IE47476B1 - Improved means for mounting implements on tractors - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides means for mounting an implement, such as a hopper, on the three-point suspension system of a tractor vehicle comprising at least one lower pivot (13) and an upper pivot (22) on the implement, a lever (15) having one end pivoted on one of said lower pivots, its upper end being adapted to be pivotally connected with the upper link (16) of the three- point suspension system of the tractor, which link is adjustable in length, a hydraulic ram (23) having one end pivoted to said upper pivot (22) and its other end to an intermediate point on the lever (15), while the lower links (14) of said suspension system are adapted to be pivoted to the same or another lower pivot (13) on the implement. This enables the hopper to be raised from a loading position to a carrying position and to be tilted as desired. By connecting the upper pivot (22) releasably to the implement (1a) by the intermediary of a catch device (24), the upper pivot (22) being carried at the upper end of an elongated member (18) pivoted to the implement on or in the region of the lower pivot (13), the implement may be allowed to turn freely about the lower pivot into an inverted position.

Description

This invention concerns improved means for mounting various implements on tractors such as are commonly used for general purposes on farms, etc., and which are of the type provided with a so-called “three-point linkage to which various implements may be attached, the linkage being adapted to be hydraulically operated to raise or lower the implement.

In mounting certain implements, in particular shovel or hopper appliances on such tractor vehicles, it is also necessary to provide means for tilting the implement so that it may take up a desired angular position while being moved in a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the tractor, and a hydraulically operated ram has been provided for this purpose.

One disadvantage which has been found in practice lies in the fact that different makes of tractors, have different dimensions and it is therefore generally necessary for the arrangements by which the implement is attached to the tractor to be specially dimensioned to meet the particular make of tractor With which the implement is to be used. The object of the invention is to provide a simple construction of mechanism, including means for.tilting the implement, whereby an implement may be conveniently mounted on, and operated by, a tractor of the type above referred to, while allowing a certain amount of latitude in the dimensions of the tractor in question.

With this object in view, the invention provides an implement with means for mounting it on a tractor of the type referred to, comprising at least one lower pivot and an upper pivot on the implement, a lever having one end pivoted on one of said lower pivots, its upper end being adapted to be pivotally connected with the upper link of the three-point suspension system of the tractor, a hydraulic ram having one end pivoted to said upper pivot and its other end to an intermediate point on the lever, while the lower pivot or one of the lower pivots on the implement is adapted to be pivoted to the lower links of said suspension system.

The term pivot is intended to include a plurality of pivot pins or bearings in axial alignment.

The provision of an upper link which is adjustable in length enables the mounting mechanism according to the invention to be applied to a wide range of tractors having different dimensions. This adaptability of the mechanism may be further improved by providing brackets on the implement with a series of apertures to receive the pivot pins of the lower links of the tractor suspension system and/or the end of the lever pivoted to the implement.

Where the invention is applied to the mounting of an implement such as a hopper, shovel,bucket or similar appliance whereby such articles as root crops, clay, manure, animal feeding materials and so forth may be taken up, conveyed and then deposited or discharged where required the implement may be inverted when in its raised position so as to empty the contents of the implement. For this purpose, according to said further feature of the invention the pivoted con15 nection of the upper pivot of the implement to the upper link of the tractor suspension system is effected through the intermediary of releasable catch means, which when released leaves the implement free to pivot about the (or a) lower pivot. With this arrangement an elongated member extends between the upper and lower pivots of the implement and maintains said pivots in position relatively spaced apart irrespective of the engagement or release of the catch means. Said elongated member may consist of a simple arm, but preferably has the form of a rectangular frame.

The accompanying drawings illustrate more or less diagrammatically in side elevation constructions according to the invention, the implement shown being a hopper such as used for lifting, transporting and depositing root crops in bulk.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a simple construction with a hopper mounted according to the invention in the loading position; Figure 2 shows a modified construction which includes a catch device, the hopper being in the loading position; Figure 3 similarly shows the hopper in the raised or carrying position; Figure 4 similarly shows the hopper with the catch released; and Figure 5 shows a detail of the tripping mechanism to an enlarged scale.

Referring to Figure 1, the hopper 1, which is shown in a lowered position, has near its bottom a bracket 2 with a pivot bearing 3 and near its top a second bracket 4 with a pivot bearing 5. These brackets are respectively arranged in pairs suitably spaced apart, the pivot bearing in each pair of brackets being in axial alignment. A lever 6 is pivoted at one end about a pivot bearing (not shovm) which is preferably approximately coaxial with the pivot 3 and carried by brackets (not shown) similar to the brackets 2 positioned more or less centrally low down on the hopper 1, while a hydraulic ram 7 is pivoted between the pivot bearing 5 and a pivot 8 disposed intermediately between the ends of the lever 5.

The upper end of lever 6 is connected to the upper link 9 of the hydraulic lift ing system of a tractor vehicle (not shovm), while the lower lifting links 10 of the tractor are connected to the lower pivot bearing 3 of the hopper 1. The hydraulically operated lifting arms as normally provided on a tractor of the type referred to are indicated at 11 and being well-known, need no further description. It will be appreciated that the lower link 10, the lever 6 and the brackets on the hopper 1 to which they are respectively pivoted are also arranged in pairs suitably spaced apart, the pairs of brackets 2 and 4 being also suitably spaced to receive the links or lever elements to be pivoted there to. It is not essential that the pivot bearings of the brackets to which the lower end of lever 6 is pivoted be in precise axial alignment with the pivot bearings of the brackets 2 which are pivotally connected to the lifting links 10, since the pivots in question are independent of each other.

It will be evident that with the construction above described, by operation of the lifting arms 11 and therewith the lifting arms 10, the hopper 1 may be raised from the lowered position shown to an approximately upright position, the hopper as a whole pivoting about the pivots 3 of the lifting links 10. So long as the ram 7 is not operated the lever 6 acts as if it were a rigid part of the hopper 7, and the angle of tilt which the hopper assumes as it is raised will be determined by the top link 9 of the tractor suspension system. However, if a different angle of tilt for the hopper 1 is desired it is only necessary to operate the ram 7 in order to make the necessary adjustment.

The fact that the upper link 9 is also adjustable in length will enable an implement such as the hopper 1, to be mounted on tractors of different dimensions, the implement being capable of being raised or lowered and tilted as may be appropriate. The adjustability of the link 9 may be provided for in various ways, for example by screw or turnbuckle adjustment or, if desired, by employing a second hydraulic ram as the top link.

Additional possibility for adjustment of the mounting arrangement according to the invention may be afforded by constructing the brackets 2 and/or the brackets to which the lower end of the lever 6 is pivoted as elongated members having a series of apertures adapted to serve as alternative bearings for the pivots of the lifting links 10 and/or lever 6. This will enable the implement to be lifted to a particularly high level when desired.

The construction as above described with reference to Figure 1 may be modified and arranged to enable the hopper 1 to be readily inverted, if and when desired, the hopper being in its raised position. Such a construction is shown in Figures 2 to 5, the hopper la being of a conventional shape but reinforced at the bottom by a web 12 providing a bearing for a pivot pin 13. The latter also provides a pivotal connection for the lifting link 14 of the three-point lifting linkage of the tractor (not shown), as well as for one end of a link 15, the other end of which is connected by a turnbuckle device 16 to the upper member (not shown) of the tractor linkage system, commonly referred to as the stabilising link. The said linkage system also includes the lifting arm 17 which may be raised or lowered hydraulically under the control of the driver of the tractor in order to raise or lower the link 14. It will be understood that the links 14 and 17 are duplicated to provide a symmetrical arrangement with respect to the central longitudinal vertical plane of the tractor. The web 12 on the hopper may be similarly duplicated for the attachment of the respective links and so provide a stable construction.

Also mounted on the pivot 13 (or on a separate pivot in the region of the pivot 13) is an elongated member, which may be a single arm, but is preferably a rectangular frame formed by two parallel arms 18 (only one of which is shown) spaced apart and connected by bridging plates 19, 20.

The arms 18 are formed with lugs 21 supporting a pivot 22 for the plunger of a hydraulic ram 23, the cylinder of which is pivoted near the middle of links 15. The pivot 22 also constitutes a locking pin for a catch device 24 pivoted between a pair of lugs 25 welded to the side of the hopper la. spaced well above the pivot 13. The catch device 24 advantageously comprises a pair of hook-like arms connected by a bridge piece 26 and when in the closed position shown in Figure 2, as also in the released position of Figure 4, resting under its own weight on an abutment 27. The catch mechanism is completed by a tripping lever 28 pivoted on the pivot 22 and having a cam-shaped head 28a. by which the catch 24 may be raised from engagement with the pivot 22 if the tripping lever 28 is moved from the inoperative position shown in full lines to the tripping position shown in broken lines in Figure 5. The lever 28 is biassed towards the inoperative position under its own weight assisted, if desired, by a spring, so that it must be positively moved when it is desired to trip the catch device.

When the hopper is in the loading position shown in Figure 2, the catch 24 being engaged with the pin 22 and the trippirg lever 28 being in its inoperative position, the hopper la. will be firmly secured to the frame 18. The hopper la may be caused to scoop up material such as root crops or silage from a heap by manipulating the tractor vehicle. The hopper la may then be raised by operating the lifting arms 17 and by suitable adjustment of the hydraulic ram 23 the hopper la may be caused to assume the position shown in Figure 3. If the tripping lever 28 is now pulled, for example by the aid of a control cable (not shown) attached to it and leading to within convenient reach of the tractor driver, said lever may be moved into the operative position shown by the broken lines in Figure 5, the cam-shaped head 28a. of said lever thus raising the catch 24, disengaging it from the pivot 22 and permitting the hopper la to move under its own weight about the pivot 13, as shown in Figure 4. The movement of the hopper la. may be assisted if necessary by moving the frame 18 by operation of the ram 23, but this may be unnecessary since the pivot 13 is located somewhat to one side of a vertical plane through the centre of gravity of the loaded hopper when the hopper is in the position shown in Figure 3.

Thus, when the catch device is tripped the hopper la will be free to turn into an inverted position and its load thereby discharged. If the hopper is then lowered into contact with the ground (for example into the position shown in Figure 4) the catch device may readily be re-engaged by operating the ram 23 to move the frame 18 into the position shown in Figure 2. On coming into contact with the locking pin 22 the nose of the catch will ride over the pin and the hook-shaped catch will drop into the position shown in full lines in Figure 5. The trip lever 28 will tend to remain in its inoperative (full lines) position under gravity and may be operated manually when the contents of the hopper is to be discharged.

Although in the foregoing description the pivot pin 13 has been described as common to the link 14, the frame 18 and the link 15, while the pin 22 is common to the plunger of the ram 23 and the locking device 24, separate pivot pins may be provided for each of these purposes and they need not respectively be precisely coaxial, as will be apparent.

The lifting and tilting means according to the invention as described above is not limited to use with a hopper, but may also be used in a substantially similar manner for the purpose of mounting other implements, as for example fertiliser spraying devices and fork lift devices which may be required to be mounted on a tractor, but in such cases the provision of the releasable catch device described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 may be dispensed with.

The construction according to the invention has the great advantage that it can be mass-produced to given dimensions and applied directly to almost any make of agricultural tractor generally available.

Claims (7)

1. An implement with means for mounting it on a tractor vehicle of the type referred to, comprising at least one lower pivot and an upper pivot on the implement, a lever having its lower end pivoted on one of said lower 5 pivots, its upper end being adapted to be pivotally connected with the upper link of a tractor three-point suspension system, a hydraulic ram having one end pivoted to said upper pivot and its other end to an intermediate point on the lever, while the lower pivot or one of the lower pivots is adapted to be pivoted to the lower links of said suspension system. 10

2. Means according to claim 1, wherein brackets are provided on the implement having two or more apertures to provide alternative points for the pivotal connection of the lower links of the tractor suspension system and the lower end of the lever pivoted to the implement.

3. Means according to claim 1, wherein the upper pivot is carried by one 15 end of an elongated member, the other end of which is pivoted on or substantially coaxially with the lower pivot, said upper pivot and therewith the elongated member on which it is mounted being connected to the implement by a releasable catch device.

4. Means according to claim 3, wherein said elongated member is in the 20 form of a substantially rectangular frame.

5. Means according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the catch device comprises a catch member pivotally mounted on an upper bracket on the implement and biassed so as to be adapted to engage the upper end of the elongated member in one position of the implement and thereby prevent pivotal movement of said 25 member relatively to the implement, a cam lever being mounted on said elongated member and adapted when operated to trip said catch from its engagement with the elongated member.

6. Means for mounting an implement on a tractor vehicle substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. 30

7. Means for mounting an implement on a tractor vehicle substantially as described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.