GB2244906A

GB2244906A - Towed/trailed implement headstock with inbuilt electronic sensors

Info

Publication number: GB2244906A
Application number: GB9013240A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel Henry Swaine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-13
Filing date: 1990-06-13
Publication date: 1991-12-18
Also published as: GB9013240D0

Abstract

This is a Headstock Assembly which fits between a tractor drawbar and an agricultural or industrial implement or machine. It has an inbuilt draught-load sensor 4 and position sensor 8 and is designed to work with tractors having electronically controlled hydraulic systems. This Headstock is adaptable to varying widths of machinery and is designed to maintain them at uniform parallel working depths or heights, above ground level. The draught-load sensor is fitted into a two-piece drawbar 2/3. The position sensor 8 is fitted behind the towing lugs 13 of the Headstock and is actuated by an adjustable Cam 11 secured to the corresponding lug 12 of the towed machine 1 by counter-sunk Allen screws. <IMAGE>

Description

DRAUGHT AND POSITION SENSING IMPLEMENT HEADSTOCK This invention relates to a Draught and Position Sensing Headstock for Towed agricultural and industrial implements and machines.

This Headstock is designed to work with tractors eqipped with electronically controlled hydraulics and Radar wheelslip moilitors.

It:fits, st the front,by it's adjustable toing hitch to a tractor's.

drawbar a!ld,at it's rear by two or more towing lugs to a wheeled implement or machine. It has inbuilt electronic Braught-load and Position Sensors to obtain from Towed implements the benefits,known as 1,Draft Control!' and"Position Control"forberly o-lly gained from Mounted implements.

In relation to a tractors Mounted implements the term "Position Con trol" and "Draft Control"are well-known and understood by engineers and operators. Mounted implements are almost always carried on two hinged arms,known as lower links",extending rearwards from the tractor.

i1hese lower links can be lifted or lowered to any position chosen by the tractor's operator when the necessary soil-penetration depth of the attacched implement has been decided:hence the term "Position Control".

The term "Draft Control" is directly concerned with a tractor's wheelgrip versus the resistance of a soil-engaged implement. If a mounted implement engages the soil too deeply, or encounters a hard patch,the drag-load can exceed the tractor's wheel-grip and serious wheel-slip ensus.Using "position Control"the tractor operator can lift the imple ment to lessen it's draught resistance,this adding the advantage of transferring more of the implement's weight onto the tractor(known as "weight transference"). This added weight and reduction Of implementdrag allows the tractor to regain wheel-grip and surge forward again; but the implement's work is now too shallow so the operator lower; the implement again.This sequence needs constant repetition and defeats the tractor-operator's responsive ability and the implement's work becomes very unsatisfactory.

This problem was solved by connecting the two lower links, ordin some cases,third "top link" to draught-load sensors. These sensors, of an electronic or mchanicallhydraulic nature signal the draught resistance to the tractor's hydraulic system which automatically and instantaneously effects the small constant adjustments necessary to maximise the tractor's draught capability:hence "draft control".

Automatic draught control is extremely effective in a tractor's lugging performance but until now it has had a grave defect; it works only with mounted implements. Modern very heavy powerful tractors demand very large implements which, not being conducive to tractor-mounting must be towed along and so lose the vital benefits of draught-control and weight transference.

The advantages of "draft control"and "position control" togeter with "weight transference" can be obtained from Towed implements or machines by using this sensor-fitted towed-implement Headstock.

Referring to the Drawing, page 3 Fig. t the Headstock is shown fitted to a tined implement. The outer drawbar section 2 is shown with it's inner section 3 ; the inner section 3 is a sliding precision fit within the outer section 2 ,and is retained therein by an electronic draught-load sensing pin 4 fitted towards the rear of the inner section 5 and passing through both inner 3 and outer 2 sections of the drawbar.

Towards the rear b of the outer drawbar there is an aperture 7 through which an electronic position sensor 8 is fitted to the cross-member of the Headstock.Afeeler-rod to connects between the sensor 8 and the adjustable cam Jt fitted to the towing lug 1; of the towed implement The towing lug 12 fits between the two towing lugs 13 Fig. 5 of the Headstock.

Welded to the Headstock 9 are one or more pairs of upright sections 14 which are connected to the towed implement I by one, or more, hydraulic rams 15 . The tops of the Headstock's upright sections 16 are connected by one, or more, adjustable tubular connecting-rods \5 to one, or more, upright sections 18 fixed to the Towed implement's wheel axle t which is connected to the implement frame \ by brackets 20. The angle of axle with it's wheel 21 on ground surface determines the working depth of the implement or raises it for transport purposes.

To use the Draught and Position Sensing Headstock with it's implement attached,fig. 3, it is connected by it's adjustable hitch 22 to the tractor's drawbar and the quick coupling hydraulic 23 and electrical 24 connections 25 are made.

The operator uses switch 26 fig. 4, to take electronic signals from sensor pin 4 instead of from sensor 27 ,and switch "18 to take signals from sensor s instead of from sensor WR.The oil supply to the tractor's lift-arm rams 35 is directed to the headstock ram, or rams, 15 by a solenoid operated valve 31 actuated by switch 30. The automatic working of the Draft and Position-Sensng Headstock is now governed by the tractor's computer 32 under the instructions fed in by the operator using control panel 33 .

Claims

CLAINIS

1 A TOWED-IMPLEMENT HEADSTOCK for use with tractors using electronically controlled hydraulic systems.

2 A trailed-implement headstock as in Claim 1 wherein is an electronic draught-load sensor.

3 Atrailed-implement headstock as in Claim 1 wherein is an electronic position sensor.

4 A trailed-implement headstock as in Claim 1 comprising a two-piece drawbar retained together by an electronic draught-load sensor pin.

5 A trailed-implement headstock as in claim 1 wherein is a cam-operated position sensor.

6 a trailed-implement headstock as in Claims 1 and 4 which incorporates an adjustable cam secured by counter-sunk Allen screws.