GB1594594A

GB1594594A - Reversible ploughs

Info

Publication number: GB1594594A
Application number: GB56/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ransomes Sims and Jeffries Ltd
Current assignee: Ransomes Sims and Jeffries Ltd
Priority date: 1977-01-04
Filing date: 1977-01-04
Publication date: 1981-07-30
Also published as: SE7800082L; BE862526A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE PLOUGHS (71) We, RANSOMES SIMS & JEFFERIES LIMITED, a British company of Nacton Works, Ipwich, Suffolk IP3 9QG, 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 reversible ploughs.

The size of reversible plough that can be mounted on the three point linkage of a particular tractor is determined by such factors as the lift power available from the tractor, since the plough must be lifted out of the ground for reversing and transport purposes, and by the weight and size of the tractor, since the combination of tractor and plough must be at all times stable.

Clearly, the closer the centre of mass of the plough frame can be brought to the three point linkage of the tractor, the larger is the size of the plough that can be handled by a particular tractor. In general, means have to be provided for rotation of the plough frame to effect reversal between the two-ploughing positions, in which the left and right handed plough bodies respectively are in work, and for locating the plough frame in either of the two positions. The mechanisms for performing these functions are usually accommodated between the three point linkage of the tractor and the forward extremity of the plough frame, so determining the minimum distance between the lifting means of the tractor and the centre of mass of the plough frame.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reversible plough in which the plough frame may be brought closer to the tractor. Other objects of differenf forms of the invention are to provide a reversible plough which is economic to produce and straightforward to operate.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a reversible plough comprising a headstock adapted for connection to a tractor and having bearing means provided a reversing axis; a reversing spindle rotatably mounted in the bearing means and extending along said axis; a plough frame secured to the reversing spindle for rotation therewith and adapted to support left and right handed plough bodies; a double acting hydraulic ram pendently supported at one end thereof in the headstock and eccentrically connected at its other end with the reversing spindle intermediate axial extremities of the bearing means for rotating the reversing spindle to effect reversal of the plough frame between left and right handed ploughing positions; abutment means mounted in the headstock and a stop member provided on the reversing spindle adjacent the connection thereto of the ram and adapted to cooperate with the abutment means to constrain the reversing spindle to rotational movement between angular limits corresponding respectively with said ploughing positions of the plough frame.

Advantageously, the bearing means comprises a pair of spaced bearings mounted on a common support fixed in the headstock.

Preferably, the connection of the hydraulic ram to the reversing spindle is effected by means of a crank member positioned adjacent the stop member between the two bearings.

In one form of the invention the headstock further comprises an upper connecting link for attachment to the upper link of a tractor three point linkage, a pair of spaced lower connecting elements for respective attachment to the lower links of a tractor three point linkage and a sheet metal shell to which the three connecting elements and the bearing means are secured.

Suitably, the sheet metal shell is formed from pressed sections projection welded together.

Preferably, the stop member comprises an integral collar and two stops adjustable in position relative thereto, the stop member engageable, after an initial rotation of the reversing spindle, by the crank member, the stop member thereafter rotating with the reversing spindle.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a headstock of a reversible ' plough according to the invention, with the majority of internal parts omitted for the sake of clarity.

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1, with part of the headstock removed, Figure 3 is a section along 3-3 of Figure 2 in a central position Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3 and Figure 5 is a side view of a reversible plough according to the invention incorporating a headstock as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

With reference to Figure 1, the headstock 2 comprises a sheet metal shell 4 to which are secured a top link connecting member 6, a reversing spindle bearing assembly 8 and left and right bottom link connecting members 10 (only one seen in Figure 1). The shell 4 is constructed from four steel sheets projection welded together at their peripheries. As will be understood, the technique of projection welding involves filling an aperture in one sheet with molten metal to join that sheet to a second sheet with which it is in close contact in the region of the aperture. The sheets comprise a back sheet 12 which is planar and-as best shown in Figure 2-has the general shape of an inverted T with adjoining edges of the cross piece 14 and upright portion 16 respectively, being mutually inclined at both sides of the sheet, to increase their angle of intersection beyond a right angle. The two sides sheets 18 and 20 are identical apart from being right and left handed, respectively. Each side sheet has a straight edge 22 which overlies flanges 24 formed along the corresponding edge of the back sheet 12, and has a bend 26 normal to this straight edge dividing the side sheet into two trapezium shaped portions 28 and 30 mutually inclined at an angle equal to the angle of intersection of the crosspiece and the upright portion of the back sheet 12.

The two edges 32 of each side sheet adjoining the straight edge 22 are normal to that straight edge whilst the edges 34 and 36 opposing the straight edge are mutually inclined forming an apex to the bend 26.

Each side sheet is provided with a lozenge shaped aperture 37 which straddles the bend 26 in that sheet.

The front sheet 38 of the shell which has been removed from Figure 2 is again of generally inverted T shape with, however, the two arms 40 of the cross piece formed at an angle to the plane of the T so as to cooperate with the corresponding inclined edges 36 of the side sheets 18, 20. The front sheet 38 as a whole is inclined to the plane of the back sheet 12 to allow engagement with corresponding inclined edges 34 of the side sheets. Flanges 24 are again provided on the front sheet 38 and these abut the inclined edges 34 and 36 of the side sheets.

The bottom sheet 42 of the shell is planar and is shaped to fit between the front and back sheets at a short distance above the bottom edges of those sheets. Flanges 24 are provided around the periphery of the bottom sheet 42 for flatwise engagement with the front and back sheets. At intervals along these flanges 24 and, similarly, along the flanges 24 of the front and back sheets, projection welds 44 are formed.

Each bottom link connecting member 10 comprises a plate 50 which is projection welded into the U-shaped channel formed between portion 40 of the front sheet, portion 30 of the corresponding side sheet and cross piece 14 of the back sheet 12. The outer face of plate 50 is flush with the edges of these sheets. A key hole slot 52 opens out into the free edge of the plate, whilst the edge of the plate abutting the front sheet 38 is formed with an upstanding lug 54 which co-operates with a complementary recess 56 in portion 40 of the front sheet 38.

The top link connecting member 6 comprises a U-shaped channel 60 which projects from the shell 4 through the aperture formed by the converging front, back and side sheets. Inwardly of the shell, the channel is projection welded in position and is formed with a cross piece 62 having a fore and aft aperture 64. Outwardly of the shell, the channel 60 is provided with three vertically spaced transverse apertures 66.

The bearing assembly 8 rests on the bottom sheet 42 of the shell, and, as best seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, comprise a base plate 70 supporting integral front and rear bearing supports in the form of coaxial collars 72 and 74 respectively, each provided with an interior bush 75. Each collar projects through a circular aperture 76 in the corresponding sheet of the shell 4, with the edge of each sheet adjacent the aperture being turned inwardly of the shell 78 for closer engagement with the corresponding collar. Between the two collars, base plate 70 is provided with upstanding walls 80 which define therebetween a channel 82 lying parallel to the common axis of the collars. The base plate is further provided, intermediate the two collars 72, 74 and at either side of the channel 82, with an abutment 84 having an upper surface 86 inclined to the base plate 70, buttressed by flanges 88.

The reversing spindle 90 of the plough is located within the front and rear collars 72 and 74 which define the reversing axis of the plough. The front end of the reversing spindle is screw threaded at 92 to receive a nut 94 which bears against the front collar 72 via clamping washer 96, cam plate 98 and thrust bearing 100. In this way the spindle is held against axial rearward movement. At the rear of the headstock, the reversing spindle 90 passes through the rear collar 74 for engagement with the plough frame which, in Figures 3 and 4, is shown only in part. The forward clamping element 102 of the plough frame, which is the foremost part of the frame, is secured to the reversing spindle 90 so as to rotate therewith, by means of key 104. A thrust bearing 106 between the clamping element 102 and rear collar 74 restrains the reversing spindle against forward axial displacement.

Between the front and rear collars, and hence inwardly of the shell 4, a cranked arm 120 is secured to the reversing spindle for rotation therewith. A tension pin 122 and the key 124 serve to prevent respectively axial and rotational movement of the crank arm relatively to the spindle. Remotely from the reversing spindle the crank arm is yoked and is provided withe fore and aft aperture 126. A pin 150 passing through this aperture locates the free end of a piston 152 of a double acting hydraulic ram 154. The ram 154 is pendently supported from the top link connecting member 6 by means of a further pin 156 passing through an eye 158 formed at the end of the cylinder remote from the piston and through the fore and aft aperture 64 in the connecting member 6. Adjacent the crank arm 120, a wing stop member 130 is located on the reversing spindle. This wing stop member is freely rotatable on the spindle but is located axially in one sense by the crank arm 120 and in the other sense by a second tension pin 132 passing diametrically through the spindle. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the wing stop member 130 comprises a collar 134, through which the reversing spindle passes, formed integrally with a tangential shoulder piece 136 provided with inclined arms 138 which project in generally opposite directions from the shoulder piece and which terminate in internally threaded- cups 140.

Each such cup 140 is provided, atthe side thereof adjacent the crank arm, with a tongue 142. A threaded stud 144 having a socket formed in the end thereof cooperates with each cup 140. These threaded studs 144 are arranged so that their shaped ends project through the lozenge shaped aperture 37 in the corresponding side sheet.

With reference to Figure 5, the plough frame 200 is secured to the reversing spindle so as to rotate therewith. The plough leg supports 202, each supporting a pair of opposed plough legs 204, are mounted at intervals along the plough frame 200. A plough body 206 is secured to the free end of each plough leg 204, with the bodies on one side of the frame being left-handed and those on the opposite side being righthanded.

The operation of the described plough can now be understood. The headstock 2 is mounted to the three point linkage of a tractor, with the top link of the linkage being pinned through one of the apertures 66 to the top link connecting member 6. A horizontal bar connected to the tractor bottom links is positioned beneath the bottom link connecting membe-rs 10 of the headstock and is then raised by the tractor hydraulic system to engage within the key hole slots 52. This arrangement permits a speedy attachment of the plough to a tractor, through the more normal arrangement whereby each bottom link of the tractor three point linkage is separately pinned to the headstock could also be used.

To reverse the plough frame from the position shown in Figures 2 and 5 the tractor hydraulic system is activated to supply hydraulic fluid to the ram 154 through pipes 160. This causes the ram to retract, so effecting an anticlockwise rotation (in Figure 2) of the reversing spindle and with it the plough frame 200. As the reversing spindle rotates the cam plate 98 co-operates with a hydraulic crossover valve so that as the mid-way position is reached with the hydraulic ram substantially vertical and with the opposed plough legs 204 of one pair lying in a horizontal plane, the supply of fluid to the double acting ram 154 is reversed. The resultant extension of the ram will continue the anticlockwise rotation of the reversing spindle and plough frame. A short while after passing the midway position, the crank arm 120 will come into contact with the tongue 142 of the corresponding wing stop arm 138 the wing stop member will thereafter rotate with the reversing spindle until the threaded stud 144 in the corresponding cup 140 engages the upper surface 86 of the associated abutment 84.

Further rotation of the wing stop member, and consequently of the reversing spindle, is prevented and, with back pressure in the hydraulic ram suitably preventing rotation in the opposite sense, the plough frame is firmly located in the left handed ploughing position. The operation of the mechanism upon reversal to the right handed ploughing position (shown in Figure 2) is clearly analogous and will not be described Since the hydraulic ram and the wind stop member are provided intermediate axial extremities of the bearing means, the plough frame may be positioned closer to the headstock. Moreover, the fact that the hydraulic ram and the wing stop member are contained within the headstock results in reduced production costs and much lessened risk of injury to operators. The hollow structure of the headstock envisaged in one form of the present invention provides the required rigidity between the top link connecting member 6, the bottom link connecting members 10 and the bearing assembly 8 at the expense of little added weight, whilst providing the necessary space for the ram and the wing stop member.

Certain features of the reversible plough described herein are claimed in co-pending patent application No 55/77 (Serial No.

1594593).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A reversible plough comprising a headstock adapted for connection to a tractor and having bearing means providing a reversing axis; a reversing spindle rotatably mounted in the bearing means and extending along said axis; a plough frame secured to the reversing spindle for rotation therewith and adapted to support left and right handed plough bodies; a double acting hydraulic ram pendently supported at one end thereof in the headstock and eccentrically connected at its other end with the reversing spindle intermediate axial extremities of the bearing means rotating the reversing spindle to effect reversal of the plough frame between left and right handed ploughing positions; abutment means mounted in the headstock and a stop member provided on the reversing spindle adjacent the connection thereto of the ram and adapted to cooperate with the abutment means to constrain the reversing spindle to rotational movement between angular limits corresponding respectively with said ploughing positions of the plough frame.

2. A reversible plough according to Claim 1, wherein the bearing means comprises a pair of spaced bearings.

3. A reversible plough according to Claim 2, wherein the bearings are mounted on a common support fixed in the headstock.

4. A reversible plough according to Claim 3, wherein a crank member is provided on the reversing spindle to effect said connection of the hydraulic ram, the crank member and the stop member being arranged adjacent one another between the spaced bearings.

5. A reversible plough according to Claim 4, wherein the abutment means comprises two abutments and wherein the stop member is provided with a pair of stops adjustable in position relative thereto and respectively cooperable with the abutments.

6. A reversible plough according to Claim 5, wherein the abutments are provided on the common support.

7. A reversible plough according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the stop member comprises an integral collar rotatable about the reversing spindle and is engageable, after an initial rotation of the reversing spindle, by the crank member, the stop member thereafter rotating with the reversing spindle.

8. A reversible plough according to any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the common support comprises a base plate formed integrally with the bearings.

9. A reversbible plough according to Claim 8, wherein the common support further comprises integral wall portions projecting from opposite edges of the base plate and extending between the bearings.

10. A reversible plough according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an upper connecting element for attachment to the upper link of a tractor three point linkage, a pair of spaced lower connecting elements for respective attachment to the lower links of a tractor three point linkage and a sheet metal shell to which the three connecting elements and the bearing means are secured.

11. A reversible plough according to Claim 10, wherein the hydraulic ram is pendently supported from the upper connecting element.

12. A reversible plough according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the sheet metal shell is formed from pressed sections projection welded together.

13. A reversible plough according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the bearing means comprises a pair of spaced bearings mounted on a common base plate, the two bearings being located within apertures in respectively front and rear sections of the shell and the base plate overlying a base section of the shell.

14. A reversible plough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foremost part of the plough frame is adjacent the bearing means.

15. A reversible plough according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 or Claim 13, wherein the foremost part of the plough frame abuts the rearmost bearing.

16. A reversible plough according to Claim 15 wherein a thrust bearing is

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Claims

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are contained within the headstock results in reduced production costs and much lessened risk of injury to operators. The hollow structure of the headstock envisaged in one form of the present invention provides the required rigidity between the top link connecting member 6, the bottom link connecting members 10 and the bearing assembly 8 at the expense of little added weight, whilst providing the necessary space for the ram and the wing stop member.

Certain features of the reversible plough described herein are claimed in co-pending patent application No 55/77 (Serial No.

1594593).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A reversible plough comprising a headstock adapted for connection to a tractor and having bearing means providing a reversing axis; a reversing spindle rotatably mounted in the bearing means and extending along said axis; a plough frame secured to the reversing spindle for rotation therewith and adapted to support left and right handed plough bodies; a double acting hydraulic ram pendently supported at one end thereof in the headstock and eccentrically connected at its other end with the reversing spindle intermediate axial extremities of the bearing means rotating the reversing spindle to effect reversal of the plough frame between left and right handed ploughing positions; abutment means mounted in the headstock and a stop member provided on the reversing spindle adjacent the connection thereto of the ram and adapted to cooperate with the abutment means to constrain the reversing spindle to rotational movement between angular limits corresponding respectively with said ploughing positions of the plough frame.
2. A reversible plough according to Claim 1, wherein the bearing means comprises a pair of spaced bearings.
3. A reversible plough according to Claim 2, wherein the bearings are mounted on a common support fixed in the headstock.
4. A reversible plough according to Claim 3, wherein a crank member is provided on the reversing spindle to effect said connection of the hydraulic ram, the crank member and the stop member being arranged adjacent one another between the spaced bearings.
5. A reversible plough according to Claim 4, wherein the abutment means comprises two abutments and wherein the stop member is provided with a pair of stops adjustable in position relative thereto and respectively cooperable with the abutments.
6. A reversible plough according to Claim 5, wherein the abutments are provided on the common support.
7. A reversible plough according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the stop member comprises an integral collar rotatable about the reversing spindle and is engageable, after an initial rotation of the reversing spindle, by the crank member, the stop member thereafter rotating with the reversing spindle.
8. A reversible plough according to any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the common support comprises a base plate formed integrally with the bearings.
9. A reversbible plough according to Claim 8, wherein the common support further comprises integral wall portions projecting from opposite edges of the base plate and extending between the bearings.
10. A reversible plough according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an upper connecting element for attachment to the upper link of a tractor three point linkage, a pair of spaced lower connecting elements for respective attachment to the lower links of a tractor three point linkage and a sheet metal shell to which the three connecting elements and the bearing means are secured.
11. A reversible plough according to Claim 10, wherein the hydraulic ram is pendently supported from the upper connecting element.
12. A reversible plough according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the sheet metal shell is formed from pressed sections projection welded together.
13. A reversible plough according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein the bearing means comprises a pair of spaced bearings mounted on a common base plate, the two bearings being located within apertures in respectively front and rear sections of the shell and the base plate overlying a base section of the shell.
14. A reversible plough according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foremost part of the plough frame is adjacent the bearing means.
15. A reversible plough according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 or Claim 13, wherein the foremost part of the plough frame abuts the rearmost bearing.
16. A reversible plough according to Claim 15 wherein a thrust bearing is

provided between the foremost part of the plough frame and the rearmost bearing.
17. A reversible plough substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~