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A lock assembly operable to secure a lift linkage associated with moving a boom assembly between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position is provided. The lock assembly includes a lock pin mounted at a carrying frame interconnected between a lift linkage and the boom assembly

A lock assembly operable to secure a lift linkage associated with moving a boom assembly between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position is provided. The lock assembly includes a lock pin mounted at a carrying frame interconnected between a lift linkage and the boom assembly. The lock assembly also includes a lock plate mounted at the lift linkage. In the raised position of the lift linkage, the lock plate includes a slot configured to align so as receive the lock pin. Once aligned, the boom is pivoted toward the folded, stowed position. As the boom pivots, the boom pushes the lock pin through the slot. The lift linkage is then lowered to seat the lock pin in the slot and thereby secure the lift linkage and supported boom in the raised, folded position.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A boom lock assembly for an agricultural sprayer, the sprayer having a four bar linkage lift linkage for raising a carrying frame in support of a boom from a lowered, operative position to a raised, inoperative position for the boom to pivot from an extended position to a folded positi

We claim: 1. A boom lock assembly for an agricultural sprayer, the sprayer having a four bar linkage lift linkage for raising a carrying frame in support of a boom from a lowered, operative position to a raised, inoperative position for the boom to pivot from an extended position to a folded position for transport, comprising: said four bar parallel lift linkage includes an upper and lower link member; wherein one end of said upper and lower link member is pivotally attached to a main frame; wherein opposing end of said upper and lower link member is attached to said carrying frame; a lift actuator is connected to a lower end of said lower link member and connected to said carrying frame; a lock pin mounted at the carrying frame; a compression spring is mounted on said lock pin; a support member attached at the lock pin and positioned to engage one end of the spring; a lock plate mounted at an upper end of said lower link member, the lock plate having an elongated slot; wherein upon the four bar parallel lift linkage raising the carrying frame and the boom to the raised position, the slot of the lock plate at the four bar parallel lift linkage aligns to receive the lock pin at the carrying frame, and wherein as the boom pivots about a vertical axis and swings the boom horizontally toward the folded position, the boom urges the lock pin in a linear motion through the slot to a locked position so as to secure the four bar parallel lift linkage and the boom in the raised position; wherein said compression spring biases the lock pin to an unlocked position; wherein upon said boom pivoting from the folded position toward the extended position, the compression spring biases the lock pin to retract from the slot of the lock plate such that the lift linkage is allowed to operate freely. 2. The boom lock assembly of claim 1, wherein as the lift linkage lowers the carrying frame and the boom from the raised and folded position, the lock pin moves to a seated position in the elongated slot in support of at least a portion of the weight of the boom and the carrying frame against the lock plate. 3. The boom lock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first bracket and a second bracket in support of the lock pin at the carrying frame, the first bracket having a first opening and the second bracket having a second opening each configured to receive the lock pin therethrough. 4. The boom lock assembly of claim 3, further comprising a third bracket having a third opening, the third bracket attached at the carrying frame located adjacent to the second bracket, wherein the second and third brackets are located to receive the lock plate therebetween when the carrying frame and the boom are lifted to the raised position, and wherein in the raised position, the elongated slot is configured to align with the second opening of the second bracket and the third opening of the third bracket. 5. The boom lock assembly of claim 4, wherein in the locked position, the lock pin extends through the first opening in the first bracket, the second opening in the second bracket, the third opening in the third bracket, and the elongated slot of the lock plate. 6. The boom lock assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first bracket and second bracket in support of the lock pin, and a first retainer member and a second retainer member configured to restrain the lock pin between the first and second brackets against the bias of the spring. 7. An agricultural sprayer, comprising: a carrying frame; a boom supported on the carrying frame and movable between an extended position and a folded position for transport; a four bar parallel lift linkage pivotally coupled to move the carrying frame and the boom between a lowered, operative position and a raised, inoperative position; said four bar parallel lift linkage includes an upper and lower link member; one end of said upper and lower link member is pivotally attached to a main frame; opposing end of said upper and lower link member is attached to said carrying frame; a lock assembly comprising: a lock pin mounted at the carrying frame; a compression spring is mounted on said lock pin; a support member attached at the lock pin and positioned to engage one end of the spring a lock plate mounted at an upper end of said lower link member of the lift linkage, the lock plate having an elongated slot; wherein when the four bar parallel lift linkage raises the carrying frame and the boom to the raised position, the slot of the lock plate at the four bar parallel lift linkage aligns to receive the lock pin in a linear motion at the carrying frame, wherein as the boom moves about a vertical axis and swings the boom horizontally from the extended position in a forward direction toward the folded position, the boom pushes the lock pin through the slot of the lock plate to a locked position so as secure the four bar parallel lift linkage and the boom in the raised position; wherein said compression spring biases the lock pin to an unlocked position; and wherein upon said boom pivoting from the folded position toward the extended position, the compression spring biases the lock pin to retract from the slot of the lock plate such that the lift linkage is allowed to operate freely. 8. The agricultural sprayer of claim 7, wherein the elongated slot includes a first end opposite a second end, and wherein upon the lift linkage lowering the carrying frame and the boom from the raised and folded position, the lock pin engages against one of the first and second ends of the elongated slot such that the lock pin supports at least a portion of the weight of the boom against the lock plate. 9. The agricultural sprayer of claim 7, wherein the lock pin is supported at the carrying frame by a first bracket and a spaced apart second bracket both attached at the carrying frame, the first bracket having a first opening and the second bracket having a second opening each to receive the lock pin therethrough. 10. The agricultural sprayer of claim 9, further comprising a third bracket having a third opening and that is attached at the carrying frame, the second and third brackets located to receive the lock plate therebetween when the carrying frame and the boom are lifted to the raised position, and wherein in the raised position, the elongated slot aligns with the second opening of the second bracket and the third opening of the third bracket to receive the lock pin therethrough. 11. The boom lock assembly of claim 10, wherein in the locked position, the lock pin extends through the first opening in the first bracket, the second opening in the second bracket, the third opening in the third bracket, and the elongated slot of the lock plate. 12. The agricultural sprayer of claim 7, wherein as the boom pivots from the folded position toward the extended position, the spring biases the lock pin to retract from the slot of the lock plate such that the lift linkage is allowed to operate freely to move the boom toward the lowered, operative position.