Intermediate lift cylinder lock for extra tall stubble biomass operation

摘要

A wheel lift assembly lockout mechanism for an agricultural mower having a lift cylinder for moving the mower frame between raised and lowered positions. The lockout mechanism is positioned adjacent to a rod end of a lift cylinder and is pivotable between generally opposing lockout and free positions. First and second stops interact with the lift cylinder depending upon the position of the lockout mechanism to provide at least two stop positions allowing minimum mower heights in each stop position to be established. The lockout mechanism further includes a bias apparatus and a lockout limiter to enable a specific lockout height to be imposed with minimal impact other operational aspects of the wheel lift assembly.

主权项

1. A wheel lift assembly for an agricultural machine comprising:
a moveable swingarm pivotally connected to the mower and having a wheel connected at a position spaced-apart from the pivot connection; an elongate lift cylinder having an extensible rod with an end connector interconnecting the mower and the swingarm, the extensible rod moveable relative to the cylinder between a retracted limit and an extended limit; and a lockout mechanism connected adjacent to the rod for pivotal movement between generally opposing locked and unlocked positions, the lockout mechanism engaging the cylinder and limiting retraction of the rod into the cylinder to a first stop position spaced apart from the retracted limit when in the locked position and allowing unrestricted movement of the rod between retracted and extended limits when in the unlocked position, the lockout mechanism further having an intermediate stop that engages the cylinder upon the lockout mechanism being positioned at an intermediate position, the intermediate position located between the locked and unlocked positions to limit retraction of the rod into the cylinder to a second stop position disposed between the extended limit and the first stop position, the second stop position to accommodate a head flotation of the agricultural machine for an operation thereof associated with a substantially tall stubble that requires substantially tall skid shoes for the agricultural machine.