CA2504073C - Securing device for knock-on earthworking tool - Google Patents
Securing device for knock-on earthworking tool Download PDFInfo
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- CA2504073C CA2504073C CA2504073A CA2504073A CA2504073C CA 2504073 C CA2504073 C CA 2504073C CA 2504073 A CA2504073 A CA 2504073A CA 2504073 A CA2504073 A CA 2504073A CA 2504073 C CA2504073 C CA 2504073C
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- adaptor
- tail portion
- depression
- stem
- spring element
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- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 244000273618 Sphenoclea zeylanica Species 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000003971 tillage Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000639 Spring steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01B—SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
- A01B35/00—Other machines for working soil not specially adapted for working soil on which crops are growing
- A01B35/20—Tools; Details
- A01B35/22—Non-rotating tools; Resilient or flexible mounting of rigid tools
- A01B35/225—Non-rotating tools; Resilient or flexible mounting of rigid tools the tools being adapted to allow the chisel point to be easily fitted or removed from the shank
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Clamps And Clips (AREA)
- Soil Working Implements (AREA)
Abstract
A retainer is disclosed for preventing accidental release of a knock-on earthworking tool from the tine of an agricultural implement. The retainer comprises a tapered adaptor to be secured to the agricultural implement and which is complementary with the hollow stem of the earthworking tool, and further comprises a resilient spring element secured to the upper surface of the adaptor inside a longitudinal depression. The .spring element is integrally formed from a single piece of metal, comprises an anchoring portion which is secured within the longitudinal depression in the adaptor which and a tail portion which catches in an aperture in the stem of the earthworking tool when the stem is wedged over the adaptor in its normal working position, thereby preventing accidental dislodgement of the earthworking tool during use.
Description
SECURING DEVICE FOR KNOCK-ON EARTHWORKING TOOL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to earthworking tools, such as agricultural sweeps, of the type which are held in wedging frictional engagement on the tines of agricultural tillage implements. More particularly, the invention relates to securing devices for preventing accidental release of such earthworking tools from agricultural tillage implements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Agricultural sweeps are employed as earthworking tools in the cultivation of soil. A typical sweep comprises a stem portion which is removably mounted on the tine of an agricultural tillage implement and an earthworking portion attached to the stem which is pulled through the soil.
The earthworking portion typically has an arrowhead shape and comprises a pair of symmetrical wing elements extending rearwardly from a point. An I5 example of an agricultural sweep is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,979,568, issued November 9th, 1999 to Parish.
In the past, agricultural sweeps were typically attached to tillage implements by bolting the stem of the sweep to a tine of the implement, either directly or through an adaptor attached to the tine. Removal of the sweep therefore required the use of wrenches or the like to loosen and/or remove the bolts from the stem of the sweep. As a typical tillage implement would utilize a number of such sweeps, the Tabor involved in mounting and dismounting such sweeps from the implement was considerable.
To overcome these difficulties, knock-on sweeps were developed in which the adaptor or the tine itself is tapered to be complementary with a _2-tapered stem of the sweep. This type of sweep is mounted by striking the tip of the sweep with a hammer to firmly wedge the stem of the sweep over the adaptor or tine. The sweep can then be dismounted by a hammer blow applied at the rear edge of the stem. An example of a knock-on sweep is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,711,378, issued January 27th, 1998 to Yeager.
Due to their ease of installation and removal, knock-on sweeps have become popular and are now widely used by farmers. However, knock-on sweeps are not free from disadvantages. The primary disadvantage with such sweeps is that the frictional grip between the sweep and the adaptor or tine is subject to failure, resulting in accidental release of the sweep.
. To address this problem, many currently available knock-on sweeps, including that disclosed by the above-mentioned Yeager patent, utilize retaining devices to prevent accidental release of the sweep while attempting to preserve the simplified mounting and dismounting feature of knock-on sweeps. The retaining device of Yeager comprises an adaptor onto which the stem of the sweep is wedged in a normal working position. The adaptor has a transverse groove which aligns with rectangular cutouts in the stem of the sweep in the normal working position. A pin is then inserted into the groove and through the cutouts to retain the sweep against accidental release. The pin is also retained against accidental release by a pair of resilient flat springs bolted to the adaptor.
Another retaining device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,289,996 to Parish. The Parish device comprises an adaptor onto which the stem of the sweep is wedged and a spring retainer having an anchoring portion and a tail portion. The anchoring portion is frictionally retained in the countersink of a bolt hole of the adaptor and the tail portion has an upturned end which becomes received in an aperture in the stem of the knock-on sweep.
Another retaining device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,571,884, issued June 3, 2003 to Horvath et al. This device also comprises a wedge-shaped adaptor, having a press button protruding from the upper surface of the adaptor which becomes received in the aperture in the stem of the knock-on sweep. The press button is resiliently mounted in the adaptor and can be pushed out of engagement with the aperture in the sweep when it is desired to dismount the sweep.
One problem with presently-used retaining devices is that they consist of a number of parts, each of which may be prone to failure under the harsh conditions under which agricultural implements are used. The various parts of such retaining devices may also be prone to becoming separated and lost during mounting and dismounting of sweeps. A need therefore exists for a simple, robust device for securing an earthworking tool to a tillage implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing a one-piece device for retaining an earthworking tool on a tine, which typically comprises a curved steel shank, of an agricultural implement.
The retaining device according to the invention is particularly suited for use with an agricultural sweep such as that shown in the above-mentioned Parish patent having an aperture in the stem. The retaining device according to the invention comprises a wedge-shaped adaptor which is bolted onto the tine of an agricultural implement and which becomes received inside the stem portion of the sweep. The upper surface of the adaptor is provided with a spring element which comprises an anchoring portion and a tail portion. The anchoring portion is secured within an elongate depression in the upper surface of the adaptor to prevent separation from the adaptor and the tail portion is partly received in the depression. The tail portion has a free end which protrudes from the depression and which catches in the aperture in the stem when the stem is wedged over the adaptor to its normal working position, thereby preventing accidental dislodgement of the sweep. The sweep is mounted simply by striking its forward end with a hammer until the upturned end of the tail portion catches in the aperture in the stem. The sweep is dismounted by first inserting a tool into the aperture to disengage the tail portion from the aperture and then striking rear edge of the sweep with a hammer to dislodge it from the tine of the implement.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a retainer for releasably securing a knock-on earthworking tool to an agricultural implement. The earthworking tool is of the type comprising an earthworking portion and a hollow stem. The stem has a front wall with an aperture therein and the aperture has a peripheral edge. The retainer comprises: (a) an elongate tapered adaptor complementary with the hollow stem of the earthworking tool, wherein the adaptor has a rear end, a relatively narrower front end, a lower surface and an upper surface provided with an elongate depression extending parallel to an axis of the adaptor; and (b) a resilient spring element comprising an anchoring portion and an elongate tail portion having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tail portion is secured to the anchoring portion and the second end of the tail portion is free. The anchoring portion is secured to the upper surface of the adaptor inside the longitudinal depression and the tail portion extends axially from the anchoring portion along the elongate depression, and the second end of the tail portion protrudes from the elongate depression when the spring element is in an uncompressed state.
When the adaptor is wedged inside the hollow stem of the earthworking tool in a normal working position, with the earthworking portion of the tool extending forwardly of the front end of the adaptor, and with the upper surface of the adaptor directly opposing the front wall of the stem, the anchoring portion of the spring element is axially spaced from the aperture in the stem in a direction toward the front end of the adaptor and the second end of the tail portion is received in the aperture.
The anchoring portion and the tail portion of the spring element are preferably obtusely angled relative to one another and the anchoring portion and the tail portion are preferably integrally formed from a steel blank. More preferably, the anchoring portion is parallel to the upper surface of the adaptor and the tail portion is angled relative to the upper surface of the adaptor, such that a portion of the tail portion proximate the first end is received in the depression and a portion of the tail portion proximate the second end protrudes from the depression in the upper surface of the adaptor when the spring element is in its uncompressed state.
It is preferred that the anchoring portion of the spring element is secured inside the depression by a threaded fastener and that the upper surface of the threaded fastener does not substantially protrude from the depression.
The second end of the tail portion is preferably shaped to conform to the shape of the aperture in the stem, and is preferably rounded.
The elongate depression has a length, width and depth sufficient to permit the entire tail portion to become received inside the depression when the spring element is fully compressed.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the tail portion is generally flat, while in another preferred embodiment the tail portion is convexly curved along at least a portion of its length, the convexly curved portion of the tail portion preferably having substantially flat longitudinal edges and with the free end of the tail portion preferably being convexly curved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a retainer according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, shown with an agricultural sweep and a tine of an- agricultural implement;
FIG. 2 is top plan view of the a retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top, rear perspective view of the retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a retainer according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a top, front perspective view of the retainer of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 6;
FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate steps in the process of mounting an agricultural sweep as shown in FIG. 1 on the retainer shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along line 13-13' of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to the drawings, in which similar reference numbers denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an agricultural sweep 10 of the type described in the above-mentioned patents to Parish and a retainer 12 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
The sweep 10 preferably has an upwardly-extending tapered stem 14 and an earthworking portion 16 attached to the base of the stem 14. The earthworking portion 16 comprises a pair of wing elements 18 and 20 integrally formed with the stem 14 and with each other.
Stem 14 has a hollow channel structure with a forwardly-convex front wall 22 and two rearwardly-directed side walls 24 and 26 (FIG. 13). Side walls 24 and 26 converge toward one another in a rearward direction and, together with front wall22, define a rearwardly-open space 28 (FIG. 10) which is adapted to receive the retainer 12 in a wedging friction fit.
Provided on the front wall 22 of stem 14 is an aperture 30 which is preferably circular in shape, having a circular peripheral edge 32 which is substantially perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces 34 and 36 (FIG.10) of the front wall 22.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, retainer 12 comprises an elongate, tapered block of metal 38 (referred to herein as the "adaptor") which is complementary with the stem 14 of sweep 10 and, in particular, is sized and shaped to be closely received inside the rearwardly-open space 28 of the stem 14, preferably with a wedging, friction fit. Adaptor 38 has a rear end 40, a relatively narrower front end 42, a lower surface 44, an opposed upper surface 46 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and a pair of side surfaces 48 and 50 (FIG. 2) connecting r -the upper and lower surfaces 46 and 44. A longitudinal axis L (FIG. 2) of adaptor 38 extends along its length between the front and rear ends 42 and 40. The adaptor 38 has an enlarged rear end portion 52 proximate the rear end 40. The rear end portion has flat, forwardly-facing surfaces 54 and 56 which project outwardly of the side surfaces 48, 50 and act as stops for the stem 14 of sweep 10.
Each side surface 48 and 50 of adaptor 38 is multi-faceted and extends outwardly to a maximum between the upper and lower surfaces 46 and 44 and converge toward one another as they approach the upper surface 46 and tower surface 44. During mounting of the sweep 10, the outwardly-extending side surfaces 48 and 50 become wedged against the angled transition between the front wall 22 and the side walls 24, 26 of the stem 14 as shown in FIG.
13.
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 46 of adaptor 38 is provided with an elongate, channel-like depression 58. The depression 58 extends along the axis L between the rear end 40 and front end 42 of adaptor 38. In the preferred adaptor 38, the depression 58 includes a pair of axially-spaced, recessed bolt holes 50 and 52 connected by a relatively shallow, longitudinally-extending rectangular channel 64. Mounting studs 66 are received in the bolt holes 60 and 62, preferably against rotation. The mounting studs 66 extend through the lower surface 44 of adaptor 38 and through holes 68 and 70 of a tine 72 of an agricultural implement. Each stud has a head 74 and a shank 76 with a with a threaded end portion 78 for engagement with nuts 79 to secure the retainer 12 to the tine 72. The shank 76 of each stud 66 preferably has an upper portion 80 of square cross section which is closely received in a square-shaped lower portion of bolt hole 60 ar 62, thereby preventing rotation of stud 66. The square-shaped lower portions of bolt holes 60 and 62 are not shown in the drawings of the first preferred retainer 12, but are illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 in connection with the second preferred embodiment of the invention.
_g_ The heads 74 of mounting studs 66 are preferably recessed within countersinks 82, 84 of bolt holes 60, 62. The countersinks 82, 84 are preferably provided with upwardly flared conical portions against which the tapered undersides of heads 74 are retained, and generally cylindrical portions which extend upwardly to the upper surface 46 of adaptor 38. In the first preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the heads 74 of studs 66 are countersunk to a depth greater than that of the connecting channel 64.
The channel-like depression 58 in the upper surface 46 of adaptor further comprises a spring-retaining hole 86 which is located forward of bolt hole 62 and a short, axially-extending channel through which the hole 86 communicates with bolt hole 62. The spring-retaining hole 86 may preferably be countersunk to the same depth as the countersunk heads 74 of studs 66.
The spring-retaining hole 86 preferably comprises an upper cylindrical portion 88 having a first diameter and a lower portion 90 of a second, greater diameter which is multi-faceted so as to receive a nut (not shown) against rotation. The purpose of spring-retaining hole 86 will be explained in greater detail below.
The retainer 12 according to the invention further comprises a spring element 92 which is secured inside the channel-like depression 58 in the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38. Spring element 92 comprises an anchoring portion 94 and a tail portion 96. The anchoring portion 94 which is sized and shaped to 1=It snugly inside the spring-retaining hole 86 proximate to the front end 42 of adaptor 38. In the first preferred embodiment, both the spring-retaining hole 86 and the anchoring portion 94 are circular, and the anchoring portion 94 is flat with a bolt hole 98 centrally located therein. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the anchoring portion 94 is secured inside the spring-retaining hole 86 by a mounting bolt 100, the threaded shank of which extends through the upper portion 88 of spring-retaining hole and is threaded into a nut 101 received in the lower portion 90 of spring-retaining hole 86. Preferably, the spring-retaining hole 86 is countersunk to a sufficient depth that the head of bolt 100 does not substantially protrude above the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38, i.e. does not protrude above upper surface 46 by an amount greater than the gap 102 (FIGS. 10 to 13) between the adaptor 38 and the stem 14 of sweep, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, it is preferable that the bolt 100 is countersunk below the plane of the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38. It will be appreciated that other fastening means can be employed to secure the anchoring portion 94 of the spring element 92 to the adaptor 38 including non-threaded fasteners such as rivets.
Securing the anchoring portion 94 of the spring element 92 to the adaptor 38 prevents substantial longitudinal movement of the spring element 92 relative to the adaptor 38 and the sweep 10 and thereby prevents accidental release of the sweep 10 from the adaptor 38. Securing the anchoring portion 94 also prevents accidental release of the spring element 92 from the adaptor 38. This feature facilitates the ease of removing the sweep 10 as there are no loose parts and also prevents the potential loss of parts in the field.
The tail portion 96 extends rearwardly from the rear end of anchoring portion 94. The tail portion 96 has a front end 104 which is connected to the anchoring portion 94 and a free end 106 spaced rearwardly therefrom along the axis L. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the spring element 92 is integrally formed from a blank of resilient sheet metal, preferably steel. It is particularly preferred to use a resilient metal such as spring steel heated-treated to 40-44 RC.
When the anchoring portion 94 is received and secured within hole 86, the tail portion 96 extends rearwardly across the front bolt hole 62 and at least partially across the connecting channel 64. It may also be preferred that the tail portion 96 extends at least partially across the rear bolt hole 60, although in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the tail portion 96 extends only part way along the connecting channel 64.
The tail portion 96 is obtusely angled relative to one anchoring portion 94 and relative to the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38. The obtuse angle between the anchoring portion 94 and the tail portion 96 is provided by a first bend which is provided at the front end 104 of tail portion 96, and more precisely at the point where the anchoring portion 94 and the tail portion 96 are connected. The angle of the first bend is sufficient that a portion of the tai( portion 96 proximate the front end 104 is received in the depression 58 and a portion of the tail portion 96 proximate the free end 106 protrudes out of depression 58, when the spring element 92 is in its uncompressed state, for example as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The free end 106 protrudes from depression 58 by an amount which is greater than the gap 102 between the adaptor 38 and sweep 10 and which is sufficient for engagement of the free end 106 with aperture 30 of the sweep 10. This will be discussed in greater detail below.
The tail portion 96 of spring element 92 is sufficiently resilient that it can be compressed during mounting of retainer 12 to sweep 10. Therefore, the tail portion 96 is sized, shaped and angled to be compressible within depression 58. More preferably, the tail portion 96 is shaped and sized to be closely received inside the depression 58 along at least a portion of its length, to thereby prevent the tail portion 96 from pivoting away from the axis L
during use. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the tail portion is closely received by the longitudinal edges of connecting channel 64.
Furthermore, the depth of depression 58 is such that the tail portion 96 can be substantially completely received inside depression 58 when in its compressed state.
In the first preferred embodiment of the invention, the tail portion 96 is not completely flat, but rather is bent very slightly at 108, i.e. between the front end 104 and the free end 106. This additional bend 108 further ensures that the maximum height of the free end 106 of tail portion 96 is greater than the gap 102 between the adaptor 38 and stem 14, when tail portion 96 is uncompressed. Thus, the free end 106 of tail portion 96 catches in the aperture 30 of stem 14, preventing accidental dislodgement of the sweep 10.
Preferably, the free end 106 of tail 96 is shaped to conform to the shape of aperture 30. Since the aperture 30 is circular, the free end 106 is preferably rounded.
FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate a second preferred retainer 140 according to the invention. Details of mounting studs and retaining bolts are omitted from these drawings for clarity. It will be appreciated that the retainer 140 is preferably provided with mounting studs and a retaining bolt similar or identical to studs 66 and retaining bolt 100 described above. The retainer 140 comprises an adaptor 142 in the form of an elongate, tapered block of metal which is complementary with the stem 14 of sweep 10 as illustrated in FIG.1 and is sized and shaped to be closely received inside the rearwardly-open space 28 of the stem 14. Adaptor 142 has a rear end 144, a relatively narrower front end 146, a lower surface 148, an opposed upper surface 150 and a pair of side surfaces 152 and 154 connecting the upper and lower surfaces 150 and 148. A longitudinal axis L of adaptor 142 extends along its length between the front and rear ends 144 and 146. The adaptor 142 has an enlarged rear end portion 156 proximate the rear end 144. The rear end portion 156 has flat, forwardly-facing surfaces 158 and 160 which project outwardly of the side surfaces 152, 154 and act as stops for the stem 14 of sweep 10.
The side surfaces 152 and 154 of adaptor 140 are multi-faceted, extending outwardly of either side of the planar upper and lower surfaces 148 and 150. During mounting of the sweep 10, the outwardly-extending side surfaces 152 and 154 become wedged against the angled transition between the front wall 22 and the side walls 24, 26 of the stem 14.
As shown in FIG. 6, the upper surface 148 of adaptor 142 is provided with a channel-like depression 162. The depression 162 extends along the axis L between the rear end 144 and front end 146 of adaptor 142. In the preferred adaptor 142 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the depression 162 includes a pair of axially-spaced, recessed bolt holes 164 and 166 connected by a shallow channel 168 having a rectangular cross section. Bolt holes 164 and 166 are preferably of a configuration similar or identical to bolt holes 60 and 62 described above and are preferably adapted to retain a pair of studs against rotation. The connecting channel 168 traverses the adaptor 142 longitudinally between bolt holes 164 and 166. The depression 162 further comprises a spring-retaining hole 170 which is located forward of bolt hole 166.
The retainer 140 according to the invention further comprises a spring element 172 which is secured inside the depression 162 in the upper surface 150 of the adaptor 142. Spring element 172 comprises an anchoring portion 174 which is sized and shaped to fit snugly inside the spring-retaining hole 170 proximate to the front end 146 of adaptor 142. The anchoring portion 174 has a centrally located aperture 176 for receiving a retaining bolt similar or identical to bolt 100 described above.
The spring element 172 further comprises a tail portion 178 extending rearwardly from the rear end of anchoring portion 174 (FIG.6). The tail portion 178 has a front end 180 which is connected to the anchoring portion 174 and a free end 182 spaced rearwardly therefrom along the axis L.
At least a portion of tail portion 178 is convexly curved. As shown in the drawings, in a preferred embodiment, the tail portion 178 can be formed from a steel blank which is shaped to have a central convexly curved portion 184 flanked by planar wings 186 and 188. The convexly curved portion 184 extends to the free end 182 of the tail portion 178 and is sized and shaped to engage the aperture 30 of sweep 10.
When the anchoring portion 174 is received and secured within depression 170, the tail portion 178 extends rearwardly across front bolt hole 166 and at least partially across the connecting channel 168. It may also be preferred that the tail portion 178 extends at least partially across the rear bolt hole 164, although in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the tail portion 178 extends only the length of the connecting channel 168.
The tail portion 178 is obtusely angled relative to anchoring portion 174 and relative to the upper surface 150 of the adaptor 142. The obtuse angle between the anchoring portion 174 and the tail portion 178 is provided by a bend which is provided at the point where the anchoring portion 174 and the tail portion 178 meet, i.e. at the front end 180 of the tail portion 178. The angle is sufficient that a portion of the tail portion 178 proximate the front end 180 is received in the depression 162 and a portion of the tail portion 178 proximate the free end 182 protrudes out of depression 162, when the spring element is in its uncompressed state, for example as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
The free end 182 protrudes from depression 162 by an amount which is greater than the gap 102 between the adaptor 142 and sweep 10 and which is sufficient for engagement of the free end 182 with aperture 30 of the sweep 10.
The tail portion 178 of spring element 172 is sufficiently resilient that it can be compressed during mounting of retainer 140 to sweep 10. The tail portion 178 is sized, shaped and angled to be compressible within depression 162. The depth of depression 162 is such that when the spring element 172 is in its compressed state, the planar wings 186, 188 of the tail portion 178 are substantially completely received inside depression 162 whereas the convexly curved portion 184 of the tail portion 178 protrudes out of depression 162 to engage the underside 36 of the sweep 10. The downward force applied by the sweep 10 to the convexly curved portion 184 of the tail portion 178 prevents accidental dislodgement of the sweep 10 from the retainer 140. The substantially flat longitudinal edges of the planar wings 186, 188 are closely received by the longitudinal edges of connecting channel 162 to prevent the tail portion 178 from pivoting away from the axis L during use.
The steps involved in mounting a sweep 10 to the 1=trst preferred adaptor 12 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13. In the following discussion, it will be assumed that the adaptor 38 is bolted to the tine 72 of an agricultural implement, as described above, however the tine 72 is not shown in FIGS. 10 to 13. The following discussion is also applicable to the mounting of a sweep 10 to the second preferred retainer 140.
Firstly, as shown in Figure 10, the stem 14 of sweep 10 is slid rearwardly in the direction of arrow A over the front end 42. FIG. 11 shows the front wall 22 of stem 14 having been pushed completely over the tail 96 of spring element 92. Preferably, the spring element 92 is sufficiently resilient that the tail portion 96 can be compressed into the depression 58 during mounting of sweep 10.
When the sweep 10 reaches its normal working position as shown in FIG. 12, the free end 106 of tail portion 96 enters aperture 30 and springs back toward its original, uncompressed orientation. At this point the free end 106 catches against the peripheral edge 32 of aperture 30, thus preventing dislodgement of sweep 10. This can be best seen in FIG. 13. The rearward mounting of sweep 10 on retainer 12 can be assisted by striking the sweep with a hammer.
The sweep 10 can be easily dislodged by inserting a tool (not shown) into aperture 30 to force the free end 106 of tail portion 96 downwardly and out of engagement with aperture 30. The sweep 10 can then be dislodged from adaptor 38 by striking the upper edge of stem 14 with a hammer.
Although the retainers according to the invention have been described as being used for the mounting of sweeps to the tines of agricultural implements, they are not limited thereto. Rather, the retainers according to the invention can be used for mounting a variety of earthworking implements, including sweeps, openers, knives, etc.
Although the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Rather, the invention includes within its scope all embodiments which may fall within the scope of the following claims.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to earthworking tools, such as agricultural sweeps, of the type which are held in wedging frictional engagement on the tines of agricultural tillage implements. More particularly, the invention relates to securing devices for preventing accidental release of such earthworking tools from agricultural tillage implements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Agricultural sweeps are employed as earthworking tools in the cultivation of soil. A typical sweep comprises a stem portion which is removably mounted on the tine of an agricultural tillage implement and an earthworking portion attached to the stem which is pulled through the soil.
The earthworking portion typically has an arrowhead shape and comprises a pair of symmetrical wing elements extending rearwardly from a point. An I5 example of an agricultural sweep is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,979,568, issued November 9th, 1999 to Parish.
In the past, agricultural sweeps were typically attached to tillage implements by bolting the stem of the sweep to a tine of the implement, either directly or through an adaptor attached to the tine. Removal of the sweep therefore required the use of wrenches or the like to loosen and/or remove the bolts from the stem of the sweep. As a typical tillage implement would utilize a number of such sweeps, the Tabor involved in mounting and dismounting such sweeps from the implement was considerable.
To overcome these difficulties, knock-on sweeps were developed in which the adaptor or the tine itself is tapered to be complementary with a _2-tapered stem of the sweep. This type of sweep is mounted by striking the tip of the sweep with a hammer to firmly wedge the stem of the sweep over the adaptor or tine. The sweep can then be dismounted by a hammer blow applied at the rear edge of the stem. An example of a knock-on sweep is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,711,378, issued January 27th, 1998 to Yeager.
Due to their ease of installation and removal, knock-on sweeps have become popular and are now widely used by farmers. However, knock-on sweeps are not free from disadvantages. The primary disadvantage with such sweeps is that the frictional grip between the sweep and the adaptor or tine is subject to failure, resulting in accidental release of the sweep.
. To address this problem, many currently available knock-on sweeps, including that disclosed by the above-mentioned Yeager patent, utilize retaining devices to prevent accidental release of the sweep while attempting to preserve the simplified mounting and dismounting feature of knock-on sweeps. The retaining device of Yeager comprises an adaptor onto which the stem of the sweep is wedged in a normal working position. The adaptor has a transverse groove which aligns with rectangular cutouts in the stem of the sweep in the normal working position. A pin is then inserted into the groove and through the cutouts to retain the sweep against accidental release. The pin is also retained against accidental release by a pair of resilient flat springs bolted to the adaptor.
Another retaining device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,289,996 to Parish. The Parish device comprises an adaptor onto which the stem of the sweep is wedged and a spring retainer having an anchoring portion and a tail portion. The anchoring portion is frictionally retained in the countersink of a bolt hole of the adaptor and the tail portion has an upturned end which becomes received in an aperture in the stem of the knock-on sweep.
Another retaining device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,571,884, issued June 3, 2003 to Horvath et al. This device also comprises a wedge-shaped adaptor, having a press button protruding from the upper surface of the adaptor which becomes received in the aperture in the stem of the knock-on sweep. The press button is resiliently mounted in the adaptor and can be pushed out of engagement with the aperture in the sweep when it is desired to dismount the sweep.
One problem with presently-used retaining devices is that they consist of a number of parts, each of which may be prone to failure under the harsh conditions under which agricultural implements are used. The various parts of such retaining devices may also be prone to becoming separated and lost during mounting and dismounting of sweeps. A need therefore exists for a simple, robust device for securing an earthworking tool to a tillage implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing a one-piece device for retaining an earthworking tool on a tine, which typically comprises a curved steel shank, of an agricultural implement.
The retaining device according to the invention is particularly suited for use with an agricultural sweep such as that shown in the above-mentioned Parish patent having an aperture in the stem. The retaining device according to the invention comprises a wedge-shaped adaptor which is bolted onto the tine of an agricultural implement and which becomes received inside the stem portion of the sweep. The upper surface of the adaptor is provided with a spring element which comprises an anchoring portion and a tail portion. The anchoring portion is secured within an elongate depression in the upper surface of the adaptor to prevent separation from the adaptor and the tail portion is partly received in the depression. The tail portion has a free end which protrudes from the depression and which catches in the aperture in the stem when the stem is wedged over the adaptor to its normal working position, thereby preventing accidental dislodgement of the sweep. The sweep is mounted simply by striking its forward end with a hammer until the upturned end of the tail portion catches in the aperture in the stem. The sweep is dismounted by first inserting a tool into the aperture to disengage the tail portion from the aperture and then striking rear edge of the sweep with a hammer to dislodge it from the tine of the implement.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a retainer for releasably securing a knock-on earthworking tool to an agricultural implement. The earthworking tool is of the type comprising an earthworking portion and a hollow stem. The stem has a front wall with an aperture therein and the aperture has a peripheral edge. The retainer comprises: (a) an elongate tapered adaptor complementary with the hollow stem of the earthworking tool, wherein the adaptor has a rear end, a relatively narrower front end, a lower surface and an upper surface provided with an elongate depression extending parallel to an axis of the adaptor; and (b) a resilient spring element comprising an anchoring portion and an elongate tail portion having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tail portion is secured to the anchoring portion and the second end of the tail portion is free. The anchoring portion is secured to the upper surface of the adaptor inside the longitudinal depression and the tail portion extends axially from the anchoring portion along the elongate depression, and the second end of the tail portion protrudes from the elongate depression when the spring element is in an uncompressed state.
When the adaptor is wedged inside the hollow stem of the earthworking tool in a normal working position, with the earthworking portion of the tool extending forwardly of the front end of the adaptor, and with the upper surface of the adaptor directly opposing the front wall of the stem, the anchoring portion of the spring element is axially spaced from the aperture in the stem in a direction toward the front end of the adaptor and the second end of the tail portion is received in the aperture.
The anchoring portion and the tail portion of the spring element are preferably obtusely angled relative to one another and the anchoring portion and the tail portion are preferably integrally formed from a steel blank. More preferably, the anchoring portion is parallel to the upper surface of the adaptor and the tail portion is angled relative to the upper surface of the adaptor, such that a portion of the tail portion proximate the first end is received in the depression and a portion of the tail portion proximate the second end protrudes from the depression in the upper surface of the adaptor when the spring element is in its uncompressed state.
It is preferred that the anchoring portion of the spring element is secured inside the depression by a threaded fastener and that the upper surface of the threaded fastener does not substantially protrude from the depression.
The second end of the tail portion is preferably shaped to conform to the shape of the aperture in the stem, and is preferably rounded.
The elongate depression has a length, width and depth sufficient to permit the entire tail portion to become received inside the depression when the spring element is fully compressed.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the tail portion is generally flat, while in another preferred embodiment the tail portion is convexly curved along at least a portion of its length, the convexly curved portion of the tail portion preferably having substantially flat longitudinal edges and with the free end of the tail portion preferably being convexly curved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a retainer according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, shown with an agricultural sweep and a tine of an- agricultural implement;
FIG. 2 is top plan view of the a retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top, rear perspective view of the retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a retainer according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a top, front perspective view of the retainer of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the retainer of FIG. 6;
FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate steps in the process of mounting an agricultural sweep as shown in FIG. 1 on the retainer shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along line 13-13' of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to the drawings, in which similar reference numbers denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates an agricultural sweep 10 of the type described in the above-mentioned patents to Parish and a retainer 12 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
The sweep 10 preferably has an upwardly-extending tapered stem 14 and an earthworking portion 16 attached to the base of the stem 14. The earthworking portion 16 comprises a pair of wing elements 18 and 20 integrally formed with the stem 14 and with each other.
Stem 14 has a hollow channel structure with a forwardly-convex front wall 22 and two rearwardly-directed side walls 24 and 26 (FIG. 13). Side walls 24 and 26 converge toward one another in a rearward direction and, together with front wall22, define a rearwardly-open space 28 (FIG. 10) which is adapted to receive the retainer 12 in a wedging friction fit.
Provided on the front wall 22 of stem 14 is an aperture 30 which is preferably circular in shape, having a circular peripheral edge 32 which is substantially perpendicular to the front and rear surfaces 34 and 36 (FIG.10) of the front wall 22.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, retainer 12 comprises an elongate, tapered block of metal 38 (referred to herein as the "adaptor") which is complementary with the stem 14 of sweep 10 and, in particular, is sized and shaped to be closely received inside the rearwardly-open space 28 of the stem 14, preferably with a wedging, friction fit. Adaptor 38 has a rear end 40, a relatively narrower front end 42, a lower surface 44, an opposed upper surface 46 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and a pair of side surfaces 48 and 50 (FIG. 2) connecting r -the upper and lower surfaces 46 and 44. A longitudinal axis L (FIG. 2) of adaptor 38 extends along its length between the front and rear ends 42 and 40. The adaptor 38 has an enlarged rear end portion 52 proximate the rear end 40. The rear end portion has flat, forwardly-facing surfaces 54 and 56 which project outwardly of the side surfaces 48, 50 and act as stops for the stem 14 of sweep 10.
Each side surface 48 and 50 of adaptor 38 is multi-faceted and extends outwardly to a maximum between the upper and lower surfaces 46 and 44 and converge toward one another as they approach the upper surface 46 and tower surface 44. During mounting of the sweep 10, the outwardly-extending side surfaces 48 and 50 become wedged against the angled transition between the front wall 22 and the side walls 24, 26 of the stem 14 as shown in FIG.
13.
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 46 of adaptor 38 is provided with an elongate, channel-like depression 58. The depression 58 extends along the axis L between the rear end 40 and front end 42 of adaptor 38. In the preferred adaptor 38, the depression 58 includes a pair of axially-spaced, recessed bolt holes 50 and 52 connected by a relatively shallow, longitudinally-extending rectangular channel 64. Mounting studs 66 are received in the bolt holes 60 and 62, preferably against rotation. The mounting studs 66 extend through the lower surface 44 of adaptor 38 and through holes 68 and 70 of a tine 72 of an agricultural implement. Each stud has a head 74 and a shank 76 with a with a threaded end portion 78 for engagement with nuts 79 to secure the retainer 12 to the tine 72. The shank 76 of each stud 66 preferably has an upper portion 80 of square cross section which is closely received in a square-shaped lower portion of bolt hole 60 ar 62, thereby preventing rotation of stud 66. The square-shaped lower portions of bolt holes 60 and 62 are not shown in the drawings of the first preferred retainer 12, but are illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 in connection with the second preferred embodiment of the invention.
_g_ The heads 74 of mounting studs 66 are preferably recessed within countersinks 82, 84 of bolt holes 60, 62. The countersinks 82, 84 are preferably provided with upwardly flared conical portions against which the tapered undersides of heads 74 are retained, and generally cylindrical portions which extend upwardly to the upper surface 46 of adaptor 38. In the first preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the heads 74 of studs 66 are countersunk to a depth greater than that of the connecting channel 64.
The channel-like depression 58 in the upper surface 46 of adaptor further comprises a spring-retaining hole 86 which is located forward of bolt hole 62 and a short, axially-extending channel through which the hole 86 communicates with bolt hole 62. The spring-retaining hole 86 may preferably be countersunk to the same depth as the countersunk heads 74 of studs 66.
The spring-retaining hole 86 preferably comprises an upper cylindrical portion 88 having a first diameter and a lower portion 90 of a second, greater diameter which is multi-faceted so as to receive a nut (not shown) against rotation. The purpose of spring-retaining hole 86 will be explained in greater detail below.
The retainer 12 according to the invention further comprises a spring element 92 which is secured inside the channel-like depression 58 in the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38. Spring element 92 comprises an anchoring portion 94 and a tail portion 96. The anchoring portion 94 which is sized and shaped to 1=It snugly inside the spring-retaining hole 86 proximate to the front end 42 of adaptor 38. In the first preferred embodiment, both the spring-retaining hole 86 and the anchoring portion 94 are circular, and the anchoring portion 94 is flat with a bolt hole 98 centrally located therein. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the anchoring portion 94 is secured inside the spring-retaining hole 86 by a mounting bolt 100, the threaded shank of which extends through the upper portion 88 of spring-retaining hole and is threaded into a nut 101 received in the lower portion 90 of spring-retaining hole 86. Preferably, the spring-retaining hole 86 is countersunk to a sufficient depth that the head of bolt 100 does not substantially protrude above the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38, i.e. does not protrude above upper surface 46 by an amount greater than the gap 102 (FIGS. 10 to 13) between the adaptor 38 and the stem 14 of sweep, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, it is preferable that the bolt 100 is countersunk below the plane of the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38. It will be appreciated that other fastening means can be employed to secure the anchoring portion 94 of the spring element 92 to the adaptor 38 including non-threaded fasteners such as rivets.
Securing the anchoring portion 94 of the spring element 92 to the adaptor 38 prevents substantial longitudinal movement of the spring element 92 relative to the adaptor 38 and the sweep 10 and thereby prevents accidental release of the sweep 10 from the adaptor 38. Securing the anchoring portion 94 also prevents accidental release of the spring element 92 from the adaptor 38. This feature facilitates the ease of removing the sweep 10 as there are no loose parts and also prevents the potential loss of parts in the field.
The tail portion 96 extends rearwardly from the rear end of anchoring portion 94. The tail portion 96 has a front end 104 which is connected to the anchoring portion 94 and a free end 106 spaced rearwardly therefrom along the axis L. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the spring element 92 is integrally formed from a blank of resilient sheet metal, preferably steel. It is particularly preferred to use a resilient metal such as spring steel heated-treated to 40-44 RC.
When the anchoring portion 94 is received and secured within hole 86, the tail portion 96 extends rearwardly across the front bolt hole 62 and at least partially across the connecting channel 64. It may also be preferred that the tail portion 96 extends at least partially across the rear bolt hole 60, although in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the tail portion 96 extends only part way along the connecting channel 64.
The tail portion 96 is obtusely angled relative to one anchoring portion 94 and relative to the upper surface 46 of the adaptor 38. The obtuse angle between the anchoring portion 94 and the tail portion 96 is provided by a first bend which is provided at the front end 104 of tail portion 96, and more precisely at the point where the anchoring portion 94 and the tail portion 96 are connected. The angle of the first bend is sufficient that a portion of the tai( portion 96 proximate the front end 104 is received in the depression 58 and a portion of the tail portion 96 proximate the free end 106 protrudes out of depression 58, when the spring element 92 is in its uncompressed state, for example as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The free end 106 protrudes from depression 58 by an amount which is greater than the gap 102 between the adaptor 38 and sweep 10 and which is sufficient for engagement of the free end 106 with aperture 30 of the sweep 10. This will be discussed in greater detail below.
The tail portion 96 of spring element 92 is sufficiently resilient that it can be compressed during mounting of retainer 12 to sweep 10. Therefore, the tail portion 96 is sized, shaped and angled to be compressible within depression 58. More preferably, the tail portion 96 is shaped and sized to be closely received inside the depression 58 along at least a portion of its length, to thereby prevent the tail portion 96 from pivoting away from the axis L
during use. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the tail portion is closely received by the longitudinal edges of connecting channel 64.
Furthermore, the depth of depression 58 is such that the tail portion 96 can be substantially completely received inside depression 58 when in its compressed state.
In the first preferred embodiment of the invention, the tail portion 96 is not completely flat, but rather is bent very slightly at 108, i.e. between the front end 104 and the free end 106. This additional bend 108 further ensures that the maximum height of the free end 106 of tail portion 96 is greater than the gap 102 between the adaptor 38 and stem 14, when tail portion 96 is uncompressed. Thus, the free end 106 of tail portion 96 catches in the aperture 30 of stem 14, preventing accidental dislodgement of the sweep 10.
Preferably, the free end 106 of tail 96 is shaped to conform to the shape of aperture 30. Since the aperture 30 is circular, the free end 106 is preferably rounded.
FIGS. 6 to 9 illustrate a second preferred retainer 140 according to the invention. Details of mounting studs and retaining bolts are omitted from these drawings for clarity. It will be appreciated that the retainer 140 is preferably provided with mounting studs and a retaining bolt similar or identical to studs 66 and retaining bolt 100 described above. The retainer 140 comprises an adaptor 142 in the form of an elongate, tapered block of metal which is complementary with the stem 14 of sweep 10 as illustrated in FIG.1 and is sized and shaped to be closely received inside the rearwardly-open space 28 of the stem 14. Adaptor 142 has a rear end 144, a relatively narrower front end 146, a lower surface 148, an opposed upper surface 150 and a pair of side surfaces 152 and 154 connecting the upper and lower surfaces 150 and 148. A longitudinal axis L of adaptor 142 extends along its length between the front and rear ends 144 and 146. The adaptor 142 has an enlarged rear end portion 156 proximate the rear end 144. The rear end portion 156 has flat, forwardly-facing surfaces 158 and 160 which project outwardly of the side surfaces 152, 154 and act as stops for the stem 14 of sweep 10.
The side surfaces 152 and 154 of adaptor 140 are multi-faceted, extending outwardly of either side of the planar upper and lower surfaces 148 and 150. During mounting of the sweep 10, the outwardly-extending side surfaces 152 and 154 become wedged against the angled transition between the front wall 22 and the side walls 24, 26 of the stem 14.
As shown in FIG. 6, the upper surface 148 of adaptor 142 is provided with a channel-like depression 162. The depression 162 extends along the axis L between the rear end 144 and front end 146 of adaptor 142. In the preferred adaptor 142 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the depression 162 includes a pair of axially-spaced, recessed bolt holes 164 and 166 connected by a shallow channel 168 having a rectangular cross section. Bolt holes 164 and 166 are preferably of a configuration similar or identical to bolt holes 60 and 62 described above and are preferably adapted to retain a pair of studs against rotation. The connecting channel 168 traverses the adaptor 142 longitudinally between bolt holes 164 and 166. The depression 162 further comprises a spring-retaining hole 170 which is located forward of bolt hole 166.
The retainer 140 according to the invention further comprises a spring element 172 which is secured inside the depression 162 in the upper surface 150 of the adaptor 142. Spring element 172 comprises an anchoring portion 174 which is sized and shaped to fit snugly inside the spring-retaining hole 170 proximate to the front end 146 of adaptor 142. The anchoring portion 174 has a centrally located aperture 176 for receiving a retaining bolt similar or identical to bolt 100 described above.
The spring element 172 further comprises a tail portion 178 extending rearwardly from the rear end of anchoring portion 174 (FIG.6). The tail portion 178 has a front end 180 which is connected to the anchoring portion 174 and a free end 182 spaced rearwardly therefrom along the axis L.
At least a portion of tail portion 178 is convexly curved. As shown in the drawings, in a preferred embodiment, the tail portion 178 can be formed from a steel blank which is shaped to have a central convexly curved portion 184 flanked by planar wings 186 and 188. The convexly curved portion 184 extends to the free end 182 of the tail portion 178 and is sized and shaped to engage the aperture 30 of sweep 10.
When the anchoring portion 174 is received and secured within depression 170, the tail portion 178 extends rearwardly across front bolt hole 166 and at least partially across the connecting channel 168. It may also be preferred that the tail portion 178 extends at least partially across the rear bolt hole 164, although in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the tail portion 178 extends only the length of the connecting channel 168.
The tail portion 178 is obtusely angled relative to anchoring portion 174 and relative to the upper surface 150 of the adaptor 142. The obtuse angle between the anchoring portion 174 and the tail portion 178 is provided by a bend which is provided at the point where the anchoring portion 174 and the tail portion 178 meet, i.e. at the front end 180 of the tail portion 178. The angle is sufficient that a portion of the tail portion 178 proximate the front end 180 is received in the depression 162 and a portion of the tail portion 178 proximate the free end 182 protrudes out of depression 162, when the spring element is in its uncompressed state, for example as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
The free end 182 protrudes from depression 162 by an amount which is greater than the gap 102 between the adaptor 142 and sweep 10 and which is sufficient for engagement of the free end 182 with aperture 30 of the sweep 10.
The tail portion 178 of spring element 172 is sufficiently resilient that it can be compressed during mounting of retainer 140 to sweep 10. The tail portion 178 is sized, shaped and angled to be compressible within depression 162. The depth of depression 162 is such that when the spring element 172 is in its compressed state, the planar wings 186, 188 of the tail portion 178 are substantially completely received inside depression 162 whereas the convexly curved portion 184 of the tail portion 178 protrudes out of depression 162 to engage the underside 36 of the sweep 10. The downward force applied by the sweep 10 to the convexly curved portion 184 of the tail portion 178 prevents accidental dislodgement of the sweep 10 from the retainer 140. The substantially flat longitudinal edges of the planar wings 186, 188 are closely received by the longitudinal edges of connecting channel 162 to prevent the tail portion 178 from pivoting away from the axis L during use.
The steps involved in mounting a sweep 10 to the 1=trst preferred adaptor 12 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13. In the following discussion, it will be assumed that the adaptor 38 is bolted to the tine 72 of an agricultural implement, as described above, however the tine 72 is not shown in FIGS. 10 to 13. The following discussion is also applicable to the mounting of a sweep 10 to the second preferred retainer 140.
Firstly, as shown in Figure 10, the stem 14 of sweep 10 is slid rearwardly in the direction of arrow A over the front end 42. FIG. 11 shows the front wall 22 of stem 14 having been pushed completely over the tail 96 of spring element 92. Preferably, the spring element 92 is sufficiently resilient that the tail portion 96 can be compressed into the depression 58 during mounting of sweep 10.
When the sweep 10 reaches its normal working position as shown in FIG. 12, the free end 106 of tail portion 96 enters aperture 30 and springs back toward its original, uncompressed orientation. At this point the free end 106 catches against the peripheral edge 32 of aperture 30, thus preventing dislodgement of sweep 10. This can be best seen in FIG. 13. The rearward mounting of sweep 10 on retainer 12 can be assisted by striking the sweep with a hammer.
The sweep 10 can be easily dislodged by inserting a tool (not shown) into aperture 30 to force the free end 106 of tail portion 96 downwardly and out of engagement with aperture 30. The sweep 10 can then be dislodged from adaptor 38 by striking the upper edge of stem 14 with a hammer.
Although the retainers according to the invention have been described as being used for the mounting of sweeps to the tines of agricultural implements, they are not limited thereto. Rather, the retainers according to the invention can be used for mounting a variety of earthworking implements, including sweeps, openers, knives, etc.
Although the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Rather, the invention includes within its scope all embodiments which may fall within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (13)
1. A retainer for releasably securing a knock-on earthworking tool to an agricultural implement, wherein the earthworking tool comprises an earthworking portion and a hollow stem, the stem has a front wall with an aperture therein and the aperture has a peripheral edge, the retainer comprising:
(a) an elongate tapered adaptor complementary with the hollow stem of the earthworking tool, wherein the adaptor has a rear end, a relatively narrower front end, a lower surface and an upper surface provided with an elongate depression extending parallel to an axis of the adaptor; and (b) a resilient spring element comprising an anchoring portion and an elongate tail portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tail portion is secured to the anchoring portion and the second end of the tail portion is free, the anchoring portion is secured to the upper surface of the adaptor inside the longitudinal depression and the tail portion extends axially from the anchoring portion along the elongate depression, and the second end of the tail portion protrudes from the elongate depression when the spring element is in an uncompressed state;
wherein, with the adaptor wedged inside the hollow stem of the earthworking tool in a normal working position, with the earthworking portion of the tool extending forwardly of the front end of the adaptor, and with the upper surface of the adaptor directly opposing the front wall of the stem; the anchoring portion of the spring element is axially spaced from the aperture in the stem in a direction toward the front end of the adaptor and the second end of the tail portion is received in the aperture.
(a) an elongate tapered adaptor complementary with the hollow stem of the earthworking tool, wherein the adaptor has a rear end, a relatively narrower front end, a lower surface and an upper surface provided with an elongate depression extending parallel to an axis of the adaptor; and (b) a resilient spring element comprising an anchoring portion and an elongate tail portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tail portion is secured to the anchoring portion and the second end of the tail portion is free, the anchoring portion is secured to the upper surface of the adaptor inside the longitudinal depression and the tail portion extends axially from the anchoring portion along the elongate depression, and the second end of the tail portion protrudes from the elongate depression when the spring element is in an uncompressed state;
wherein, with the adaptor wedged inside the hollow stem of the earthworking tool in a normal working position, with the earthworking portion of the tool extending forwardly of the front end of the adaptor, and with the upper surface of the adaptor directly opposing the front wall of the stem; the anchoring portion of the spring element is axially spaced from the aperture in the stem in a direction toward the front end of the adaptor and the second end of the tail portion is received in the aperture.
2. The retainer according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring portion and the tail portion of the spring element are obtusely angled relative to one another.
3. The retainer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anchoring portion is parallel to the upper surface of the adaptor and the tail portion is angled relative to the upper surface of the adaptor, such that a portion of the tail portion proximate the first end is received in the depression and a portion of the tail portion proximate the second end protrudes from the depression in the upper surface of the adaptor when the spring element is in its uncompressed state.
4. The retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the anchoring portion of the spring element is secured inside the depression by a threaded fastener.
5. The retainer according to claim 4, wherein an upper surface of the threaded fastener does not substantially protrude from the depression:
6. The retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the anchoring portion and the tail portion are integrally formed from a steel blank.
7. The retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second end of the tail portion is shaped to conform to the shape of the aperture in the stem.
8. The retainer according to claim 7, wherein the second end of the tail portion is rounded.
9. The retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the elongate depression has a length, width and depth sufficient to permit the entire tail portion to become received inside the depression when the spring element is fully compressed.
10. The retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tail portion is generally flat.
11. The retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tail portion is convexly curved along at least a portion of its length.
12. The retainer according to claim 11, wherein the convexly curved portion of the tail portion has substantially flat longitudinal edges.
13. The retainer according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the free end of the tail portion is convexly curved.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2504073A CA2504073C (en) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-04-13 | Securing device for knock-on earthworking tool |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2504073A CA2504073C (en) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-04-13 | Securing device for knock-on earthworking tool |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2504073A1 CA2504073A1 (en) | 2006-10-13 |
| CA2504073C true CA2504073C (en) | 2012-01-10 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2504073A Active CA2504073C (en) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-04-13 | Securing device for knock-on earthworking tool |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2504073C (en) |
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2005
- 2005-04-13 CA CA2504073A patent/CA2504073C/en active Active
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| CA2504073A1 (en) | 2006-10-13 |
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