GB1582962A - Tool carriers - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TOOL CARRIERS (71) We, SIMBA MACHINERY LIMITED, a British Company, of Leasingham Hall, Leasingham, Lincoln, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a 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 tool carrier. Most conventional tool carriers are either supported directly by a tractor and have tools mounted on the carrier, or the carrier with the tools thereon is supported upon a pair of wheels and towed by the tractor.

Such conventional tool carriers suffer from two main disadvantages. Firstly, in each case the tool carrier is designed for a particular tool and carries tools which are not interchangeable with tools of a different type. This means that if hydraulic depth control is required, for example, then hydraulic means have to be provided either on the carrier for each type of tool or on the tractor. Secondly, in the case of the wheel-supported tool carrier, the carrier is supported and towed on the same axle which imposes unncessary strain. According to the present invention a tool carrier comprises a sub-frame, a pair of wheels mounted on the sub-frame for rotation about a first axis for supporting the weight of the carrier and any tool carried thereby, a main frame pivoted on the sub-frame for pivotal movement about a second axis, spaced from the first axis, for taking the pull during towing, first hitch means connected to the main frame for connection to a towing vehicle, and second hitch means for the connection of a tool, and means between the main frame and the sub-frame for controlling the relative pivotal movement between the sub-frame and the main frame.

The tool carrier of the present invention is capable of use with various different types of tool as desired. For example, the tool carrier may be used to support a chisel plough as disclosed in our co-pending application No.

9542/77 (Serial No. 1582961). The means for controlling the relative pivotal movement between the sub-frame and the main frame is preferably a hydraulic ram assembly which enables the tool to be raised or lowered for transport and depth control.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of tool carrier and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred tool carrier; and Figure 2 is a plan view of a plough which may be carried by the tool carrier of Figure 1.

In the drawings a tool carrier 10 has a hitch point drawbar 1 for connection to a towing vehicle, for example a tractor, and tool hitches 5 and 8 for connection with hitches on a tool frame; hitch link 5 being pivoted at 12 as shown.

The main frame 2 of the carrier supports a hydraulic ram assembly 6,7 which enables the tool carried by the carrier to be raised or lowered for transport and for depth control.

Hydraulic fluid is fed through a hose (not shown) which is supported between the tractor and the carrier by a support 3.

As clearly seen from Figure 1 the tool carrier of the present invention has two axles 13 and 14. Axle 13 carries the weight of the carrier and any tool carried thereby and forms the support for wheels 15 and axle 14 takes the pull and forms the pivot for the frame 2. The axles 13 and 14 form a sub-frame assembly for the support of the main frame 2, the relative pivotal movement between the main frame and the sub-frame being controlled by the hydraulic ram assembly.

The tool carrier may be used with any suitable tool but a plough is shown by way of example in figure 2.

In Figure 2 a plough 20 as a V-shaped frame 21 of steel square section and a plurality of depending shanks 22. The leading apex 23 of the frame 21 carries a single shank and has a three point linkage 24 for connection with the hitch points 5 and 8 on the tool carrier. The shanks 22 are mounted on the frame 21 by a device assembly 28 described in more detail in our aforementioned copending application.

In use the tool to be used is fixed to the hitch points 5 and 8 and the tool carrier hitched to a tractor by the hitch point drawbar 1. The tool, such as the plough 20, is then lowered by the hydraulic ram assembly 6, 7 so that the shanks 22 engage the sol to a required depth.

The plough shown by way of example in Figure 2 is described and claimed in our copending application 9542/77, (Serial Number 1582961).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tool carrier comprising a sub-frame, a pair of wheels mounted on the sub-frame for rotation about a first axis for supporting the weight of the carrier and any tool carried thereby, a main frame pivoted on the subframe for pivotal movement about a second axis, spaced from the first axis, for taking the pull during towing, first hitch means connected to the main frame for connection to a towing vehicle, and second hitch means for the connection of a tool, and means between the main frame and the sub-frame for controlling the relative pivotal movement between the sub-frame and the main frame.

2. A tool carrier according to Claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the relative pivotal movement is a hydraulic ram assembly which enables a tool supported by the tool carrier to be raised or lowered for transport and depth control.

3. A tool carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. depth. The plough shown by way of example in Figure 2 is described and claimed in our copending application 9542/77, (Serial Number 1582961). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tool carrier comprising a sub-frame, a pair of wheels mounted on the sub-frame for rotation about a first axis for supporting the weight of the carrier and any tool carried thereby, a main frame pivoted on the subframe for pivotal movement about a second axis, spaced from the first axis, for taking the pull during towing, first hitch means connected to the main frame for connection to a towing vehicle, and second hitch means for the connection of a tool, and means between the main frame and the sub-frame for controlling the relative pivotal movement between the sub-frame and the main frame.

2. A tool carrier according to Claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the relative pivotal movement is a hydraulic ram assembly which enables a tool supported by the tool carrier to be raised or lowered for transport and depth control.

3. A tool carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.