GB2109661A

GB2109661A - Agricultural implements

Info

Publication number: GB2109661A
Application number: GB08135387A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Ernest Holmes
Original assignee: ALFRETON ENG Ltd
Current assignee: ALFRETON ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1981-11-24
Filing date: 1981-11-24
Publication date: 1983-06-08
Also published as: GB2109661B

Abstract

An agricultural arrangement for supporting a variety of implements and adapted to be towed by a tractor comprises a chassis with a tractor hitch at one end and first and second ground engaging means 68, 94 at or near the other 22, said means being so interlinked that when one is moved by actuating means towards the chassis out of ground engagement the other moves away from the chassis into ground engagement. The first means 68 may comprise a transport wheel and the second means 94 a crusher roller, a hydraulic actuator raising the one means while simultaneously lowering the second means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved implement supporting arrangement The present invention concerns an improved implement supporting arrangement, especially but not exclusively an implement supporting arrangement for use with agricultural implements.

In view of the increasing sophistication and cost of farm implements, some of which may only be used at one season of the year, it is advantageous to provide implements which have more than one use. Furthermore, if a basic implement can have a number of different accessories attached to it then its versatility is increased.

At least one versatile implement support of this nature has been proposed in the past and is intended to be towed by a tractor of relatively high horse-power. As a result its construction is relatively heavy and its cost relatively high.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile improved implement supporting arrangement which is of relatively light weight and low cost and does not demand a tractor of high horse-power.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an implement support which is simple to operate.

According to the present invention there is provided an implement supporting arrangement comprising a chassis member attachable to a tractor at one end and having at or near its other end first ground engaging means movable towards or away from the chassis and second ground engaging means movable simultaneously with said first ground engaging means away from and towards the chassis respectively.

Preferably the first ground engaging means comprises at least two wheels and the second ground engaging means comprises one or more rollers mounted on the side of said wheels remote from the tractor end of the arrangement.

Preferably the chassis includes substantially parallel longitudinal members having inplement mounting means thereon and manufactured by pressing from sheet steel, and at least a front and a rear cross member manufactured from a box section girder to which said longitudinal members are attached, Preferably tractor mounting means at the front of the chassis comprise a three point mounting for attachment to a standard tractor three point linkage.

Preferably the first ground engaging means is supported on at least one assembly including a first member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to a chassis member, a linkage connecting the end of said first member remote from its end supporting ground engaging means to an arm mounted on a rotatable actuating rod extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the chassis.

Assemblies may be provided at each side of the chassis. Said rod connected is preferably rotated by a hydraulic piston-and-cylinder device mounted mid-way between the ends of the rod.

Preferably the rod carries also two radially extending arms on which said roller is rotatably mounted. It will be realised that in view of the mechanical arrangement of the assembly supporting the first ground engaging means, as the rod is rotated in a direction to pivot said first ground engaging means upwardly it will cause the second ground engaging means to pivot downwardly.

Preferably means are provided for adjusting the position of the second ground engaging means relative to the arms carrying it.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the chassis of an implement supporting arrangement; Fig. 2 shows a detail of part of the chassis; Fig. 3 shows a sectional end elevation of a first ground engaging means and its mounting assembly; Fig. 4 shows a sectional end elevation of the first ground engaging means and its mounting assembly; and Figs. 5 to 9 show diagrammatically the first and second ground engaging means in various alternative positions.

Fig. 1 shows a view from above of the chassis of an implement supporting arrangement. The chassis comprises four parallel longitudinal members 10, 12, 14, 1 6 which are L-shaped members formed by deforming sheet steel, each of the members 10 to 16 being provided with a row of equispaced holes 18 extending in a straight line along a horizontal flange of the member, the holes being provided for the adjustable mounting of various implements which are slung from the underside of the members.At the front and rear of the chassis the longitudinal members are connected together by square box section girders 20, 22. A series of straps 22 fixed to the front box section girder 20 support two lower mounting brackets 24 and on upper mounting bracket 26 is supported above the box section girder 20 by struts 28, 30 fixed to a plate 32 bridging the gap between the central longitudinal members 12, 14.

The disposition of the brackets 24, 26 is such that the implement supporting arrangement may be mounted on a standard three point linkage of a tractor.

Intermediate cross members 34 of angle iron maintain the spacing of the longitudinal members at approximately the mid point of the implement support arrangement.

The cover plate 32 is fixed over the gap between the inner longitudinal members 1 2, 14 but does not extend to the rear of the implement support arrangement such that a free space 36 is provided between the members 12, 1 4 at the rear of the arrangement. A mounting plate 38 is fixed in this space between the members 12, 14 and is provided with two upstanding lugs 40 having pivot holes 42 therein (see Fig. 2).

A hydraulic piston and cylinder device 44 is mounted to the lugs 40 by a pin 46, the free end of its piston rod 48 being pivotally attached by a pin 50 to a link arm 52 fixed against rotation to a rotatable rod 54 rotatably mounted within and extending along the rear box section girder 22. It will be realised that actuation of the piston and cylinder device 44 causes rotation of the rod 54.

Figs. 3 and 4 shows that the rod 54 terminates in a square section end which is located outside the end of the box section girder 22. Figs. 3 and 4 show an assembly at one end of the box section girder. it will be realised that the assembly at the other end is similar. Support struts 56 extend downwardly from the member 22 and carry bracing members 58 which in turn carry a bearing mounting piate 60 (Fig. 4). The bearing mounting plate 60 and one of the struts 56 carry bearings 62 in which are rotatably mounted stub axles 64 tarrying a caster housing 66. The first ground nqaging means, which in this embodiment comprise pneumatically tyred wheels 68, are carried by a member 70 rotatably mounted in the caster nousing 66 on a caster rod 72. Lugs 74 are provided at the upper end of the caster housing 66 siren that it can be connected by a pin 76 to a first linkage 78 which, in turn is pivotally connected by a pin 80 to an arm 82 pushed fixed against rotatior to the outer end of the rod 54.

It will be realised that on actuation of the piston and cylinder device 44 and an consequent rotation of the rod, the arm 52, from the position shown in Fig. 3 will be rotated clockwise and this in turn, by means of the link 78, will cause an anti-clockwise rotation of the caster housing 66 about the stub axles 64, thus raising the wheels towards the chassis. The limits of movement of the caster housing 66 is determined by its abutment against the braces 58.

Various angular dispositions of the links 78, 82 and caster housing 66 are illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 5 to 9. These figures show also that the rod 54 carries at each end an arm go which is rotatable with the rod and which carries at the end of an extension 92 a crusher roller 94. in Fig. 5 the first ground engaging means 68 are resting on the ground 96 and the crusher roller is raised well above ground level. This is the transpart condition of the implement supporting arrangement. In Fig. 6 the ground engaging means 68 have been raised off the ground and the Implement supporting means is supported by the crusher roller 94. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show further positions with the crusher roller further lowered, effectively below ground ievel.

In operation agricultural implements are sunported on the underside of the longitudinal members and the arrangement, with the implements supported thereon, is transported to its nIece of work attached to the three point linkage of a tractor with the ground wheels 68 in fheir lowermost position. At the place of work the hydraulic piston and device 44 is actuated to raise the ground wheels 68 and lower the crusher roller or any other suitable depth control arrangement into ground engagement. Conveniently the angular disposition between the arm 90 and extension 92 is adjusted and fixed such that the desired implement working depth is achieved when the piston and cylinder device 44 is in its fully extended position, this being governed by abutment of the caster housing 66 against the brace 58.The implement can then be drawn behind the tractor and carry out its function. When the headland at the end of the field is reached the tractor operator simply operates the piston and cylinder device to raise the crusher roller 94 and drop the transport wheels 68 into position. In this condition the implements are raised above ground level so that the tractor may be turned prior to its reverse run along the field.When the tractor operator actuates the piston and cylinder device again to raise the transport wheels 68 and lower the crusher roller 94, provided he allows the piston and cylinder device to reach the end of its travel, he can be assured that as a result of the fixed adjustment between the arms 90 and 92 the crusher roller will return to the same position below the longitudinal members of the chassis as it occupied in the first instance so that the desired implement workiny depth is again achieved.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the chassis can take any convenient form which will enable implements to be supported thereunder and the support of the first and second ground engaging means. Clearly, several devices of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 to 9 can be arranged along the rear member of the support arrangement and each may carry one or more wheels mounted on a caster arrangement.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon,

Claims

1. An implement supporting arrangement comprising a chassis member attachable to a tractor at one end and having at or near its other end first ground engaging means movable towards or away from the chassis and second ground engaging means movable simultaneously with said first ground engaging means away from and towards the chassis repectively.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the first ground engaging means comprises at least two wheels and the second ground engaging means comprises one or more rollers mounted on the side of said wheels remote from the tractor end of the arrangement.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the chassis includes substantially parallel longitudinal members having implement mounting means thereon and manufactured by pressing ;rom sheet steel, and at least a front and a rear cross member manufactured from a box section girder to which said longitudinal members are attached.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which tractor mounting means at the front of the chassis comprise a three point mounting for attachment to a standard tractor three point linkage.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first ground engaging means is supported on at least one assembly including a first member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to a chassis member, a linkage connecting the end of said first member remote from its end supporting ground engaging means to an arm mounted on a rotatable actuating rod extending tranversely of the longitudinal axis of the chassis.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, in which assemblies are provided at each side of the chassis.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which said rod is rotated by a hydraulic piston-and-cylinder device mounted mid-way between the ends of the rod.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, in which the rod carries also two radially extending arms on which said roller is rotatably mounted.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which means are provided for adjusting the position of the second ground engaging means relative to the arms carrying it.

10. An implement supporting arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.