GB2246940A

GB2246940A - Front mounted implements

Info

Publication number: GB2246940A
Application number: GB9114328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benno Wiemeyer
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1990-08-16
Filing date: 1991-07-03
Publication date: 1992-02-19
Also published as: GB9114328D0; DE4025942A1; DE4025942C2; FR2665819B1; FR2665819A1

Abstract

In a front-mounted agricultural implement for connection to the forward side of an agricultural vehicle, particularly to a tractor, in order to reduce to a minimum the visual obstruction of forward-mounted agricultural implements of thin type, it is provided that the geometry of the lateral components (11) of the forward-mounted implement (3, 4) located within the sight range of the vehicle driver, are not or are only slightly larger than the projection of the contour of the engine casing of the vehicle, the components of the forward-mounted implement (3, 4) within the sight range of the driver forming the plane of projection (13), and the projected lines (P) radiating from the driver in a central projection contact the upper longitudinal edges (14) of the motor casing (12), or extending at a small distance from the longitudinal edges (14) of the motor casing (12). <IMAGE>

Description

1 1 FRONT-MOUNTABLE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT The invention relates to a

front-mountable agricultural implement for connection to the front end of an agricultural vehicle, particularly to a tractor, in which the driver's seat is at a distance from the front of the vehicle, the hitched implement extending before the vehicle, transversely to the direction of travel.

Front-mounted agricultural implements designed in this way, for hitching to the forward side i.e. front end of an agricultural vehicle, have long been known in agricultural practice, and have the most varied geometric constructive forms. These implements are attached to the front of the vehicle either by means of special hitching frames or, in the case of vehicles with a forward hydraulic system, by means of this latter system including hitching means. These hitched implements may comprise, for example, soilworking implements, sowing devices, reservoir containers for the most varied agricultural goods or machines and implements for protection and cultivation of cultivated plants, these implements extending substantially transversely to the direction of travel, within the range of sight of the vehicle driver. In this case some components or portions of these hitched implements project into the range of sight of the driver in such a way that these hitched implements form a large "dead angle" in front of the implements, and restrict the free forward view in such a way that it is particularly difficult to orientate oneself by, i.e. relative to, marking devices serving to mark furrows or rows. Thus the forward view is greatly impaired.

The object underlying the invention is to restrict to a minimum the visual obstruction in forward-mounted agricultural implements of this type.

This object is fulfilled according to the invention in that the geometry of the lateral components of the forward-mounted implement, located within the sight range of the vehicle driver, are not larger or are only slightly larger than the projection of the contour of the engine casing of the vehicle, the components of the front-mounted implement within the sight range of the driver forming the plane of projection, and the projected lines radiating from the driver in a central projection contact the upper longitudinal edges of the motor casing, or extending at a small distance from the longitudinal edges of the motor casing.

As a result of these measures, the geometry of the lateral components of the forward-mounted agricultural implement, located within the sight range of the driver, have such a constructive shape that they do not, or only very slightly, limit the driver's range of sight. The driver is thus enabled to orientate himself without difficulty on marking devices, such as a tram-lines, serving as furrows or rows when crossing the field.

In order considerably to reduce the "dead angle" produced by components projecting into the driver's range of sight in front of the front-mounted agricultural implement, so that the front-mounted agricultural implement produces no further negative influence on the guidance of the vehicle, the invention provides that the geometry of the components or portions of the forward-mounted agricultural implement 1 c c located within the driver's range of sight is not, or is only very slightly, larger vertically than the motor casing.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention provides that the front-mounted agricultural implement is designed as a reservoir container for agricultural materials of a solid, liquid or gaseous consistency. In this case it is provided that the upper region of the sidewalls of the container extends downwards from the upper edge of the container to the lower half or region of said container in a diverging configuration, the lateral contours of the container or implement, at least in its upper region, having a downward ly- opening angle of 30' to the vertical. This prevents the driver's forward view from being restricted, and the "dead angle" produced by the container is considerably reduced.

kccording to the invention, it is provided imnlement that the forward-mounted agricultural is attached to or supported in the front hydraulic system provided on the tractor, or by means of aspecial hitching frame on the tractor. In this way there is provided a simple attachment facility for the forward mounted agricultural implements equipped according to the invention.

In order that the front-mounted agricultural implements can be coupled in the simplest way with the frontal hydraulic system of the tractor, or with the special hitching frame on the tractor, the invention provides that the forward-mounted agricultural implement has a support frame and that on this frame there are located the coupling points for attaching the forward-mounted agricultural implement to the tractor.

In this case the forward-mounted agricultural implement has support arms extending under the reservoir container. These support arms, seen in the direction of travel, are designed to be telescopically extensible. This provides a particularly simple facility for receiving the container in the support frame, containers of varying constructive depths, i.e. with varying capacities, being attachable to the support frame in the simplest way by means of the telescopically extensible support arms.

In order simply to attach the support frame to the frontal hydraulic system5 or to the special hitching frame, the invention provides that the support arms are disposed at a distance apart which corresponds roughly to the spacing between the lower guide arms, of the frontal hydraulic system on the tractor, or to the spacings between the lower coupling devices on the hitching frame. In this case the coupling points are so disposed on the support arms that the coupling points are located in the region beneath the forwardmounted agricultural implement. In this way the frontmounted agricultural implement can be located as close as possible to the forward side of the vehicle, enabling a favourable distribution of axial stresses and avoiding unnecessary projection of the frontmounted agricultural implement beyond the forward axle of the propelling vehicle.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the cabin of a tractor, illustrating the sight range,extending to the horizon, of a tractor driver with a front-mounted agricultural implement comprising a reservoir container being located in front of the tractor; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tractor of Fig. 1 and front-mounted agricultural implement comprising a reservoir container located in front of the tractor; and Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the front of the tractor and front- mounted agricultural implement disposed according to Fig. 2.

A tractor 1 has on its front end 2 a forward or front-mounted agricultural implement 4 comprising reservoir container 3. A seat 5 for the vehicle driver is located at a distance from the front 6 of the tractor. The reservoir container is attached to the tractor 1 by means of the tractor's forward hydraulic and hitch system 7.

Fig. 1 shows the field of vision or sight range, extending to the horizon, of the driver from the tractor cabin. The marking strips, possibly as sometimes referred to as "tram-lines", designed as driving lanes 8 serve as orientation aids for the driver, the spacing between the two driving lanes 8 corresponding to the track width of the tractor wheels 9. These driving lanes 8 converge at the horizon 10 delimiting the driver's sight range.

In order that no "dead angle" arises in the region in front of the vehicle wheels 9 because of the front-mounted agricultural implement 4, so that sight of the driving lanes 8 is not obscured, the lateral components or portion 11 of the reservoir container 3 are only slightly larger than the projection of the motor casing contour of the casing 12 of the tractor 1, the components of the front-mounted agricultural implement 3 located in the driver's sight range forming the projection plane 13, and the projection lines P originating from the driver in the central projection, and shown by dotted lines, extending at a small distance from the longitudinal edges 14 of the motor casing 12. In this way the upper region 15 of the container sidewalls 16 of the reservoir container 3 diverges in a downward direction from the container's upper edge 17 to the lower part or half 18 of the container. The side contours of the container 3 have, in the upper region 15, an angle oC of about 30' to the vertical 19, opening in a downward direction.

The front-mounted agricultural implement 4 comprising a reservoir container 3 has a support frame 20. Attached upon this support frame 20 are the support arms 21 extending under the reservoir container 3. These support arms are disposed at a distance apart which corresponds to the lower guide arms 22 of the frontal hydraulic system 7. The upper coupling point 24 is located in the upper region of the support frame 20.

1 i Ir

Claims

1. A front-mountable agricultural implement for connection to the front end of an agricultural vehicle, particularly to a tractor, in which the driver's seat is at a distance from the front of the vehicle, the hitched implement extending before the vehicle, transversely to the direction of travel, characterised in that the geometry of the lateral portions of components (11) of the front-mounted implement (3, 4) located or to be located within the sight range of the vehicle driver, are not larger or are only slightly larger than the projection of the contour of the engine casing of the vehicle (1), the components of the front mounted implement (3, 4) within the sight range of the driver forming the plane of projection (13), and the projected lines (P) radiating from the driver in a central projection contact the upper longitudinal edges (14) of the motor casing (12), or extend at a small distance from the longitudinal edges (14) of the motor casing (12).

2. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1, in which the geometry of the components of the front-mounted agricultural implement (3, 4) located within the driver's range of sight is not, or is only very slightly, larger vertically than the motor casing of the vehicle (1).

3. An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the front-mounted agricultural implement (4) is designed as a reservoir container (3) for agricultural materials of a solid, liquid or gaseous nature.

4. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, in which the upper region (15) of the sidewalls (16) of the container (3) extends downwards from the upper edge (17) of the container to the lower region or half (18) of said container in a diverging configuration.

5. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 4, in which the lateral contours (16) of the container (3) or implement, at least in its upper region, have a downward ly- opening angle (&) of 30' to the vertical (19).

6. An agricultural implement as claimed in one more more of claims 1 to 5, in which the front-mounted agricultural implement (3, 4) is attached in the frontal hydraulic system (7) provided on the tractor (1), or by means of a special hitching frame on the tractor (1).

7. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of the claims 1 to 6, in which the front mounted agricultural implement (3, 4) has a support frame (20), and in which on this frame (20) there are located the coupling points (23, 24) for attaching the front-mounted agricultural implement (3, 4) to the tractor4 (1).

8. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 7, in which the front-mounted agricultural implement (4) has support arms (21) extending under the reservoir container (3).

9. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to support arms (21), seen in the direction of travel, are telescopically extensible.

10. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 9, in which the support arms (21) are disposed at a distance apart which corresponds roughly to the spacing between the lower guide arms (22) of the frontal hydraulic system (7) on the tractor, or to the spacings between the lower coupling devices on the hitching frame.

11. An agricultural implement as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 10, in which the lower coupling points (23) are located on the support arms (21), and that the coupling points (23) are located in the region beneath the forward-mounted agricultural implement (3, 4).

12. An agricultural implement mountable on the front of an agricultural vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A tractor in combination with an agricultural implement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1992 at The Patent Office. Concept House Cardif: Road. Newport. Giveni NP9 I RH Furiher enpie, n,,a be ob'airjd Imm Sales Branch. Unit 6_ Nine Milt. Point. Cuznfelinfach- Cross Keys. Newport NIII 7HZ. Printed bY Multiplex techniques lid S' Mlar- Cr-% Ken: