CA2067911A1 - Adaptor for attachment of an agricultural implement to a three point hitch of a tractor - Google Patents
Adaptor for attachment of an agricultural implement to a three point hitch of a tractorInfo
- Publication number
- CA2067911A1 CA2067911A1 CA 2067911 CA2067911A CA2067911A1 CA 2067911 A1 CA2067911 A1 CA 2067911A1 CA 2067911 CA2067911 CA 2067911 CA 2067911 A CA2067911 A CA 2067911A CA 2067911 A1 CA2067911 A1 CA 2067911A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- structural member
- tractor
- arm
- wheel
- ground
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims 4
- 238000005201 scrubbing Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 abstract 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 241000256844 Apis mellifera Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
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- Agricultural Machines (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
ADAPTOR FOR ATTACHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO A THREE
POINT HITCH OF A TRACTOR
An adaptor for attachment of a swather header to a conventional tractor using the three point hitch available on the tractor comprises an elongate beam having brackets at one end for attachment to the three point hitch and a ground wheel at an opposed end for rolling upon the ground so that the beam is supported at the hitch at one end and the ground wheel at the other end. An arm extending from the beam to the ground wheel is directed downwardly and toward the tractor so that the wheel is approximately aligned with the rolling axis of the adjacent wheels of the tractor. This prevent scrubbing during steering. In addition the three point hitch is arranged relative to the angle of the arm so that lifting movement of the three point hitch rotates the beam about a longitudinal axis of the beam thus causing the arm to move downwardly by an amount equal to the upward movement of the beam to maintain the ground wheel properly on the ground and the beam level. The swather header is mounted upon the beam by a floating attachment system.
ADAPTOR FOR ATTACHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO A THREE
POINT HITCH OF A TRACTOR
An adaptor for attachment of a swather header to a conventional tractor using the three point hitch available on the tractor comprises an elongate beam having brackets at one end for attachment to the three point hitch and a ground wheel at an opposed end for rolling upon the ground so that the beam is supported at the hitch at one end and the ground wheel at the other end. An arm extending from the beam to the ground wheel is directed downwardly and toward the tractor so that the wheel is approximately aligned with the rolling axis of the adjacent wheels of the tractor. This prevent scrubbing during steering. In addition the three point hitch is arranged relative to the angle of the arm so that lifting movement of the three point hitch rotates the beam about a longitudinal axis of the beam thus causing the arm to move downwardly by an amount equal to the upward movement of the beam to maintain the ground wheel properly on the ground and the beam level. The swather header is mounted upon the beam by a floating attachment system.
Description
J
20~7911 ADAPTOR FOR ATTACHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO A THREE
POINT HITCH OF A TRACTOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adaptor for mounting an agricultural implement on the three point hitch of a tractor.
A three point hitch generally includes a pair of lower hitch arms lying in a common plane with an inboard end of the hitch arms pivotal on the tractor and outboard ends of the hitch arms for engagement with a lower part of the implement.
The three point hitch further includes an upper hitch arm which is positioned with a pivot axis on the tractor frame spaced upwardly of the lower hitch arms with the upper hitch arm positioned midway between the two lower hitch arms. The lower hitch arms are liftable by hydraulic action so as to raise the implement with the upper hitch arm holding the implement against twisting about the lower coupling point to the lower hitch arms.
Generally the three point hitch is used for relatively narrow implements which can be supported wholly upon the three point hitch and thus extend outwardly to the sides of the tractor only to a limited amount.
However some implements are wider than can be supported solely by the three point hitch and accordingly have , . ....... . . .
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20~7911 ADAPTOR FOR ATTACHMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT TO A THREE
POINT HITCH OF A TRACTOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adaptor for mounting an agricultural implement on the three point hitch of a tractor.
A three point hitch generally includes a pair of lower hitch arms lying in a common plane with an inboard end of the hitch arms pivotal on the tractor and outboard ends of the hitch arms for engagement with a lower part of the implement.
The three point hitch further includes an upper hitch arm which is positioned with a pivot axis on the tractor frame spaced upwardly of the lower hitch arms with the upper hitch arm positioned midway between the two lower hitch arms. The lower hitch arms are liftable by hydraulic action so as to raise the implement with the upper hitch arm holding the implement against twisting about the lower coupling point to the lower hitch arms.
Generally the three point hitch is used for relatively narrow implements which can be supported wholly upon the three point hitch and thus extend outwardly to the sides of the tractor only to a limited amount.
However some implements are wider than can be supported solely by the three point hitch and accordingly have , . ....... . . .
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2~67911 a beam attached to the three point hitch which extends outwardly to one side of the tractor with a ground wheel at an end of the beam remote from the three point hitch. This ground wheel is usually mounted directly beneath the beam and movable by a hydraulic action so that the outer end of the beam is raised simultaneously with the lifting movement of the three point hitch.
One type of tractor used with an arrangement of this type is that known as a Versatile Bidirectional Tractor manufactured by Ford-New Holland (now owned by FIAT) which shows a brochure for this product a support wheel spaced outwardly from the tractor which can be raised and lowred hydraulically. In addition, HoneyBee Manufacturing Ltd.
manufacture a swathewr table shown in a brochure which includes a hydraulically raised support wheel of this type.
A yet further arrangement commonly used in the prior art involves the provision of a guage wheel on the implement so that as the implement is lowered to the ground, the guage wheel runs upon the ground to support the implement partially. Generally the guage wheel is set at a required height and then is simply lifted away from the ground when the implement is lifted by the three point hitch to a transport position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
:
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: - .
~, ` \` 2067911 It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved arrangement for mountinq an implement on the three point hitch of a tractor.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for mounting an implement on the three point hitch of a tractor in which the adaptor includes a ground wheel positioned relative to the tractor to avoid a scrubbing action of the ground wheel on the ground as the tractor is steered.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for attachment of an implement to the three point hitch of a tractor in which the graund wheel support arrangement is mounted so that the longitudinal beam is automatically raised by the ground wheel as it is lifted by the three point hitch without the necessity for a separate hydraulic action at the ground wheel.
According to the invention therefore the arrangement includes an adaptor generally comprising an elongate beam which is mounted upon the three point hitch of the tractor adjacent one end and includes a ground wheel mounted upon an arm at an opposed end of the beam. The arm extends downwardly and toward a vertical plane containing the horizontal axis of the adjacent wheels of the tractor so that the axle of the ground wheel lies substantially in that ~ 2067911 vertical plane to avoid a scrubbing action during steering. In addition the action of the three point hitch is arranged relative to the position of the arm so that as the three point hitch raises the beam, it also twists the beam causing the arm and the ground wheel to lift the beam at the adjacent end of the beam by an amount equal to the lifting action of the three point hitch.
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of tractor, adaptor and implement according to the present invention, the cross sectional view being taken along the lines 1-1 of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the combination of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration showing the movement of the three point hitch, the beam of the adaptor and the arm and ground wheel of the adaptor in the lifting action.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through the adaptor perse taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 5.
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the adaptor perse.
In the drawings like characters of reference ,, ~ ` . ` !~' ., ' . ' '/ ' ; ` , ' ' ". . ` ~ `
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indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
.
The combination shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a tractor generally indicated at 10 which is shown only schematically but is preferably of the type which is reversible so that it can be driven in either direction with the three point hitch arrangement generally indicated at 11 mounted either at the front of the tractor or at the rear of the tractor depending upon the direction of operation. One example of this type of tractor known as the Versatile Bidirectional is manufactured by Ford-New Holland (now owned by FIAT) and this example includes an articulated steering arrangement generally indicated at 12. The tractor includes a first pair of wheels 13 mounted upon an axle 14 providing rotation of the first pair about an axis indicated in dash line at 15. The tractor further includes a tractor body schematically indicated at 16, the details of which are not shown as these are well known to one skilled in the art and can be readily determined by an inspection of the above example of tractor.
The combination further includes the three point hitch 11 of the tractor, an adaptor generally indicated at 17 and an implement generally indicated at 18.
In the example shown the implement comprises a ,: - ~ .: - . .
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swather, however other implement types can be used in the combination of the present invention. In general terms the implement is of the type which extends outwardly to either side of the tractor and requires sufficient support so that the three point hitch of the tractor is insufficient to provide that support. Such implements might include cultivators, seeders and the like. However the present invention is particularly designed for use with the swather frame 18 in which there is provided a floating action between the frame or header 18 and the adaptor 17.
The implement or header 18 is shown only schematically and comprises a main longitudinal frame beam 19, a plurality of downwardly and forwardly extending struts 20 - which provide support for a cutting knife arrangement 21 across a front edge of the frame and a pair of drapers 22 and 23 which carry the cut crop to an opening 24 for discharge of the cut crop into a swath or windrow. The details of this device are shown only schematically as of course they are well known to one skilled in the art. It is also well known that one or both of the drapers can be moved longitudinally of the frame so that the opening is moved from the centre position as shown to one end of the frame with the drapers being driven in the required direction to move the crop to the opening.
The three point hitch 11 comprises a pair of . . , .,~ , , . " .
lower hitch arms 25 each of which has an inboard end pivotally mounted on the tractor frame 16 for pivotal movement about a pin 26. A hydraulic cylinder 27 is coupled from a beam 28 of the frame downwardly to the lower hitch arm and is operable to raise and lower the lower hitch arm about the pivot pin 26.
Each of the lower hitch arms can therefore be raised and lowered simultaneously about a common horizontal axis defined by the pins 26. The outboard end 29 of each of the lower hitch arms extends outwardly beyond the adjacent end of the tractor and includes a cup element for receiving a ball provided on the adaptor for support of the adaptor on the lower hitch arms.
The three point hitch further includes an upper hitch arm 30 which extends from a pivot pin 31 at the inboard end of the upper hitch arm mounted on the frame 16 to a coupling 32 at an outboard end of the upper hitch arm for connection to a tower on the adaptor. The upper hitch arm is of shorter length than the lower hitch arms and the pivot pin 31 is at a position raised from the pivot pins 26. The length of the upper hitch arm can be adjusted for adjustment of the position of the adaptor on the lower hitch arms. In the example shown the length adjustment is provided by a turnbuckle arrangement 33, but other techniques can be used.
In conventional operation of a three point hitch arrangement, the upper hitch arm is adjusted and arranged preferentially so that it lies as close as possible to parallel to the lower hitch arms. Thus a lifting action of the lower hitch arms, the implement attached thereto and the upper hitch arm generally occurs without twisting the implement in a parallelogram linkage arrangement.
However in the present arrangement, the upper hitch arm is arranged at a significantly increased angle relative to the lower hitch arms. Thus as shown the lower hitch arms lie generally in the horizontal plane and the upper hitch arm is inclined upwardly and rearwardly at an angle of the order of 30. As viewed in plan, the lower hitch arms diverge outwardly from the relatively narrow width at the inboard end to a wider width at the outboard end to provide a more stable support for the adaptor.
- The adaptor itself comprises a simple elongate main beam 34. The beam is formed of rectangular tube of sufficient dimension to provide a structural strength to transmit the loads involved as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The beam includes a pair of depending brackets 35 and 36 each for engaging and receiving a respective one of the outboard ends 29 of the lower hitch arms 25. Thus each bracket includes a clevis with a transverse shaft 37 supporting a centrally mounted ball 38 carried on the cup at the end 29.
The upper hitch arm 30 is connected to a tower 39 which stands ~ ' : . , : . ; ! i~' ' ;
upwardly from the top of the beam and includes a transverse pin 40 connected to the end coupling of the upper hitch arm.
The beam further includes a depending arm 41 located at an end of the arm remote from the three point hitch.
The arm 41 comprises a simple rigid beam welded to the end of the beam 34 at a fixed angle thereto. The arm thus lies in a plane at right angles to the end of the beam and extends from the beam 34 downwardly toward the ground and in a direction toward the axis 15. At the lower end of the arm 41 is mounted a fixed axle 42 extending outwardly therefrom generally parallel to the beam 34. On the axis is mounted a ground wheel 43 lying parallel to the arm 41 and thus rotating about the axle 42.
The swather frame beam 19 is mounted on the beam 34 by lower support elements 44 and 45 and a central coupling 46.
In general terms the operation of the adaptor in raising and lowering the implement frame is schematically illustrated in Figure 3. In this figure for schematic purposes the lower lift arms are illustrated as a single straight line at a first position at 25A and at a second position in dotted line at 25B. The upper hitch arm is indicated as a straight line in a first position at 30A and at a second position in dash line at 30B. The arm is indicated at a first position 41A
.
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2~67911 and at a second position at 41B. The ground wheel 43 is illustrated at a first position at 43 and at a second position in dash line 43B. From comparison of the position shown in full line and in dash line, as the adaptor is raised by the lifting action of the lower hitch arms, the adaptor is also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the beam 34. This rotational movement is obtained by the raised angle of the upper hitch arm 30 relative to the plane of the lower hitch arms and also in view of the length of the upper hitch arm.
This rotation of the beam causes rotation of the arm 41 from the position shown in line 41A to a position shown in dash line 41B carrying with it the axle and wheel 43. This rotation causes the axle and wheel to move downwardly and forwardly due to the angle of the arm 41 from the beam 34.
The angles of the various elements are selected and arranged so that the distance of lifting movement of the beam 34 as it moves from position 34A to position 34B is equal to the amount of downward movement of the wheel and axle relative to the beam so that the movement of the axle lies on a horizontal line and the beam is maintained at a constant height along its length.
It will be appreciated that levelling of the beam 34 in its height at the different positions along its length can be accomodated by adjustment of the length of the upper ,.`:
", 2~67911 hitch arm. Thus the adjustment of the adaptor for initial attachment to a three point hitch assembly, the configuration of which will vary depending upon the manufacturer, can be obtained by the adjustment of the length of the upper hitch arm since this adjustment acts to rotate the beam about its longitudinal axis causing the ground wheel to be raised and lowered relative to the height of the beam so that the remote end of the beam at the ground wheel is either raised or lowered in accordance with requirements.
The length of the arm 41 is related to the diameter of the ground wheel selected and these parameters are arranged so that the axle of the ground wheel is located in or approximately in the vertical plane of the axis 15 which is the axis of rotation of the adjacent ground wheels of the tractor.
This positioning of the axle of the ground wheel 43 prevents scrubbing of the ground wheel as the tractor is steered.
Turning now to the more detailed views shown in Figures 4 and 5, the construction of the bracket 35 and 36 and the tower 39 are shown in more detail. In particular it will be noted that the bracket 35 is provided as part of the lower support member 45 of the implement. Thus the combined structure includes a pair of depending side walls 35A and 35B
which carry between them a shaft 37 on which is mounted the ball 38. The support member 45 includes a further depending .,.. ,". ~,~.. . .
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element 50 which includes a bracket 51 at a lower end thereof which is pivotally connected to an outwardly extending support arm 52. The support arm is supported by tension springs 53 the upper end of each of which is attached to a bracket 54 carried upon the upper part of the support member 45. The springs 53 thus provide a float action so that the implement can float upwardly on engagement with the ground and is maintained at a required height by a chain 54 connected again between the arm 52 and the upper part of the support member 45.
10It will be noted that the tower 39 is mounted to the beam 34 on three sleeves 55,56, and 57 welded to the front and rear sides respectively of the beam. The tower thus includes a base flange which is bolted onto the sleeves by bolts passing along the length of the sleeves. The tower can ; thus be moved from a first position on the beam to a second position generally indicated at 39A on the beam spaced longitudinally of the beam.
Similarly the bracket 36 is bolted to the beam on sleeves 58 and 59. Thus again the bracket can be moved from one place to another along the length of the beam. The bracket being provided as part of the support member for the implement remains fixed at a welded element but can be used either with the bracket 36 as shown or with the bracket 36 when moved to another place on the beam to shift the three point "
hitch longitudinally of the beam. A second bracket generally indicated at 60 is mounted on the beam by welding at a fixed position and this can again be selected for use with another movable bracket or with another fixed bracket depending upon requirements.
In this way the user can select the position of the three point hitch relative to the beam either to accomodate different types of implements or more particularly in the case of the swather frame as shown to enable the tractor to be moved relative to the width of the swather frame to enable the opening 24 to be located at different positions along the length of the swather without the tractor which follows and pushes the frame interfering with the laid swath.
In a position shown in Figure 2, the tractor is moved wholly to one end of the beam so that the opening 24 is , available on one side of the tractor. In addition the tractor can be moved toward the right using moved brackets or other ones of the fixed brackets to accomodate an opening at different locations than shown.
The adaptor as described above, therefore, allows a simple adaptation of an existing tractor preferably of the reversible type so that it is usable for propelling a swather header without necessity for the farmer to purchase a tractor unit dedicated to the swather header.
:
2~67911 In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the ground wheel and arm can be directly mounted on an implement to be supported withotu an intervening adaptor member. The ground wheel thus provides the same effect as described above of supporting the implement at a required height and adjusting the height simply by actuation of the three point hitch lifting mechanism.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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One type of tractor used with an arrangement of this type is that known as a Versatile Bidirectional Tractor manufactured by Ford-New Holland (now owned by FIAT) which shows a brochure for this product a support wheel spaced outwardly from the tractor which can be raised and lowred hydraulically. In addition, HoneyBee Manufacturing Ltd.
manufacture a swathewr table shown in a brochure which includes a hydraulically raised support wheel of this type.
A yet further arrangement commonly used in the prior art involves the provision of a guage wheel on the implement so that as the implement is lowered to the ground, the guage wheel runs upon the ground to support the implement partially. Generally the guage wheel is set at a required height and then is simply lifted away from the ground when the implement is lifted by the three point hitch to a transport position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
:
- :
: - .
~, ` \` 2067911 It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved arrangement for mountinq an implement on the three point hitch of a tractor.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for mounting an implement on the three point hitch of a tractor in which the adaptor includes a ground wheel positioned relative to the tractor to avoid a scrubbing action of the ground wheel on the ground as the tractor is steered.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for attachment of an implement to the three point hitch of a tractor in which the graund wheel support arrangement is mounted so that the longitudinal beam is automatically raised by the ground wheel as it is lifted by the three point hitch without the necessity for a separate hydraulic action at the ground wheel.
According to the invention therefore the arrangement includes an adaptor generally comprising an elongate beam which is mounted upon the three point hitch of the tractor adjacent one end and includes a ground wheel mounted upon an arm at an opposed end of the beam. The arm extends downwardly and toward a vertical plane containing the horizontal axis of the adjacent wheels of the tractor so that the axle of the ground wheel lies substantially in that ~ 2067911 vertical plane to avoid a scrubbing action during steering. In addition the action of the three point hitch is arranged relative to the position of the arm so that as the three point hitch raises the beam, it also twists the beam causing the arm and the ground wheel to lift the beam at the adjacent end of the beam by an amount equal to the lifting action of the three point hitch.
One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of tractor, adaptor and implement according to the present invention, the cross sectional view being taken along the lines 1-1 of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the combination of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration showing the movement of the three point hitch, the beam of the adaptor and the arm and ground wheel of the adaptor in the lifting action.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through the adaptor perse taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 5.
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the adaptor perse.
In the drawings like characters of reference ,, ~ ` . ` !~' ., ' . ' '/ ' ; ` , ' ' ". . ` ~ `
:. ~ i ' ,, ` ' `',' `
indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
.
The combination shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a tractor generally indicated at 10 which is shown only schematically but is preferably of the type which is reversible so that it can be driven in either direction with the three point hitch arrangement generally indicated at 11 mounted either at the front of the tractor or at the rear of the tractor depending upon the direction of operation. One example of this type of tractor known as the Versatile Bidirectional is manufactured by Ford-New Holland (now owned by FIAT) and this example includes an articulated steering arrangement generally indicated at 12. The tractor includes a first pair of wheels 13 mounted upon an axle 14 providing rotation of the first pair about an axis indicated in dash line at 15. The tractor further includes a tractor body schematically indicated at 16, the details of which are not shown as these are well known to one skilled in the art and can be readily determined by an inspection of the above example of tractor.
The combination further includes the three point hitch 11 of the tractor, an adaptor generally indicated at 17 and an implement generally indicated at 18.
In the example shown the implement comprises a ,: - ~ .: - . .
; . . , : :
:~ :
swather, however other implement types can be used in the combination of the present invention. In general terms the implement is of the type which extends outwardly to either side of the tractor and requires sufficient support so that the three point hitch of the tractor is insufficient to provide that support. Such implements might include cultivators, seeders and the like. However the present invention is particularly designed for use with the swather frame 18 in which there is provided a floating action between the frame or header 18 and the adaptor 17.
The implement or header 18 is shown only schematically and comprises a main longitudinal frame beam 19, a plurality of downwardly and forwardly extending struts 20 - which provide support for a cutting knife arrangement 21 across a front edge of the frame and a pair of drapers 22 and 23 which carry the cut crop to an opening 24 for discharge of the cut crop into a swath or windrow. The details of this device are shown only schematically as of course they are well known to one skilled in the art. It is also well known that one or both of the drapers can be moved longitudinally of the frame so that the opening is moved from the centre position as shown to one end of the frame with the drapers being driven in the required direction to move the crop to the opening.
The three point hitch 11 comprises a pair of . . , .,~ , , . " .
lower hitch arms 25 each of which has an inboard end pivotally mounted on the tractor frame 16 for pivotal movement about a pin 26. A hydraulic cylinder 27 is coupled from a beam 28 of the frame downwardly to the lower hitch arm and is operable to raise and lower the lower hitch arm about the pivot pin 26.
Each of the lower hitch arms can therefore be raised and lowered simultaneously about a common horizontal axis defined by the pins 26. The outboard end 29 of each of the lower hitch arms extends outwardly beyond the adjacent end of the tractor and includes a cup element for receiving a ball provided on the adaptor for support of the adaptor on the lower hitch arms.
The three point hitch further includes an upper hitch arm 30 which extends from a pivot pin 31 at the inboard end of the upper hitch arm mounted on the frame 16 to a coupling 32 at an outboard end of the upper hitch arm for connection to a tower on the adaptor. The upper hitch arm is of shorter length than the lower hitch arms and the pivot pin 31 is at a position raised from the pivot pins 26. The length of the upper hitch arm can be adjusted for adjustment of the position of the adaptor on the lower hitch arms. In the example shown the length adjustment is provided by a turnbuckle arrangement 33, but other techniques can be used.
In conventional operation of a three point hitch arrangement, the upper hitch arm is adjusted and arranged preferentially so that it lies as close as possible to parallel to the lower hitch arms. Thus a lifting action of the lower hitch arms, the implement attached thereto and the upper hitch arm generally occurs without twisting the implement in a parallelogram linkage arrangement.
However in the present arrangement, the upper hitch arm is arranged at a significantly increased angle relative to the lower hitch arms. Thus as shown the lower hitch arms lie generally in the horizontal plane and the upper hitch arm is inclined upwardly and rearwardly at an angle of the order of 30. As viewed in plan, the lower hitch arms diverge outwardly from the relatively narrow width at the inboard end to a wider width at the outboard end to provide a more stable support for the adaptor.
- The adaptor itself comprises a simple elongate main beam 34. The beam is formed of rectangular tube of sufficient dimension to provide a structural strength to transmit the loads involved as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The beam includes a pair of depending brackets 35 and 36 each for engaging and receiving a respective one of the outboard ends 29 of the lower hitch arms 25. Thus each bracket includes a clevis with a transverse shaft 37 supporting a centrally mounted ball 38 carried on the cup at the end 29.
The upper hitch arm 30 is connected to a tower 39 which stands ~ ' : . , : . ; ! i~' ' ;
upwardly from the top of the beam and includes a transverse pin 40 connected to the end coupling of the upper hitch arm.
The beam further includes a depending arm 41 located at an end of the arm remote from the three point hitch.
The arm 41 comprises a simple rigid beam welded to the end of the beam 34 at a fixed angle thereto. The arm thus lies in a plane at right angles to the end of the beam and extends from the beam 34 downwardly toward the ground and in a direction toward the axis 15. At the lower end of the arm 41 is mounted a fixed axle 42 extending outwardly therefrom generally parallel to the beam 34. On the axis is mounted a ground wheel 43 lying parallel to the arm 41 and thus rotating about the axle 42.
The swather frame beam 19 is mounted on the beam 34 by lower support elements 44 and 45 and a central coupling 46.
In general terms the operation of the adaptor in raising and lowering the implement frame is schematically illustrated in Figure 3. In this figure for schematic purposes the lower lift arms are illustrated as a single straight line at a first position at 25A and at a second position in dotted line at 25B. The upper hitch arm is indicated as a straight line in a first position at 30A and at a second position in dash line at 30B. The arm is indicated at a first position 41A
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2~67911 and at a second position at 41B. The ground wheel 43 is illustrated at a first position at 43 and at a second position in dash line 43B. From comparison of the position shown in full line and in dash line, as the adaptor is raised by the lifting action of the lower hitch arms, the adaptor is also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the beam 34. This rotational movement is obtained by the raised angle of the upper hitch arm 30 relative to the plane of the lower hitch arms and also in view of the length of the upper hitch arm.
This rotation of the beam causes rotation of the arm 41 from the position shown in line 41A to a position shown in dash line 41B carrying with it the axle and wheel 43. This rotation causes the axle and wheel to move downwardly and forwardly due to the angle of the arm 41 from the beam 34.
The angles of the various elements are selected and arranged so that the distance of lifting movement of the beam 34 as it moves from position 34A to position 34B is equal to the amount of downward movement of the wheel and axle relative to the beam so that the movement of the axle lies on a horizontal line and the beam is maintained at a constant height along its length.
It will be appreciated that levelling of the beam 34 in its height at the different positions along its length can be accomodated by adjustment of the length of the upper ,.`:
", 2~67911 hitch arm. Thus the adjustment of the adaptor for initial attachment to a three point hitch assembly, the configuration of which will vary depending upon the manufacturer, can be obtained by the adjustment of the length of the upper hitch arm since this adjustment acts to rotate the beam about its longitudinal axis causing the ground wheel to be raised and lowered relative to the height of the beam so that the remote end of the beam at the ground wheel is either raised or lowered in accordance with requirements.
The length of the arm 41 is related to the diameter of the ground wheel selected and these parameters are arranged so that the axle of the ground wheel is located in or approximately in the vertical plane of the axis 15 which is the axis of rotation of the adjacent ground wheels of the tractor.
This positioning of the axle of the ground wheel 43 prevents scrubbing of the ground wheel as the tractor is steered.
Turning now to the more detailed views shown in Figures 4 and 5, the construction of the bracket 35 and 36 and the tower 39 are shown in more detail. In particular it will be noted that the bracket 35 is provided as part of the lower support member 45 of the implement. Thus the combined structure includes a pair of depending side walls 35A and 35B
which carry between them a shaft 37 on which is mounted the ball 38. The support member 45 includes a further depending .,.. ,". ~,~.. . .
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- , ::
:. , . : :
element 50 which includes a bracket 51 at a lower end thereof which is pivotally connected to an outwardly extending support arm 52. The support arm is supported by tension springs 53 the upper end of each of which is attached to a bracket 54 carried upon the upper part of the support member 45. The springs 53 thus provide a float action so that the implement can float upwardly on engagement with the ground and is maintained at a required height by a chain 54 connected again between the arm 52 and the upper part of the support member 45.
10It will be noted that the tower 39 is mounted to the beam 34 on three sleeves 55,56, and 57 welded to the front and rear sides respectively of the beam. The tower thus includes a base flange which is bolted onto the sleeves by bolts passing along the length of the sleeves. The tower can ; thus be moved from a first position on the beam to a second position generally indicated at 39A on the beam spaced longitudinally of the beam.
Similarly the bracket 36 is bolted to the beam on sleeves 58 and 59. Thus again the bracket can be moved from one place to another along the length of the beam. The bracket being provided as part of the support member for the implement remains fixed at a welded element but can be used either with the bracket 36 as shown or with the bracket 36 when moved to another place on the beam to shift the three point "
hitch longitudinally of the beam. A second bracket generally indicated at 60 is mounted on the beam by welding at a fixed position and this can again be selected for use with another movable bracket or with another fixed bracket depending upon requirements.
In this way the user can select the position of the three point hitch relative to the beam either to accomodate different types of implements or more particularly in the case of the swather frame as shown to enable the tractor to be moved relative to the width of the swather frame to enable the opening 24 to be located at different positions along the length of the swather without the tractor which follows and pushes the frame interfering with the laid swath.
In a position shown in Figure 2, the tractor is moved wholly to one end of the beam so that the opening 24 is , available on one side of the tractor. In addition the tractor can be moved toward the right using moved brackets or other ones of the fixed brackets to accomodate an opening at different locations than shown.
The adaptor as described above, therefore, allows a simple adaptation of an existing tractor preferably of the reversible type so that it is usable for propelling a swather header without necessity for the farmer to purchase a tractor unit dedicated to the swather header.
:
2~67911 In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the ground wheel and arm can be directly mounted on an implement to be supported withotu an intervening adaptor member. The ground wheel thus provides the same effect as described above of supporting the implement at a required height and adjusting the height simply by actuation of the three point hitch lifting mechanism.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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Claims (24)
1. An agricultural implement combination comprising a tractor having a tractor body, first ground wheels arranged as a pair for rotation about a common horizontal wheel axis transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tractor at one end of the tractor body and second ground wheel means spaced longitudinally of the tractor body from the wheel axis for movement of the tractor across ground to be operated upon;
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
an agricultural implement having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the implement having means thereon for effecting an agricultural operation on the ground as the tractor is moved across the ground:
and support means connected to the three point hitch and arranged to provide said support for the implement, said support means comprising an elongate horizontal structural member extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, a support ground wheel having a support wheel axle about which the support ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the support wheel axle on the structural member at a fixed position relative to the structural member, the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the adaptor wheel axle downwardly and in a direction toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis.
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
an agricultural implement having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the implement having means thereon for effecting an agricultural operation on the ground as the tractor is moved across the ground:
and support means connected to the three point hitch and arranged to provide said support for the implement, said support means comprising an elongate horizontal structural member extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, a support ground wheel having a support wheel axle about which the support ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the support wheel axle on the structural member at a fixed position relative to the structural member, the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the adaptor wheel axle downwardly and in a direction toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis.
2. The combination according to Claim 1 wherein said upper hitch arm is arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm and the structural member, the structural member, the arm and the support wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member.
3. The combination according to Claim 2 wherein the angle of rotation of the structural member, the arm and the support wheel axle about said longitudinal axis is arranged such that the support wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to the distance of lifting movement of the structural member.
4. The combination according to Claim 1 wherein the length of the arm and the diameter of the support ground wheel are arranged relative to the length of the lower hitch arm such that the support wheel axle lies substantially in said vertical plane containing the wheel axis.
5. The combination according to Claim 1 wherein the structural member comprises an elongate beam and wherein the first connecting means comprises a pair of brackets each mounted on the beam and depending downwardly from the beam, and wherein the second connecting means comprises a tower member mounted on the beam and extending upwardly from the beam at a position intermediate the brackets.
6. The combination according to Claim 5 wherein the beam includes a plurality of connecting members at spaced positions along the length of the beam and arranged for selective connection to the brackets and to the tower so as to allow positioning of the tower and the brackets at one of a plurality of selective positions along the length of the beam.
7. The combination according to Claim 1 wherein the support ground wheel and the arm are mounted at one end of the structural member.
8. The combination according to Claim 1 wherein the support means comprises an adaptor member separate from the implement and including means for attachment to a frame of the implement.
9. An agricultural implement combination comprising a tractor having a tractor body, first ground wheels arranged as a pair for rotation about a common horizontal wheel axis transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tractor at one end of the tractor body and second ground wheel means spaced longitudinally of the tractor body from the wheel axis for movement of the tractor across ground to be operated upon;
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
an agricultural implement having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the implement having means thereon for effecting an agricultural operation on the ground as the tractor is moved across the ground;
and support means connected to the three point hitch and arranged to provide said support for the implement, said support means comprising an elongate horizontal structural member extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, a support ground wheel having an adaptor wheel axle about which the support ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the support wheel axle on the structural member the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the support wheel axle downwardly and in a direction toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis, said upper hitch arm being arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm and the structural member through a selected distance of lifting movement, the structural member, the arm and the support wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member, with the angle of rotation being arranged such that the support wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to said selected distance of lifting movement of the structural member, to maintain said wheel in contact with the ground and said structural member level to the ground along its length.
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
an agricultural implement having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the implement having means thereon for effecting an agricultural operation on the ground as the tractor is moved across the ground;
and support means connected to the three point hitch and arranged to provide said support for the implement, said support means comprising an elongate horizontal structural member extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, a support ground wheel having an adaptor wheel axle about which the support ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the support wheel axle on the structural member the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the support wheel axle downwardly and in a direction toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis, said upper hitch arm being arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm and the structural member through a selected distance of lifting movement, the structural member, the arm and the support wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member, with the angle of rotation being arranged such that the support wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to said selected distance of lifting movement of the structural member, to maintain said wheel in contact with the ground and said structural member level to the ground along its length.
10. The combination according to Claim 9 wherein the length of the arm and the diameter of the support ground wheel are arranged relative to the length of the lower hitch arm such that the support wheel axle lies substantially in said vertical plane containing the wheel axis.
11. The combination according to Claim 9 wherein the structural member comprises an elongate beam and wherein the first connecting means comprises a pair of brackets each mounted on the beam and depending downwardly from the beam, and wherein the second connecting means comprises a tower member mounted on the beam and extending upwardly from the beam at a position intermediate the brackets.
12. The combination according to Claim 11 wherein the beam includes a plurality of connecting members at spaced positions along the length of the beam and arranged for selective connection to the brackets and to the tower so as to allow positioning of the tower and the brackets at one of a plurality of selective positions along the length of the beam.
13. The combination according to Claim 9 wherein the support ground wheel and the arm are mounted at one end of the structural member.
14. The combination according to Claim 9 wherein the support means comprises an adaptor member separate from the implement and including means for attachment to a frame of the implement.
15. A swather and tractor combination comprising a tractor having a tractor body, first ground wheels arranged as a pair for rotation about a common horizontal wheel axis transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tractor at one end of the tractor body and second ground wheel means spaced longitudinally of the tractor body from the wheel axis for movement of the tractor across ground to be operated upon;
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
a swather comprising a swather frame having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the frame having a cutting knife thereon for cutting a standing crop and a transport assembly for moving the cut crop to a discharge opening on the frame as the tractor is moved across the ground;
and an adaptor member connected to the three point hitch and arranged to provide said support for the swather frame, said adaptor member comprising an elongate horizontal structural member extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, swather mounting means mounting the swather frame on the structural member for providing said support therefor, said swather mounting means comprising arm means projecting from the structural member to the swather frame and spring means positioning a floating action of the swather frame on the structural member, an adaptor ground wheel having an adaptor wheel axle about which the adaptor ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the adaptor wheel axle on the structural member the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the adaptor wheel axle downwardly and in a direction toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis, said upper hitch arm being arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm the structural member and the swather frame through a selected distance of lifting movement, the structural member, the arm and the adaptor wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member, with the angle of rotation being arranged such that the adaptor wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to said selected distance of lifting movement of the structural member, to maintain said wheel in contact with the ground and said structural member and swather frame level to the ground along its length, said means for lifting said lower hitch arms providing means for adjusting the height of the cutting knife from the ground.
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
a swather comprising a swather frame having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the frame having a cutting knife thereon for cutting a standing crop and a transport assembly for moving the cut crop to a discharge opening on the frame as the tractor is moved across the ground;
and an adaptor member connected to the three point hitch and arranged to provide said support for the swather frame, said adaptor member comprising an elongate horizontal structural member extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, swather mounting means mounting the swather frame on the structural member for providing said support therefor, said swather mounting means comprising arm means projecting from the structural member to the swather frame and spring means positioning a floating action of the swather frame on the structural member, an adaptor ground wheel having an adaptor wheel axle about which the adaptor ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the adaptor wheel axle on the structural member the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the adaptor wheel axle downwardly and in a direction toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis, said upper hitch arm being arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm the structural member and the swather frame through a selected distance of lifting movement, the structural member, the arm and the adaptor wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member, with the angle of rotation being arranged such that the adaptor wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to said selected distance of lifting movement of the structural member, to maintain said wheel in contact with the ground and said structural member and swather frame level to the ground along its length, said means for lifting said lower hitch arms providing means for adjusting the height of the cutting knife from the ground.
16. The combination according to Claim 15 wherein the length of the arm and the diameter of the adaptor ground wheel are arranged at relative to the length of the lower hitch arm such that the adaptor wheel axle lies substantially in said vertical plane containing the wheel axis.
17. The combination according to Claim 15 wherein the structural member comprises an elongate beam and wherein the first connecting means comprises a pair of brackets each mounted on the beam and depending downwardly from the beam, and wherein the second connecting means comprises a tower member mounted on the beam and extending upwardly from the beam at a position intermediate the brackets.
18. The combination according to Claim 17 wherein the beam includes a plurality of connecting members at spaced positions along the length of the beam and arranged for selective connection to the brackets and to the tower so as to allow positioning of the tower and the brackets at one of a plurality of selective positions along the length of the beam.
19. The combination according to Claim 15 wherein the adaptor ground wheel and the arm are mounted at one end of the structural member.
20. An adaptor assembly for mounting an elongate agricultural implement on the three point hitch of a tractor, the tractor having a tractor body, first ground wheels arranged as a pair for rotation about a common horizontal wheel axis transverse to a longitudinal direction of the tractor at one end of the tractor body and second ground wheel means spaced longitudinally of the tractor body from the wheel axis for movement of the tractor across ground to be operated upon;
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
the agricultural implement comprising an implement frame having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the frame having means thereton for effecting an agricultural operation on the ground as the tractor is moved across the ground;
said adaptor assembly comprising an elongate horizontal structural member for extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means for connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means for connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, implement mounting means for mounting the implement frame on the structural member for providing said support therefor, an adaptor ground wheel having an adaptor wheel axle about which the adaptor ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the adaptor wheel axle on the structural member the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position such that in use it extends outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the adaptor wheel axle downwardly and in a direction such that in use it extends toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis, said second connecting the arm being arranged such that in use the upper hitch arm arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm and the structural member through a selected distance of lifting movement, the structural member, the arm and the adaptor wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member, with the angle of rotation being arranged such that the adaptor wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to said selected distance of lifting movement of the structural member, to maintain said wheel in contact with the ground and said structural member level to the ground along its length.
a three point hitch mounted on the tractor body at said one end so as to project outwardly from said wheel axis in said longitudinal direction and comprising a pair of lower hitch arms spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, each having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis common to both of said lower hitch arms and parallel to the wheel axis, an upper hitch arm having an inboard end thereof connected to the tractor body for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to said wheel axis and at a height above said first horizontal axis, means for raising and lowering said lower hitch arms about said first horizontal axis and means for increasing and decreasing an effective length of the upper hitch arm;
the agricultural implement comprising an implement frame having a width greater than that of the tractor so as to require support at positions outwardly of the sides of the tractor, the frame having means thereton for effecting an agricultural operation on the ground as the tractor is moved across the ground;
said adaptor assembly comprising an elongate horizontal structural member for extending across said one end of the tractor generally parallel to said wheel axis, first connecting means for connecting outboard ends of said lower hitch arms to said structural member at positions thereon spaced transversely of said longitudinal direction, second connecting means for connecting an outboard end of the upper hitch arm to the structural member, said second connecting means being arranged at a height on the structural member above that of the first connecting means, implement mounting means for mounting the implement frame on the structural member for providing said support therefor, an adaptor ground wheel having an adaptor wheel axle about which the adaptor ground wheel rotates and arm means mounting the adaptor wheel axle on the structural member the arm being mounted on the structural member at a position such that in use it extends outwardly beyond one side of said first ground wheels so as to provide support of the structural member relative to the ground at an end of the structural member outwardly beyond one side of the tractor, the arm means extending from the structural member to the adaptor wheel axle downwardly and in a direction such that in use it extends toward a vertical plane containing said wheel axis, said second connecting the arm being arranged such that in use the upper hitch arm arranged at a raised angle relative to a plane containing said lower hitch arms such that, as the lower hitch arms are raised causing a lifting movement of the upper hitch arm and the structural member through a selected distance of lifting movement, the structural member, the arm and the adaptor wheel axle are also rotated about an axis longitudinal of the structural member, with the angle of rotation being arranged such that the adaptor wheel axle is moved downwardly relative to the structural member by a distance substantially equal to said selected distance of lifting movement of the structural member, to maintain said wheel in contact with the ground and said structural member level to the ground along its length.
21. The asembly according to Claim 20 wherein the length of the arm and the diameter of the adaptor ground wheel are arranged at relative to the length of the lower hitch arm such that in use the adaptor wheel axis lies substantially in said vertical plane containing the wheel axis.
22. The assembly according to Claim 20 wherein the structural member comprises an elongate beam and wherein the first connecting means comprises a pair of brackets each mounted on the beam and depending downwardly from the beam, and wherein the second connecting means comprises a tower member mounted on the beam and extending upwardly from the beam at a position intermediate the brackets.
23. The assembly according to Claim 22 wherein the beam includes a plurality of connecting members at spaced positions along the length of the beam and arranged for selective connection to the brackets and to the tower so as to allow positioning of the tower and the brackets at one of a plurality of selective positions along the length of the beam.
24. The assembly according to Claim 20 wherein the adaptor ground wheel and the arm are mounted at one end of the structural member.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2067911 CA2067911A1 (en) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-05-01 | Adaptor for attachment of an agricultural implement to a three point hitch of a tractor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2067911 CA2067911A1 (en) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-05-01 | Adaptor for attachment of an agricultural implement to a three point hitch of a tractor |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2067911A1 true CA2067911A1 (en) | 1993-11-02 |
Family
ID=4149766
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2067911 Abandoned CA2067911A1 (en) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-05-01 | Adaptor for attachment of an agricultural implement to a three point hitch of a tractor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2067911A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU2377750C2 (en) * | 2007-07-09 | 2010-01-10 | Казанский государственный аграрный университет | Attachment mechanism load stabiliser |
-
1992
- 1992-05-01 CA CA 2067911 patent/CA2067911A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU2377750C2 (en) * | 2007-07-09 | 2010-01-10 | Казанский государственный аграрный университет | Attachment mechanism load stabiliser |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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