to the central section when in the retracted position. : The stack-folding sections may be adapted to be positioned above the rotating sections when in the retracted position.

The stack-folding sections may be joined to the rotating sections in a parallelogram arrangement being adapted to maintain the stack-folding sections in a substantially horizontal orientation while they are being raised or lowered and when located in the retracted position.

The parallelogram arrangement may include a lift arm, pivotally joined at its one : end to the rotating section and pivotally joined at its opposite end to the stack- folding section, with a hydraulic cylinder having its butt end mounted on the rotating section and its rod end joined to the stack-folding section or vice versa.

Each rotating and stack-folding section may be joined to its neighbouring sections by hinges adapted to permit vertical hinged movement of the rotating and stack-folding sections during operative use so as to allow the wing sections to follow the ground contour.

Each rotating and stack-folding section may be provided with a support wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1: A perspective view of a part of a support frame according to the invention, shown In its extended position;

DrG Ref 686014

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Figure 2: A top plan view of the support frame seen along arrow II in

Figure 1;

Figure 3: A front end view of the support frame seen along arrow III in

Figure 2; 5 Figure 4: A perspective view of the support frame of Figures 1, shown in an ’ intermediate position between its extended and retracted positions; ) Figure 5: A top plan view of the support frame seen along arrow V in Figure 4;

Figure 6: A front end view of the support frame seen along arrow VI in

Figure 5;

Figure 7: A perspective view of the support frame of Figures 1, shown in Its retracted position;

Figure 8: A top plan view of the support frame seen along arrow VIII in

Figure 7; and

Figure 9: A left side view of the support frame seen along arrow IX in

Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a support frame in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The support frame 10 1s adapted to support various agricultural devices (not shown in the drawings), such as planter units, chisel ploughs, or spraying apparatus amongst others, to be operatively drawn behind an agricultural tractor.

The support frame 10 includes a central section 12 with opposite wing sections 14 which are identical to each other apart from being mirror images of each other. For simplicity, the various identical parts of the opposite wing sections 14 will be identified herein with the same reference numerals. Each wing section 14 has an inner forward rotating section 16 and an outer stack folding section 18.

DrG Ref 686014

F22011/ 01063

When in operative use, the support frame 10 is arranged in its extended position as shown in Figures 1 to 3, wherein the wing sections 14 extend laterally from the centre section 12. However, during road transport or for movement between different agricultural fields, the support frame 10 is arranged in its retracted position as shown in Figures 7 to 9, wherein the wing sections 14 are rotated inwardly and stack-folded to reduce the overall width of the support frame 10.

The centre section 12 includes a forwardly directed drawbar 20, which has . various conventional fittings on its free forward end 22 for connection to an agricultural tractor, as is generally known in the art. The drawbar 20 is non- telescopic, however if preferred, a telescopic drawbar can provided that can be lengthened or shortened. In such case, the telescopic drawbar will normally be lengthened when the support frame 10 is in its retracted position and shortened when the support frame 10 is in Its extended position.

An upwardly positioned pillar 24 is provided on the drawbar 20 near its forward end 22. Opposite locking brackets 26 are provided on the drawbar 20 near to the pillar 24.

The central section 12 Is carried on main wheels 28 and supports the required ; operative equipment, such as feed supply bins 30, which will be dependent on and vary according to the type of agricultural devices attached to the support frame 10.

The forward rotating section 16 is joined to the centre section 12 at vertical pivot pin 32 via pivot arm 34 so that the forward rotating section 16 can be rotated in a substantially horizontal plane from its extended position wherein it extends laterally from the centre section 12 (i.e. substantially at right angles to the drawbar 20) to its retracted position wherein the forward rotating section 16 is rotated towards the forward end 22 so that it lies adjacent to the drawbar 20.

The forward rotating section 16 has a set of parallel intermediate arms 36,38 being joined together with horizontal hinges 40, with the pivot arm 34 being attached to the inner intermediate arm 36. These hinges 40 permit the forward rotating section 16 to hinge in a vertical plane relative to the centre section 12 and therefore assists the support frame 10 in following ground contours during

DrG Ref 686014

Py use. The forward rotating section 16 further has a main beam 42 and a load beam 44, these being attached to the outer intermediate arm 38, wherein the load beam 44 is adapted to carry the required agricultural devices.

A support wheel 46 1s joined to the main beam 42 and is provided at or near the end of the forward rotating section 16 remote from the centre section 12.

The stack folding section 18 also has a main beam 48 and a load beam 50, ) wherein the load beam 50 is adapted to carry the required agricultural devices.

The stack folding section 18 is joined to the forward rotating section 16 by a lift arm 52, which is pivotally attached to the main beam 42 of the forward rotating section 16 at pivot 54 and is further pivotally attached to the main beam 48 of the stack folding section 18 at pivot 56. A hydraulic cylinder 58 has its butt end mounted on the main beam 42 of the forward rotating section 16 and its rod end joined to the main beam 48 of the stack folding section 18. Obviously, this arrangement of the hydraulic cylinder can be applied vice versa. The lift arm 52 and hydraulic cylinder 58 are arranged with the main beams 42 and 48 in a parallelogram arrangement.

The stack folding section 18 has suitable hinges 60 working together with the pivot 56, permitting the stack folding section 18 to hinge in a vertical plane relative to the forward rotating section 16 and thereby assisting the support frame 10 in following ground contours during use. The hinges 60 are able to be ; disconnected to enable the stack folding section 18 to be raised to its retracted position.

A support wheel 62 is provided at or near the end of the stack folding section 18 remote from the forward rotating section 16.

For use (as shown in Figures 1 to 3), the forward rotating section 16 is rotated around pivot 28 so that it extends laterally from the centre section 12 and the stack folding section 18 is lowered so that it is positioned substantially co-planar with the forward rotating section 16 with the wheels 46,62 resting on the ground surface.

DrG Ref. 686014

For transport, the support frame 10 is moved into its retracted position in a two- step process. In the first step, the hydraulic cylinder 58 is actuated to retract thereby raising the stack folding section 18 upwardly and inwardly so that it is positioned substantially above the forward rotating section 16 (as shown in

Figures 4 to 6). Due to the parallelogram arrangement of the lift arm 52 and hydraulic cylinder 58, the horizontal orientation of the main beam 48 and load : beam 50 is maintained when in the retracted position. This allows any agricultural devices carried on the stack folding section 18 to hang In their normal operating positions and prevents unnatural strain or stress from being borne by the devices. Thereafter, in the second step, the forward rotating section 16 is rotated towards the forward end 22 so that it lies adjacent to the drawbar 20 (as shown in Figures 7 to 9).

In a preferred embodiment, the forward rotating section 16 is provided with a hook 64 extending forwardly of its load beam 44, while the stack folding section 18 is provided with a hook 66 extending forwardly of its load beam 50.

The hooks 64, 66 are respectively adapted to attach to the pillar 24 and to the bracket 26 when the wing sections 14 are in their retracted position, thereby to prevent movement away from the drawbar 20. The hooks 64, 66 also assist in carrying the weight of the wing sections 14.

DrG Ref 686014

Claims (15)

cL ® CLAIMS

1. A support frame for supporting agricultural implements including a central section; opposite wing sections movably joined to the central section; and movement means being adapted to permit movement of the wing sections between an extended position, wherein the wing sections extend ] substantially laterally from the central section, and a retracted position, wherein the wing sections are rotated inwardly and stack-folded closer to i - the central section.

2. A support frame as claimed in claim 1, in which the central section includes a drawbar being adapted for operative attachment to a tractor.

3. A support frame as claimed in claim 2, in which the drawbar is telescopic.

4. A support frame as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which a pillar is provided on the drawbar, whereby the wing sections are adapted to be attached to the drawbar and pillar when in their retracted position.

5. A support frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the wing sections include a set of rotating sections joined to the central section and a set of stack-folding sections joined to the rotating sections.

6. A support frame as claimed in claim 5, in which the rotating sections are forward rotating being adapted to be located closer to the drawbar when In the retracted position.

7. A support frame as claimed in claim 6, in which the rotating sections are adapted to be positioned adjacent to the drawbar when in the retracted position.

8. A support frame as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the rotating sections are joined to the central section at a pivot around which the rotating sections can rotate in substantially horizontal plane.

9. A support frame as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, in which the stack- folding sections are upwardly and inwardly folding being adapted to be located closer to the central section when in the retracted position. DrG Ref 686014

10. A support frame as claimed in claim 9, in which the stack-folding sections are adapted to be positioned above the rotating sections when in the retracted position. }

11. A support frame as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the stack-folding sections are joined to the rotating sections in a parallelogram arrangement ] being adapted to maintain the stack-folding sections in a substantially horizontal orientation while they are being raised or lowered and when : located in the retracted position.

12. A support frame as claimed in claim 11, in which the parallelogram arrangement Includes a lift arm, pivotally joined at its one end to the rotating section and pivotally joined at its opposite end to the stack-folding section, and a hydraulic cylinder having its butt end mounted on the rotating section and its rod end joined to the stack-folding section. :

13. A support frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each rotating and stack-folding section is joined to its neighbouring sections by hinges adapted to permit vertical hinged movement of the rotating and stack-folding sections during operative use so as to allow the wing sections to follow the ground contour.

14. A support frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each rotating and stack-folding section is provided with a support wheel.

15. A support frame substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. Date: 10 February 2011 ~~ - John Spicer DR GERNTHOKTZ INC Patent Attorneys of Applicant(s) P O Box 8; Cape Town 8000; South Africa Union Road; Milnerton 7441; South Africa 30 Tel: (021) 551 2650 Fax: (021) 551 2960 DrG Ref.: 686014 t \files\14\686014\686014 spec docx DrG Ref 686014