GB1582702A

GB1582702A - Farm tool frames

Info

Publication number: GB1582702A
Application number: GB9543/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SIMBA MACHINERY Ltd
Current assignee: SIMBA MACHINERY Ltd
Priority date: 1978-02-17
Filing date: 1978-02-17
Publication date: 1981-01-14
Also published as: GB1582703A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FARM TOOL FRAMES (71) We, SIMBA MACHINERY LIMITED, a British Company, of Leasingham Hall, Leasingham, Lincoln, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an improved farm tool frame. Although the farm tool frame of the present invention may be used to carry any desired tool, a frame carrying a disc harrow plough will be described by way of example.

The conventional disc harrow has been known for many years and may comprise two lines of 20" or 22" discs, each offset relative to the direction of ploughing. The spacing between the discs is usually about nine inches. The difficulty with conventional frames for farm tools such as the disc harrow is their arrangement for transportation. At present either the whole tool frame and disc harrow is raised off the ground by the tractor with suitable hydraulics or the frame is provided with road wheels that may be raised or lowered as desired. However, the disadvantages of the present arrangements are that to provide no transportation wheels on the frame necessitates the tractor having a heavy-duty hydraulic system to lift the frame end plough. Alternatively those frames that do provide road wheels employ a hydraulic ram mounted above each wheel for lifting the wheels individually: this arrangement unnecessarily increases the manufacturing cost.

According to the present invention we provide a farm tool frame including two wheels moveable from a ground engaging transportation position to a raised position by means comprising an elongate rotatable member rotatably mounted on the frame, a support member for each wheel and longitudinally spaced lever means secured to the rotatable member and pivotally connected to the respective support members for the wheels the arrangement being such that, on rotation of the rotatable member, the lever means are turned angularly about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to raise or lower the support means, and thus the wheels, with respect to the ground.

In the preferred embodiment the farm tool frame also includes a spring between the drawbar and the body of the frame.

The invention also includes a disc plough harrow comprising a frame as defined above and two gang carriers supported on the frame carrying a plurality of ploughing discs, the gang carriers being adjustably mounted to enable the angle of the carriers to be varied relative to the direction of ploughing.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention in use as a disc plough harrow and in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the frame Figure 2 is a right hand side elevation of the farm tool frame; and Figure 3 shows the lifting mechanism with a wheel in lowered and a raised position.

In the drawings a farm tool frame 1 has a rectangular support frame 2 and a drawbar member 3. The rectangular support frame 2 has a torque bar 4 between two opposed sides for strength and absorbing shock. Disposed at right angles to the torque bar 4 is a rotatable shaft 5 journalled in the other two opposed sides of the frame 2. The shaft 5 has secured to it two levers 6, one at each end, which are pivotally connected one to each of a pair of support bars 7 which support a transport axle 8.

On the ends of the axle 8 are transport wheels 9. In addition to absorbing shock the torque bar 4 allows the frame 2 to twist slightly during use on encountering a load and then returns the frame to its correct position.

As seen from the drawings the bars 7 also each have pivotally mounted thereon a strap 20 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 21. A pair of transport straps 10 and 11, which may be releasably secured together by a bolt 12 during transport, are pivotally mounted at 21 and 22 respectively.

Extending between one end of the frame 2 and the shaft 5 is the ram 13 of a hydraulic cylinder 14 to enable rotation of the shaft 5 as desired.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 it will be seen that one side 15 of the frame 2 is extended at both ends so as to provide a mounting for gang carriers 16. A plurality of holes 17 are provided in one of the extended portions of the side 15 to allow the respective gang carrier 16 to be positioned at various angles relative to the direction of travel - see Figure 1. The other gang carrier 16 is adjusted with respect to holes 22' in the opposed side of the frame 2.

The forward gang carrier 16 has hitched thereto at three positions 18 the drawbar member 3. In addition there is provided a bumper spring 19 which helps absorb any shock encountered during use. The drawbar member 3 at its free end has a pull point (no shown) for connection to a tractor or the like and carries means for supporting hose to the hydraulic cylinder 14. As seen from Figure 1 it will be seen that the drawbar member 3 is pisitioned normally slightly below the frame 2. The bumper spring 19 is adjustable so that by adjustment the downward pressure on the gang carriers 16 may be varied by varying the pitch of the drawbar 3.

In use, referring particularly to Figure 3, the farm tool frame 1 is moved with the wheel 9 lowered as shown to the left in Figure 3. Once it is desired to plough the bolt 12 is removed from the transport straps and the wheels 9 are lifted by hydraulics operated by the tractor operator. This is done by causing rotation of the shaft 5 which raises the axle 8 and wheels 9 as shown to the right in Figure 3. Once in this position the frame 2 is supported on the tools carried by the carriers 16 and ploughing is ready to commence.

Copending application No. 7928007 (Serial No. 1582703) discloses the same subject-matter as this application but has claims directed to the resilient connection between the drawbar 3 and the frame 2.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A farm todl frame including two wheels moveable from a ground engaging transportation position to a raised position by means comprising an elongate rotatable member rotatably mounted on the frame, a support member for each wheel and longitudinally spaced lever means secured to the rotatable member. and pivotally connected to the respective support members for the wheels the arangement being such that, on rotation of the rotatable member, the lever means are turned angularly about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to raise or lower the support means, and thus the wheels with respect to the ground.

2. A farm tool frame according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable member is rotated by means of a hydraulic cylinder the ram of which is connected to the rotatable member.

3. A farm tool frame according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the two wheels are mounted on a common transport axle supported by the support members.

4. A farm tool frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support members each have pivotally mounted thereon a strap which is pivotally mounted on the frame.

5. A farm tool frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is substantially rectangular and includes a torque bar extending between a leading and à trailing side for strength and absorbing shock.

6. A farm tool frame according to any one of the preceding claims including a forward and rear tool carrier, said carriers being adjustable so as- to be positioned at various angles relative to the direction of travel.

7. A farm tool frame according to claim 6 wherein a drawbar, by means of which the frame is towed, is hitched to the forward tool carrier and provided between the forward tool carrier and the drawbar is a bumper spring which helps absorb any shock encountered during use.

8. A disc plough harrow comprising a farm tool frame according to any one of the preceding claims, and two gang carriers supported on the frame carrying a plurality of ploughing discs, the gang carriers being adjustably mounted.to enable the angle of the carriers to be varied relative to the direction of ploughing.

9. A farm tool frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. wheels 9. In addition to absorbing shock the torque bar 4 allows the frame 2 to twist slightly during use on encountering a load and then returns the frame to its correct position. As seen from the drawings the bars 7 also each have pivotally mounted thereon a strap 20 which is pivotally mounted on the frame at 21. A pair of transport straps 10 and 11, which may be releasably secured together by a bolt 12 during transport, are pivotally mounted at 21 and 22 respectively. Extending between one end of the frame 2 and the shaft 5 is the ram 13 of a hydraulic cylinder 14 to enable rotation of the shaft 5 as desired. Referring now particularly to Figure 1 it will be seen that one side 15 of the frame 2 is extended at both ends so as to provide a mounting for gang carriers 16. A plurality of holes 17 are provided in one of the extended portions of the side 15 to allow the respective gang carrier 16 to be positioned at various angles relative to the direction of travel - see Figure 1. The other gang carrier 16 is adjusted with respect to holes 22' in the opposed side of the frame 2. The forward gang carrier 16 has hitched thereto at three positions 18 the drawbar member 3. In addition there is provided a bumper spring 19 which helps absorb any shock encountered during use. The drawbar member 3 at its free end has a pull point (no shown) for connection to a tractor or the like and carries means for supporting hose to the hydraulic cylinder 14. As seen from Figure 1 it will be seen that the drawbar member 3 is pisitioned normally slightly below the frame 2. The bumper spring 19 is adjustable so that by adjustment the downward pressure on the gang carriers 16 may be varied by varying the pitch of the drawbar 3. In use, referring particularly to Figure 3, the farm tool frame 1 is moved with the wheel 9 lowered as shown to the left in Figure 3. Once it is desired to plough the bolt 12 is removed from the transport straps and the wheels 9 are lifted by hydraulics operated by the tractor operator. This is done by causing rotation of the shaft 5 which raises the axle 8 and wheels 9 as shown to the right in Figure 3. Once in this position the frame 2 is supported on the tools carried by the carriers 16 and ploughing is ready to commence. Copending application No. 7928007 (Serial No. 1582703) discloses the same subject-matter as this application but has claims directed to the resilient connection between the drawbar 3 and the frame 2. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A farm todl frame including two wheels moveable from a ground engaging transportation position to a raised position by means comprising an elongate rotatable member rotatably mounted on the frame, a support member for each wheel and longitudinally spaced lever means secured to the rotatable member. and pivotally connected to the respective support members for the wheels the arangement being such that, on rotation of the rotatable member, the lever means are turned angularly about the axis of rotation of the rotatable member to raise or lower the support means, and thus the wheels with respect to the ground.