US3788416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-clearance agricultural vehicle
Assignee: MARINE MIDLAND BUSINESS LOANS Inc A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1972-05-26
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A high-clearance agricultural vehicle of the type used generally for spraying and otherwise treating row crops which grow to considerable height comprising a main frame extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of the vehicle, a pair of rear drive wheels disposed on opposite sides of and connected to the rear portion of the frame, a tank suspended from the frame to be disposed laterally between the rear wheels, a front wheel connected to the forward portion of the frame to be pivotally movable about a steering axis, an engine supported under the frame to be forwardly of the tank and behind the front wheel, and a transmission and axle assembly drivingly connecting the engine to the rear wheels. The main frame is defined by a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending side members as the primary structural members. These members are formed to provide, above the engine, a cockpit for the operator of the vehicle, the rear portions of the members being laterally spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the width of the tank. Each rear wheel is journal mounted by means of a yoke which is laterally adjustable relative to the frame. The engine is liquid cooled, and the radiator for the engine is disposed above the engine and in front of the cockpit in the frame. The fan associated with the radiator draws cooling air in from the side panels adjacent the engine and upwardly through the radiator and out through a grillwork in front of the radiator.
Inventors
- 👤 C Sorenson
- 👤 J Grimmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:38
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D49/0607
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A high-clearance agricultural vehicle comprising a main frame extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of said vehicle, said main frame having a rear portion, intermediate portion and forward portion, said main frame being defined by a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending side members as the primary structural members, said side members being generally symmetrically formed and laterally spaced apart relative to a vertically and longitudinally extending center plane of said vehicle, the portions of said side members defining said rear portion being generally parallel and spaced apart by a first distance, the portions of said side members defining said intermediate portion inclining laterally outwardly and forwardly, and the portions of said side members defining said forward portion being generally parallel and spaced apart a second and greater distance to provide a cockpit for the operator therebetween, a pair of rear wheels, means for mounting said rear wheels extending outwardly and downwardly from Each side of the rear portion of said main frame, a front wheel, a trunnion support for journal mounting said front wheel, a steering column for connecting said trunnion support to the forward portion of said main frame for pivotal movement about a steering axis lying generally in said center plane, a tank having a width generally equal to said first distance depending from the rear portion of said main frame and disposed axially between said rear wheels, an engine supported under the forward portion of said main frame, an axle assembly supported on the rear portion of said main frame, transmission means supported on said main frame and drivingly connected said engine and said axle assembly, means for drivingly connecting said axle assembly to said rear wheels, enclosure means depending from the forward portion of said main frame to enclose said engine, said enclosure means including opposing side wall means having upper side portions extending downwardly from said forward portion to a point above said engine and lower side portions extending respectively downwardly from said upper side portions to a point below said engine, the distance between said lower side portions being generally equal to said first distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
A high-clearance agricultural vehicle comprising a main frame extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of said vehicle, said main frame having a rear portion, intermediate portion and forward portion, said main frame being defined by a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending side members as the primary structural members, said side members being generally symmetrically formed and laterally spaced apart relative to a vertically and longitudinally extending center plane of said vehicle, the portions of said side members defining said rear portion being generally parallel and spaced apart by a first distance, the portions of said side members defining said intermediate portion inclining laterally outwardly and forwardly, and the portions of said side members defining said forward portion being generally parallel and spaced apart a second and greater distance to provide a cockpit for the operator therebetween, a pair of rear wheels, means for mounting said rear wheels extending outwardly and downwardly from Each side of the rear portion of said main frame, a front wheel, a trunnion support for journal mounting said front wheel, a steering column for connecting said trunnion support to the forward portion of said main frame for pivotal movement about a steering axis lying generally in said center plane, a tank having a width generally equal to said first distance depending from the rear portion of said main frame and disposed axially between said rear wheels, an engine supported under the forward portion of said main frame, an axle assembly supported on the rear portion of said main frame, transmission means supported on said main frame and drivingly connected said engine and said axle assembly, means for drivingly connecting said axle assembly to said rear wheels, enclosure means depending from the forward portion of said main frame to enclose said engine, said enclosure means including opposing side wall means having upper side portions extending downwardly from said forward portion to a point above said engine and lower side portions extending respectively downwardly from said upper side portions to a point below said engine, the distance between said lower side portions being generally equal to said first distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The vehicle of claim 1 in which said side wall means extend forwardly of said steering column to provide, above said front wheel and forwardly of said cockpit, a chamber in communication with the portion of said enclosure means enclosing said engine, and including front wall means for said chamber disposed between said side wall means and constructed to permit air flow therethrough, radiator means disposed in said chamber for cooling said engine, and fan means disposed in said chamber for moving air through said radiator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle of claim 2 in which said side wall means provide ventilation openings adjacent said engine, said fan means being disposed to draw air into said enclosure means through said ventilation openings and to move it through said radiator and out through said front wall means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The vehicle of claim 3 in which said engine has a crankshaft and including means for drivingly connecting said fan means to said engine comprising jack shaft means journal mounted in said enclosure means above the crankshaft of said engine and extending forwardly into said chamber, pulley and belt means for drivingly connecting the rear end of said jack shaft means to the crankshaft of said engine and second pulley and belt means for drivingly connecting the forward end of said jack shaft means to said fan means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The vehicle of claim 4 in which the axis of the crankshaft lies generally in said center plane and the axis of said jack shaft means is generally parallel to and spaced apart from said center plane to pass said steering column.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The vehicle of claim 1 in which said engine is a water-cooled engine and including means providing a chamber above said front wheel and forwardly of said cockpit, radiator means disposed in said chamber for cooling said engine, and fan means disposed in said chamber for moving air through said radiator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The vehicle of claim 1 in which each said means for journal mounting one of said rear wheels includes a yoke providing a base and laterally spaced apart flanges extending downwardly from said base, said rear wheel being disposed between said flanges, a trunnion carried by said flanges for journal mounting said wheel, rigid support arm means extending outwardly and downwardly from said rear portion, mounting bracket means carried by the distal end of said arm means, and means for connecting said yoke base to said mounting bracket means for selectively adjustable lateral movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle of claim 7 in which said mounting bracket means includes a laterally and horizontally extending plate providing a downwardly facing surface, said yoke base providing a horizontally extending upwardly facing surface engaging said downwardly facing surface, said connecting means including fastening elEments penetrating said surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
269 words
A high-clearance agricultural vehicle comprising a main frame extending generally horizontally and longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of said vehicle, said main frame having a rear portion, intermediate portion and forward portion, said main frame being defined by a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending channel members as the primary structural members, said channel members being allochirally formed and arranged to have generally vertically extending vertical webs and upper and lower extending flanges, the portions of said channel members defining said rear portion being generally parallel and spaced apart by a first distance, the portions of said channel members defining said intermediate portion inclining laterally outwardly and forwardly, and the portions of said channel members defining said forward portion being generally parallel and spaced apart a second and greater distance to provide a cockpit for the operator therebetween, rear drive wheels disposed on opposite sides of said rear portion, means for mounting each said rear wheel extending outwardly and downwardly from the adjacent side of said rear portion, a front wheel, a trunnion support for journal mounting said front wheel, a steering column for connecting said trunnion support to the forward portion of said main frame for pivotal movement about a steering axis, an engine supported under the forward portion of said main frame to be under said cockpit, enclosure means depending from said forward portion to enclose said engine, said enclosure means including opposing side wall means having lower side portions on opposite sides of said engine, the distance between said lower side portions being generally equal to said first distance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
269 words
A high-clearance agricultural vehicle comprising a main frame extending generally horizontally and longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of said vehicle, said main frame having a rear portion, intermediate portion and forward portion, said main frame being defined by a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending channel members as the primary structural members, said channel members being allochirally formed and arranged to have generally vertically extending vertical webs and upper and lower extending flanges, the portions of said channel members defining said rear portion being generally parallel and spaced apart by a first distance, the portions of said channel members defining said intermediate portion inclining laterally outwardly and forwardly, and the portions of said channel members defining said forward portion being generally parallel and spaced apart a second and greater distance to provide a cockpit for the operator therebetween, rear drive wheels disposed on opposite sides of said rear portion, means for mounting each said rear wheel extending outwardly and downwardly from the adjacent side of said rear portion, a front wheel, a trunnion support for journal mounting said front wheel, a steering column for connecting said trunnion support to the forward portion of said main frame for pivotal movement about a steering axis, an engine supported under the forward portion of said main frame to be under said cockpit, enclosure means depending from said forward portion to enclose said engine, said enclosure means including opposing side wall means having lower side portions on opposite sides of said engine, the distance between said lower side portions being generally equal to said first distance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The vehicle of claim 9 in which said opposing side wall means include upper side portions extending respectively upwardly and outwardly from the upper edges of said lower side portions to said portions of said channel members defining said forward portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vehicle of claim 10 in which said upper side portions include respectively forward portions inclining inwardly and forwardly to a width generally equal to said first distance and rear portions inclining inwardly and rearwardly to said width.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
221 words
A high-clearance agricultural vehicle comprising a main frame extending generally horizontally and longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of said vehicle, said main frame having a rear portion, intermediate portion and forward portion, said main frame being defined by frame members proportioned and designed such that said rear portion is of a first lateral width and said forward portion is of a second and greater lateral width to provide a cockpit for the operator therebetween, a tank centrally supported under said rear portion, said tank having a width generally equal to said first width, rear drive wheels disposed on opposite sides of said tank, means for mounting each said rear wheel extending outwardly and downwardly from the adjacent side of said rear portion, a front wheel, a trunnion support for journal mounting said front wheel, a steering column for connecting said trunnion support to the forward portion of said main frame for pivotal movement about a steering axis, an engine supported under the forward portion of said frame to be under said cockpit, enclosure means depending from said forward portion to enclose said engine, said enclosure means including opposing side wall means having lower side portions on opposite sides of said engine, the distance between said lower side portions being generally equal to said first width.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
221 words
A high-clearance agricultural vehicle comprising a main frame extending generally horizontally and longitudinally from the front to the rear of the upper portion of said vehicle, said main frame having a rear portion, intermediate portion and forward portion, said main frame being defined by frame members proportioned and designed such that said rear portion is of a first lateral width and said forward portion is of a second and greater lateral width to provide a cockpit for the operator therebetween, a tank centrally supported under said rear portion, said tank having a width generally equal to said first width, rear drive wheels disposed on opposite sides of said tank, means for mounting each said rear wheel extending outwardly and downwardly from the adjacent side of said rear portion, a front wheel, a trunnion support for journal mounting said front wheel, a steering column for connecting said trunnion support to the forward portion of said main frame for pivotal movement about a steering axis, an engine supported under the forward portion of said frame to be under said cockpit, enclosure means depending from said forward portion to enclose said engine, said enclosure means including opposing side wall means having lower side portions on opposite sides of said engine, the distance between said lower side portions being generally equal to said first width.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |