US2241752A - Plow - Google Patents

Description

y 13, 19 1.- w. E. WENTWQRTH 2,241,752

PLOW Filed Jan. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l fzgn E- W fltwbrth.

May 13, 1941. w. E. WENTWORTH v PLOW Filed Jan. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q G *m 2 mm mm Rm Patented May 13, 1941 .UlTED STATES, PATENT OFFICE PLOW William Earl Wentworth, Von Ormy, Tex.

Application January 16, 1940, Serial No. 314,176

8 Claims. (Cl. 97-45) This invention relates to plows and more particularly to improvements in plows of the type disclosed in my allowed application, Serial No. 259,431, filed March 2, 1939, now Patent N 2,195,948.

One object of the invention is to provide a plow having a plurality of plowshares and mounting means for said plowshares wherein means is employed to cooperate with the mounting means for retaining, one or more of the plowshares in a raised, inoperative position when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plow wherein the beams supporting the plowshares carry hangers which are engageable with uide posts on. the frame of the plow for detachably supporting the beams with plowshares thereon, in the raised inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plow having a lever mounted for convenient manual engagement, said lever being operatively connected with the hangers and being shiftable for engaging or disengaging the hangers with re-- spect to the guide posts employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having means for alternately raising the plow beams, with shares thereon, so that all of the plowshares will not be in engagement with the ground at'the same time, with the result thatthe amount of power needed for operating the implement will be reduced to a.

minimum. W 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a plow wherein the plow beams and guide posts employed cooperate for providing an effective mounting forvsaid beams, the beams being held :1

against lateral movement but being permitted to shift vertically in sliding engagement with the guide osts.

As a, still further object, the invention seeks to provide a plow which will, due to the fact that the beams shift continuously when in use, he kept clear. of weeds andtrash which might interfere with proper operation.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a plowwherein the means connecting the control lever with the hangers on the plow beams is simple in construction and positive in opera- "tion.

Further'and incidentalobjects of the invention not particularly pointed out herelnbefore, will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan vlewof my improved plow. V i V V Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction in dicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation, partly in section, showing the mechanism for controlling the hangers.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing particularly one of the hangers and its associated structure.

Figure 5 is a detail front elevation of the hanger as it would appear in engagement with the hook or notch employed.

The numeral I indicates, in general, the frame of my improved plow. The frame I is clearly seen in Figure 1 of the drawings and includes side beams .2 and 3, a rear beam 4, a front beam 5, and converging front brace beams 6 and 1. The front brace beams 6 and 1 meet medially of the width of the frame I and are connected near the forward end of a hitch bar 8 which has its inner end connected with the front beam 5 medially of its width. Reinforcing beams 9 and I6 extend between the front beam 5 and rear beam .4 in spaced relation at each side of the center of the frame. The axle H extends transversely of the frame near its rear end and said axle is-mounted by means of suitable bearings I2. The axle carries at its opposite ends, Wheels 13 which support pneumatic tires 44. It should be understood, of course, that the use of pneumatic tires, while desirable, is not absolutely essential.

,Mounted on the frame are share mounting beams I5, 16 and [7. As best seen in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, each of the share mountingbeams includes beam elements I8 and I 9 which are of substantially L-shape construction.

beam2 in spaced relationthereto, the beam I6 is located medially of the width of the frame, and the beam I! is located near the side beam 3 and in spaced relation thereto.

1 At their corresponding free ends, the beams l5, l6 and I1 are apertured to receive the shanks 2| of plowshares 22. Bolts 23 securely retain the shanks in proper operative position on the share mounting beams.

Rising from the rear beam 4 of the frame I at right angles thereto and at spaced points along said beam 4, are guide posts 24. The guide posts are substantially square in cross section and extend between the beam elements l8 and 15. The guide posts 2% are each provided with an extension 25, best seen in Figure 3, which extension is formed with a notch 26, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

It will now be understood that the guide posts 24 serve eifectively to guide the beams in their upward swinging movement from the upper surface of the rear beam 4 to a height suflicient to permit clearance of the points of the shares from the ground. For the purpose of raising the beams from their lowermost position, I provide raising arms 2i which are mounted on the axle I I. The raising arms are three in number and each carries a roller 23 which is engageable with a striking plate 29 on the under surface of each of the share mounting beams. As will be seen in Figure 2, the raising arms 2? are mounted in spaced relation along the axle and are fixed to said axle when being disposed beneath each of the share mounting beams I5, iii and IT. The arms are mounted on radii the planes of which are disposed in obtuse angular relation. Due to the mounting of the arms 2? on the axle H, all of said arms will ordinarily not be in engagement with their associated share mounting beams at the same time. In other words, as the axle rotates, the arms 2? will be moved so that their rollers will successively engage the share mounting beams for successively raising and lowering said beams. Inasmuch as all of said beams are not lowered at the same time, all of the plowshares will not be in engagement with the ground at the same time. Therefore, the tractive effort required to move the implement will be reduced to a minimum. It should be understood, however, that the arms 27 may be adjusted for raising and lowering the share mounting beams in any suitable manner. Ordinarily, the arms will be mounted on the axle in such a manner that two of the plowshares will be engaged with the ground while the third will be raised to inoperative position. Obviously, when the two beams are raised from the ground, the third beam, formerly raised, is lowered to operative position.

The mechanism for retaining the share mounting beams with plowshares thereon, in raised position, together with the mechanism for releasing said beams and plowshares, will now be described. Reference is particularly directed to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, wherein this mechanism is shown in more detail than in Figures 1 and 2. In order to support the beams in raised position, I employ inverted U-shaped hangers for each of the share mounting beams. A typical hanger is shown clearly in Figure 5 and is indicated by the numeral 30. A typical hanger includes a bight portion 31 having a straight section 32 medially of its ends. The hanger also includes arms 53 which terminate at their corresponding lower ends in inwardly directed opposed trunnions 34. 1e trunnions, as will be seen, are swingingly mounted in the night portions of eye bolts 35 which are mounted in each of the beam elements 18 and I9, nuts 35 serving the purpose of retaining the eye bolts in position. It will now beunderstood that the hangers 35 straddle the opening between the beam elements. The hangers are upwardly presented so as to be engageable in the notches 2% of the extensions on the guide posts 24'when it is desired to retain the share mounting beams in raised, inoperative position.

For shifting the hangers so that they will be engaged with or disengaged from the notches 26 when the share mounting beams are in raised position, I provide mechanism which includes yokes 3'], one of said yokes being provided for each of the beams l5, l6 and I1 and each of said yokes having slide arms 38 and 39 which are slidably engageable through ears 40 formed on the upper ends of the arms 33 and project outwardly therefrom. Stops 4! are mounted on the inner ends of each of the slide arms while stops 42 are mounted on the corresponding outer ends of said arms. Coil springs 4.3 surround the arms 38 and 39 between the stops 4! and corresponding sides of the ears 40, while springs 44 extend between the stops 42 and the corresponding opposite sides of the ears 40. The yokes 31 are each provided with shanks 45 and said shanks are connected rigidly to operating sleeves 46, one of said operating sleeves being, of course, provided for each of the'yokes. As clearly seen in Figures 1, 2 and .3, the operating sleeves extend throughout the major portion of the length of the beams l5, l6 and 11, said sleeves each being provided with a lug supporting member 41' having an operating lug 43 thereon. Ihe sleeves 46 are slidably supported, at their corresponding inner ends, by guide rods 49 which are provided with loops 5!? at their corresponding. inner ends, said loops being adapted to fit about the pivot bolts 20 which pivotally mount the forward ends of the share mounting beams l5, l6 and I1.

Mounted on the front beam 5 in longitudinal alinement with eachv of the guide posts 24, is a supporting bracket 5|, said supporting bracket rotatably mounting an operating rod 52 which extends transversely of' the frame above the beam 5. The operating rod 52 has keyed thereon operating fingers 53, 54 and 55. The operating fingers 53 and 55 are mounted on the ends of the rod 52 and are each provided with an engaging member 55 engageable over the end of the operating; lug 48 of each of the lug supporting members 41. As seen in. Figure 3, the operating finger 54 is also provided with an engaging member for the purpose of engaging the lug 48 disposed therebeneath. However, the operating finger 54 is provided with an integral upwardly projecting lever arm 51.

Mounted on the hitch bar 8, at the junction. of the front brace beams 6 and 1 with said bar, is a control lever mounting bracket 58 which is formed with a rounded upper surface 59. having latch notches therein. Pivotally' mounted on the bracket 58 is a control lever 6! formed with a latch rod 62 of conventional design, said rod being, of course, selectively engageable' in the notches es. The control lever is pivoted. on. the bracket 58 at 63 but extends downwardly to a pointin close spaced relation to the upper surface of the bar 8. The lower portion of said control leveris designated; at'64 andis op'eratively connected to the lever arm 5'! of the finger 54 by means of a linl; 65

The operation of the invention should appear obvious from the foregoing. However, a brief discussion-is not thought to be out of order- The plow is connected to a suitable sourceof motive power and is then readyto be moved'itot an area to be cultivated. While being moved; the share mounting beams are. held in raised position by engagement ofv the" hangers 30 in the notches 26. The plowshares will thus effectively be keptfro m engaging the ground. It should be noted, however, that as the axle ll rotates, the arms 21 will shift'the beams I5, l and 11 'upwardly'along the guide posts 24 a distance suflicient to clear the sections 32 of the hangers 30 from the notches 26. However, the control lever 6| will be retained in the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, with the result that the operatingsleeves 46, yokes 31 and springs 44 will assure that, when the arms 2'! move'out of verticalposition, the hangers will return to suspended position in the notches 26. When it is desired to lower the share mounting beams for intermittently connecting the shares with the ground, as is necesasry for digging short furrows or pockets to retain rain water and snow for irrigation purposes, the lever 6| is moved rearwardly. Movement of the lever transmits movement through the link .65, the fingers 53, 54 and 55, the lugs 48 and theirv supporting members 41, the sleeves 46, the yokes 31; and the springs 43 to the hangers for displacing said hangers from-the notches 26 so that when the raising arms 21 engage the plates 29 of each of the share mou'ntingbeams, said beams will be raisedand lowered, as the arms engage and disengage, for raising and lowering the plowshares out of and into engagement with the ground. With the lever in rearward position, the springs 43 retain the hangers 30 out of engagement with the notches 26 so that continuous operation will be assured. I

The device lends itself particularly well for all types of soil cultivation. However, as stated, my improved plow is panticularly effective for digging short furrows for retaining rain water and snow for irrigation purposes. Also, in the same operation, damming of the furrows will take place, so that all of the water will be retained. The furrows also afiord protection against blowing away of the soil by high winds. It is desired particularly to stress the advantage that, when in use, at no time are more thantwo plowshares in engagement with the ground. 'Ijhis arrangement permits operation with a, minimum of power and, consequently, minimum economy, 'As stated, due to the fact that the beamsl5, l6 and I! are always in motion when the implement is in use, there will be little chance for accumulation of trash or weeds which would interfere with the proper operation of the plow. As will be noted, the control lever is mounted for convenient operation from the seat of a tractor so that the plow may be conveniently operated by one person without the necessity of his dismounting from the tractor to raise or lower the plowshares. The construction of the device is characterized by the utmost simplicity. It is desired to call attention to the fact that my improved plow is a combination moisture retainer and cultivator. It is also desired to mention that the plowshares employed may be of any size desired. That is to say, when working in an orchard, for instance, smaller plowshares than those shown would be used.

It is further desired to emphasize that the eams can be moved in a neutral position and the two outside plow beams can be moved closer together or further apart for spacing to make the desired width of rows to bed the land for planting.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a plow, a frame, share mounting beams pivotally mounted on the frame, plowshares carried by the share mounting beams, an axle,

wheels carried by the axle, means carried by the axle and engageable with the share mounting beams for alternately raising said beams and alternately engaging the plowshares with a surface to be cultivated, means engageable with the share mounting beams and operable for retaining said beams and plowshares in a raised inoperative position, and means mounted on the frame and connected with said last mentioned means and being operable for controlling said last mentioned means from a remote point.

2. In a plow, a frame, an axle carried by the frame, share mounting beams carried by the frame and including spaced beam elements,

plowshares carried by the beams, guide posts carried by the frame and extending between the beam elements of each of the beams, said guide posts being adapted for guiding the beams in upward swinging movement, means carried by the beams and cooperating with the guide posts for retaining said beams in an upward inoperative position, said last mentioned means being operable from a remote point.

3. In a plow, a frame having front and rear beams, side beams, a hitch bar, and front brace beams connected between the hitch bar and the corresponding ends of the front beam, an axle carried by the frame, supporting wheels carried by the axle, a share mounting beam carried by the frame and having spaced beam elements, means mounting the share mounting beam on the frame for vertical swinging movement on said frame, a raising arm carried by the axle and engageable with the share mounting beam for raising and lowering said beam upon rotation 'of the axle, a plowshare carried by the share mounting beam, a guide post carried by the frame and extending between the beam elements for guiding the share mounting beam in its upward swinging movement, said guide post having an extension formed with a notch, a hanger carried by the share mounting beam in straddling relation to the opening defined by the spaced beam elements, said hanger being engageable in the notch for retaining the beam element and plowshare in raised position, and means for shifting the hanger whereby said hanger will clear the notch for permitting free up and down movement of the share mounting beam. t

4. In a plow, a frame, an axle carried by the frame, supporting wheels carried by the frame, a share mounting beam pivotally mounted at the forward end of the frame, means for guiding said share mounting beam in its swinging movement, means carried by the axle and engageable with the share mounting beam for swinging said share mounting beam upwardly and along said guide means, a plowshare carried by the share mounting beam, means carried by the share mounting beam and engageable with the guide means for retaining said share mounting beam in raised inoperative position, means carried by thefr-ame at a point remote from said last mentioned means and connected therewith for controlling said last mentioned means, and means connected with said last mentioned means and being manually shiftable for displacing said last mentioned means and permitting free up and share mounting beam pivotally mounted on the frame at its forward end, said beam having spaced beam elements, a raising arm carried. by the axle and engageable with the beam. elements for swinging said beam elements upwardly with respect to the frame, a guide post carried by the frame and extending between the beam elements for guiding said beam in its swinging movement, a plowshare carried by the beam, saidg-uide post having an extension formed with a retaining notch, a hanger carried by the beam elements of the beam and being pivotally mounted on said beam elements, said hanger having a bight portion provided with a flat section engageable with the retaining notch for retaining the beam in a raised inoperative position, and means engageable with the hanger for shifting said hanger and displacing the fiat section of the bight portion from the retaining notch whereby free up and down movement of the beam will be permitted.

6. In a plow, a frame, an axle carried by the frame, supporting Wheels on the axle, share mounting beams mounted on the frame at spaced points thereon, said share mounting beams including spaced beam elements and a plate, raising arms carried by the axle, one of said arms being mounted beneath each of the beams and said arms being mounted on radii in planes in obtuse angular relation to each other, guide posts carried by the frame, one of said guide posts extending between the beam elements of each of said beams, said guide posts each having an extension formed with a notch, rotation of said axle causing engagement of the raising arms with the share mounting beams for alternately raising said arms to inoperative position whereby short furrows will be dug by plowshares, carried by the beams, hangers carried by the beams and being movable for engagement in the notches for retaining the beams in raised inoperative position, and means mounted on the forward end of the frame and connected with the hangers and being operable for shifting said hangers from engagement with the notches whereby free up and down movement of the share mounting beams upon rotation of the axle will be permitted.

'7. In a plow, a frame, an axle carried by the frame, supporting Wheels carried by the axle, a raising arm carried by the axle and having a roller, a share mounting beam comprising spaced bean-r elements and a plate extending between the beam elements at their under sides, means pivotally mounting the beam elements for vertical swinging movement, a guide post carried by the frame and extending between the. elements of the beam, said guide post having an extension formed with a notch, a U-shaped hanger carried by the beam and having a flat bight portion engageableinthe notch, said axle being rotatable for. engaging the roller with the plate of the beam for raising said-beam andengaging the hanger in the notch. for. retaining said beam in raised inoperative position, and 'means carried by the frame and extending longitudinally of the beam and being operable. for displacing said hanger from the notch whereby free up and down movement. of the beam will be permitted, said means including a. yoke engageable with the hanger, anoperating sleeve connected with the yoke, and manually engaseable means connected with the operating sleeve for shifting said sleeve and yoke for displacing the hanger from the notch in the guide post;

8. In a p1ow,.a frame, an. axle carried by the frame, supporting wheels carried by the axle. a share mounting beam carried by the frame and having spaced beam elements, a guide post carried by the. frame and extending upwardly between the beam elements, means pivotally mounting the share mounting beam at the forward end of the frame, said guide post guiding upward swinging movement of the beam, said guide post also having an extension formed with a notch, a U -shaped' hanger carried by the beam and having ears, a yoke having arms. extending through the ears, springs carried by the arms of the yoke at each side of, the ears and providing a resilient connection between the. yoke and the hanger, said yoke having a shank, an operating sleeve connected with the shank, said operating sleeve extending longitudinally of. the beam and between the beam elements thereof throughout a portion of its length, aguide post pivotally mounted on. the frame and extending within the operating sleeve throughout a portion of its length. for guiding said sleeve, a lug supporting member carried .by the operating sleeve at its forward end and having an operating lug, a supporting bracket on the frame, an operating rod on the supporting bracket, an operating finger fixed on the rod and having an engaging member engaged with the operating lug, a lever arm carried. by the operating finger, a control lever mountingjbracket mounted on the frame, a control lever on the last mentioned bracket, and a link operatively connecting the control lever with the lever arm of the finger, said control lever beingshiftable for shifting the link, finger, operating lug, operating sleeve, and yoke for shifting the hanger to engage or disengage in the notch of the guide post for retaining or releasing the share mounting beam with respect to the guide post.

WILLIAM EARL WENTWORTH.

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