AU2004202184A1 - Tooling clamp assembly - Google Patents

Description

18-FEB-2000 08:14 FROM:NDF-AG DESIGN 0268891293 TO:62837999

I

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to a tooling clamp assembly suitable for being mounted on an agricultural toolbar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tooling clamp assemblies securing the tooling shanks to agricultural toolbars are often expensive. Because toolbars are produced in a great variety of sizes, and various shapes including square and rectangular, and tooling shanks are likewise produced in a great variety of sizes, and various shapes including square and rectangular, it is therefore expensive to produce the great range of tooling clamp assemblies required to provide for the various combinations, and expensive also to adequately stock sufficient variety and quantity to provide for the demand.

Tooling clamp assemblies arc produced in a wide variety of styles. Many tooling clamp assemblies are notoriously difficult to adjust. Typically tooling clamp assemblies need to be repositioned along the toolbar, and shanks need to be raised or lowered. Tooling clamp assemblies secured to the toolbar using bolts are often difficult to reposition along the toolbar as the bolts arc too tight a fit. The threads of the bolts get damaged each time they are moved and eventually the nuts become bound to the bolts thus creating even greater difficulty.

Tooling clamp assemblies may be provided with a rack and pinion assembly or other device to make it easier to raise and lower the shanks, but again because of the wide variety of styles and sizes required to be produced to cater for industry needs the cost involved is often prohibitive.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00819665 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:38 Date 2004-07-07 18-FEB-200008:14 FROM:NDF-AG DESIGN 0268891293 TO:62837999 P:4/7 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tooling clamp assembly that is economical to produce for a wide range of shapes and sizes of toolbars and shanks, and that can be easily repositioned along the toolbar, and that enables the easy raising and lowering of the shanks.

The tooling clamp assembly in accordance with the present invention has been achieved on the basis of a concept different from that of previous tooling clamp assemblies.

The tooling clamp assembly of the present invention is characterized in that a limited number of specific components are utilized across an extensive range of tooling clamp assemblies which cater for a wide variety of toolbar shapes and sizes, and also a wide variety of shank shapes and sizes; the said specific components include a clamping element to secure the shank vertically, and may include a rack and pinion assembly to enable the easy raising and lowering of the shanks where the combined weight of the shank and tooling require it; the said specific components are fastened to upper and lower plates; the said upper and lower plates having cavities for a shank to pass through the said plates whereby the said shank is secured both laterally and longitudinally by the said plates; and Preferably, the upper and lower plates arc flat or relatively flat so as to facilitate the shipment of the tooling clamp components before the tooling clamp is assembled.

Preferably, the tooling clamp assembly will include a pinion assembly fitted so as to engage a rack incorporated into the shank which will allow an operator to readily set the height of the shank and attached tooling.

Preferably, the pinion mount will also include an adjustment element adapted to allow an operator to set the clearance between the engagement surfaces of the pinion and the rack.

Preferably the fastencrs will comprise a bolt and nut, and /or pin, rivet, or the like.

Preferably, the cavity in the lower plate which allows the shank to pass through, and the sides of the said cavity secure the shank both laterally and longitudinally, should be an enclosed hole corresponding to the shape of the shank.

Should the shank assembly be mounted in an alternative position forward of the toolbar, it is preferable that the tooling clamp assembly be rotated through 180 degrees so that the lower plate is positioned above the toolbar and likewise the upper plate is positioned below the toolbar thus securing the shank assembly to the toolbar in the strongest possible manner.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00819665 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:38 Date 2004-07-07 18-FEB-2000 09:15 FROM:NDF-AG DESIGN 0268891293 TO: 62837999 P.5-,7 3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tooling clamp assembly embodied by the present invention; Figure 2a-2c arc exploded views of components of the tooling clamp assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the shank clamping assembly; Figures 4a-4d show respectively a plan, perspective, side, and rear end view of the pinion assembly.

Figure S is a perspective view of a tooling clamp assembly and tooling shank; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a tooling clamp assembly incorporating alternate upper and lower plates; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The clamp assembly 1 shown in Fig. I is a tooling clamp for being fitted to a toolbar of an agricultural Implement The clamp assembly as herein described is as mounted to a toolbar in a normal operating position where the tooling shank is mounted to the rear of and following the toolbar. An alternative normal operating position is to mount the shank forward of and preceding the toolbar. Should the shank assembly be mounted in this alternative position forward of the toolbar, it is preferable that the tooling clamp assembly be rotated through 180 degrees so that the lower plate is positioned above the toolbar and likewise the upper plate is positioned below the toolbar thus securing the shank assembly to the toolbar in the strongest possible manner.

The clamp assembly comprises an upper plate 2 and a lower plate 4 more clearly shown in Fig. 2a, which are secured to the toolbar 6 by means of bolts 8 and nuts 10. By loosening the nuts 10 the clamp assembly I may be moved laterally along the toolbar and positioned at a preferred location.

The tooling shank 14 passes through cavity 56 in the upper plate 2 and cavity 54 in lower plate 4. The edges of cavity 54 and cavity 56 correspond to and neatly fit the shape of the shank and provide support both laterally and longitudinally. The cavity 54 in the lower plate 4 is an enclosed hole and the rearward portion of cavity 54 securely supports the tooling shank 14 as a considerable force is exerted at this point due to the tooling fitted to the shank engaging the soil in normal operation.

A shank clamping element 12 is fitted either side of the tooling shank 14, and the shank clamping elements 12 are attached to the lower plate 4 by moans of bolts 16 and nuts 18.

COMS ID No: SBMI-00819665 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:38 Date 2004-07-07 i2-FEB-2000 08:iS FROM:NDF-AG DESIGQ 026e29i293 TO:62837999 P:6/7 A bolt 20 and nut 22 secures the tooling shank 14 in a set vertiml position. By loosening the nut 22 the tooling shank 14 may be raised or lowered and positioned at a preferred location.

A pinion mount 24 is attached to the upper plate 2 by means of bolts 26 and nuts 28. A pinion 32 is attached to the pinion mount 24 by means of a bolt 34 and nut 36. The bolt 34 pas es through hole 44 in pinion mount, through bush 38, threaded through pinion 32, through bush 38, through hole 44 in pinion mount, and secured by nut 36.

Elongated holes 30 in the upper plate 2 allow the pinion mount 24 to be positioned so as to set the desired clearance between the engagement surfices of the rack 42 and pinion 32.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative clamp assembly to the unit shown in Fig. 1. The upper plate 46 and lower plate 48 arc constructed so that the clamp assembly may be mounted on a toolbar and straddle toolbar supports which would inhibit the use of other clamp assemblies.

Both the clamp assembly as shown in Figs. I, 2a 2c, using upper plate 2 and lower plate 4, and the clamp assembly a. shown in Figs. 6, :using upper plate 46 and lower plate 48, utilize identical shank clamping elements 12, and identical pinion mounts 24.

(insert figures) COMS ID No: SBMI-00819665 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:38 Date 2004-07-07

Claims (2)

1. 2. The tooling clamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein a rack and pinion assembly is provided to facilitate the raising and lowering of the said shank.
2. 3. The tooling clamp assembly according to claim 2 wherein an adjustment element allows the clearance to be set between the engagement surfaces of the rack and pinion. 9 COMS ID No: SBMI-00819665 Received by IP Australia: Timre 16:38 Date 2004-07-07