Agricultural equipment transportation method and apparatus

Abstract

A trailer for transporting agricultural equipment over the road. The trailer includes a frame that supports a wheel travel path that is traversed by the tires of agricultural equipment hauled by the trailer roll as the equipment is loaded on and unloaded off the trailer. The wheel travel path includes a) an inclined rear section located at or near the back of the trailer, b) an over-wheel section located generally in front of the inclined rear section and positioned generally over one or more trailer wheels, c) a dropped landing section located generally in front of the over-wheel section, and d) an elevated landing section located generally in front of the dropped landing section. The over-wheel section is elevated relative to the dropped landing section and the elevated landing section is elevated relative to said over-wheel section.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]This invention relates generally to the field of trailers. More particularly the invention concerns a trailer for transporting agricultural equipment, such as an agricultural tractor and / or an agricultural implement.[0002]Some farmers work fields that are widely spaced apart. As such, the farmers must transport agricultural equipment, such as an agricultural tractor and associated implements for tillage, cultivation, and / or other agricultural operations, to such widely spaced fields. Some farmers transport the tractor and implement to remote fields by pulling the implement with the tractor and operating the tractor on public roads. However, typical agricultural tractors are slow and heavy. As such, agricultural tractors may obstruct the flow of traffic and pose a danger to unwitting drivers coming around a turn or topping a hill. In addition, driving the tractor to remote fields adds to the total operating time of the tractor, which may decrease its resale value.[000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about a system for transporting agricultural equipment over roads using a towing vehicle, trailer, and tractor. The trailer can have a special wheel path that supports the tractor's tires as it is loaded and unloaded from the trailer. The technical effect of this system is to provide a safe and efficient way to transport large and heavy equipment while maintaining their functionality. Additionally, this patent describes a method for using this system to transport the agricultural equipment simultaneously.

Problems solved by technology

However, typical agricultural tractors are slow and heavy.

As such, agricultural tractors may obstruct the flow of traffic and pose a danger to unwitting drivers coming around a turn or topping a hill.

In addition, driving the tractor to remote fields adds to the total operating time of the tractor, which may decrease its resale value.

However, implements and tractors have been developed to increase efficiency and lower operating costs, often resulting in larger and heavier equipment that is difficult to transport using a conventional over-the-road vehicle and trailer.

In addition, it is time consuming to detach the implement from the tractor and to load and unload each piece of equipment from its respective trailer.

As such, each of the transportation solutions described above have substantial disadvantages.

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