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Retrofittable Vehicle Reconfiguring Device And Method Of Retrofitting A Vehicle Reconfiguring Device To A Vehicle

Abstract: A retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device and a method of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device to a vehicle is described. In one embodiment, the retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device may include a supporting frame attachable to the vehicle. The supporting frame may further include a first front drive point and a second front drive point couplable to a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle, respectively. The supporting frame may further include a first rear drive point and a second rear drive point couplable to a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Each of the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be couplable to a drive train of the vehicle. The distance between the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be adjustable.

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Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
28 February 2018
Publication Number
48/2019
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Status
Email
soni.singh@vgalegal.com
Parent Application
Patent Number
Legal Status
Grant Date
2024-03-28
Renewal Date

Applicants

JCBL LTD.
Village Alamgir, Ambala-Chandigarh Road, Lalru- Punjab

Inventors

1. Gopi Krishan Palladi
C/o JCBL Limited, Village Alamgir, Ambala - Chandigarh Road, Lalru - 140501
2. Kapil Malhotra
C/o JCBL Limited, Village Alamgir, Ambala - Chandigarh Road, Lalru - 140501
3. Abhay Bhushan
C/o JCBL Limited, Village Alamgir, Ambala - Chandigarh Road, Lalru - 140501

Specification

This disclosure relates generally to a reconfiguring a vehicle, and more particularly, to a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device, and a method of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device to a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[002] Farm mechanization plays an important role in increasing farm productivity, and reducing manual labor. Various types of agricultural machinery including farm vehicles, such as tractors are used to mechanize agricultural work during various stages of a crop cycle. It may be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a crop cycle may include steps of seed bed preparation, sowing and planting, crop management, crop harvesting, and crop residue management. It may be further appreciated that the crop management may include crop treatment operations, such as applying pesticides and insecticides to crops plants, and spreading fertilizers on the soil. For example, the crop treatment operations may be performed using a farm vehicle, and may include moving the farm vehicle across a crop farm so as to reach to each crop plant.
[003] It may be noted that the crop plants may be planted in multiple number of rows, with the adjacent rows being separated by a distance. Also, it may be noted that wheels of the farm vehicle are separated by a fixed lateral distance. Therefore, it may be understood that during moving the farm vehicle across the crop farm, care must be taken that the wheels of the vehicle do not come in contact with the crop plants, and damage the crop plant. By way of an example, the farm vehicle may be moved in such a way that the wheels move along the region between two adjacent rows of the crop plants.

[004] However, the lateral distance between the wheels of the farm vehicle may not synchronise with the distance between the rows of the crop plants. Consequently, as the farm vehicle moves across the crop farm, the farm vehicle inadvertently destroys crop plants, for example, by crushing some of the crop plants with the wheels. Further, in order to save the crop plants from being destroyed, the farm vehicle may not be able to reach some sections of the crop farm. As a result, these sections of the crop farm may remain devoid of the crop treatment operations, which may lead to drop in productivity.
SUMMARY
[005] In one embodiment, a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device to be retrofitted to a vehicle is disclosed. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device may include a supporting frame attachable to the vehicle. The supporting frame may further include a first front drive point and a second front drive point couplable to a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Each of the first front drive point and the second front drive point may be couplable to a steering system of the vehicle. The supporting frame may further include a first rear drive point and a second rear drive point couplable to a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Each of the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be couplable to a drive train of the vehicle. The distance between the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be adjustable.
[006] In another embodiment, a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include a first front drive point and a second front drive point. Each of the first front drive point and the second front drive point may be coupled to a steering system of the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a first front wheel and a second front wheel coupled to the first front drive point and a second front

drive point, respectively. The vehicle may further include a first rear drive point and a second rear drive point. Each of the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be coupled to a drive train of the vehicle. The distance between the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be adjustable. The vehicle may further include a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel coupled to the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point, respectively.
[007] In yet another embodiment, a method of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device to a vehicle is disclosed. The method may include decoupling from the vehicle a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle. The method may further include decoupling from the vehicle a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle. The method may further include attaching the vehicle reconfiguring device to the vehicle. The vehicle reconfiguring device may include a supporting frame attachable to the vehicle. The supporting frame may incldue a first front drive point and a second front drive point couplable to a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Each of the first front drive point and the second front drive point may be couplable to a steering system of the vehicle. The supporting frame may further include a first rear drive point and a second rear drive point couplable to a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Each of the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be couplable to a drive train of the vehicle. The distance between the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point may be adjustable. The method may further include coupling each of the first front drive point and the second front drive point to the steering system of the vehicle. The method may further include coupling each of the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point to the drive train of the vehicle. The method may further include attaching the first front wheel and the second front wheel to the first front drive point and the second front drive point,

respectively. The method may further include attaching the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to the first rear drive point and the second rear drive point, respectively.
[008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, explain the disclosed principles.
[010] FIG. 1 illustrates a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device, in accordance with an embodiment.
[011] FIGs. 2A-2C illustrate various views of a steering assembly of a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device, in accordance with an embodiment.
[012] FIG. 3A-3C illustrate various views of a coupling assembly of a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device, in accordance with an embodiment.
[013] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device to a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION [014] Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the following detailed description be considered as exemplary

only, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims. Additional illustrative embodiments are listed below.
[015] In one embodiment, a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device 100 (hereinafter, referred to as device 100) is disclosed. The device 100 may include a supporting frame 102. The supporting frame 102 may be attachable to a vehicle (not shown in FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the supporting frame 102 may be attachable to a chassis of the vehicle. In alternate embodiments, the supporting frame 102 may be attachable to a suspension of the vehicle. It may be noted that the supporting frame 102 may be attached to the vehicle upon decoupling the wheels of the vehicles. Upon decoupling the wheels, the supporting frame 102 may be retrofitted to the vehicle, and the wheels may be then coupled to the supporting frame 102.
[016] As it will become apparent from the FIG. 1 - FIG. 4, the device 100 may be retrofitted to the vehicle to reconfigure the vehicle, so as to allow the lateral distance between the rear wheels of the vehicle to be adjusted. It may be noted that the vehicle may include a farm vehicle, such as a tractor. The device 100 may further reconfigure the vehicle so as to increase the height (i.e. ground clearance) of the vehicle. The device 100 may further reconfigure the vehicle, so as to allow lateral distance between the front wheels of the vehicle to adjusted. By way of reconfiguring the vehicle, the device 100 may allow the vehicle to move across a crop farm while minimizing contact with, and hence, resulting damage to the crops due to the wheels of the vehicle crushing the crop plants.
[017] Returning back to FIG 1, the supporting frame 102 may include a first front drive point 104 and a second front drive point 106. The first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be couplable to a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle (not shown in FIG. 1), respectively. Each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive

point 106 may include a wheel hub for fixing a wheel. In some embodiments, the wheel may be fixed to the wheel hub using one or more bolts.
[018] In some embodiments, each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be couplable to a steering system of the vehicle. By way of coupling the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 to the steering system of the vehicle, the wheels coupled to the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be turned, so as to negotiate steering of the vehicle retrofitted with the device 100. In some embodiments each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be coupled to the steering system of the vehicle via a linkage assembly. The coupling between each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 and the steering system of the vehicle is further explained in detail in conjunction with FIGs. 2A-2C.
[019] Referring now to FIG. 2A-2C, various views of a steering assembly 200 of a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device 100 (device 100) are illustrated, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGs. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate a bottom view, front view and a top view of the steering assembly 200, respectively, in accordance with some embodiments. The steering assembly 200 may include various linkages to couple a first front drive point 104 and a second front drive point 106 to a steering wheel of the vehicle retrofitted with the device 100. The steering of the vehicle may be controlled by manipulating the steering wheel.
[020] Returning back to FIG. 1, the supporting frame 102 may further include a first rear drive point 108 and a second rear drive point 110. The first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be couplable to a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may include a wheel hub for fixing a wheel, and the wheel may be fixed to the wheel hub using one or more bolts.

[021] In some embodiments, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be couplable to a drive train of the vehicle. In some embodiments, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be couplable to a drive train of the vehicle via a coupling assembly 112A and a coupling assembly 112B, respectively. Each of the coupling assembly 112A and the coupling assembly 112B may couple each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 to the drive train of the vehicle, via one of a chain drive, a belt drive and a gear and shaft assembly. The coupling assembly 112A and the coupling assembly 112B is further explained in detail, in conjunction with FIGs. 3A-3C.
[022] In some embodiments, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable. In such embodiments, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable through a multiple number of graduations. For example, the distance may be adjusted through six graduations, allowing the distance to be adjusted in a range of 48 to 64 inches.
[023] In some embodiments, for the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 to be adjustable, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be movable with respect to the supporting frame 102. By way of an example, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be coupled to the supporting frame 102 via a drive point spline assembly (not shown in FIG. 1). For example, the drive point first spline assembly may include a spline shaft attached to the supporting frame 102 and a receptacle having grooves attached to the each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110. The splines of the spline shaft may mesh with the groove of the receptacle, to thereby allow the receptacle to slide over the spline shaft. As such, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second

rear drive point 110 may be slidable over a spline shaft attached to the supporting frame 102. Accordingly, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjusted by manually moving the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 closer to or farther from each other. It may be further understood that during adjusting, the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be moved closer to or farther from each other by equal length, so as to maintain the balance.
[024] In some embodiments, each of the coupling assembly 112A and coupling assembly 112B may be coupled to the drive train of the vehicle via a drive train spline assembly (not shown in FIG. 1). The drive train spline assembly may include a drive shaft 114A and a drive shaft 114B attached the drive train. The drive train spline assembly may further include drive train receptacles attached to each of the coupling assembly 112A and coupling assembly 112B, respectively. In such embodiments, each of the drive shafts 114A and 114B may be coupled to each of the coupling assembly 112A and coupling assembly 112B, respectively, by meshing splines of each of the drive shafts 114A and 114B with grooves of the drive train receptacles. It may be understood that rotatory motion of the drive train may be transferred to each of the coupling assembly 112A and coupling assembly 112B via the drive train spline assembly. The drive train receptacles may be further coupled to the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110. The drive train receptacles may be coupled to the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 via one of a chain drive, belt drive and a gear and shaft assembly.
[025] The coupling assemblies 112A and 112B may, therefore, allow the rotatory motion of the drive shafts 114A and 114B (of the drive train of the vehicle) to be transferred to each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 (of the device 100). The first rear drive point 108

and the second rear drive point 110 may further transfer the rotary motion to the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel coupled to the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110, respectively, thereby allowing imparting of motion to the vehicle.
[026] In alternate embodiments, for the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 to adjustable, each of the coupling assembly 112A and the coupling assembly 112B may be movable with respect to the drive train of the vehicle. In other words, the coupling assemblies 112A and 112B may move farther from or closer to each other, so as to adjust the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110. By way of an example, each of the coupling assembly 112A and coupling assembly 112B may be moved with respect to the drive train by sliding the drive train receptacles over the (splined) drive shafts 114A and 114B.
[027] Referring now to FIGs. 3A-3C, various views of a coupling assembly 300 (corresponding to the coupling assembly 112A and the coupling assembly 112B) for coupling a rear drive point (corresponding to each of a first rear drive point 108 and a second rear drive point 110) of a retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device 100 (or simply, device 100) to a drive train of a vehicle, are illustrated, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a top view, a front view and right side view, respectively of the coupling assembly 300.
[028] Referring now to FIG. 3C. In some embodiments, the coupling assembly 300 may include a drive point receptacle 302 and a drive train receptacle 304. The drive point receptacle 302 may be couplable to a rear drive point of a vehicle. The drive train receptacle 304 may be couplable to a drive shaft of a drive train (corresponding to each of the drive train 114A and the drive train 114A) of the vehicle. The coupling assembly 300 may further include a drive point sprocket 306 and a drive train sprocket 308. The drive

point sprocket 306 and the drive train sprocket 308 may be coupled to each other via chain or a belt. The drive point sprocket 306 and the drive train sprocket 308 may be fixedly attached to the drive point receptacle 302 and a drive train receptacle 304, respectively. The coupling assembly 300 may further include an idler gear 310, for example, for keeping the chain or the belt tight.
[029] In order to couple the coupling assembly 300 to the drive train of the vehicle, the drive train receptacle 304 may be coupled to a drive shaft of the drive train. In some embodiments, the drive shaft of the drive train may include splines. Further, in such embodiments, the drive train receptacle 304 may include grooves. The drive train receptacle 304 may, therefore, be coupled to the drive shaft of the drive train by meshing the grooves of the drive train receptacle 304 with the splines of the drive shaft of the drive train. By way of this coupling, rotary motion of the drive train may be transferred to the drive train receptacle 304. As the drive train sprocket 308 may be fixedly attached to the drive train receptacle 304, the rotary motion may be transferred to the drive train sprocket 308. Further, as the drive train sprocket 308 may be coupled to the drive point sprocket 306 which is further fixedly attached to the drive point receptacle 302, the rotary motion may be transferred to drive point receptacle 302. The drive point receptacle 302 may, therefore, cause a wheel (not shown) coupled to the drive point receptacle 302 to rotate.
[030] In order to adjust the distance between the rear drive points, the coupling assembly 300 may be moved with respect to the drive train of vehicle. By way of an example, the coupling assembly 300 may be moved by sliding the drive train receptacle 304 over the drive shaft of the drive train.
[031] Returning back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, each of the first front drive point 104, the second front drive point 106, the first rear drive point 108, and the second rear drive point 110 may be at a predetermined

vertical distance from the chassis of the vehicle. It may be understood due to the predetermined vertical distance of the first front drive point 104, the second front drive point 106, the first rear drive point 108, and the second rear drive point 110 from the chassis of the vehicle, the height of the chassis of the vehicle may be increased. Therefore, by way retrofitting the device 100 to the vehicle, the overall height (i.e. ground clearance) of the vehicle may be increased. The increase in the vehicle height may allow the vehicle to further avoid coming in contact with the crop plants and damaging the crop plants. In some further embodiments, the vertical distance of each of the first front drive point 104, the second front drive point 106, the first rear drive point 108, and the second rear drive point 110 from the chassis of the vehicle may be adjustable. Therefore, the overall height (i.e. ground clearance) of the vehicle may be adjustable (increased or decreased).
[032] FIG. 4 illustrates a an exemplary flowchart for a method of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device to a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments. At step 402, a first front wheel and a second front wheel of a vehicle may be decoupled from the vehicle. As mentioned earlier, the vehicle may be a farm vehicle, such as a tractor. It may be noted that the first wheel and the second front wheel may be coupled to the vehicle via one or more bolts. Therefore, the first front wheel and the second front wheel may be decoupled by loosening the one or more bolts. At step 404, a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle may be decoupled from the vehicle. It may be understood that the first rear wheel and a second rear wheel may be coupled to the vehicle via one or more bolts. Accordingly, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel may be decoupled from the vehicle by loosening the one or more bolts.
[033] At step 406, upon decoupling the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel, and the second rear wheel from the vehicle, a vehicle reconfiguring device 100 (or, simply a device 100) may be attached to

the vehicle. In some embodiments, the device 100 may be attached to a chassis of the vehicle. In alternate embodiments, the device 100 may be attached to a suspension of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the device 100 may include a supporting frame 102 which may be attachable to the vehicle. The supporting frame 102 may further include a first front drive point 104 and a second front drive point 106. The first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be couplable to the first front wheel and the second front wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Further, each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be couplable to a steering system of the vehicle.
[034] The supporting frame 102 may further include a first rear drive point 108 and a second rear drive point 110. The first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be couplable to the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively. Further, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be couplable to a drive train of the vehicle. It may be noted that the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable. As mentioned earlier, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable through a multiple number of graduations. For example, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable over six gradations in a range of 48 to 64 Inches. By adjusting the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110, the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be brought in synchronization with the distance between the rows of crop plants, so as to minimize the damage caused to the crop plants due to the wheels of the vehicle crushing the crops plants. The adjusting of the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 has already been explained in detail in reference to FIG. 1.

[035] At step 408, the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be coupled to the steering system of the vehicle. The coupling of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 to the steering system of the vehicle may allow the first front wheel and the second front wheel coupled to the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106, respectively, to be turned, so as to negotiate steering of the vehicle retrofitted with the device 100. In some embodiments each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be coupled to the steering system of the vehicle via a linkage assembly.
[036] At step 410, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be coupled to the drive train of the vehicle. In some embodiments, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be coupled to the drive train of the vehicle via a coupling assembly 112A and a coupling assembly 112B, respectively. Further, each of the coupling assembly 112A and the coupling assembly 112B may couple each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 to the drive train of the vehicle via a one of a chain drive, a belt drive and a gear and shaft assembly. The coupling of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 to the drive train of the vehicle is already explained in reference with FIG. 1.
[037] At step 412, the first front wheel and the second front wheel may be attached to the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106, respectively. By way of an example, the first front wheel and the second front wheel may be attached to the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106, respectively, via one or more bolts. At step 414, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel may be attached to the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110, respectively. By way of an example, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel may be attached to the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110, respectively,

via one or more bolts. In other words, the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel, and the second rear wheel may be attached to the vehicle retrofitted with the device 100. Upon attaching the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel, and the second rear wheel, the vehicle retrofitted with the device 100 may be ready for moving across a crop farm for carrying out farm operations.
[038] A vehicle (not shown in FIG.1-FIG.4) is described. The vehicle may include a first front drive point 104 and a second front drive point 106. Each of the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be coupled to a steering system of the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a first front wheel and a second front wheel coupled to the first front drive point 104 and a second front drive point 106, respectively. The vehicle may further include a first rear drive point 108 and a second rear drive point 110. The vehicle may further include a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel coupled to the first rear drive point 108 and a second rear drive point 110, respectively. Each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be coupled to a drive train of the vehicle. In some embodiments, each of the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be coupled to the drive train of the vehicle, via one of a chain drive, belt drive, and shaft and gear drive.
[039] In some embodiments, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable. By way of an example, the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjustable by moving the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 with respect to the drive train of the vehicle. The adjusting of the distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 is already explained in reference with FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the distance between the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be adjustable.

[040] The distance between the first rear drive point 108 and the second rear drive point 110 may be adjusted to bring the distance between the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel in synchronization with the distance between the rows of crop plants. Similarly, the distance between the first front drive point 104 and the second front drive point 106 may be adjusted to bring the distance between the first front wheel and the second front wheel in synchronization with the distance between the rows of crop plants. In some embodiments, each of the first front drive point 102, the second front drive point 104, the first rear drive point 108, and the second rear drive point 110 may be at a predetermined vertical distance from the chassis of the vehicle. The predetermined vertical distance may be selected so as to minimize damage caused to the crop plants due to the vehicle coming in contact with the crop plants. Further, in some embodiments, the vertical distance of each of the first front drive point 104, the second front drive point 106, the first rear drive point 108, and the second rear drive point 110 from the chassis of the vehicle may be adjustable.
[041] One or more retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring devices and one or more techniques of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device to a vehicle are described. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring devices and the techniques provided herein may allow adjusting distance between a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of a vehicle, so as to bring the distance between the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel in synchronization with the distance between the rows of crop plants. Further, the retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device and the techniques provided herein may allow adjusting distance between a first front wheel and a second front wheel, so as to bring the distance between the first front wheel and the second front wheel in synchronization with the distance between the rows of crop plants. Moreover, the retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device and the techniques provided herein may allow for adjusting the vertical distance of each of the

first front drive point, the second front drive point, the first rear drive point, and the second rear drive point, so as to increase the overall height of the vehicle retrofitted with the device. By way of the above, damage caused to the crop plants, for example due to the vehicle coming in contact with crop plants and wheels of the vehicle crushing the crops plants, is minimized. As such, an effective performing of crop treatment operations, such as applying pesticides and insecticides to crops plants, and spreading fertilizers on the soil is ensured, as a result of which, farm productivity increases.
[042] It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:

1.A retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device (100) comprising:
a supporting frame (102) attachable to the vehicle, the supporting frame (102) comprising:
a first front drive point (104) and a second front drive point (106) couplable to a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle, respectively, wherein each of the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is couplable to a steering system of the vehicle; and
a first rear drive point (108) and a second rear drive point (110) couplable to a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively, wherein each of the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is couplable to a drive train of the vehicle, and wherein distance between the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is adjustable.
2. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein distance between the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is adjustable.
3. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting frame (102) is attachable to a chassis of the vehicle.
4. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the first front drive point (104), the second front drive point (106), the first rear drive point (108), and the second rear drive point (110) is at a predetermined vertical distance from the chassis of the vehicle.

5. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vertical distance of each of the first front drive point (104), the second front drive point (106), the first rear drive point (108), and the second rear drive point (110) from the chassis of the vehicle is adjustable.
6. The retrofittable vehicle reconfiguring device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is coupled to the steering system of the vehicle via a linkage assembly, and each of the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is coupled to the drive train of the vehicle via one of a chain drive, belt drive and a gear and shaft assembly.
7. A vehicle comprising:
a first front drive point (104) and a second front drive point (106), wherein each of the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is coupled to a steering system of the vehicle; and
a first front wheel and a second front wheel coupled to the first front drive point (104) and a second front drive point (106), respectively;
a first rear drive point (108) and a second rear drive point (110), wherein each of the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is coupled to a drive train of the vehicle, and wherein distance between the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is adjustable; and
a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel coupled to the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110), respectively.
8. The vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein distance between the first front
drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is adjustable.

9. A method of retrofitting a vehicle reconfiguring device (100) to a vehicle, the method comprising:
decoupling from the vehicle a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle;
decoupling from the vehicle a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle;
attaching the vehicle reconfiguring device (100) to the vehicle, wherein the vehicle reconfiguring device (100) comprises:
a supporting frame (102) attachable to the vehicle, the supporting frame comprising:
a first front drive point (104) and a second front drive point (106) couplable to a first front wheel and a second front wheel of the vehicle, respectively, wherein each of the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is couplable to a steering system of the vehicle; and
a first rear drive point (108) and a second rear drive point (110) couplable to a first rear wheel and a second rear wheel of the vehicle, respectively, wherein each of the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is couplable to a drive train of the vehicle, and wherein distance between the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) is adjustable; coupling each of the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) to the steering system of the vehicle;
coupling each of the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110) to the drive train of the vehicle;
attaching the first front wheel and the second front wheel to the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106), respectively; and

attaching the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to the first rear drive point (108) and the second rear drive point (110), respectively.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein distance between the first front drive point (104) and the second front drive point (106) is adjustable.

Documents

Orders

Section Controller Decision Date
Section 43(1) Ankit Srivastava 2024-03-28
Section 43(1) Ankit Srivastava 2024-03-28

Application Documents

# Name Date
1 201811007651-FORM 4 [22-07-2024(online)].pdf 2024-07-22
1 201811007651-PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION [28-02-2018(online)].pdf 2018-02-28
2 201811007651-FORM 1 [28-02-2018(online)].pdf 2018-02-28
2 201811007651-IntimationOfGrant28-03-2024.pdf 2024-03-28
3 201811007651-Proof of Right (MANDATORY) [26-08-2018(online)].pdf 2018-08-26
3 201811007651-PatentCertificate28-03-2024.pdf 2024-03-28
4 201811007651-Written submissions and relevant documents [20-03-2024(online)].pdf 2024-03-20
4 201811007651-FORM-26 [26-08-2018(online)].pdf 2018-08-26
5 201811007651-Power of Attorney-100918.pdf 2018-09-14
5 201811007651-Correspondence to notify the Controller [11-03-2024(online)].pdf 2024-03-11
6 201811007651-US(14)-ExtendedHearingNotice-(HearingDate-11-03-2024).pdf 2024-03-01
6 201811007651-OTHERS-100918.pdf 2018-09-14
7 201811007651-Correspondence-100918.pdf 2018-09-14
7 201811007651-Correspondence to notify the Controller [28-02-2024(online)].pdf 2024-02-28
8 201811007651-US(14)-ExtendedHearingNotice-(HearingDate-29-02-2024).pdf 2024-02-15
8 201811007651-DRAWING [28-02-2019(online)].pdf 2019-02-28
9 201811007651-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [28-02-2019(online)].pdf 2019-02-28
9 201811007651-Written submissions and relevant documents [07-02-2024(online)].pdf 2024-02-07
10 201811007651-Correspondence to notify the Controller [29-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-29
10 201811007651-FORM FOR STARTUP [21-02-2022(online)].pdf 2022-02-21
11 201811007651-FORM 13 [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
11 201811007651-FORM 18 [21-02-2022(online)].pdf 2022-02-21
12 201811007651-EVIDENCE FOR REGISTRATION UNDER SSI [21-02-2022(online)].pdf 2022-02-21
12 201811007651-FORM-26 [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
13 201811007651-FER.pdf 2022-06-07
13 201811007651-POA [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
14 201811007651-FER_SER_REPLY [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
14 201811007651-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
15 201811007651-DRAWING [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
15 201811007651-US(14)-HearingNotice-(HearingDate-30-01-2024).pdf 2024-01-08
16 201811007651-CLAIMS [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
16 201811007651-CORRESPONDENCE [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
17 201811007651-CORRESPONDENCE [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
17 201811007651-CLAIMS [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
18 201811007651-DRAWING [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
18 201811007651-US(14)-HearingNotice-(HearingDate-30-01-2024).pdf 2024-01-08
19 201811007651-FER_SER_REPLY [25-11-2022(online)].pdf 2022-11-25
19 201811007651-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
20 201811007651-FER.pdf 2022-06-07
20 201811007651-POA [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
21 201811007651-EVIDENCE FOR REGISTRATION UNDER SSI [21-02-2022(online)].pdf 2022-02-21
21 201811007651-FORM-26 [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
22 201811007651-FORM 13 [27-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-27
22 201811007651-FORM 18 [21-02-2022(online)].pdf 2022-02-21
23 201811007651-Correspondence to notify the Controller [29-01-2024(online)].pdf 2024-01-29
23 201811007651-FORM FOR STARTUP [21-02-2022(online)].pdf 2022-02-21
24 201811007651-Written submissions and relevant documents [07-02-2024(online)].pdf 2024-02-07
24 201811007651-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [28-02-2019(online)].pdf 2019-02-28
25 201811007651-US(14)-ExtendedHearingNotice-(HearingDate-29-02-2024).pdf 2024-02-15
25 201811007651-DRAWING [28-02-2019(online)].pdf 2019-02-28
26 201811007651-Correspondence-100918.pdf 2018-09-14
26 201811007651-Correspondence to notify the Controller [28-02-2024(online)].pdf 2024-02-28
27 201811007651-US(14)-ExtendedHearingNotice-(HearingDate-11-03-2024).pdf 2024-03-01
27 201811007651-OTHERS-100918.pdf 2018-09-14
28 201811007651-Power of Attorney-100918.pdf 2018-09-14
28 201811007651-Correspondence to notify the Controller [11-03-2024(online)].pdf 2024-03-11
29 201811007651-Written submissions and relevant documents [20-03-2024(online)].pdf 2024-03-20
29 201811007651-FORM-26 [26-08-2018(online)].pdf 2018-08-26
30 201811007651-Proof of Right (MANDATORY) [26-08-2018(online)].pdf 2018-08-26
30 201811007651-PatentCertificate28-03-2024.pdf 2024-03-28
31 201811007651-FORM 1 [28-02-2018(online)].pdf 2018-02-28
31 201811007651-IntimationOfGrant28-03-2024.pdf 2024-03-28
32 201811007651-FORM 4 [22-07-2024(online)].pdf 2024-07-22
32 201811007651-PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION [28-02-2018(online)].pdf 2018-02-28

Search Strategy

1 201811007651aE_06-06-2022.pdf

ERegister / Renewals

3rd: 25 Jul 2024

From 28/02/2020 - To 28/02/2021

4th: 25 Jul 2024

From 28/02/2021 - To 28/02/2022

5th: 25 Jul 2024

From 28/02/2022 - To 28/02/2023

6th: 25 Jul 2024

From 28/02/2023 - To 28/02/2024

7th: 25 Jul 2024

From 28/02/2024 - To 28/02/2025

8th: 27 Feb 2025

From 28/02/2025 - To 28/02/2026