CA1317150C - Resilient planar framework for supporting multiple groundworking tools - Google Patents
Resilient planar framework for supporting multiple groundworking toolsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1317150C CA1317150C CA000615866A CA615866A CA1317150C CA 1317150 C CA1317150 C CA 1317150C CA 000615866 A CA000615866 A CA 000615866A CA 615866 A CA615866 A CA 615866A CA 1317150 C CA1317150 C CA 1317150C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rigid
- tool mount
- framework
- resilient
- bars
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
- A01B33/00—Tilling implements with rotary driven tools, e.g. in combination with fertiliser distributors or seeders, with grubbing chains, with sloping axles, with driven discs
- A01B33/04—Tilling implements with rotary driven tools, e.g. in combination with fertiliser distributors or seeders, with grubbing chains, with sloping axles, with driven discs with tools on horizontal shaft parallel to direction of travel
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
- A01B73/00—Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width
- A01B73/02—Folding frames
- A01B73/04—Folding frames foldable about a horizontal axis
- A01B73/044—Folding frames foldable about a horizontal axis the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A normally rigid planar framework for mounting a large number of ground working tools is made resilient to accommodate the torsional forces exerted on the rigid structural members of the framework as it passes over uneven ground and the tools are subjected to varying forces as they move through the ground.
Resilience of the framework is achieved by having the structural members which are normally rigidly fastened together, fastened together instead by resilient fastening which permits torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened. Additionally, rigid structural members of the framework which normally are pivotally connected to permit movement only around the pin axis of the pivotal connection, are resiliently pivotally connected so that slight rotation of the structural members can occur around the other two axes which intersect the pin axis of the respective pivotal connections at mutual right angles.
A normally rigid planar framework for mounting a large number of ground working tools is made resilient to accommodate the torsional forces exerted on the rigid structural members of the framework as it passes over uneven ground and the tools are subjected to varying forces as they move through the ground.
Resilience of the framework is achieved by having the structural members which are normally rigidly fastened together, fastened together instead by resilient fastening which permits torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened. Additionally, rigid structural members of the framework which normally are pivotally connected to permit movement only around the pin axis of the pivotal connection, are resiliently pivotally connected so that slight rotation of the structural members can occur around the other two axes which intersect the pin axis of the respective pivotal connections at mutual right angles.
Description
t3~?~50 RE~ILIENT PLANAR FRAMEWORK ~OR
SUPPORTING MULTIPLE GROUNDWORKING TOOLS
This application is a division of our earlier application Serial No. 557,779 filed 29 January 1988, now issued as Canadian patent The present invention relates to agricultural implements, and more particularly to a resilient planar framework for supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, preferably at variable heights relative to ground level, fcr purposes of, for example, tilling, cultivating, fertilizing, or seeding the soil.
In an earlier Canadian patent of Terrance Friggstad, Canadian patent 1,2~7,448 issued 28 December 1988, the invention -there disclosed is a framework for such ground working tools, the framework being exceptionally Elexible and adaptable to rough ground contours, but somewhat expensive to manufacture because its design generally required the use of a large number o~ ball and socket joints between structural members, to reduce the stress placed on the members when -chey moved relative to one another in passing over undulating ground. Furthermore, the exceptional flexibility created problems in folding multi-sectional implements to transport position.
The framework of the present invention provi.des a simpler design in which fewer joints requiring the immense flexibility of bal.l and socket joints are required to connect the structural members, and many of the joints between structural members requiring only limited articulation around three axes of rotation intexsecting at mutual. right angles can be of a much l~ss ~ page 1 131 ~150 expensive form than classic ball and socket ~oints. It may be noted at this point that a ball and socket joint connecting two rigid structural members permits relative movement of the members around three axes of rotation intersecting at mutual right angles, although the movement around one or more of the axes may be restricted or limited. A universal ~oint connecting two rigid structural members permits relative movement of the members around two axes of rotation intersecting at right angles, rotation of one of the members around the third axis intersecting the others at mutual right angles inexorabl~ being transmitted to the other member through the universal joint, thus permitting a driving shaft to transmit its torque through a universal joint to a driven shaft. A pin joint connecting two rigid structural members generally permits relative movement of the members around no more than one axls, that being the axis through the center of the pin.
In the aforementioned earlier Canadian patent 1,247,448 at least two flexible linked parallel rigid bars for supporting ground working tools are linked by pairs of parallel rigid links, which maintain the bars ln parallel relationship. The parallel rigid bars ~re supported on wheels mounted below and ahead of the rigid bars; power means are used to displace the parallel rigid links relative to one another and -thereby rotate the rigid bars around the axles of their respective suppor-ting wheels, thus raising or lowering the rigid bars relative to the ground and so varying the height or depth of penetration into the ground of ground working tools fastened to the rigid bars. A preferred form of the aforementioned invention utilizes three ranks of page 2 parallel rigid bars, with each rank being Elexibly linked to one other rank by pairs of parallel links, thus providlng complete flexibility between the ranks of tools of the implement in the longitudinal direction, i.e. from Eront to back of the implement.
Flexibility of the implement in the transverse direction for the wide embodiments preferred for efficient agricultural operations is achieved by having the ranks of rigid bars divided into sections which are flexibly connected so that wing sections on the side of a center section can rise and fall when passing over undulating ground independently of the movement of the center section. As is conventional in the agricultural implement art, provision also is made to lift the wing sections hinged to the center section to a transport position using suitable power means, thus permitting passage of the wide implement through farm gates and along roadways.
It has been found that flexibility between the longitudinally spaced ranks of ground working tools is not critical when the distance between the front and rear ranks of the ground working tools is small relative to the length of the ranks of the ground working tools, i.e. relative to the width of the implement. It is thus unnecessary to have each rank of ground working tools and the rigid bars on which they are carried, supported on individual respective sets of wheels around whose axles the rigid bars must be rotated to vary the operating depth or height of the ground working tools. Thus the prior art need for the multiple pairs of parallel rigid links and for the numerous ball and socket joints required to connect them to the rigid bars can be eliminated by a different arrangement for page 3 varying the elevation above ground levcl of rigld bars on which ground wor~ing tools can be mounted. Thes~ rigld bars are hereinafter referred to as tool mount bars.
The invention thus consists in a resillent planar ~ramework for supporting a multiplicity of groundworklng tools, said framework comprising rigid structural members having resilient fastenings between said rigid members which are fastened together, and having resilient pivotal attachments between said rigid members which are pivotally attached, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between pivotally attached rigid members around the two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of their plvotal attachment.
The invention more particularly consists in a resilient planar framework supporting a multiplicity of groundworking tools, said framework comprising at least one planar section o~
connected, rigid, structural members with (a) some of said rigid structural members being rigidly fastened together, (b) at least two of said said rigid structural members being fastened together by resilient fastenings, and (c) at least two of any of said rigid structural members being pivotally attached -together by resilient pivotal attachments, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between the pivotally at-tached rigid members around two page 4 axes at mutual rlght angles to the axis of their pivotal attachment.
The invention further consists in a framework carrying the ground-working tools of a farm implement comprising at least one substantially planar horizontal section of interconnected structural members wherein each section comprises:
1) a plurality of interconnected rigid tool mount members having an orientation generally transverse to the direction of travel when working, and 2) a plurality of flexibly interconnecting links between said tool mount members transmitting, between said tool mount members, torsional stress of said tool mount members around axes generally transverse to the direction of travel, wherein:
a) said flexibly interconnecting links provide for flexibility substantially only about axes generally paral.lel to the direction of travel of the implement, and, b) said interconnecting links provide for limited to zero fl.exibility about other axes, to relieve stress in the framework.
To simpli.fy an understanding of the parent invention, it should be appreciated that practically all wheeled vehicles, including farm implements, have and maintain some fixed transverse spacing between their wheels. For example, railway car wheels must remain uniformly spaced apart transversely of the railway car in order for the car to rema.in on the rails.
Similarly automobiles, trucks, farm tractors, and most other page 5 multi-wheeled vehlcles including agricultural implements having transversely spaced wheels, maintain some fixed transverse spacing between those wheels~ The parent ~ inventlon foregoes the concept of having or maintaining a fixed transverse spacing between wheels, and thereby makes provision for an effective arrangement for varying the elevation, relative to ground level, of ground working tools being supported by those wheels.
The present invention will be more readily understood from the ensuing description thereof with reference to the parent invention and the accompanying drawings wherein the same numbers are used to identify identical parts throughout the drawings and in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric projection, omitting numerous extraneous parts, of essential structural members of a simple embodiment of the parent invention.
Figure 2 is another diagrammatic isometric projection, again omitting numerous extraneous parts, showing an arrangement of some of the principal parts of a more extensive embodiment of the parent invention, more specifically a five section implement having a center section and two wing sections on each side thereof Figure 3 is an exploded partial view of some of the parts used to assemble an embodiment of a resilient fastening between a tool mount bar and a frame bar initially preferred in the invention Figure 4 is a front elevatiorl of a preferred embodiment of the power means, utilizing a single hydraulic cylinder to achieve simultaneous and equal varLation in the elevation of ground page 6 working tools of a center and inner wing section oE Eramework.
Figure 5 is an extension of Fi~ure ~ showing the extension of the power means of Figure 4 past an inner wlng section to an outer wing section.
Figure 6 is a cross sectional side elevation, viewed from the center line of a center section, of parts of a preferred center section embodiment.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an isometric projection illustrating the spatial arrangement of some critical parts of one symmetrical half of a center section, an inner l~ing section, and part of an outer wing section in one embodiment of the parent invention, in particular two rock shafts and their connections.
Figure 9 is an end view of the flanged end of a tool mount bar showing resilient pivotal connections between the tool mount bar and a rock shaft and between the tool mount bar of one section and the tool mount bar of an ad~acent section, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 10 is an illustration, in an exploded view, of one embodiment of a pair of clevis and tongue mounted spherical bushings forming a resilient fastening between two rigid structural members in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 11 is a cross-section through one of said pair of spherical bushings of Figure 10.
In Figure 1, structural members, which are of conventional structural steel construction, are shown diagrammatically and out of proportion for simplicity of illustration. The figure shows a simple planar framework in accordance with one embodiment of the page 7 1 3 1 7 1 ~0 invention, the framework being supported on the ground by a pair of three wheeled "tricycle" frames, 1, all three wheels, 2, of each frame being shown. The length of the frames 1 is not critical, it being chosen to place the wheels at the most convenient positions longitudinally with reference to the tool mount bars, thereby carrying the load of the framework most effectively. There are two pairs of pivot points, C1 and C2, one pair on each wheel frame, each conveniently in lugs or small flanges, each rigidly secured to its respective frame.
Theoretical axes, C pass through these pairs of pivot points.
Pivotally attached to the respective forwardmost pivot points C1 and C2 are connecting members or rigid flanges 3 and respectively, the flanges being rigidly secured to, and adjacent, the forward ends of rigid rock shafts 5 and 6 respectively.
Rearwardly alon~ rock shafts 5 and 6 from flanges 3 and 4 respectively are rigid flanges 7 ancl 8, each fastened rigidly to its respec-tive rock shaft and attached pivotally to the respective rearwardmost pivot points C1 and C2 respectively.
Flanges 3, 7, 4, and 8 project upwardly and outwardly from their respective pivot points C1 and C2, outwardly in this instance meaning substantiallY at right angles away from the longitudinal center line of the framework. Additionally, rigid flange levers 9 and 10, conveniently being rigid extensions of flanges 7 and 8 respectively, project upwardly from rock shafts 5 and 6 respectively. The top flange lever 9 is pivotally attached at pivot point 11 to one end of a ri~id bar mechanism 12 containing an hydraulic ram 13. The distal end of bar mechanism 12 is fastened to a fixed point on a convenient rigid framework member, page 8 `1 31 7 1 50 in this embodiment rigid frame bar 14. Simllarly the top of flange lever 10 is pivotally at~ached at pivot point 15 -to one end of another rigid bar mechanism 16 containing another hydraulic ram 17. The distal end oE bar mechanism 16 also is fastened to a fixed point on a convenient rigid framework member, in this embodiment rigid frame bar 18. The two rigid bar mechanisms are principal parts of the power means to pivot the rock shafts 5 and 6 in opposite directions simultaneously and through equal angles around their respective axes C passing through the pairs of pivot points C1 and C2 respectively.
Operation of the power means will be explained more fully subsequently herein.
Two or ~ore longitudinally spaced, horizontal, rigid, tool mount bars are transversely disposed across frame bars 14 and 18, and fastened to each of them. The two essential tool mount bars are designated as 19 and 20, and an optional third one is indicated by the dotted member 21, fastened to the extensions of frame bars 14 and 18, also indicated by dotted lines. At each end of each of horizontal tool mount bars 19 and 20 there are short, rigidly mounted, vertically disposed, rigid flanges 22 extending above and below the level of the tool mount bars. The length of these flanges is exaggerated in figures of the drawings for clarity of illustration. Tool mount bar 21 also has vertical flanges 22 which need extend only above the tool mount bar 21.
Near the bot-tom end of flanges 22 on tool mount bars 19 and 20 there are pivoting connections or attachments A1 to lugs or flanges on rock shaft 5 and pivoting connections or attachments A2 to lugs or flanges on rock shaft 6. Two respective page 9 l3l7lsn theoretical axas, A, pass throu~h these pivotin~ connectlons A1 and A~ respectively. Near the top end of flanges 22 on tool mount bars 19, 20 and 21, there are pivoting connections B1 and B2 for optional attachment of tool mount bars of adjacent wing sections of frame work. Two respective theoretical axes, B, pass through these pivoting connections B1 and B2 respectively.
Optional wing sections of framework on each side thus can pivot about the B axes respectively, providing ample lateral flexibility for wide implements of multiple sections, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Previously mentioned rigid horizontal Erame bars 14 and 18 extend substantially longitudinally between the tool mount bars, and are fastened thereto to maintain the tool mount bars in spaced parallel relationship and to transmit the pull, applied by drawbar 23, to all the -tool mount bars. The frame bars are pivotally attached to the drawbar, as is conventional in -the art.
Various forms and designs of drawbar may be used to pull the framework, from the simple A-frame design illustrated in Figure 1 to any of numerous, more complicated designs more suitable for multi-section frameworks illustrated in Figure 2.
The rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 ~ere referred to earlier herein as principal parts of the power means to pivot the rock shafts 5 and 6 in opposite directions ~namely clockwise and counter-clockwise) simultaneously and through equal angles around their respective axes C passing through pivot points C1 and C2 respectively. Simultaneous and equal displacement of the hydraulic cylinders 13 and 17 is obtained by phasing the cylinders, that is to say arranging the hydraulic supply lines to page 10 and from a pair of ldentically sized cylinders so that, to extend the cylinders, hydraulic fluid pressure is applied to one cylinder only and the pressure is transmitted through that cylinder to the second cylinder connected hydraulically in series therewith; to contract the cylinders, hydraulic pressure is applied only to the second cylinder and the pressure transmitted through the second cylinder back to the first through the hydraulic series connection. Other embodiments of power means, described in more detail later herein, can be used in lieu of the dual phased cylinder arrangement just described, to achieve simultaneous and equal displacement of the rock shafts. It may be mentioned here briefly that, for example, a single hydraulic cylinder or hydraulic ram can be mounted to extend and contract between a pivotins lever and a pivoting link, the lever and the link being pivoted on the same rigid tool mount bar, with a rigid evener link pivotally connecting the pivoting lever and pivoting link, to ensure simultaneous equal displacement of each end of the hydraulic cylinder against rigid bars linking the hydraulic cylinder to respective rock shafts.
From the foregoing description it can be seen that power means is used to displace, outwardly (i.e. away from the longitudinal center line of the framework), simultaneously, and in equal amounts, two rigid bars pivotally connected at their distal ends to the two flange levers 9 and 10 respectively.
Displacement of the said bars displaces the flange levers 9 and 10 and forces them, and -the rock shafts S and 6 to which they are respectively rigidly fastened, to rotate in respective arcs around theoretical axes A running through pivoting connections A1 page 11 . .,~, ., :
l3l7lsn and A2 respectively. As the rock shafts rotate on axes A, they force the flanges 3 and 7 on rock shaft 5, and flanges 4 and 8 on rock shaft 6, also to move in arcs around axes A. The axes A
remain a fixed distance apart, the distance being determined by the length of the rigid tool mount bars 19 and 20 on the ends of which are the rigidly mounted vertical flanges, through the lower parts of which the respective A axes pass. As the rock shafts and flanges 3, 7, ~ and 8 move around axes A, the vertical distance between the tool mount bars, 19 and 20, and the wheel frames, 1, changes, thus varying the position, relative to the ground, of any tools mounted on the tool mount bars. Because the A axes remain a fixed distance apart, as previously noted, not only does the vertical distance between the tool mount bars and the wheel frames 1 change, but also the transverse distance between the wheel Erames 1 changes. Thus the framework of the present invention does not have a fixed transverse spacing between its wheels, but permits this spacing to change as -the elevation of the ground working tools relative to the ground is changed. There is no problem created by a varying transverse spacing of the wheels of the framework, as there is no need for it to remain constant as there is, for example, with vehicles running on rails.
Better understanding of -the operation of the rock shafts may be gained from Figure 8, showing two of the three identical rock shafts 5 which have the same configuration as the third of the three rock shafts on the left half of the five section framework illustrated in Figure 2. Rock shafts on the other half of the framework of Figure 2 would be identical but connected to the page 12 . ~ ,. . . i corresponding parts to pivot in the direction opposite to the pivoting of the rock shafts referred to on the left halE of Figure 2. Thus Figure 8 shows some parts of the center section, the inner left wing section, and the outer left wing section, with wheel frame 1 of the center section and wheel frame 33 of the inner wing sec-tion, mounted on wheels 2 supporting flanges 3 and 7, via lu~s on the wheel frames, at pivot points C1. Rock shaft S is rigidly fastened to flanges 3 and 7. Flange lever 9, also rigidly fastened to the rock shaft, is connected at pivot point 11 to one end of rigid bar mechanism 12; in the case of rock shafts of wing sections, the flange levers corresponding to 9, i.e. 32 and 37 in Figures 4 and 5, are pivotally connected to extension bars, 31 and 36, as more fully explained later with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Tool mount bars 19 and 20 are held in parallel spaced relation by frame bar 18. Rigid flanges 22 on the ends of the tool mount bars extend above and below these bars. Flanges 3 and 7 on rock shaft 5 also are pivotally attached at pivot points A1 near the bottoms of flanges 22. Near the top ends of flanges 22 are pivot points B1 at which tool mount bars of the adjacent wing section of framework are pivotally attached, 34 being typical of such tool mount bars shown in both Figure 8 and Figure 4. Extension bar 31, pivotally attached to rigid bar mechanism 12 at pivot point 11, transmits the displacement of rigid bar 12 to rotate the rock shaft of the adjacent wing section, in both Figures 8 and ~. Power means, as previously described, displaces the rigid bars and extension bars. on each side of the centerline of the framework, by equal amounts and rotates each of the L J~k shafts in equal arcs around page 13 ~ 3 1 7 1 50 the pivot points A1 and the A axes through their respective flanges 22.
To facilitate turning of the framework of this invention it is desirable that the front wheels on the wheel frames be castor mounted. A particularly effective castor mounting is the double castor mounting shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. The horizontal axle of the wheel is held at its ends by a pair of crab claw shaped arms which extend out and back from the axle and are each pivotally attached, at their distal ends, to vertical pivots on the ends of a transverse bar on the front of the wheel frame. The attachments of the axle ends to the front of the arms also are on vertical pivots. The double castoring provided by the two pairs of vertical pivots between the horizontal axle and the rigid wheel frame provides great flexibility in the turning of the wheel and permits it to turn on a very short radius, thus facilitating the turning of the implement when it is pulled around a sharp curve. ~nother major advantage of the arrangement is its low profile, which enables it to avoid interference with drawbar members, which can move freely over the castoring wheels.
An alternative castoring wheel arrangement is shown in Pigure 6 and 7.
It is a most preferred feature of this invention that the tool mount bars be resiliently, not rigidly, fastened to the frame bars. Rigid fastening of the tool mount bars to the frame bars creates a rigid plane of these members. Resilient fastening permits torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened, that is slight rotational movement of at least one of the rigid members about an axis or axes parallel and proxima-te page 1~
the ~heoretical plane passing through -the members a-t thelr point of attachment. ~urthermore it is a most preferred feature of the invention that some pivotal connections between some rigid structural members, all of which connections are classifiable as pin joints, should also provide some resiliency so that slight rotation can occur around the other two axes which intersect the pin axis of the respective resilient pivotal connections at mutual right angles~ Such resiliency modifies the nature of the specified pivotal connections or pin joints of the invention, providing them with characteristics of the more flexible ball and socket joints. It is for this reason that a number of the rigid members can be defined as being resiliently pivotally attached to other rigid members, and not defined simply as being pivotally attached. However, the height adjusting mechanism of the invention does not depend on flexibility or resiliency of the planar framework for successful operation, the me~hanism being effectively operable on a completely rigid framework.
Nonetheless, resiliency in the framework is preferred for durability. Some further details for providing resiliency to the pivotal connections are mentioned subsequently herein.
Referring again to the resilient fastening of the frame bars to the tool mount bars, the framework of this invention could be overstressed and impractical if the frame bars were rigidly fastened to the tool mount bars, as, for example, by welding, riveting, or rigidly bolting them. Considering for example a four wheeled center section, there are four points of support on the wheel frames for all the framework above the wheel frames.
When the wheels are on uneven ground, with no load on the page 15 `` 1317150 framework. three of the wheels could be supporting the ~ramework on the ground and the ~ourth wheel held in the air by the plane oE the substantiallY rigid framework. ~nder load of numerous ground working tools working in the soil on such uneven ground, the plane of the framework inexorably tends to dlstort an~ weigh the fourth wheel down into contact with the ground. Vnder such distortion, rigid fastenings between Erame bars and tool mount bars are prone to, and likely to, fracture, for example by shearing of bolts or rivets or welds, particularly in framework sections having three or more tool mount bars. To accommodate such distortion, the wheel mount bars and frame bars in the present invention preferably are fastened together to provide resilience in the fastenings, thereby providing for flexing, for example torsional flexing, between the structural members. An example of a resilient fastening between a tool mount bar, for example 20, and a frame bar, for example 14, is a pair of loose clevis and tongue connections, or a pair of clevis and tongue mounted spherical bushings forming a pair of ball and socket joints. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate one simple fastening using a pair of spherical bushings to Easten a tool mount bar, 20, to a frame bar, 14. A first pair oE lugs, 61, rigidly fastened to frame bar 14, form a first clevis and a second pair of lugs, 62, also rigidly fastened to frame bar 14, form a second clevis. The tool mount bar 20 has two tongues, 63 and 64, rigidly fastened thereto, protruding from opposite sides of the tool mount bar, each tongue having one of a pair of spherical bushings, 65 and 66, mounted therein. Clevis pins 67 and 68 are fitted through the respective clevis when the respective tongue with its page 16 spherical bushing has been fitted into its clevis. From Figure 11 it can readily be seen that the combination of lugs 61 and 62 with clevis pins 67 and 68 will fasten the tongues 63 and 64, and tool bar 20, to frame bar 14 but still allow the tool bar to twist, i.e. accommodate torsional flexing, around the axis through the middle of the two clevis pins perpendicular to the plane of the cross-section shown in Figure 11. Another example of a resilient fastening is illustrated in Figure 3. A rigid bracket 24 rigidly fits around tool mount bar 20, and has flanges 25 on each side of the tool mount bar. Bolt holes in the flanges of the bracket are aligned with bolt holes in frame bar 14.
Before bolting bracket 24 to frame bar 14 with a bolt and nut assembly 26 for each brackat hole, at least one large resilient washer, 50, for example of from 5 to 10 or more cm diameter and 1 to 2 or more cm ~hickness, is placed around each bolt between the bracket flanges 25 and the frame 14. These resilient washers can be made, for example, from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, resilient polyurethane plastic, or other durable, resilient material. When assembled, -the bolt and nut assemblies are not tightened to compress the resilient washer to its maximum compressibilit~, but left loose enough that the washer can compress further over various segments of its circumference to permit rotation of either the frame bar or the tool mount bar with respect to the other around their axes in horizontal planes.
As shown in Figure 3, the bracket permits ample resiliency for torsional rotation of tool mount bar 20 around the axis of frame bar 14; demand for torsional rotation of the frame bar around the axis of the tool mount bar is generall~ negligible in comparison, page 17 and is adequately provided by the ~racket and resilient washers.
In another embodiment, resiliency could be obtained at ~he fastening by using a substantially identical assembly but, instead of resilient washers, with strong, partially compressed, coiled springs providing resiliency at each bolt. In stlll other variations, belleville washers, or a stack of partially compressed split lock washers could be substituted for the single resilient washer described above.
It has been mentioned above that it is most preferred to have resiliency in a number of the pivotal connections between rigid parts in the framework. These resilient pivotal connections include, for example as shown in Figure 9, the connections between the rock shafts and tool mount bars, and betw~en tool mount bars and adjacent tool mount bars. Resiliency in such pivotal connections or pin joints is readily obtained, for example, by having the pivot pin hole, through one of the two parts being pivotally connected, of somewhat larger diameter than the pin, so that the part with the larger diameter hole is somewhat loose on the pin and is free to rotate on axes at right angles to the axis of the pin. At the same time that the foregoing looseness is provided, it is most preferred to make provision for maintaining the pivotal connection, in its normal, unstressed position, in a cohesive firm but resilient condition.
This is readi].y done by providing resilient washers, 50, for example oF the same materials used in the washers described above for the resllient fastenings described above, around the pivot pin on either side of the part with the larger diameter hole, and filling with partially compressed resilient washer, the space page 18 t 3 1 7 1 50 along -the pin between the parts being reslliently pivotally connected. Again, as for the resilient fastening described above, the resilient washers could be replaced by strong, partially compressed, coiled springs, or by bellevllle washers or stacks of partially compressed split lock washers. With pivotal connections thus rendered resilient, these pin ~oints are converted, to an appreciable degree, into ball and socket joints, in that besides being able to move relative to one another around the axis of their pivot pin, rigid parts joined by the resilient pivotal connections are able to move relative to one another around the two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of the pivot pin; the restricted degree of extra movement thus pe~nitted between rigid parts is usually sufficient to eliminate or reduce greatly the stress that would otherwise be put on one rigid part lS by abnormal movement of another rigid part pivotally connected thereto.
In Figure 2 there is illustrated, by a diagrammatic representation, a multisection framework for supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, having a center section and two wing sections on each side -thereof. All six wheels of the cen-ter section are shown, but the "tricycle" wheel frarnes are not shown.
However, the theoretical C axes, passing through the pairs of pivot points C1 and C2 respectively of Figure 1 are shown, as dotted lines. The roc~ shafts 5 and 6 are not shown; however they would most conveniently be located between the respective C
and A axes, being longitudinally disposed -therebetween. The "A"
axes are shown as dot-dash lines. The pivotal attac~nent of page 19 1 3 ~ 7 1 50 rigid parts which are located alon~ the A axes most preferably all are resilient pivotal connec tiOllS, for example as descrlbed earlier herein with reference to Figure 9. The rigid flanges 3, 4, 7, and 8, pivotally connecting the rock shafts to the wheel frames, are shown to illustrate the relative positions of these parts. Aligned with the tool mount bars 19, 20 and 21 respectively of the center section are the tool mount bars of the wing sections, the preferably resilient pivotal connections between the laterally adjacent bars being along the B axes (the short dash lines) between the various adjacent sections respectively. Being aligned along the B axes, the pivotal connections of the tool mount bars between the various sections permit ample flexing between the relatively rigid planes of the respective individual sections, and further permit folding of the wing sections towards the center section when it is desired to reduce the width of the implement drastically for easy transportation, as is conventional in the agricultural implement art. Besides the pivotal connections between the tool mount bars along the B axes between adjacent sections, -the only other connections between the sections are the drawbar means and the means connected to the power means to pivot the wing section rock shafts, simultaneously and through equal angles around their respective pivotal axes. Drawbar means, conventional in the art, make provision for flexing at pivotal connections between laterally adjacent sections of multisection agricultural implements. Similarly, the power means to pivot the rock shafts extends transversely from the points of attachment to the rock shafts at points proximate the B axes of the center section, page 20 across the inner wing sections where it attaches pivotally to the rock shafts of these sections at poln-ts proxirnate their respective B axes, and further across the outer wing sections to the rock shafts where it again attaches pivotally at points proximate the respective B ax~s. These extensions o~ the power means from the center section to the wing section most conveniently are in the form of simple rigid extension bars 31 (Fig. 4) which transmit the simultaneous and equal displacement of the rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 ~Fiy. 1) of the center section to the rock shaf-ts of the respective adjoining wing sections. By connecting the extension bars to one another and to the rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 at points proximate the respective B axes, the whole rigid bar and extension bar arrangement is capable of flexing and folding along the B axes between sections when the framework is passing over uneven, undulating ground or being folded for transportation.
It will noted that the wing section wheel frames, not shown in Fig. 2, are represented as having only two wheels each; thus the wheel frames of the wing section are "bicycle" wheel frames, although they could equally well be "tricycle" wheel frames.
"Tricycle" wheel frames are preferred for the center section as they provide more wheels to carry the weight of the wing sections when the latter are folded into transport position, as is commonly done with wide a~ricultural implements. "Bicycle" wheel frames can provide adequate support for wing sections, but "tricycle" wheel frames, of lighter construction than those of the center section, can be used for the lighter loads carried by the wing section wheels, and may be p~eferred for their greater page 21 131715() inherent vertical stabil.ity.
There has been mentioned earli.er herein an optional embodiment of power means suitable to achieve simultaneous and equal displacement of the rock shafts, whereby the height of the tool mount bars, and all ground working tools mounted thereon, is uniformly varied. This embodiment is now to be described with reference to Figure 4. This figure is a ~ront elevation of two rigid bar mechanisms which both achieve their equal displacement power from the same single hydraulic ram or hydraullc cylinder.
The two rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 are both plvotally attached indirectly to a single transverse frame member, preferably the second tool mount bar 20. The rigid bar mechanisms also are pivotally attached at opposite ends of the single hydraulic cylinder 27. The indirect attachntent of rigid bar mechanism 12 to tool mount bar 20 is achieved through rigid pivoting lever 28, which is pivotally attached, proximate its center, to one face, for example the front, of tool mount bar 20, and also pivotally attached at its first end to the end of the hydraulic cylinder 27 to which rigid bar mechanism 12 is pivotally attached, on the same pivot. Indirect attachment of rigid bar mechanism 16 ~o tool mount bar ~0 is achieved through rigid pivoting link, 29, which is pivotally attached, near one of its ends, to the same face, i.e. the front, of tool mount bar 20 at an appropriate distance from the pivotal a-ttachment of pivoting lever 28. The distal end of pivoting link 29 is pivotally attached to the end of hydraulic cylinder 27 to which rigid bar mechanism 16 is pivotally attached, on the same pivot.
The distal end of pivoting lever 28 is pivotally attached to one page 22 ~ , end of a rigid evener link, 30, the distal end of whlch is pivotally fastened to the pivoting link 29, optionally on the same pivot as the attachment of pivoting link 29 to hydraullc cylinder 27 and rigid bar mechanism 16. Alternatively, to avoid crowding of members at pivotal attachments, the distal end of evener link 30 can be pivotally attached to pivoting link 23 at a pivot point at a location between the pivot points near the ends of pivoting link 29, as shown by the dotted line position of evener link 30. The pivotal attachments of this link are arranged to allow equivalent rotation of lever 28 and link 29 and thus equal displacement of the ends of cylinder 27 as it extends or contracts. The end of rigid bar mechanism 12 remote from hydraulic cylinder 27 is pivotally attached to rigid flange lever 9 at pivot point 11 (Fig. 1), the flange lever 9 being rigidly fastened to rock shaft 5, not shown in Figure 4, Also rigidly attached to rock shaft 5 is rigid flange 7. Near its lower end the flange 7 is pivotally attached at pivot points Cl to wheel frame 1. It can readily be seen from Figure 4 that extension and contraction of hydraulic cylinder 27 displaces rigid bar mechanism 12 and rota-tes flange lever 9 and its rigidly fastened rock shaEt around axis A which passes throu~h pivoting connection Al on the rock shaft and the bottom of flange 22 on tool mount bar 20. At the same time the rock shaft and rigidly fastened flange 7 will rotate around pivot point Cl on top of wheel frame 1, varying the relative elevation of tool mount bar 20 with reference to wheel frame 1 which, through wheels 2, rests on the ground. When rigid bar mechanism 12 of this embodiment is displaced, rigid bar mechanism 16 is likewise displaced, and by page 23 the operation of the evener link 30, is displaced an equal amount, causing equlvalent rotation of rock shaft 6 at pivoting connection A2 and through flange 8 around pivot point C2 and the other wheel frame 1.
At pivot point 15, where rigid bar mechanism 16 pivo-ts on flange lever 10, a rigid extension bar 31 also is pivotally attached and serves to transmit the displacement of rigld bar mechanism 16 to the rigid flange lever 32 on the rock shaft of an adjacent wing section having its wheel frame 33. In this manner the tool mount bar 34 of the wing section has its relative elevation, with reference to its wheel frame, varied simultaneously and in the same amount as that of -the center section tool mount bars. The wing section tool mount bar 3~ is pivotally attached to flange 22 on tool mount bar 20 at pivoting connection B2.
When it is desired to raise the wing sections into transport position their tool mount bars will pivot on the B axes and the tool mount bars will be in a raised position so that attached ground working tools will be clear of the ground. With the tool mount bars thus raised, the pivot connection lS between rigid bax mechanism 16 and extension bar 31 will be in close proximity to, if not exactly aligned with, axis B, so that rotation of the wing section about axis B will cause only slight, if any, variation in displacement of rigid extension bar 31 relative to the rest of the wing section, thus moving the wheel frame mechanism slightly, at most, and well within the bounds of its operating range of movement. Thus the extension bar 31 can fold conveniently with the tool mount bars.
page 24 In the same manner that the end of the wing sectton ~ool mount bar 3~, adiacent the center section, pivots at pivoting connection B2 on flange 22 of tool mount bar 20, Fig. 4, an end of tool mount bar 35 (Fig. 5) pivots at a pivotal connection B3 on a flange 22 at the outer end of tool mount bar 34. Tool mount bar 35 forms part of an outer wing section which has its respective rock shaft, wheel frame, and wheels, and is raised or lowered simultaneously wlth the center and ad~acent wing sections by displacement of another rigid extension bar 36 pivotally attached at one end to extension bar 31 at the pivoting connection of the latter to flange lever 32 on the rock shaft of the first or inner wing section. The distal end of extension bar 36 is pivotally connected to flange lever 37 on the rock shaft of the outer wing section having its wheel frame 38. The tool mount bar 35 of the outer wing section has its relative elevation, with reference to its wheel frame 38, varied simultaneously and in the same amoun-t as that oE the center section and inner wing section tool mount bars, by the simultaneous displacement o~ the connected extension bars 31 and 36.
Numerous modifications can be made in the various elements of the invention besides those already indicated in detail above.
For example, the wheel ~rarnes, which are carried by front and rear wheels of each section, are not necessarily unitary nor rigid, nor do they necessarily extend directly between their respective front and rear wheels. Thus a rigid elongated front part of a wheel frame can have its forward end mounted on a castoring front wheel and its rearward end pivotally and slidably attached, on a horizontal transverse axis, to a tool mount bar, page 25 while a separate rigid rear part of said wheel frame i~ mounted on the respective rear frame wheel or transversely spaced wheels and is pivotally attached, on a generally longitudinal axis, to its respective rigid rock shaft which also is pivotally attached, on a generallY longitudinal axis, to the rigid front part of the wheel frame. The rock shaft, pivotally attached to each of the front and rear parts of the wheel frame, thus serves to distribute the load, applied to the rock shaft by the tool mount bars which are mounted thereon, to both the front and rear parts of the wheel frame and hence to the front and rear wheels, even though the front and rear parts of the wheel frame are separate, because these parts are directly pivotally connected by the rock shaft, which is rigid. Furthermore, with an arrangement of separate front and rear wheel frame parts as ~ust described, it is not necessary that a rock shaft be horizontally aligned, nor that it be straight. For convenience a rock shaft can be inclined so that the pivoting axis between said rock shaft and the tool mount bars mounted thereon is inclined to intersect the horizontal axis through the pivot points between tool mount bars of adjacent framework sections. By having such intersection at a pivot point in folding drawbar means used to draw the framework over the ground, the folding of the drawbar means with the folding of the wing sections for transportation purposes is facilitated; other advantages also accrue to the use of an inclined rock shaft. With the pivot axis between the rock shaft and tool mount bars thus inclined, the pivot axes between the rock shaft and the wheel frame or wheel frame parts also must be inclined so as to be parallel to said ~irst mentioned inclined page 26 131715() axis, thus perrnitting freedom of rotation of the rock shaft simultaneously about all the points of pivotal attachment thereof. Rotat.ion of the rock shaft causes lateral displacement of the rock shaft and wheel frame, as well as relative vertical movement between the two. Because the rearward end of the front part of the wheel frame in this embodiment is slidably pivotally attached to a tool mount bar, lateral dlsplacement of this end of said wheel frarne part is readily accommodated.
An example of an embodiment of the features just described is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. In these Figures a front wheel 2 is castor mounted in and supports the forward end of the elongated front part lF of a wheel frame. A
pair of rear wheels 2R is mounted to provide support for the rear part lR of said wheel frame. The rearward end of said front part of the wheel frame is pivotally and slidably attached, at horizontal, transverse, pivot a~is 39, to the underside of front tool mount bar 19. Frame bar 18 connects tool mount bars 19, 20, and 21. Rock sha:E-t 5, beyond the wheel frame in the view of Figure 6, is supported at i.ts forward end on the front part lF of the wheel frame, to which it is pivotally connected by rock shaft flange 3 at pivot point C1. This pivotal connection preferably is a resilient pivotal connection as illustrated in Figure 9 between rock shaft flange 7 and tool mount bar flanges 22. Rock shaft 5 is supported at its rearward end on the rear part lR of the wheel frame, to which it is pivotally connected by flange 7 at one or more pivot points on longitudinal pivot a~is C3. Rock shaft 5 supports tool rnount bars 19 and 20 which are pivotally connected to the rock shaft. by respective Elanges 22 on the tool page 27 1317~50 mount bars and corresponding flanges on the rock shaft. Through these pivotal connections in flanges 22 passes the A axis about which the rock shaft pivots relative to the tool mount bars. In this embodiment the A axis is inclined to the horizontal and inclined parallel thereto are the pivo-t axis C3 and the axis at pivot point C1; as previously men-tioned, the inclined A axis preferably intersects the horizontal B axis passing through the pivot points in the connections between the tool mount bars of an adjoining section (not shown in ~igure 7).
A large agricultural implement with resilient planar frameworks for supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, as disclosed herein, is capable of flexing, to assume the contours of the ground over which it is passing, in a vastly superior fashion to any framework which is rigidly planar. Hence the resilient planar framework disclosed herein is the most preferred framework for use with the height adjusting mechanism disclosed herein.
Numerous other modifications can be made in the various expedients described herein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.
page 28
SUPPORTING MULTIPLE GROUNDWORKING TOOLS
This application is a division of our earlier application Serial No. 557,779 filed 29 January 1988, now issued as Canadian patent The present invention relates to agricultural implements, and more particularly to a resilient planar framework for supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, preferably at variable heights relative to ground level, fcr purposes of, for example, tilling, cultivating, fertilizing, or seeding the soil.
In an earlier Canadian patent of Terrance Friggstad, Canadian patent 1,2~7,448 issued 28 December 1988, the invention -there disclosed is a framework for such ground working tools, the framework being exceptionally Elexible and adaptable to rough ground contours, but somewhat expensive to manufacture because its design generally required the use of a large number o~ ball and socket joints between structural members, to reduce the stress placed on the members when -chey moved relative to one another in passing over undulating ground. Furthermore, the exceptional flexibility created problems in folding multi-sectional implements to transport position.
The framework of the present invention provi.des a simpler design in which fewer joints requiring the immense flexibility of bal.l and socket joints are required to connect the structural members, and many of the joints between structural members requiring only limited articulation around three axes of rotation intexsecting at mutual. right angles can be of a much l~ss ~ page 1 131 ~150 expensive form than classic ball and socket ~oints. It may be noted at this point that a ball and socket joint connecting two rigid structural members permits relative movement of the members around three axes of rotation intersecting at mutual right angles, although the movement around one or more of the axes may be restricted or limited. A universal ~oint connecting two rigid structural members permits relative movement of the members around two axes of rotation intersecting at right angles, rotation of one of the members around the third axis intersecting the others at mutual right angles inexorabl~ being transmitted to the other member through the universal joint, thus permitting a driving shaft to transmit its torque through a universal joint to a driven shaft. A pin joint connecting two rigid structural members generally permits relative movement of the members around no more than one axls, that being the axis through the center of the pin.
In the aforementioned earlier Canadian patent 1,247,448 at least two flexible linked parallel rigid bars for supporting ground working tools are linked by pairs of parallel rigid links, which maintain the bars ln parallel relationship. The parallel rigid bars ~re supported on wheels mounted below and ahead of the rigid bars; power means are used to displace the parallel rigid links relative to one another and -thereby rotate the rigid bars around the axles of their respective suppor-ting wheels, thus raising or lowering the rigid bars relative to the ground and so varying the height or depth of penetration into the ground of ground working tools fastened to the rigid bars. A preferred form of the aforementioned invention utilizes three ranks of page 2 parallel rigid bars, with each rank being Elexibly linked to one other rank by pairs of parallel links, thus providlng complete flexibility between the ranks of tools of the implement in the longitudinal direction, i.e. from Eront to back of the implement.
Flexibility of the implement in the transverse direction for the wide embodiments preferred for efficient agricultural operations is achieved by having the ranks of rigid bars divided into sections which are flexibly connected so that wing sections on the side of a center section can rise and fall when passing over undulating ground independently of the movement of the center section. As is conventional in the agricultural implement art, provision also is made to lift the wing sections hinged to the center section to a transport position using suitable power means, thus permitting passage of the wide implement through farm gates and along roadways.
It has been found that flexibility between the longitudinally spaced ranks of ground working tools is not critical when the distance between the front and rear ranks of the ground working tools is small relative to the length of the ranks of the ground working tools, i.e. relative to the width of the implement. It is thus unnecessary to have each rank of ground working tools and the rigid bars on which they are carried, supported on individual respective sets of wheels around whose axles the rigid bars must be rotated to vary the operating depth or height of the ground working tools. Thus the prior art need for the multiple pairs of parallel rigid links and for the numerous ball and socket joints required to connect them to the rigid bars can be eliminated by a different arrangement for page 3 varying the elevation above ground levcl of rigld bars on which ground wor~ing tools can be mounted. Thes~ rigld bars are hereinafter referred to as tool mount bars.
The invention thus consists in a resillent planar ~ramework for supporting a multiplicity of groundworklng tools, said framework comprising rigid structural members having resilient fastenings between said rigid members which are fastened together, and having resilient pivotal attachments between said rigid members which are pivotally attached, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between pivotally attached rigid members around the two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of their plvotal attachment.
The invention more particularly consists in a resilient planar framework supporting a multiplicity of groundworking tools, said framework comprising at least one planar section o~
connected, rigid, structural members with (a) some of said rigid structural members being rigidly fastened together, (b) at least two of said said rigid structural members being fastened together by resilient fastenings, and (c) at least two of any of said rigid structural members being pivotally attached -together by resilient pivotal attachments, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between the pivotally at-tached rigid members around two page 4 axes at mutual rlght angles to the axis of their pivotal attachment.
The invention further consists in a framework carrying the ground-working tools of a farm implement comprising at least one substantially planar horizontal section of interconnected structural members wherein each section comprises:
1) a plurality of interconnected rigid tool mount members having an orientation generally transverse to the direction of travel when working, and 2) a plurality of flexibly interconnecting links between said tool mount members transmitting, between said tool mount members, torsional stress of said tool mount members around axes generally transverse to the direction of travel, wherein:
a) said flexibly interconnecting links provide for flexibility substantially only about axes generally paral.lel to the direction of travel of the implement, and, b) said interconnecting links provide for limited to zero fl.exibility about other axes, to relieve stress in the framework.
To simpli.fy an understanding of the parent invention, it should be appreciated that practically all wheeled vehicles, including farm implements, have and maintain some fixed transverse spacing between their wheels. For example, railway car wheels must remain uniformly spaced apart transversely of the railway car in order for the car to rema.in on the rails.
Similarly automobiles, trucks, farm tractors, and most other page 5 multi-wheeled vehlcles including agricultural implements having transversely spaced wheels, maintain some fixed transverse spacing between those wheels~ The parent ~ inventlon foregoes the concept of having or maintaining a fixed transverse spacing between wheels, and thereby makes provision for an effective arrangement for varying the elevation, relative to ground level, of ground working tools being supported by those wheels.
The present invention will be more readily understood from the ensuing description thereof with reference to the parent invention and the accompanying drawings wherein the same numbers are used to identify identical parts throughout the drawings and in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric projection, omitting numerous extraneous parts, of essential structural members of a simple embodiment of the parent invention.
Figure 2 is another diagrammatic isometric projection, again omitting numerous extraneous parts, showing an arrangement of some of the principal parts of a more extensive embodiment of the parent invention, more specifically a five section implement having a center section and two wing sections on each side thereof Figure 3 is an exploded partial view of some of the parts used to assemble an embodiment of a resilient fastening between a tool mount bar and a frame bar initially preferred in the invention Figure 4 is a front elevatiorl of a preferred embodiment of the power means, utilizing a single hydraulic cylinder to achieve simultaneous and equal varLation in the elevation of ground page 6 working tools of a center and inner wing section oE Eramework.
Figure 5 is an extension of Fi~ure ~ showing the extension of the power means of Figure 4 past an inner wlng section to an outer wing section.
Figure 6 is a cross sectional side elevation, viewed from the center line of a center section, of parts of a preferred center section embodiment.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an isometric projection illustrating the spatial arrangement of some critical parts of one symmetrical half of a center section, an inner l~ing section, and part of an outer wing section in one embodiment of the parent invention, in particular two rock shafts and their connections.
Figure 9 is an end view of the flanged end of a tool mount bar showing resilient pivotal connections between the tool mount bar and a rock shaft and between the tool mount bar of one section and the tool mount bar of an ad~acent section, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 10 is an illustration, in an exploded view, of one embodiment of a pair of clevis and tongue mounted spherical bushings forming a resilient fastening between two rigid structural members in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 11 is a cross-section through one of said pair of spherical bushings of Figure 10.
In Figure 1, structural members, which are of conventional structural steel construction, are shown diagrammatically and out of proportion for simplicity of illustration. The figure shows a simple planar framework in accordance with one embodiment of the page 7 1 3 1 7 1 ~0 invention, the framework being supported on the ground by a pair of three wheeled "tricycle" frames, 1, all three wheels, 2, of each frame being shown. The length of the frames 1 is not critical, it being chosen to place the wheels at the most convenient positions longitudinally with reference to the tool mount bars, thereby carrying the load of the framework most effectively. There are two pairs of pivot points, C1 and C2, one pair on each wheel frame, each conveniently in lugs or small flanges, each rigidly secured to its respective frame.
Theoretical axes, C pass through these pairs of pivot points.
Pivotally attached to the respective forwardmost pivot points C1 and C2 are connecting members or rigid flanges 3 and respectively, the flanges being rigidly secured to, and adjacent, the forward ends of rigid rock shafts 5 and 6 respectively.
Rearwardly alon~ rock shafts 5 and 6 from flanges 3 and 4 respectively are rigid flanges 7 ancl 8, each fastened rigidly to its respec-tive rock shaft and attached pivotally to the respective rearwardmost pivot points C1 and C2 respectively.
Flanges 3, 7, 4, and 8 project upwardly and outwardly from their respective pivot points C1 and C2, outwardly in this instance meaning substantiallY at right angles away from the longitudinal center line of the framework. Additionally, rigid flange levers 9 and 10, conveniently being rigid extensions of flanges 7 and 8 respectively, project upwardly from rock shafts 5 and 6 respectively. The top flange lever 9 is pivotally attached at pivot point 11 to one end of a ri~id bar mechanism 12 containing an hydraulic ram 13. The distal end of bar mechanism 12 is fastened to a fixed point on a convenient rigid framework member, page 8 `1 31 7 1 50 in this embodiment rigid frame bar 14. Simllarly the top of flange lever 10 is pivotally at~ached at pivot point 15 -to one end of another rigid bar mechanism 16 containing another hydraulic ram 17. The distal end oE bar mechanism 16 also is fastened to a fixed point on a convenient rigid framework member, in this embodiment rigid frame bar 18. The two rigid bar mechanisms are principal parts of the power means to pivot the rock shafts 5 and 6 in opposite directions simultaneously and through equal angles around their respective axes C passing through the pairs of pivot points C1 and C2 respectively.
Operation of the power means will be explained more fully subsequently herein.
Two or ~ore longitudinally spaced, horizontal, rigid, tool mount bars are transversely disposed across frame bars 14 and 18, and fastened to each of them. The two essential tool mount bars are designated as 19 and 20, and an optional third one is indicated by the dotted member 21, fastened to the extensions of frame bars 14 and 18, also indicated by dotted lines. At each end of each of horizontal tool mount bars 19 and 20 there are short, rigidly mounted, vertically disposed, rigid flanges 22 extending above and below the level of the tool mount bars. The length of these flanges is exaggerated in figures of the drawings for clarity of illustration. Tool mount bar 21 also has vertical flanges 22 which need extend only above the tool mount bar 21.
Near the bot-tom end of flanges 22 on tool mount bars 19 and 20 there are pivoting connections or attachments A1 to lugs or flanges on rock shaft 5 and pivoting connections or attachments A2 to lugs or flanges on rock shaft 6. Two respective page 9 l3l7lsn theoretical axas, A, pass throu~h these pivotin~ connectlons A1 and A~ respectively. Near the top end of flanges 22 on tool mount bars 19, 20 and 21, there are pivoting connections B1 and B2 for optional attachment of tool mount bars of adjacent wing sections of frame work. Two respective theoretical axes, B, pass through these pivoting connections B1 and B2 respectively.
Optional wing sections of framework on each side thus can pivot about the B axes respectively, providing ample lateral flexibility for wide implements of multiple sections, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Previously mentioned rigid horizontal Erame bars 14 and 18 extend substantially longitudinally between the tool mount bars, and are fastened thereto to maintain the tool mount bars in spaced parallel relationship and to transmit the pull, applied by drawbar 23, to all the -tool mount bars. The frame bars are pivotally attached to the drawbar, as is conventional in -the art.
Various forms and designs of drawbar may be used to pull the framework, from the simple A-frame design illustrated in Figure 1 to any of numerous, more complicated designs more suitable for multi-section frameworks illustrated in Figure 2.
The rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 ~ere referred to earlier herein as principal parts of the power means to pivot the rock shafts 5 and 6 in opposite directions ~namely clockwise and counter-clockwise) simultaneously and through equal angles around their respective axes C passing through pivot points C1 and C2 respectively. Simultaneous and equal displacement of the hydraulic cylinders 13 and 17 is obtained by phasing the cylinders, that is to say arranging the hydraulic supply lines to page 10 and from a pair of ldentically sized cylinders so that, to extend the cylinders, hydraulic fluid pressure is applied to one cylinder only and the pressure is transmitted through that cylinder to the second cylinder connected hydraulically in series therewith; to contract the cylinders, hydraulic pressure is applied only to the second cylinder and the pressure transmitted through the second cylinder back to the first through the hydraulic series connection. Other embodiments of power means, described in more detail later herein, can be used in lieu of the dual phased cylinder arrangement just described, to achieve simultaneous and equal displacement of the rock shafts. It may be mentioned here briefly that, for example, a single hydraulic cylinder or hydraulic ram can be mounted to extend and contract between a pivotins lever and a pivoting link, the lever and the link being pivoted on the same rigid tool mount bar, with a rigid evener link pivotally connecting the pivoting lever and pivoting link, to ensure simultaneous equal displacement of each end of the hydraulic cylinder against rigid bars linking the hydraulic cylinder to respective rock shafts.
From the foregoing description it can be seen that power means is used to displace, outwardly (i.e. away from the longitudinal center line of the framework), simultaneously, and in equal amounts, two rigid bars pivotally connected at their distal ends to the two flange levers 9 and 10 respectively.
Displacement of the said bars displaces the flange levers 9 and 10 and forces them, and -the rock shafts S and 6 to which they are respectively rigidly fastened, to rotate in respective arcs around theoretical axes A running through pivoting connections A1 page 11 . .,~, ., :
l3l7lsn and A2 respectively. As the rock shafts rotate on axes A, they force the flanges 3 and 7 on rock shaft 5, and flanges 4 and 8 on rock shaft 6, also to move in arcs around axes A. The axes A
remain a fixed distance apart, the distance being determined by the length of the rigid tool mount bars 19 and 20 on the ends of which are the rigidly mounted vertical flanges, through the lower parts of which the respective A axes pass. As the rock shafts and flanges 3, 7, ~ and 8 move around axes A, the vertical distance between the tool mount bars, 19 and 20, and the wheel frames, 1, changes, thus varying the position, relative to the ground, of any tools mounted on the tool mount bars. Because the A axes remain a fixed distance apart, as previously noted, not only does the vertical distance between the tool mount bars and the wheel frames 1 change, but also the transverse distance between the wheel Erames 1 changes. Thus the framework of the present invention does not have a fixed transverse spacing between its wheels, but permits this spacing to change as -the elevation of the ground working tools relative to the ground is changed. There is no problem created by a varying transverse spacing of the wheels of the framework, as there is no need for it to remain constant as there is, for example, with vehicles running on rails.
Better understanding of -the operation of the rock shafts may be gained from Figure 8, showing two of the three identical rock shafts 5 which have the same configuration as the third of the three rock shafts on the left half of the five section framework illustrated in Figure 2. Rock shafts on the other half of the framework of Figure 2 would be identical but connected to the page 12 . ~ ,. . . i corresponding parts to pivot in the direction opposite to the pivoting of the rock shafts referred to on the left halE of Figure 2. Thus Figure 8 shows some parts of the center section, the inner left wing section, and the outer left wing section, with wheel frame 1 of the center section and wheel frame 33 of the inner wing sec-tion, mounted on wheels 2 supporting flanges 3 and 7, via lu~s on the wheel frames, at pivot points C1. Rock shaft S is rigidly fastened to flanges 3 and 7. Flange lever 9, also rigidly fastened to the rock shaft, is connected at pivot point 11 to one end of rigid bar mechanism 12; in the case of rock shafts of wing sections, the flange levers corresponding to 9, i.e. 32 and 37 in Figures 4 and 5, are pivotally connected to extension bars, 31 and 36, as more fully explained later with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Tool mount bars 19 and 20 are held in parallel spaced relation by frame bar 18. Rigid flanges 22 on the ends of the tool mount bars extend above and below these bars. Flanges 3 and 7 on rock shaft 5 also are pivotally attached at pivot points A1 near the bottoms of flanges 22. Near the top ends of flanges 22 are pivot points B1 at which tool mount bars of the adjacent wing section of framework are pivotally attached, 34 being typical of such tool mount bars shown in both Figure 8 and Figure 4. Extension bar 31, pivotally attached to rigid bar mechanism 12 at pivot point 11, transmits the displacement of rigid bar 12 to rotate the rock shaft of the adjacent wing section, in both Figures 8 and ~. Power means, as previously described, displaces the rigid bars and extension bars. on each side of the centerline of the framework, by equal amounts and rotates each of the L J~k shafts in equal arcs around page 13 ~ 3 1 7 1 50 the pivot points A1 and the A axes through their respective flanges 22.
To facilitate turning of the framework of this invention it is desirable that the front wheels on the wheel frames be castor mounted. A particularly effective castor mounting is the double castor mounting shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. The horizontal axle of the wheel is held at its ends by a pair of crab claw shaped arms which extend out and back from the axle and are each pivotally attached, at their distal ends, to vertical pivots on the ends of a transverse bar on the front of the wheel frame. The attachments of the axle ends to the front of the arms also are on vertical pivots. The double castoring provided by the two pairs of vertical pivots between the horizontal axle and the rigid wheel frame provides great flexibility in the turning of the wheel and permits it to turn on a very short radius, thus facilitating the turning of the implement when it is pulled around a sharp curve. ~nother major advantage of the arrangement is its low profile, which enables it to avoid interference with drawbar members, which can move freely over the castoring wheels.
An alternative castoring wheel arrangement is shown in Pigure 6 and 7.
It is a most preferred feature of this invention that the tool mount bars be resiliently, not rigidly, fastened to the frame bars. Rigid fastening of the tool mount bars to the frame bars creates a rigid plane of these members. Resilient fastening permits torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened, that is slight rotational movement of at least one of the rigid members about an axis or axes parallel and proxima-te page 1~
the ~heoretical plane passing through -the members a-t thelr point of attachment. ~urthermore it is a most preferred feature of the invention that some pivotal connections between some rigid structural members, all of which connections are classifiable as pin joints, should also provide some resiliency so that slight rotation can occur around the other two axes which intersect the pin axis of the respective resilient pivotal connections at mutual right angles~ Such resiliency modifies the nature of the specified pivotal connections or pin joints of the invention, providing them with characteristics of the more flexible ball and socket joints. It is for this reason that a number of the rigid members can be defined as being resiliently pivotally attached to other rigid members, and not defined simply as being pivotally attached. However, the height adjusting mechanism of the invention does not depend on flexibility or resiliency of the planar framework for successful operation, the me~hanism being effectively operable on a completely rigid framework.
Nonetheless, resiliency in the framework is preferred for durability. Some further details for providing resiliency to the pivotal connections are mentioned subsequently herein.
Referring again to the resilient fastening of the frame bars to the tool mount bars, the framework of this invention could be overstressed and impractical if the frame bars were rigidly fastened to the tool mount bars, as, for example, by welding, riveting, or rigidly bolting them. Considering for example a four wheeled center section, there are four points of support on the wheel frames for all the framework above the wheel frames.
When the wheels are on uneven ground, with no load on the page 15 `` 1317150 framework. three of the wheels could be supporting the ~ramework on the ground and the ~ourth wheel held in the air by the plane oE the substantiallY rigid framework. ~nder load of numerous ground working tools working in the soil on such uneven ground, the plane of the framework inexorably tends to dlstort an~ weigh the fourth wheel down into contact with the ground. Vnder such distortion, rigid fastenings between Erame bars and tool mount bars are prone to, and likely to, fracture, for example by shearing of bolts or rivets or welds, particularly in framework sections having three or more tool mount bars. To accommodate such distortion, the wheel mount bars and frame bars in the present invention preferably are fastened together to provide resilience in the fastenings, thereby providing for flexing, for example torsional flexing, between the structural members. An example of a resilient fastening between a tool mount bar, for example 20, and a frame bar, for example 14, is a pair of loose clevis and tongue connections, or a pair of clevis and tongue mounted spherical bushings forming a pair of ball and socket joints. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate one simple fastening using a pair of spherical bushings to Easten a tool mount bar, 20, to a frame bar, 14. A first pair oE lugs, 61, rigidly fastened to frame bar 14, form a first clevis and a second pair of lugs, 62, also rigidly fastened to frame bar 14, form a second clevis. The tool mount bar 20 has two tongues, 63 and 64, rigidly fastened thereto, protruding from opposite sides of the tool mount bar, each tongue having one of a pair of spherical bushings, 65 and 66, mounted therein. Clevis pins 67 and 68 are fitted through the respective clevis when the respective tongue with its page 16 spherical bushing has been fitted into its clevis. From Figure 11 it can readily be seen that the combination of lugs 61 and 62 with clevis pins 67 and 68 will fasten the tongues 63 and 64, and tool bar 20, to frame bar 14 but still allow the tool bar to twist, i.e. accommodate torsional flexing, around the axis through the middle of the two clevis pins perpendicular to the plane of the cross-section shown in Figure 11. Another example of a resilient fastening is illustrated in Figure 3. A rigid bracket 24 rigidly fits around tool mount bar 20, and has flanges 25 on each side of the tool mount bar. Bolt holes in the flanges of the bracket are aligned with bolt holes in frame bar 14.
Before bolting bracket 24 to frame bar 14 with a bolt and nut assembly 26 for each brackat hole, at least one large resilient washer, 50, for example of from 5 to 10 or more cm diameter and 1 to 2 or more cm ~hickness, is placed around each bolt between the bracket flanges 25 and the frame 14. These resilient washers can be made, for example, from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, resilient polyurethane plastic, or other durable, resilient material. When assembled, -the bolt and nut assemblies are not tightened to compress the resilient washer to its maximum compressibilit~, but left loose enough that the washer can compress further over various segments of its circumference to permit rotation of either the frame bar or the tool mount bar with respect to the other around their axes in horizontal planes.
As shown in Figure 3, the bracket permits ample resiliency for torsional rotation of tool mount bar 20 around the axis of frame bar 14; demand for torsional rotation of the frame bar around the axis of the tool mount bar is generall~ negligible in comparison, page 17 and is adequately provided by the ~racket and resilient washers.
In another embodiment, resiliency could be obtained at ~he fastening by using a substantially identical assembly but, instead of resilient washers, with strong, partially compressed, coiled springs providing resiliency at each bolt. In stlll other variations, belleville washers, or a stack of partially compressed split lock washers could be substituted for the single resilient washer described above.
It has been mentioned above that it is most preferred to have resiliency in a number of the pivotal connections between rigid parts in the framework. These resilient pivotal connections include, for example as shown in Figure 9, the connections between the rock shafts and tool mount bars, and betw~en tool mount bars and adjacent tool mount bars. Resiliency in such pivotal connections or pin joints is readily obtained, for example, by having the pivot pin hole, through one of the two parts being pivotally connected, of somewhat larger diameter than the pin, so that the part with the larger diameter hole is somewhat loose on the pin and is free to rotate on axes at right angles to the axis of the pin. At the same time that the foregoing looseness is provided, it is most preferred to make provision for maintaining the pivotal connection, in its normal, unstressed position, in a cohesive firm but resilient condition.
This is readi].y done by providing resilient washers, 50, for example oF the same materials used in the washers described above for the resllient fastenings described above, around the pivot pin on either side of the part with the larger diameter hole, and filling with partially compressed resilient washer, the space page 18 t 3 1 7 1 50 along -the pin between the parts being reslliently pivotally connected. Again, as for the resilient fastening described above, the resilient washers could be replaced by strong, partially compressed, coiled springs, or by bellevllle washers or stacks of partially compressed split lock washers. With pivotal connections thus rendered resilient, these pin ~oints are converted, to an appreciable degree, into ball and socket joints, in that besides being able to move relative to one another around the axis of their pivot pin, rigid parts joined by the resilient pivotal connections are able to move relative to one another around the two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of the pivot pin; the restricted degree of extra movement thus pe~nitted between rigid parts is usually sufficient to eliminate or reduce greatly the stress that would otherwise be put on one rigid part lS by abnormal movement of another rigid part pivotally connected thereto.
In Figure 2 there is illustrated, by a diagrammatic representation, a multisection framework for supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, having a center section and two wing sections on each side -thereof. All six wheels of the cen-ter section are shown, but the "tricycle" wheel frarnes are not shown.
However, the theoretical C axes, passing through the pairs of pivot points C1 and C2 respectively of Figure 1 are shown, as dotted lines. The roc~ shafts 5 and 6 are not shown; however they would most conveniently be located between the respective C
and A axes, being longitudinally disposed -therebetween. The "A"
axes are shown as dot-dash lines. The pivotal attac~nent of page 19 1 3 ~ 7 1 50 rigid parts which are located alon~ the A axes most preferably all are resilient pivotal connec tiOllS, for example as descrlbed earlier herein with reference to Figure 9. The rigid flanges 3, 4, 7, and 8, pivotally connecting the rock shafts to the wheel frames, are shown to illustrate the relative positions of these parts. Aligned with the tool mount bars 19, 20 and 21 respectively of the center section are the tool mount bars of the wing sections, the preferably resilient pivotal connections between the laterally adjacent bars being along the B axes (the short dash lines) between the various adjacent sections respectively. Being aligned along the B axes, the pivotal connections of the tool mount bars between the various sections permit ample flexing between the relatively rigid planes of the respective individual sections, and further permit folding of the wing sections towards the center section when it is desired to reduce the width of the implement drastically for easy transportation, as is conventional in the agricultural implement art. Besides the pivotal connections between the tool mount bars along the B axes between adjacent sections, -the only other connections between the sections are the drawbar means and the means connected to the power means to pivot the wing section rock shafts, simultaneously and through equal angles around their respective pivotal axes. Drawbar means, conventional in the art, make provision for flexing at pivotal connections between laterally adjacent sections of multisection agricultural implements. Similarly, the power means to pivot the rock shafts extends transversely from the points of attachment to the rock shafts at points proximate the B axes of the center section, page 20 across the inner wing sections where it attaches pivotally to the rock shafts of these sections at poln-ts proxirnate their respective B axes, and further across the outer wing sections to the rock shafts where it again attaches pivotally at points proximate the respective B ax~s. These extensions o~ the power means from the center section to the wing section most conveniently are in the form of simple rigid extension bars 31 (Fig. 4) which transmit the simultaneous and equal displacement of the rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 ~Fiy. 1) of the center section to the rock shaf-ts of the respective adjoining wing sections. By connecting the extension bars to one another and to the rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 at points proximate the respective B axes, the whole rigid bar and extension bar arrangement is capable of flexing and folding along the B axes between sections when the framework is passing over uneven, undulating ground or being folded for transportation.
It will noted that the wing section wheel frames, not shown in Fig. 2, are represented as having only two wheels each; thus the wheel frames of the wing section are "bicycle" wheel frames, although they could equally well be "tricycle" wheel frames.
"Tricycle" wheel frames are preferred for the center section as they provide more wheels to carry the weight of the wing sections when the latter are folded into transport position, as is commonly done with wide a~ricultural implements. "Bicycle" wheel frames can provide adequate support for wing sections, but "tricycle" wheel frames, of lighter construction than those of the center section, can be used for the lighter loads carried by the wing section wheels, and may be p~eferred for their greater page 21 131715() inherent vertical stabil.ity.
There has been mentioned earli.er herein an optional embodiment of power means suitable to achieve simultaneous and equal displacement of the rock shafts, whereby the height of the tool mount bars, and all ground working tools mounted thereon, is uniformly varied. This embodiment is now to be described with reference to Figure 4. This figure is a ~ront elevation of two rigid bar mechanisms which both achieve their equal displacement power from the same single hydraulic ram or hydraullc cylinder.
The two rigid bar mechanisms 12 and 16 are both plvotally attached indirectly to a single transverse frame member, preferably the second tool mount bar 20. The rigid bar mechanisms also are pivotally attached at opposite ends of the single hydraulic cylinder 27. The indirect attachntent of rigid bar mechanism 12 to tool mount bar 20 is achieved through rigid pivoting lever 28, which is pivotally attached, proximate its center, to one face, for example the front, of tool mount bar 20, and also pivotally attached at its first end to the end of the hydraulic cylinder 27 to which rigid bar mechanism 12 is pivotally attached, on the same pivot. Indirect attachment of rigid bar mechanism 16 ~o tool mount bar ~0 is achieved through rigid pivoting link, 29, which is pivotally attached, near one of its ends, to the same face, i.e. the front, of tool mount bar 20 at an appropriate distance from the pivotal a-ttachment of pivoting lever 28. The distal end of pivoting link 29 is pivotally attached to the end of hydraulic cylinder 27 to which rigid bar mechanism 16 is pivotally attached, on the same pivot.
The distal end of pivoting lever 28 is pivotally attached to one page 22 ~ , end of a rigid evener link, 30, the distal end of whlch is pivotally fastened to the pivoting link 29, optionally on the same pivot as the attachment of pivoting link 29 to hydraullc cylinder 27 and rigid bar mechanism 16. Alternatively, to avoid crowding of members at pivotal attachments, the distal end of evener link 30 can be pivotally attached to pivoting link 23 at a pivot point at a location between the pivot points near the ends of pivoting link 29, as shown by the dotted line position of evener link 30. The pivotal attachments of this link are arranged to allow equivalent rotation of lever 28 and link 29 and thus equal displacement of the ends of cylinder 27 as it extends or contracts. The end of rigid bar mechanism 12 remote from hydraulic cylinder 27 is pivotally attached to rigid flange lever 9 at pivot point 11 (Fig. 1), the flange lever 9 being rigidly fastened to rock shaft 5, not shown in Figure 4, Also rigidly attached to rock shaft 5 is rigid flange 7. Near its lower end the flange 7 is pivotally attached at pivot points Cl to wheel frame 1. It can readily be seen from Figure 4 that extension and contraction of hydraulic cylinder 27 displaces rigid bar mechanism 12 and rota-tes flange lever 9 and its rigidly fastened rock shaEt around axis A which passes throu~h pivoting connection Al on the rock shaft and the bottom of flange 22 on tool mount bar 20. At the same time the rock shaft and rigidly fastened flange 7 will rotate around pivot point Cl on top of wheel frame 1, varying the relative elevation of tool mount bar 20 with reference to wheel frame 1 which, through wheels 2, rests on the ground. When rigid bar mechanism 12 of this embodiment is displaced, rigid bar mechanism 16 is likewise displaced, and by page 23 the operation of the evener link 30, is displaced an equal amount, causing equlvalent rotation of rock shaft 6 at pivoting connection A2 and through flange 8 around pivot point C2 and the other wheel frame 1.
At pivot point 15, where rigid bar mechanism 16 pivo-ts on flange lever 10, a rigid extension bar 31 also is pivotally attached and serves to transmit the displacement of rigld bar mechanism 16 to the rigid flange lever 32 on the rock shaft of an adjacent wing section having its wheel frame 33. In this manner the tool mount bar 34 of the wing section has its relative elevation, with reference to its wheel frame, varied simultaneously and in the same amount as that of -the center section tool mount bars. The wing section tool mount bar 3~ is pivotally attached to flange 22 on tool mount bar 20 at pivoting connection B2.
When it is desired to raise the wing sections into transport position their tool mount bars will pivot on the B axes and the tool mount bars will be in a raised position so that attached ground working tools will be clear of the ground. With the tool mount bars thus raised, the pivot connection lS between rigid bax mechanism 16 and extension bar 31 will be in close proximity to, if not exactly aligned with, axis B, so that rotation of the wing section about axis B will cause only slight, if any, variation in displacement of rigid extension bar 31 relative to the rest of the wing section, thus moving the wheel frame mechanism slightly, at most, and well within the bounds of its operating range of movement. Thus the extension bar 31 can fold conveniently with the tool mount bars.
page 24 In the same manner that the end of the wing sectton ~ool mount bar 3~, adiacent the center section, pivots at pivoting connection B2 on flange 22 of tool mount bar 20, Fig. 4, an end of tool mount bar 35 (Fig. 5) pivots at a pivotal connection B3 on a flange 22 at the outer end of tool mount bar 34. Tool mount bar 35 forms part of an outer wing section which has its respective rock shaft, wheel frame, and wheels, and is raised or lowered simultaneously wlth the center and ad~acent wing sections by displacement of another rigid extension bar 36 pivotally attached at one end to extension bar 31 at the pivoting connection of the latter to flange lever 32 on the rock shaft of the first or inner wing section. The distal end of extension bar 36 is pivotally connected to flange lever 37 on the rock shaft of the outer wing section having its wheel frame 38. The tool mount bar 35 of the outer wing section has its relative elevation, with reference to its wheel frame 38, varied simultaneously and in the same amoun-t as that oE the center section and inner wing section tool mount bars, by the simultaneous displacement o~ the connected extension bars 31 and 36.
Numerous modifications can be made in the various elements of the invention besides those already indicated in detail above.
For example, the wheel ~rarnes, which are carried by front and rear wheels of each section, are not necessarily unitary nor rigid, nor do they necessarily extend directly between their respective front and rear wheels. Thus a rigid elongated front part of a wheel frame can have its forward end mounted on a castoring front wheel and its rearward end pivotally and slidably attached, on a horizontal transverse axis, to a tool mount bar, page 25 while a separate rigid rear part of said wheel frame i~ mounted on the respective rear frame wheel or transversely spaced wheels and is pivotally attached, on a generally longitudinal axis, to its respective rigid rock shaft which also is pivotally attached, on a generallY longitudinal axis, to the rigid front part of the wheel frame. The rock shaft, pivotally attached to each of the front and rear parts of the wheel frame, thus serves to distribute the load, applied to the rock shaft by the tool mount bars which are mounted thereon, to both the front and rear parts of the wheel frame and hence to the front and rear wheels, even though the front and rear parts of the wheel frame are separate, because these parts are directly pivotally connected by the rock shaft, which is rigid. Furthermore, with an arrangement of separate front and rear wheel frame parts as ~ust described, it is not necessary that a rock shaft be horizontally aligned, nor that it be straight. For convenience a rock shaft can be inclined so that the pivoting axis between said rock shaft and the tool mount bars mounted thereon is inclined to intersect the horizontal axis through the pivot points between tool mount bars of adjacent framework sections. By having such intersection at a pivot point in folding drawbar means used to draw the framework over the ground, the folding of the drawbar means with the folding of the wing sections for transportation purposes is facilitated; other advantages also accrue to the use of an inclined rock shaft. With the pivot axis between the rock shaft and tool mount bars thus inclined, the pivot axes between the rock shaft and the wheel frame or wheel frame parts also must be inclined so as to be parallel to said ~irst mentioned inclined page 26 131715() axis, thus perrnitting freedom of rotation of the rock shaft simultaneously about all the points of pivotal attachment thereof. Rotat.ion of the rock shaft causes lateral displacement of the rock shaft and wheel frame, as well as relative vertical movement between the two. Because the rearward end of the front part of the wheel frame in this embodiment is slidably pivotally attached to a tool mount bar, lateral dlsplacement of this end of said wheel frarne part is readily accommodated.
An example of an embodiment of the features just described is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. In these Figures a front wheel 2 is castor mounted in and supports the forward end of the elongated front part lF of a wheel frame. A
pair of rear wheels 2R is mounted to provide support for the rear part lR of said wheel frame. The rearward end of said front part of the wheel frame is pivotally and slidably attached, at horizontal, transverse, pivot a~is 39, to the underside of front tool mount bar 19. Frame bar 18 connects tool mount bars 19, 20, and 21. Rock sha:E-t 5, beyond the wheel frame in the view of Figure 6, is supported at i.ts forward end on the front part lF of the wheel frame, to which it is pivotally connected by rock shaft flange 3 at pivot point C1. This pivotal connection preferably is a resilient pivotal connection as illustrated in Figure 9 between rock shaft flange 7 and tool mount bar flanges 22. Rock shaft 5 is supported at its rearward end on the rear part lR of the wheel frame, to which it is pivotally connected by flange 7 at one or more pivot points on longitudinal pivot a~is C3. Rock shaft 5 supports tool rnount bars 19 and 20 which are pivotally connected to the rock shaft. by respective Elanges 22 on the tool page 27 1317~50 mount bars and corresponding flanges on the rock shaft. Through these pivotal connections in flanges 22 passes the A axis about which the rock shaft pivots relative to the tool mount bars. In this embodiment the A axis is inclined to the horizontal and inclined parallel thereto are the pivo-t axis C3 and the axis at pivot point C1; as previously men-tioned, the inclined A axis preferably intersects the horizontal B axis passing through the pivot points in the connections between the tool mount bars of an adjoining section (not shown in ~igure 7).
A large agricultural implement with resilient planar frameworks for supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, as disclosed herein, is capable of flexing, to assume the contours of the ground over which it is passing, in a vastly superior fashion to any framework which is rigidly planar. Hence the resilient planar framework disclosed herein is the most preferred framework for use with the height adjusting mechanism disclosed herein.
Numerous other modifications can be made in the various expedients described herein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the following claims.
page 28
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A resilient planar framework supporting a multiplicity of groundworking tools, said framework comprising at least one planar section of connected, rigid, structural members with (a) some of said rigid structural members being rigidly fastened together, (b) at least two of said said rigid structural members being fastened together by resilient fastenings, and (c) at least two of any of said rigid structural members being pivotally attached together by resilient pivotal attachments, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between the pivotally attached rigid members around two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of their pivotal attachment.
2. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid structural members fastened by resilient fastenings are parallel, spaced, tool mount bars fastened resiliently to frame bars which maintain the tool mount bars in spaced parallel relationships, said tool mount bars being fastened resiliently to a respective frame bar by a respective rigid bracket which fits around three sides of the tool mount bar and holds the fourth side of the tool mount bar to a frame bar with bolt and nut assemblies on opposite sides of the tool mount bar, the assemblies each including a resilient washer which is tightened by said bolt and nut assemblies to compress the washer at less than the maximum compressibility of the washer, thereby page 29 fastening the tool mount bar securely, yet resiliently, to the frame bar.
3. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising, a center section and at least one wing section, each section supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, said at least one wing section being resiliently pivotally attached at its side nearer the center section to the adjacent side of the center section by resilient pivotal attachments, said pivotal attachments each having (a) pivot pin holes of larger diameter than their respective pivot pins and (b) partially compressed resilient washers on said pivot pins to maintain the pivotal attachments, in their normal, unstressed position, in a cohesive, firm, but resilient condition.
4. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1, in which said framework comprises:
(a) two horizontally and longitudinally disposed wheel frames, each wheel frame being supported by at least two wheels disposed proximate the respective ends of said frames, (b) two rigid, longitudinally disposed rock shafts, each pivotally attached to, at two points proximate the two ends of, a respective one of said wheel frames, said rock shafts being adapted to pivot relative to their respective wheel frames on longitudinal axes passing through the pivotal attachments on their respective wheel frames, at variable elevations above their respective wheel frames, (c) two longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, page 30 rigid, horizontal tool mount bars, each resiliently pivotally attached, adjacent its two ends, to the two said rock shafts, said tool mount bars being disposed above said rock shafts and adapted to support two ranks of ground working tools, and (d) at least two longitudinally disposed, rigid, frame bars, transversely spaced along said tool mount bars and resiliently fastened thereto to maintain the latter in spaced parallel relationships.
5. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 4, and further including a third longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, rigid horizontal tool mount bar resiliently fastened to the said two frame bars and adapted to support a third rank of ground working tools.
6. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising a center section and at least one wing section, each section supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, each said wing section comprising:
(a) a horizontally and longitudinally disposed wing section wheel frame supported on at least two longitudinally spaced wheels, (b) a rigid, horizontally disposed wing section rock shaft, pivotally attached to said wing section wheel frame at points proximate said wheels and adapted to pivot relative to said wheel frame on a horizontal longitudinal axis passing through said points of pivotal attachment to said wheel frame, at variable elevations above said wheel frame, (c) longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, rigid, horizontal, winy section tool mount bars, each one being aligned page 31 with a corresponding tool mount bar of said center section, resiliently pivotally attached at its end nearer the center section to the adjacent end of the corresponding tool mount bar of the adjacent section, and adapted to pivot resiliently on a horizontal axis through the respective pivotal attachments between the corresponding tool mount bars, the distal ends of first and second of said tool mount bars of said wing section being resiliently pivotally attached to and disposed above said wing section rock shaft, and (d) a longitudinally disposed, rigid, wing section frame bar, resiliently fastened to each said wing section tool mount bar to maintain the latter in spaced parallel relationship.
7. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid structural members fastened by resilient fastenings are parallel, spaced, tool mount bars fastened resiliently to frame bars which maintain the tool mount bars in spaced parallel relationships, said tool mount bars being fastened resiliently to a respective frame bar by a respective pair of clevis and tongue mounted spherical bushings forming a pair of ball and socket joints.
8. A framework carrying the ground-working tools of a farm implement comprising at least one substantially planar horizontal section of interconnected structural members wherein each section comprises:
1) a plurality of interconnected rigid tool mount members having an orientation generally transverse to the direction of travel when working, and 2) a plurality of flexibly interconnecting links page 32 between said tool mount embers transmitting, between said tool mount members torsional stress of said tool mount members around axes generally transverse to the direction of travel wherein:
a) said flexibly interconnecting links provide for flexibility substantially only about axes generally parallel to the direction of travel of the implement and b) said interconnecting links provide for limited to zero flexibility about other axes to relieve stress in the framework.
9. A framework as claimed in claim 8 which further comprises at least one additional rigid structural member interconnected between two of said tool mount members by pivotal connections wherein at least one of said pivotal connections permits relative movement around axes at right angles to the pivotal axis.
10. A framework as claimed in claim 8 wherein there is a plurality of said horizontal sections pivotally attached in a line transverse to the direction of travel when working the pivotal attachments between adjacent sections being on axes generally parallel to said direction of travel and being adapted to permit relative movement between adjacent parts of said horizontal sections around axes at right angles to their pivotal axes.
11. A framework as claimed in claim 9 wherein there is a plurality of said horizontal sections pivotally attached in a line transverse to the direction of travel page 33 when working, the pivotal attachments between adjacent sections being on axes generally parallel to said direction of travel and being adapted to permit relative movement between adjacent parts of said horizontal sections around axes at right angles to their pivotal axes.
12. A framework as claimed in claim 8 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
13. A framework as claimed in claim 9 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
14. A framework as claimed in claim 10 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
15. A framework as claimed in claim 11 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
16. A resilient planar framework for supporting a multiplicity of groundworking tools, said framework comprising rigid structural members having resilient fastenings between said rigid members which are fastened together, and having resilient pivotal attachments between said rigid members which are pivotally attached, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between pivotally attached rigid members around the two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of their pivotal attachment.
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1. A resilient planar framework supporting a multiplicity of groundworking tools, said framework comprising at least one planar section of connected, rigid, structural members with (a) some of said rigid structural members being rigidly fastened together, (b) at least two of said said rigid structural members being fastened together by resilient fastenings, and (c) at least two of any of said rigid structural members being pivotally attached together by resilient pivotal attachments, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between the pivotally attached rigid members around two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of their pivotal attachment.
2. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid structural members fastened by resilient fastenings are parallel, spaced, tool mount bars fastened resiliently to frame bars which maintain the tool mount bars in spaced parallel relationships, said tool mount bars being fastened resiliently to a respective frame bar by a respective rigid bracket which fits around three sides of the tool mount bar and holds the fourth side of the tool mount bar to a frame bar with bolt and nut assemblies on opposite sides of the tool mount bar, the assemblies each including a resilient washer which is tightened by said bolt and nut assemblies to compress the washer at less than the maximum compressibility of the washer, thereby page 29 fastening the tool mount bar securely, yet resiliently, to the frame bar.
3. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising, a center section and at least one wing section, each section supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, said at least one wing section being resiliently pivotally attached at its side nearer the center section to the adjacent side of the center section by resilient pivotal attachments, said pivotal attachments each having (a) pivot pin holes of larger diameter than their respective pivot pins and (b) partially compressed resilient washers on said pivot pins to maintain the pivotal attachments, in their normal, unstressed position, in a cohesive, firm, but resilient condition.
4. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1, in which said framework comprises:
(a) two horizontally and longitudinally disposed wheel frames, each wheel frame being supported by at least two wheels disposed proximate the respective ends of said frames, (b) two rigid, longitudinally disposed rock shafts, each pivotally attached to, at two points proximate the two ends of, a respective one of said wheel frames, said rock shafts being adapted to pivot relative to their respective wheel frames on longitudinal axes passing through the pivotal attachments on their respective wheel frames, at variable elevations above their respective wheel frames, (c) two longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, page 30 rigid, horizontal tool mount bars, each resiliently pivotally attached, adjacent its two ends, to the two said rock shafts, said tool mount bars being disposed above said rock shafts and adapted to support two ranks of ground working tools, and (d) at least two longitudinally disposed, rigid, frame bars, transversely spaced along said tool mount bars and resiliently fastened thereto to maintain the latter in spaced parallel relationships.
5. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 4, and further including a third longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, rigid horizontal tool mount bar resiliently fastened to the said two frame bars and adapted to support a third rank of ground working tools.
6. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 5 and further comprising a center section and at least one wing section, each section supporting a multiplicity of ground working tools, each said wing section comprising:
(a) a horizontally and longitudinally disposed wing section wheel frame supported on at least two longitudinally spaced wheels, (b) a rigid, horizontally disposed wing section rock shaft, pivotally attached to said wing section wheel frame at points proximate said wheels and adapted to pivot relative to said wheel frame on a horizontal longitudinal axis passing through said points of pivotal attachment to said wheel frame, at variable elevations above said wheel frame, (c) longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed, rigid, horizontal, winy section tool mount bars, each one being aligned page 31 with a corresponding tool mount bar of said center section, resiliently pivotally attached at its end nearer the center section to the adjacent end of the corresponding tool mount bar of the adjacent section, and adapted to pivot resiliently on a horizontal axis through the respective pivotal attachments between the corresponding tool mount bars, the distal ends of first and second of said tool mount bars of said wing section being resiliently pivotally attached to and disposed above said wing section rock shaft, and (d) a longitudinally disposed, rigid, wing section frame bar, resiliently fastened to each said wing section tool mount bar to maintain the latter in spaced parallel relationship.
7. A resilient planar framework as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid structural members fastened by resilient fastenings are parallel, spaced, tool mount bars fastened resiliently to frame bars which maintain the tool mount bars in spaced parallel relationships, said tool mount bars being fastened resiliently to a respective frame bar by a respective pair of clevis and tongue mounted spherical bushings forming a pair of ball and socket joints.
8. A framework carrying the ground-working tools of a farm implement comprising at least one substantially planar horizontal section of interconnected structural members wherein each section comprises:
1) a plurality of interconnected rigid tool mount members having an orientation generally transverse to the direction of travel when working, and 2) a plurality of flexibly interconnecting links page 32 between said tool mount embers transmitting, between said tool mount members torsional stress of said tool mount members around axes generally transverse to the direction of travel wherein:
a) said flexibly interconnecting links provide for flexibility substantially only about axes generally parallel to the direction of travel of the implement and b) said interconnecting links provide for limited to zero flexibility about other axes to relieve stress in the framework.
9. A framework as claimed in claim 8 which further comprises at least one additional rigid structural member interconnected between two of said tool mount members by pivotal connections wherein at least one of said pivotal connections permits relative movement around axes at right angles to the pivotal axis.
10. A framework as claimed in claim 8 wherein there is a plurality of said horizontal sections pivotally attached in a line transverse to the direction of travel when working the pivotal attachments between adjacent sections being on axes generally parallel to said direction of travel and being adapted to permit relative movement between adjacent parts of said horizontal sections around axes at right angles to their pivotal axes.
11. A framework as claimed in claim 9 wherein there is a plurality of said horizontal sections pivotally attached in a line transverse to the direction of travel page 33 when working, the pivotal attachments between adjacent sections being on axes generally parallel to said direction of travel and being adapted to permit relative movement between adjacent parts of said horizontal sections around axes at right angles to their pivotal axes.
12. A framework as claimed in claim 8 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
13. A framework as claimed in claim 9 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
14. A framework as claimed in claim 10 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
15. A framework as claimed in claim 11 in which the interconnected structural members are rigid.
16. A resilient planar framework for supporting a multiplicity of groundworking tools, said framework comprising rigid structural members having resilient fastenings between said rigid members which are fastened together, and having resilient pivotal attachments between said rigid members which are pivotally attached, said resilient fastenings being adapted to permit torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened and said resilient pivotal attachments being adapted to permit relative movement between pivotally attached rigid members around the two axes at mutual right angles to the axis of their pivotal attachment.
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Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000615866A CA1317150C (en) | 1990-09-17 | 1990-09-17 | Resilient planar framework for supporting multiple groundworking tools |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000615866A CA1317150C (en) | 1990-09-17 | 1990-09-17 | Resilient planar framework for supporting multiple groundworking tools |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000557779A Division CA1294168C (en) | 1988-01-29 | 1988-01-29 | Agricultural implement for supporting ground working tools at variable heights relative to ground level |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1317150C true CA1317150C (en) | 1993-05-04 |
Family
ID=4140931
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000615866A Expired - Fee Related CA1317150C (en) | 1990-09-17 | 1990-09-17 | Resilient planar framework for supporting multiple groundworking tools |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1317150C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111279817A (en) * | 2020-04-27 | 2020-06-16 | 临沂大学 | Vertical shaft type deep ploughing device |
-
1990
- 1990-09-17 CA CA000615866A patent/CA1317150C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111279817A (en) * | 2020-04-27 | 2020-06-16 | 临沂大学 | Vertical shaft type deep ploughing device |
| CN111279817B (en) * | 2020-04-27 | 2022-08-02 | 临沂大学 | Vertical shaft type deep ploughing device |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed |