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A support wheel for an agricultural implement includes a support frame connected with an agricultural harvesting machine and its receiving device; and at least one support wheel connected with the support frame. In a preferred embodiment, the support frame includes first and second supporting arms.

A support wheel for an agricultural implement includes a support frame connected with an agricultural harvesting machine and its receiving device; and at least one support wheel connected with the support frame. In a preferred embodiment, the support frame includes first and second supporting arms. The second supporting arm is oriented in a generally vertical direction and is variable in length. In one arrangement, the second support is a lifting cylinder or a telescopic arm and is provided with a damping element. In another arrangement, the support wheel assembly includes at least one steerable support wheel that is pivoted on a pivot shaft by a steering cylinder. A preferred embodiment includes first and second steerable support wheels connected by a coupling mechanism and pivoted about first and second pivot shafts by a common steering cylinder. In yet another advantageous embodiment, the common steering cylinder is operatively coordinated with a steered axle of the agricultural harvesting machine through a control unit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An agricultural harvesting machine having a receiving device, including:means for mounting the receiving device on the machine for pivotal movement about a transverse axis; at least one lifting cylinder for lifting the receiving device, the lifting cylinder having a first end operatively connecte

1. An agricultural harvesting machine having a receiving device, including:means for mounting the receiving device on the machine for pivotal movement about a transverse axis; at least one lifting cylinder for lifting the receiving device, the lifting cylinder having a first end operatively connected to the receiving device and a second end operatively connected to the machine; a non-extendable first supporting arm pivotably connected to the machine; support wheels for supporting the receiving device mounted on the first supporting arm; an extendable second supporting arm pivotably connected to the receiving device and to the first supporting arm for selectively varying the position of the support wheels relative to the receiving device; and further including a damping element associated with the second supporting arm wherein variations in length of the second supporting arm means are damped. 2. An agricultural harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein the damping element is a compression spring.3. The agricultural harvesting machine according to the claim 1, wherein the first supporting arm comprises a support frame, and the support wheel and the support frame are removably connected with the agricultural harvesting machine.4. The agricultural harvesting machine according to claim 1, further including means operatively connected to the agricultural harvesting machine and the extendable second supporting arm for urging the support wheels downwardly.5. A support wheel assembly for an agricultural harvesting machine having a receiving device for receiving an attachment; steerable rear wheels; and non-steerable front wheels the assembly including:a support frame having first and second arms pivotably connected to the agricultural harvesting machine; a pair of steerable support wheels for supporting the attachment associated with the attachment and operatively connected to the support frame, each one of the pair of steerable support wheels being mounted on one of the first and second arms; an extendable supporting arm extending between the receiving device and the support frame for selectively urging the support wheels into engagement with the ground; and steering device controllably steering the support wheels in coordination with steering of the rear wheels of the machine. 6. A support wheel assembly according to claim 5, further including:a first pivot shaft associated with one of the pair of the steerable support wheels and a second pivot shaft associated with another one of the pair of the steerable support wheels, said steerable support wheels each being pivotable about its respective pivot shaft and said first and second pivot shafts being oriented in a generally vertical direction; and a coupling mechanism interconnecting the steerable support wheels; and wherein the steering device includes a common steering cylinder that pivots the steerable support wheels. 7. A support wheel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a connecting strut, and including a first partial steering mechanism and a second partial steering mechanism, said first and second partial steering mechanisms being connected with one another by the connecting strut, and said first and second partial steering mechanisms being associated with the first and second arms respectively.8. A support wheel assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first and second partial steering mechanisms each include:an angle lever arranged on the respective arm and rotatable about a generally vertical axis; a steering lever connected with the pivot shaft associated with the respective steerable support wheel; a coupling rod connected with the angle lever and the steering lever; wherein the angle levers of the first and second partial steering mechanisms are connected with one another by the connecting strut; and wherein the common steering cylinder engages at least one of the angle levers. 9. A support wheel assembly for an agricultural harvesting machine having a receiving device for receiving an attachment, and steerable rear wheels, the assembly including:a first support frame having first and second supporting arms, the first supporting arm operatively connected to the agricultural harvesting machine and the second supporting arm operatively connected to the receiving device; a first steerable support wheel for supporting the attachment associated with the attachment and operatively connected to the first support frame; a steering mechanism controllably steering the first support wheel in coordination with steering of the rear wheels of the machine; a second support frame having third and fourth supporting arms, the third supporting arm operatively connected to the agricultural harvesting machine and the fourth supporting arm operatively connected to the receiving device; at least a second steerable support wheel associated with the attachment, the second steerable support wheel operatively connected to the second support frame and the steering mechanism; at least one steered axle associated with the agricultural harvesting machine and wherein a steering movement of the first and second steerable support wheels is coupled with a steering movement of the steered axle; and wherein the steering mechanism includes an axle steering cylinder associated with the steered axle and a support wheel steering cylinder associated with at least one of the steerable support wheels and wherein the axle and support wheel steering cylinders are operatively coordinated. 10. A support wheel assembly according to claim 9, further including:a wheel angle sensor associated with one of the steerable rear wheels which generates a wheel angle signal as a function of a land wheel steering angle; a control unit in communication with the wheel angle sensor and the support wheel steering cylinder and which receives the wheel angle signal, generates a steering angle signal as a function of the wheel angle signal, and transmits the steering angle signal to the support wheel steering cylinder; and wherein the support wheel steering cylinder adjusts a support wheel steering angle as a function of the steering angle signal. 11. A support wheel assembly according to claim 10, wherein the control unit generates a steering angle signal as an inverse function of the wheel angle signal.12. A support wheel assembly according to claim 9, further including:an angle-of-rotation sensor associated with a steering wheel of the agricultural harvesting machine which generates an first output signal; a control unit in communication with the angle-of-rotation sensor which receives the first output signal and generates a second output signal as a function of the first output signal; a directional control valve in communication with the control unit and the axle and support wheel steering cylinders and which receives the second output signal and wherein the directional control valve adjusts the axle and support wheel steering cylinders as a function of the second output signal; and wherein the support wheel steering cylinder adjusts a support wheel steering angle and the axle steering cylinder adjusts an axle steering angle. 13. A support wheel assembly for an attachment on an agricultural harvesting machine, includingfirst and second steerable support wheels associated with and supporting the attachment; a first supporting arm associated with the first steerable support wheel; a second supporting arm associated with the second steerable support wheel; a variable length third support arm associated with the first steerable support wheel; a variable length fourth support arm associated with the second steerable support wheel; a coupling mechanism connecting the first steerable support wheel with the second steerable support wheel, the coupling mechanism including a connecting strut; first and second partial steering mechanisms associated with the first and second supporting arms respectively, the first and second partial steering mechanisms being connected with one another by the connecting strut; a first pivot shaft associated with the first steerable support wheel and a second pivot shaft associated with the second steerable support wheel, said first and second steerable support wheels each being pivotable about its respective pivot shaft and said first and second pivot shafts being oriented in a generally vertical direction; and a steering apparatus controllably steering the support wheels, the steering apparatus including a common steering cylinder that pivots the first and second steerable support wheels. 14. A support wheel assembly according to claim 13, wherein the first and second partial steering mechanisms each include:an angle lever arranged on the respective supporting arm and rotatable about a generally vertical axis; a steering lever connected with the pivot shaft associated with the respective steerable support wheel; a coupling rod connected with the angle lever and the steering lever; wherein the angle levers of the first and second partial steering mechanisms are connected with one another by the connecting strut; and wherein the common steering cylinder engages at least one of the angle levers. 15. A support wheel assembly for an attachment on an agricultural harvesting machine, including a first support wheel associated with and supporting the attachment, a steering mechanism controllably steering the support wheel, at least one steered axle associated with the agricultural harvesting machine, wherein a steering movement of the first steerable support wheel is coupled with a steering movement of the steered axle, wherein the steering mechanism includes an axle steering cylinder associated with the steered axle and a support wheel steering cylinder associated with the steerable support wheel, and wherein the axle and support wheel steering cylinders are operatively coordinated.16. A support wheel assembly for a harvesting machine having a crop receiving device mounted thereon by a transverse pivot and having independent lift cylinders operatively connected to the harvester and to the crop receiving device such that the crop receiving device may be vertically raised or lowered, the support wheel assembly comprising:at least one wheel disposed generally between the harvesting machine and a front of the crop receiving device, said at least one wheel turning about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the harvesting machine; at least one rigid support arm having a rear portion and a forward portion, said rear portion being pivotably attached to the harvesting machine and said forward portion having a head piece fixedly attached thereto, said head piece being intersected by said transverse axis; and at least one support cylinder having a lower pivot and an upper pivot, said lower pivot being on said head piece and said lower pivot being substantially coaxial with said transverse axis, and said upper pivot being mounted on the crop receiving device such that said supporting cylinder maintains a load support of said crop receiving device by said at least one support wheel.