GB2205473A - Reducing working width of agricultural tools - Google Patents

Abstract

A trailed farm implement having agricultural tools such as a set of rollers comprises a main roller 11 which is centrally located behind the tractor and has two extending side frames 18. The side frames 18 are pivotal about axis extending fore and aft from a horizontal operating position to a stowed position. The side rollers 14 are connected to the side frames 18 by means of a universal coupling that allows pivotal movement about three mutually orthogonal axis of the side rollers. A lifting mechanism is provided to raise the side frames 18 and thereby pull the side rollers into an in-line position behind the main roller 11. <IMAGE>

Description

RGRICULTURL IMPLEMENTS This invention relates to agricultural implements and in particular to agricultural implememts that are towed behind a tractor and in normal operation have tools that, in use, extend wider than the tractor. Such tools are, for example, flat rollers, cambridge rollers, mowers, harrows, and other agricultural tools.

There is a need to be able to stow the tools behind the tractor so as to occupy a space no wider than the width of the tractor. It is useful to do this when driving through gateways or other gaps and for movements on roads.

There have been earlier proposals to do this. For example it is customary to have a main roller which is the same width as the tractor located centrally behind the tractor. Two additional side rollers are hitched on to the main frame of main roller so that they are trailed wider than the main roller. To pass through narrow gaps it is necessary to unhitch the side rollers and manually pull them to a position where they lie one behind the other. The rollers are so heavy that it is difficult if not impossible to man-handle the side rollers.

To overcome this difficulty, it has been proposed , with li-ght weight tools and very powerful tractors, to lift the side trailed tools bodily by swinging them through an arc us ins the hydraulic lifting equipment of the tractor. In the stowed position, the side tools project precariously upwards. Many small farmers do not have powerful enough tractors to lift all the various tools. Furthermore with some equipment, such as flat rollers, it is impossible to lift the whole side rollers off the ground in this way.

There is a need for a simple, cheap, and easy to operate, system which is operable from the tractor cab.

Rn object Wof the present invention is to provide an agricultural implement which has tools which in normal operation are deployed w ider than the tractor and which can be stowed in an inoperative position within the width of the tractor easily from the tractor cab.

According to the present invention there is provided an agricultural implement suitable for being towed behind a vehicle, the implement comprising: a first agricultural tool, which in use is positioned behind the vehicle; one or more side members each of which is mounted on the first tool and is movable relative thereto from an operative position, where it extends sideways relative to the first tool, to a stowed position, a second agricultural tool pivotally connected to the or each side member by means of a universal coupling which is constructed to accommodate pivotal movement of the second tool about three mutually orthogonal axes thereby to allow the second tool to be moved from a deployed position, where it extends beyond the width of the first the first tool substantially within the width of the first tool, when the side members are moved respectively from their operative position to their stowed position; and means for moving the side members to ,and from, the operative position to, and from, the stowed position.

Preferably the side members are pivotally mounted on the first tool so as to pivot about an axis which extends in a fore and aft direction relative to the first tool, and the or each side member is movable from a substantially horizontal operable position to stowed position where the side member extends in an upwards direction.

Preferably the side member is a frame which is generally Of triangular shape in plan and is mounted on the first tool so as to be pivotal about an axis which extends parallel to one of the sides of the triangular frame generally in a fore and aft direction relative to the first tool and the vehicle.

Preferably the coupling is located at the corner of the triangular frame that is remote from the axis about which the frame pivots.

The means for moving the side members preferably comprises a flexible linK C for example a wire cable or rope) connected to the side member and means +or puu: ing the linK to lift the side members to the stowed position.

The invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:- FIGURE 1 illustrates a set of Cambridge rollers constructed in accordance with the present invention, and shows the rollers in the stowed position, Figure 2 illustrates in more detail the universal coupling which connects the side rollers shown in figure 1 to the main roller, and, Figure 3 illustrates the Cambridge rollers as shown in fisure 1 but with the rollers deployed in the position in which they would normally be used.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a farm implement having agricultural tools in the form of a set of Cambridge rolls 18. The set of rolls 1B comprise a central main roller 11 mounted for rotation about its axis in a rectangular frame 12 which incorporates a tow bar frame 13 for connection to the towing hitch of the tractor.

Two side rollers 14 are provided. Each roller 14 is mounted for rotation about its axis in a rectangular frame 15 which incorporates its own tow bar frame 16. The front end of each tow bar frame 16 has a forKed coupling 17 which has aligned holes to receive a shear pin.

The frame 1Z of the main roller carries two substantially triangular or IAN shaped side frames 18. Each side frame 18 is pivotally mounted on hinge pins IS to pivot about an axis which extends fore and aft relative to the main roller. The apex of each side frame 18 is provided with a universal coupling 2 which allows pivotal movement of the tow bar IS of each side roller 14 about three mutually orthogonal axes 21, 22, 23. Each side frame has a boss 18a which has a bore extending along an axis 21 substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the hinge pins 19 about which the side frames pivot.

The detail of the coupling 28 is best seen in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, The coupling 2 comprises a first member 24 having a spindle 25 which locates in the boss r8a.

The member 24 has a forKed end which carries a pivot pin 26 which is inserted in one of two bores which are mutually orthogonal in a second member 27. The tow bar of each of the side rollers 14 has a forKed end and the second of the bores in the second member 27 locates between the flanges of the forKed end. THe tow bar of each side roller is attached to the coupling 28 by means of the shear pin 28 which is inserted in the second bore in the second member 27.

Mounted on the frame 12 at the rear of the main roller is a hydraulic jacK 28 which has a pulley 29 at its uppermost end.

Two chains 3 are provided, each chain 3e is connected at one end to one of the side frames IS. The other ends of the chains 3 are connected together by a steel cable or wire 31 which passes over the pulley 3. The hydraulic jacK 28 is connected by a hydraulic pipe line to the tractor hydraulic system.

In operation, the side rollers 14 are deployed to their worKing positions by extending the side frames 18 5 ideways with the frames 18 substantially horizontal. In this position the side rollers 14 pivot freely about the three axes 21, 22, 23 to follow the contours of the land. When it is required to move the side rollers 14 to lie in-line then the hydraulic jacK 28 is extended to left the cable and chains 3e, 31 and thereby lift the frames 18 simultaneously about the lunge pins 18. The universal coupling 2 performs the important tasK of allowing the front of the tow-bar frames 16 of each side roller 14 to pivot about a substantially vertical axis and simultaneously move upwards and inwards. This action is greatly eased by driving the tractor forwards slowly. In this way the side rollers 14 follow easily to adopt a position behind the main roller.

It is to be understoood that the present invention is equally suitable for flat rollers, cambridge rollers, disc harrows, mowers or any other trail able tools.

It is also to be understood that more than one hydraulic jacK may be used to pull up the side frames la. Although it is preferred to use one jacK to pull up both side frames 16 simultaneously, if desired, the frames 18 may be lifted separately.

Claims (7)

1. An agricultural implement suitable for being towed behind a vehicle, the implement comprising: a first agricultural tool, which in use is positioned behind the vehicle; one or more side members, each of which is mounted on the first tool and is movable relative thereto from an operative position, where it extends sideways relative to the first tool, to a stowed position; a second agricultural tool pivotally connected to the or each side member by means of a universal coupling which is constructed to accommodate pivotal movement of the second tool about three mutually orthogonal axes thereby to allow the second tool to be moved from a deployed position, where it extends beyond the width of the first tool, to an inoperative position, where it lies behind the first tool substantially within the width of the first tool, when the side members are moved respectively from their operative position to their stowed position; and means for moving the side members to, and from, the operative position to, and from, the stowed position.

2. En agricultural implement according to claim 1 wherein the side members are pivotally mounted on the first tool so as to pivot about an axis which extends in a fore and aft direction relative to the first tool, and the or each side member is movable from a substantially horizontal operable position to stowed a position where the side member extends in an upwards direction.

3. An agricultural implement according to any one of the preceding claims where in the side member is a frame which is generally of triangular shape in plan and is mounted on the first tool so as to be pivotal about an axis which extends parallel to one of the sides of the triangular frame generally in a fore and aft direction relative to the first tool and the vehicle.

4. An agricultural implement according to claim 3 where in the coupling is located at the corner of the triangular frame that is remote from the axis about which the frame pivots.

5. An agricultural implement acording to any one of the preceding claims where in the means for moving the side members comprises a fleable linK connected to the side member and means for moving the linK to lift the side members to the stowed pos it ion.

6. An agricultural implement according to claim 5 wherein the linK is a flexible cable which passes over a pulley, and the means for pulling the linK comprises a jacK.

7. An agricultural implement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.