Lock with floating nest

Abstract

A work machine including a frame, an engine, a wing and a wing lock. The wing being pivotably mounted to the frame, and the wing being actuatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The wing lock assembly being mounted to the frame, and configured to capture a portion of the wing when the wing is in the stowed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A work machine, the work machine comprising:
 a frame;   an engine;   a wing pivotably mounted to the frame, the wing being actuatable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and   a wing lock assembly mounted to the frame and configured to capture a portion of the wing when the wing is in the stowed position.   
     
     
         2 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the work machine is a ballast regulator. 
     
     
         3 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wing lock assembly includes a floating nest and a body, the body fixed to the frame, the floating nest configured to rotate about an axis of rotation relative to the fixed body. 
     
     
         4 . The work machine of  claim 3 , wherein the wing lock assembly includes a wing proximity sensor configured to determine whether the captured portion of the wing is positioned within the floating nest. 
     
     
         5 . The work machine of  claim 3 , wherein the floating nest includes a pair of guide walls and a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism configured to actuate between an unlocked position and a locked position. 
     
     
         6 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein a lock proximity sensor is installed within one of the pair of guide walls, the lock proximity sensor configured to determine whether the lock mechanism is in the unlocked position or the locked position. 
     
     
         7 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the wing includes a tab, the wing lock assembly configured to capture the tab when the wing is in the stowed position. 
     
     
         8 . The work machine of  claim 7 , wherein each guide wall is generally U-shaped to accommodate the tab. 
     
     
         9 . A wing lock assembly for a work machine, the wing lock assembly including:
 a body, the body including a plurality of side walls and a base plate, the base plate being coupled to a frame of the work machine;   a floating nest including a pair of guide walls and a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism configured to capture a locking portion of a wing of the work machine within the floating nest; and   a pin defining an axis of rotation, the pin extending through the side walls, the guide walls and the lock mechanism, the floating nest configured to rotate within the body about the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         10 . The wing lock assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each guide wall includes a tapered region configured to guide the locking portion of the wing toward the nest. 
     
     
         11 . The wing lock assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the lock mechanism includes a beak portion configured to engage the locking portion of the wing, a middle portion dimensioned to accommodate the pin, and a pair of ears extending away from the middle portion. 
     
     
         12 . The wing lock assembly of  claim 9 , further including a pneumatic assembly coupled to the body and including a cylinder, a spring housed within the cylinder, and a rod, wherein the pneumatic assembly is configured to actuate the lock mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position. 
     
     
         13 . The wing lock assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the rod is coupled at a first end to the lock mechanism and is coupled at a second end to a piston housed within the cylinder, wherein the piston is coupled to the spring, and wherein when air pressure is increased within the cylinder, the piston expands the spring and drives the rod in a first direction actuating the lock mechanism into an unlocked position. 
     
     
         14 . The wing lock assembly of  claim 13 , wherein when air pressure is released from the cylinder, the spring retracts and pulls the rod in a second direction actuating the lock mechanism into a locked position. 
     
     
         15 . A method of stowing a wing of a work machine, the wing including an attachment portion, the method comprising:
 retracting the wing from a deployed position;   raising a lock mechanism of a wing lock assembly;   maneuvering the attachment portion of the wing toward the wing lock assembly;   contacting a floating nest of the wing lock assembly with the attachment portion of the wing;   pivoting the floating nest of the wing lock assembly to align the attachment portion of the wing with a tapered edge of the floating nest;   inserting the attachment portion of the wing into the floating nest of the wing lock assembly; and   lowering the lock mechanism through the attachment portion of the wing to stow the wing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the floating nest includes a wing proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of the attachment portion of the wing within the floating nest and a lock proximity sensor configured to detect a position of the lock mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the work machine includes a controller configured to be in electronic communication with the wing proximity sensor and the lock proximity sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein after inserting the attachment portion of the wing into the floating nest, determining, by the controller, whether the attachment portion of the wing is present within the floating nest. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the lowering of the lock mechanism occurs after the controller determines the attachment portion of the wing is present within the floating nest and the lock mechanism is in a raised position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further including alerting an operator of the work machine that the wing is in a stowed position.