FR2596943A1 - Fork for a tractor lifting assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Agricultural machines. Fork which can be fitted to a lifting assembly provided on a tractor comprising arms 1, articulated on a horizontal pin on the tractor, and jacks 4 inserted between the arms 1 and the tractor, the free ends of the arms being connected to the said fork with interposition of means for adjusting the inclination of the latter, the said fork being of the type formed by a panel 6 whose lower edge bent towards the side opposite the tractor is provided with teeth, characterised in that, on each lateral side of the panel 6, a flap 23, 27 is articulated, means being provided for causing the flaps to pivot to an open position, in which they extend substantially in the plane of the panel, and a closed position in which they are folded down towards the said panel.

Description

 The present invention relates to a fork adaptable to a lifting assembly provided on a tractor.

 There are known lifting assemblies which are mounted on tractors and which include arms articulated on a horizontal axis on the tractor, jacks.

inserted between the arms and the tractor, the free ends of the arms supporting a fork with the interposition of means to modify the inclination thereof. Generally the forks comprise a panel connected to the arms, the lower edge of said panel being provided with teeth, while along the upper edge of said panel is articulated a bearing structure, along its free edge opposite to that articulated on the upper edge of the panel, teeth, means being provided for controlling the tilting of the structure in order to approach or move the teeth away from the structure of the teeth of the panel.

 Such an arrangement is very well known and very widely used on farms.

 Such forks of the prior art have a number of drawbacks.

 Due to the design thereof, it is impossible to completely separate the teeth from the structure of the panel teeth so that the opening of the teeth for grasping, straw, manure or the like is limited and thus the volume entered is low.

 The invention aims in particular to remedy this drawback.

 The fork according to the invention is adaptable to a lifting assembly provided on a tractor comprising arms articulated on a horizontal axis on the tractor of the cylinders inserted between the arms and the tractor, the ex free ends of the arms being connected to said fork with interposition of means for modifying the inclination of the latter, said fork being of the type formed by a panel whose lower edge turned on the side opposite the tractor is provided with teeth and being characterized in that on each lateral side of the a panel is articulated with a flap, means being provided for controlling the pivoting of the flaps towards an open position where they extend substantially in the plane of the panel and a closed position where they are folded down towards said panel.

 Thanks to this arrangement, the shutters can be opened so that they are situated practically in the plane of the panel, which makes it possible to enter a very large volume of product to be transported.

 Preferably, the flaps comprise, on the side of the face of the panel provided with teeth and along their lower edge, teeth.

 According to a constructive detail, the flaps are concave on the side of the face provided with teeth.

 Finally, the means for controlling the pivoting of the flaps consist of jacks inserted between the panel and said flaps.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a particular embodiment, given by way of example only and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a fork according to the invention mounted on a lifting assembly of a tractor.

 Figure 2 shows the fork according to the invention noted.

 Figure 3 is a front view of the fork according to the invention.

 Figure 4 is a perspective view of said fork.

 The fork shown in the figures is intended to be mounted on a lifting assembly provided on a tractor and comprising two arms 1 articulated on an axis 2 on the tractor and each provided with a bent extension 3, a jack 4 being inserted between said arms and the tractor.

 The free ends of the extensions 3 are inserted between the wings of a yoke 7 provided on the dorsal face of a panel 6 of the fork, according to the invention, said yokes being crossed by pins 8 passing through the free ends extensions 3.

 On the extensions 3 are articulated, on axes 10, one of the ends of connecting rods 9, the other ends of which are hinged connected to one end of connecting rods 11 whose free ends are articulated on axes 12 carried by the yoke 7 the back of the panel 6.

 On an axis 14 carried by the extensions 3 is articulated the free end of the rod of a jack 15 whose body is articulated at an intermediate point of the length of the connecting rods 9. Thus the jack 15 makes it possible to modify the inclination from panel 6.

 The panel 6 has a generally rectangular shape with two large horizontal sides 18 and 19 and two small sides 20 and 21.

 Along the edge 18 the panel 6 has teeth 17.

 On the side 20 is articulated a flap 23 whose lower edge is provided with teeth 24, said flap having on the side provided with the teeth a concavity.

 On the side 21 is articulated a flap 27 whose lower edge has teeth 28, this flap being, like the concave flap 23.

 On the panel 6, a yoke 30 is provided which supports an axis 31 on which the body of a jack 32 is articulated, the piston rod 34 of which is connected to an axis 40 carried by a yoke 33 integral with the flap 23.

 The flap 27 comprises a yoke 39 which supports an axis 41 on which the rod 38 of the piston of a jack 37 is articulated, itself articulated on an axis 36 carried by a yoke 35 secured to the panel 6.

 The jacks 32 and 37 are connected to a distributor so as to be actuated simultaneously to control the opening, or, on the contrary, the closing of the flaps 23 and 27.

 The fork thus produced makes it possible to pick up large quantities of fodder, manure, etc. The flaps 23 and 27 can be deployed so as to be located substantially in the plane of the panel 6, which makes it possible to work on a large pile , the flaps then being folded down to grip said pile.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and shown. Many detailed modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

CLAIM ~ S  1 - Fork adaptable to a lifting assembly provided on a tractor comprising arms (1) articulated on a horizontal axis on the tractor cylinders (4) inserted between the arms (1) and the tractor, the free ends of the arms being connected to said fork with interposition of means for modifying the inclination thereof, said fork being of the type formed by a panel (6) whose lower edge turned on the side opposite to the tractor is provided with teeth (17) characterized in that on each lateral side of the panel (6) is hinged a flap (23, 27), means being provided for controlling the pivoting of the flaps towards an open position where they extend substantially in the plane of the panel and a position of closure where they are folded down towards said panel.  20- Fork according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps comprise, on the side of the face of the panel (6) provided with teeth (17) and along their lower edge teeth (24,28).  30- Fork according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps are concave on the side of the face provided with teeth (24,28).  40- Fork according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for controlling the pivoting of the flaps (23,27) are constituted by jacks inserted between the panel and said flaps.