Applicator boom tilt frame

Abstract

A tilting boom applicator broadly includes a laterally-extending applicator boom a lift, and a tilt frame. The lift includes upper and lower lift arms that support the applicator boom and are operable to vertically shift the applicator boom. The tilt frame interconnects the applicator boom and lift and includes a fixed section mounted to upper lift arms and a swinging section mounted to the applicator boom. The frame sections are attached to each other at a frame pivot joint that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis. Lower lift arms are directly attached to the swinging section to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tilting boom applicator comprising:
 boom support structure;   a laterally-extending applicator boom;   first and second lift arms connected to the boom support structure,   said arms cooperatively supporting the applicator boom on the support structure for relative vertical shifting; and   a tilt frame,   said tilt frame including a first frame section mounted to the first lift arm and a second frame section mounted to the applicator boom,   said first and second frame sections pivotally attached to each other at a frame pivot joint so as to be pivotal relative to each other about a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom about the longitudinal tilt axis,   said second lift arm being directly attached to the second frame section and serving to limit movement of the applicator boom about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement.   
     
     
         2 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said first frame section being attached to the first lift arm and restricted from swinging relative to the first lift arm about the frame pivot joint,   said second frame section being positioned below and hung from the first frame section.   
     
     
         3 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said first frame section including a hinge element that presents a hinge opening aligned with the longitudinal tilt axis,   said second frame section including a hinge assembly removably attached to a remainder of the second frame section,   said hinge assembly presenting a hinge bore, with the hinge bore and opening cooperatively receiving a pin that pivotally connects the frame sections,   said tilt frame being devoid of any part of the first frame section below the hinge assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 said second lift arm being positioned below the first lift arm,   said second lift arm presenting fore and aft ends,   said aft lift arm end being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at a lift pivot joint, with the hinge assembly being spaced above the lift pivot joint to permit cooperative swinging movement of the second frame section and the second lift arm.   
     
     
         5 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 said hinge assembly comprising a pair of hinge plates that cooperatively present the hinge bore and are positioned respectively fore and aft of the hinge element of the first frame section.   
     
     
         6 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted in the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element,   said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin,   said hinge elements and pin cooperatively providing the frame pivot joint.   
     
     
         7 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the boom support structure about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         8 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said frame pivot joint serving as the only pivotal connection between the first and second frame sections.   
     
     
         9 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends,   said aft lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints.   
     
     
         10 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 9 ; and
 a lift that includes the arms and boom support structure,   said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the boom support structure at respective base pivot joints.   
     
     
         11 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 said arm pivot joint of the second lift arm comprising a ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the second lift arm and tilt frame about orthogonal axes, with swinging movement of the tilt frame and second lift arm causing movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         12 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 said base pivot joint of the second lift arm comprising another ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the second lift arm and boom support structure about orthogonal axes.   
     
     
         13 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted in the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element,   said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin,   said hinge elements and pin cooperatively providing the frame pivot joint,   said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         14 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 said frame pivot joint being spaced laterally between the arm pivot joints to minimize off-axis loading of the frame pivot joint caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the boom support structure about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         15 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 said arm pivot joints presenting lateral joint axes spaced vertically from each other to cooperatively define an upright plane,   said frame pivot joint extending fore and aft of the upright plane to compactly position the applicator boom relative to the lift.   
     
     
         16 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted to the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element,   said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin,   said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the boom support structure about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         17 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said flexible bushing including a pair of inner and outer sleeves, with the inner sleeve extending within the outer sleeve,   said flexible bushing including an elastomeric sleeve between and interconnecting the inner and outer sleeves, with the elastomeric sleeve permitting relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         18 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends,   said aft lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints.   
     
     
         19 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 18 ; and
 a lift that includes the arms and boom support structure,   said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the boom support structure at respective base pivot joints.   
     
     
         20 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 19 ,
 said arm pivot joint of the second lift arm comprising a ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the second lift arm and tilt frame about orthogonal axes, with swinging movement of the tilt frame and second lift arm causing movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         21 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 20 ,
 said base pivot joint of the second lift arm comprising another ball joint that permits relative pivotal movement between the second lift arm and boom support structure about orthogonal axes.   
     
     
         22 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said tilt frame including a spring-and-damper assembly interconnecting the frame sections to dampen any swinging movement between the frame sections.   
     
     
         23 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 22 ,
 said spring-and-damper assembly including a pair of coil springs and a pair of dampers, with one coil spring and damper mounted adjacent one end of the tilt frame and another coil spring and damper mounted adjacent another end of the tilt frame.   
     
     
         24 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said lift arms presenting fore and aft lift arm ends,   said aft lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at respective arm pivot joints; and   a lift that includes the arms and boom support structure,   said fore lift arm ends being pivotally mounted to the base at respective base pivot joints,   said second lift arm being positioned below the first lift arm.   
     
     
         25 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 24 ,
 said lift arms each presenting a corresponding fixed length.   
     
     
         26 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 25 ,
 said first frame section including an elongated body and a bushing assembly mounted in the elongated body, with the bushing assembly serving as a hinge element,   said second frame section presenting another hinge element that is attached to the first-mentioned hinge element with a pin,   said hinge elements and pin cooperatively providing the frame pivot joint,   said fixed length lift arms causing limited movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis in response to relative swinging movement between the applicator boom and lift,   said bushing assembly including a flexible bushing that receives the pin and flexes in response to off-axis loading of the pin caused by movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the lateral pitch axis.   
     
     
         27 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 25 ,
 said lift including a third lift arm and a fourth lift arm extending longitudinally relative to the applicator boom,   said first frame section being attached to the first and third lift arms and restricted from swinging relative to the first and third lift arms about the frame pivot joint,   said second frame section being positioned below and hung from the first frame section.   
     
     
         28 . The tilting boom applicator as claimed in  claim 27 ,
 said second and fourth lift arms being positioned below the first and third lift arms,   said second and fourth lift arms presenting fore and aft ends,   said aft lift arm ends of the second and fourth lift arms being pivotally mounted to the tilt frame at lift pivot joints, with the frame pivot joint being spaced above the lift pivot joints to permit cooperative swinging movement of the second frame section and the lower lift arms.