CA2417428A1 - Offset hitch for mowing machines - Google Patents

Offset hitch for mowing machines Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2417428A1
CA2417428A1 CA 2417428 CA2417428A CA2417428A1 CA 2417428 A1 CA2417428 A1 CA 2417428A1 CA 2417428 CA2417428 CA 2417428 CA 2417428 A CA2417428 A CA 2417428A CA 2417428 A1 CA2417428 A1 CA 2417428A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
mower
hitch
caster
swing
walking
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
Application number
CA 2417428
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David R. Hundeby
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2417428 priority Critical patent/CA2417428A1/en
Publication of CA2417428A1 publication Critical patent/CA2417428A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01DHARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D34/00Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
    • A01D34/835Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters specially adapted for particular purposes
    • A01D34/86Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters specially adapted for particular purposes for use on sloping ground, e.g. on embankments or in ditches
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01BSOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
    • A01B49/00Combined machines
    • A01B49/04Combinations of soil-working tools with non-soil-working tools, e.g. planting tools
    • A01B49/06Combinations of soil-working tools with non-soil-working tools, e.g. planting tools for sowing or fertilising
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01BSOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
    • A01B59/00Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements
    • A01B59/04Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements for machines pulled or pushed by a tractor
    • A01B59/042Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements for machines pulled or pushed by a tractor having pulling means arranged on the rear part of the tractor

Abstract

The swing mower is a mower with a walking-caster-hitch that allows mowing in the ditch adjacent to the road while leaving the tractor to operate up on the road surface. The walking-caster-hitch of the swing mower also allows mowing with the tractor directly ahead of the centerline of the mower. In addition, the walking-caster-hitch can be rotated through the whole range of motion while mowing under full power. The walking-caster-hitch is simple and eliminates the need for any additional costly constant-velocity universal joints and gearboxes. The swing mower may be equipped with a sensor out in front of the mower to sense obstacles such as signposts and then swing the walking-caster-hitch so that the mower clears the obstacle automatically. The walking-caster-hitch typically utilizes a single caster wheel. In addition, two or more swing mowers equipped with the walking-caster-hitches can be pulled behind one tractor.

Description

__. , _.~~.~....___.. _. __ .
_ _. _...._~ ~_..__...~_ _..... --'~ 02417428 2003-O1-20 ~~ ,. --~--~ _ OFFSET HITCH FOR MOWING MACHINE
The invention relates to a towed mower with a walking-caster-hitch. The walking-caster-hitch allows the tractor to he outside of the mowing area, on centerline with the mowing area or anywhere in between these two tractor positions. In addition, the walking-caster-hitch allows more than one swing mower to be towed behind one tractor.
BACKGROUND OF THE tNVENTtON
Rotary mowers, disc mowers and flail mowers are available as pull-type mowers.
These mowers are typically used for cutting highway rights-of way and for cutting hay for livestock. Often the ditches are quite steep and it is dangerous to have the tractor operate on the steep side slope of the ditch. With existing mowers, the tractor is typically attached to the front of the mower and on the centerline of the mower. This often requires operating the tractor on the steep side slopes of the ditch.
Recently, offset hitches have been developed where a standard, centerline hitch mower is attached to the rear of one side of the offset hitch and a tractor is attached to the front of the other side of the offset hitch. The offset hitches are typically supported with two wheels. The hitches typica!!y have a combination of gearboxes and constant-velocity ~!-joints to transmit the power-take-off power. In addition, when the offsef hitch is utilized, the tractor must operate off to the side of the mower and the mower cannot be operated with the tractor on the centerline of the mower.
U'Jith current technology, the operator is required to maneuver around obstacles. This Bray result in the mower leaving an unnecessary amount of uncut grass around the obstacle or it may mean that the obstacle is struck by the mower resulting in damage to the obstacle, the mower or both.
~nly one pull-type mower is typically pulled behind one tractor. This involves significant labor costs for the mowing operation.
5~111~MAFtY OF THE 1NVENTIt~N
The swing mower is a mower with a walking-caster-hitch that allows mowing in the ditch adjacent to the road while leaving the tractor to operate up an the road surface. The walking-caster-hitch of the swing mower also allows mowing with the tractor directly ahead of the centerline of the mower. In addition, the walking-caster-hitch can be rotated through the whole range of motion while mowing under full power. The walking-caster-hitch is simple and eliminates the need for any additional costly constant-velocity universal joints and gearboxes. The swing mower may be equipped with a sensor out in front of the mower to sense obstacles such as sign posts and then swing the hitch so that the mower clears the obstacle automatically. The walking-caster-hitch typically utilizes a single caster wheel.
In addition, two or more swing mowers equipped with the walking--~~aaster-hitch can be pulled behind one tractor.
In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a top view of a swing mower operating with the tractor completely outside of the mower cutting width Fig. 2 is a top view of a swing mower operating with the tractor partially outside of the mower cutting width Fig. 3 is a top view of a swing mower operating with the tractor on the centerline of the mower cutting width Fig. ~ is a top view of a swing mower in transport position Fig. ~ is a fop view of an alternate version of the swing mov~rer~ without the raise-lower hitch fink Fig. 6 is a side view of the caster wheel support of the alternate version of the swing mower shown in Fig. 5 Fig. T is a top view of two swing mowers towed behind one tractor9 in a mowing position with the tractor operating completely outside of the mower cutting widths.
I=ig. ~ is a top view of two swing mowers towed behind one tractor, in a mowing position with the tractor operating partially outside of the mower cutting widths.
Fig. 7 is a top view of two swing rnowers towed behind one tu~actor, in a mowing position with the tractor operating approximately on the centerline of the front mower.
Fig. 7 is a top view of two swing rrryowers towed behind one tractor, in transport position.
~ETAILEI~ IJESCRIPTI~N QF THE IN~JENTI~N
in a particularly advantageaus embodiment of the invention illustrated walking«caster-hitch assembly 10 is pivotally attached to the front of a pull-type mower 13 with a horizontal pivot axis 9 that is perpendicular to the forward motion of the mower. A
caster wheel 6 is part of the walking-caster-hitch assembly 10 and is offset laterally ~~~ one side of the centerline of the mower 13. The caster wheel ~ is typically located slightly behind the horizontal pivot axis 9. The walking-caster-hitch assembly 1 l~ includes the hitch pole 1 and the cross hitch 5. The hitch pole 1 is laterally offset on the side of the mower 1 ~ opposite the caster wheel 6. The rear of the hitch pole 1 is pivotally attached to the cross hitch ~
with a vertical pivot at the rear hitch pole pivot axis 4 and th,e front of the hitch pole 1 is pivotally attached to the tractor drawbar 3 at the front hitch pole pivot axis 2. The front of the hitch pole 1 may be equipped with a swivel hitch as is cornrnor~ in the industry.
Therefore the front of the mower 1 ~ is supported by a unique walking~caster-hitch which consists of the caster wheel fi to the rear of the horizontal pivot axis g on one side of the centerline of the mower, and the hitch pole 1 attached to the tractor drawbar 3 located ahead of the horizontal pivot axis g and on the other side of the centerline of the mower.
due to the geometry of the walking-caster-hitch, when the swing mower is in normal mowing position most of the weight of the front of the mower is supported by the caster wheel with a small vertical load being carried at the tractor drawbar.
The hitch swing cylinder 7 may be actuated to swing the hitch pole 1 relative to the cross hitch 5. Fig. 1 shows the swing mower operating with the tractor outside of the mower cutting width. Fig. 2 shows the swing mower operated with the tractor partially within the mower cutting width. F'ig. 3 illustrates a swing mower operating with the tractor on the centerline of the mower cutting width and fig. 4 shows a swing mower in transport position.
The forward end of the compression strut i~ is pivotally attached to the hitch pole 1. The rearward end of the compression strut f3 is pivotally attached to the raise-tower hitch link 11, at a point 16 located above the horizontal pivot axis 9. llVhen the swing mower is being operating with the tractor outside of the mower cutting width as shown in fig.l, the compression strut 8 would have very little or no compressive forces. As the hitch pole 1 of the swing mower is moved so that the tractor moves toward the centerline of the mower, the compressive forces in the compression strut 8 increase.
Comps°essive forces in the compression strut 8 are at maximum when the swing mower is in the transport position fig.
4.
~ typical arrangement of the invention on a mower 13 is to have a raise-lower hitch link 11 attached to the front of the mower 18 at horizontal pivot axis 15. As the mower is raised from cutting position to transport position, horizontal pivot axis 15 ~°aises relative to horizontal pivot axis 9. ~1s the horizontal pivot axis 18 rises relative to horizontal pivot axis 9, the connection point 16 moves forward, putting greater force on the Bompression strut 8.
Typically the swing mower would be designed so that when the hitch pole 1 is swung into the transport position as shown in fig.4 and when the mower is raised into transport position, the compressive forces in the compression strut 8 would be sufficient to raise the caster wheel 6 off of the ground. This would be very benefcial as caster wheels easily become unstable when on the ground at high transport speeds.
lllJhen mowing, especially in ditches, it is common to encounter obstacles such as signposts or guard rails. ~ne variation of the invention would be to have an obstacle sensor 12 located on the swing mower. 'This obstacle sensor 1 ~ could be mechanical as illustrated or some sort of electronic, light beam or acoustic sensing device.
Vllhen the obstacle sensor 12 senses an object in the path of the mower 13, the hitch swing cylinder 7 is actuated to swing the mower 13 away from the obstacle. once the obstacle has been cleared, the hitch swing cylinder 7 would be actuated to swing the mower 13 back to its normal mowing position.
UVhen it is desired to pull two swing mowers behind one tractor, the front of the tandem hitch link 1? could be pivotally attached to the front swing mower. The rear of the tandem hitch link 17 is attached to the front of the hitch pole 1 of the rear swing mower as illustrated in figures 7-1 Q. The tandem hitch link could be pivoted using a tandem hitch link swing cylinder 18. This allows the rear swing mower to be offset adequately, for operation in the Butting position, relative to the front swing mower as shown in figures 7 -9. It also allows the Pear Swing mower to be moved toward the centerline of the front swing mower for clearing obstacles and for transport position as shown in fig. 10.

Power-tatce-off drive train components are shown on the figures in light, dashed lines. tt is obvious that the power train required to drive a swing mower is a simple;
mechanical drive system that does not require any additional gearboxes or constant-velocity U
joints other than the units required on a basic mower. tn addition, a simple mechanical drive can be used to drive the rear swing mower in a tandem swing mower arrangement, ELEMENTS NUMBERED ON FIGURES:
1. Hitch pole 2. Front hitch pole pivot axes 3. Tractor drawbar 4. Rear hitch pole pivot axis 5. Cross hitch 6. Caster wheel 7. Hitch swing cylinder 8. Compression strut 9. ~lorixontal pivot axis between cross hitch and raise-lower hitch link 10. iNaiking-caster-hitch assembly 11. Raise-tower hitch fink 12. ~bstacle sensor 13. Puii-type mower 14. Tractor 15. Horizontal pivot axis between mower and raise-lower hitch fink 16. Pivotal connection between compression strut and raise-Power hitch link 17. Tandem hitch fink 18. Tandem hitch fink swing cylinder Prior art:
1. Pearen patent: Canadian #2241162 2. Schutte Fiex-Arm 3. U SA patent #4, 586, 724 David R. Hundeby

Claims (6)

1. Swing mower with a walking-caster-hitch assembly that includes a caster wheel.
The walking-caster-hitch is pivotally attached to the front of the mower with a horizontal pivot axis that is perpendicular to the forward motion of the mower. The majority of the weight of the front of the swing mower is carried on the caster wheel and a lesser portion of the weight of the front of the wring mower is carried on the tractor drawbar. The caster wheel support point is offset laterally and typically located behind the horizontal pivot axis of the walking-caster-hitch. The portion of the walking-caster-hitch assembly that is attached to the tractor drawbar is laterally offset on the side of the mower opposite the caster wheel and the front of the hitch is pivotally attached to the tractor drawbar. Therefore the support points for the walking-caster-hitch are the caster wheel to the rear of the pivot axis on one side of the centerline of the mower and tractor drawbar located ahead of the pivot axis on the other side of the centerline of the mower.
2. Swing mower where the unit is equipped with a sensor to sense obstacles out in front of the mower such as signposts, guard rails, etc. When the obstacle has been sensed, the hitch swing cylinder is actuated to steer the mower around the obstacle and back to the normal mowing position.
3. Swing mower with a walking-caster-hitch assembly where the unit is equipped with a sensor to sense obstacles out in front of the mower such as sign posts, guard rails, etc. When the obstacle has been sensed, the hitch swing cylinder is actuated to steer the mower around the obstacle and back to the normal mowing position.
4. Swing mower with a walking-caster-hitch assemblies where two or more mowers can be towed and operated behind one tractor.
5. Pull type mower where, in mowing position, the front of the unit is at least partially supported by a caster wheel and where, in transport position, the caster wheel is lifted off the ground.
6. Swing mower with a walking-caster-hitch assembly equipped so that the wings over-center for extra safety in transport.
CA 2417428 2003-02-20 2003-02-20 Offset hitch for mowing machines Abandoned CA2417428A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2417428 CA2417428A1 (en) 2003-02-20 2003-02-20 Offset hitch for mowing machines

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2417428 CA2417428A1 (en) 2003-02-20 2003-02-20 Offset hitch for mowing machines

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2417428A1 true CA2417428A1 (en) 2004-08-20

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2417428 Abandoned CA2417428A1 (en) 2003-02-20 2003-02-20 Offset hitch for mowing machines

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2893219A1 (en) * 2005-11-16 2007-05-18 Kuhn Audureau Sa Sa Two-way effort limiter e.g. for tractor-mounted side mower or brush cutter has two hydraulic cylinders connected end-to-end and working in opposite directions

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2893219A1 (en) * 2005-11-16 2007-05-18 Kuhn Audureau Sa Sa Two-way effort limiter e.g. for tractor-mounted side mower or brush cutter has two hydraulic cylinders connected end-to-end and working in opposite directions

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