GB2033720A - The appliance of ancillary equipment to agricultural tractors - Google Patents

Abstract

A fitment can be used on agricultural tractors to enable them to carry and operate ancillary equipment such as mowers, hay cutters, snow ploughing machinery. The fitment, which can be applied to the front of a tractor to increase the multiple utility of the vehicle, and which can be quickly applied and detached, comprises a frame (1) including a crosspiece (4) for mounting at the front of the chassis of the tractor, longitudinal bearers (2, 3) connected to the crosspiece, and means for lifting the equipment including two open-ended pockets (5) for receiving the equipment, a pivot (6) for these pockets, and hydraulic units (7) for operating the pockets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION The appliance of ancillary equipment to agricultural tractors This invention relates to ancillary equipment used with agricultural tractors.

Hitherto it has been conventional to arrange such ancillary equipment, such as mowing and drilling devices, at the rear end of the vehicle, and means for lifting such appliances have also been provided. In many cases it is however desirable to arrange for a number of operations to be carried out in one working cycle, for example to mow and to load a trailer vehicle from the tractor. Previous arrangements do not allow for multiple use in this way.

The invention is aimed at providing a fitment on tractors for ancillary equipment which will cater for multiple uses of this tractor.

The fitment proposed by the invention for this purpose comprises a frame including a crosspiece for mounting at the front of the chassis of the tractor, longitudinal bearers connected to said crosspiece and extending laterally along the two sides of said chassis in use, and means mounted on said frame for lifting the ancillary equipment, such means including two lateral open-fronted pockets for detachable reception of parts of the ancillary equipment, a horizontal pivot axis for the reception pockets parallel to said crosspiece, and hydraulic piston-cylinder units extending alongside said bearers and engaging said pockets through lever arms.

By using the arrangement according to the invention the tractor can now carry at its front end such equipment for example as mowing devices, apparatus for hay distribution, snow cutters, snow ploughs, chopping appliances, or even apraying means, without complete rebuilding being necessary. The tractor can be worked with this ancillary equipment at the front only, but it is also possible to provide the usual ancillary appliances at the rear end of the tractor as well. The ancillary equipment which can be fitted under the provisions of the present invention may be driven through a front power take-off. It is also possible to use ancillary equipment without a separate drive.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that the parts which are permanently connected to the tractor only take up a small amount of space and are also of comparatively small weight. Thus the continual mounting and use of the ancillary equipment is neither damaging nor does it load the tractor excessively. The ancillary equipment itself can be connected quickly with the fitment and quickly replaced.

In a further feature of the invention provision is made for the reception pockets to have a pivot bolt and a stop for the ancillary equipment. This arrangement enables the equipment either to be rigidly connected to the fitment or to be movable relatively to it within certain limits. This movable connection is of advantage when the ancillary equipmnt has during working to be suited to prevailing unevenness in the ground. The stop means may for example either be a simple additional bolt which prevents movement of the ancillary equipment relatively to the pocket.

It is of advantage for the two reception pockets to be interconnected by a rigid tube which carries mounting eyes for a pivot shaft for the pockets.

In many working situations it is necessary for the two pockets to be mounted more or less exactly parallel with one another. The rigid tube caters for this rigid connection. The arrangement of the mounting eyes on the tube caters for the use of simple bolt pivots to provide the pivotal axis of the pockets.

The lever arms of the pockets are preferably each provided with a plurality of pivot points for the corresponding piston-cylinder unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the crosspiece comprises a flanged mounting plate with an upstanding loop having a link point for the ancillary equipment. A parallelogram linkage for the ancillary equipment may for example be mounted at this linkage point.

An example of embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing.

This shows: Figure 1 a side view partly in section, of the fitment according to the invention, Figure 2 a partial plan view of the fitment illustrated in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 a front view of a detail of the invention.

In the Fig. 1 illustration the tractor carrying the frame 1 of the fitment of this invention is partially shown in dot and dash lines. The tractor chassis carrying this frame is designated 1 8 and the engine housing is indicated at 1 9. A counterweight, which is removed for the mounting of the frame and then screwed on again, is designated 20. The fitment is disposed substantially symmetrical to the medial plane of the tractor, designated 21. This symmetrical arrangement can of course be wholly or partially deviated from depending on the construction of the tractor.

A crosspiece 4 connects two longitudinal bearers 2 and 3 of the fitment together and is best seen from the illustration of Fig. 3. This crosspiece consists of a mounting plate 1 5 which can be fastened to the chassis of the tractor by screws in screw holes 22 of the plate. Plummer blocks 23 are mounted on the bearing plate 1 5 for the two mounting bolts 24 (Fig. 2) of a pivot rod, the axis of which is indicated at 6.

A rigid loop 1 6 carrying a mounting 1 7 for a link of the fitment upstands from the bear ing plate 1 5. A hole 25 through this link mounting 1 7 may for example be provided to receive a pivot pin. A connection piece 26 extends between the loop 1 6 and each of the longitudinal bearers 2 and 3.

In the example illustrated the longitudinal bearers 2 and 3 are substantially of plate form and each is provided with a depending projection 27 for better connection to the mounting plate 1 5 of the cross-piece. A bend 28 in the longitudinal bearers caters for better conformity with the dimensions of the tractor. Each rear end of the two longitudinal bearers has a lug 29 for connection of a piston-cylinder assembly 7. The piston rod 30 of the assembly 7 is connected to the pivot 1 3 of a lever arm 8. If desired the pivot could be used at 14.

The lever arm 8 is mounted on a reception pocket 5, so that a pocket is provided at each of the two sides of the frame 1. These reception pockets are open at the front and are suited to the ancillary equipment concerned, this being represented by the arms 31. The connection of this equipment in the working position is effected by means of inserted bolts (not shown), one of which serves as a pivot bolt 9 and the other as a stop 1 0. If the pivot bolt 9 only is used the inserted equipment arm 31 can move within certain limits in pocket 5. The stop 10 provides for a rigid connection between the equipment arm and the pocket.

The reception pockets 5 at the two sides of the device are interconnected by a rigid tube 11. Thus tube carries mounting lugs 12 for the bolts 24 on the pivot axis 6.

The reception pockets 5 can be pivoted by appropriate operation of the piston-cylinder 7, for example from the position shown in full line to a position indicated by the dot and dash line 32. The piston-cylinder units can be two-way so that a downwardly directed pressure can also be exerted on the ancillary equipment.

Sizing bolts for adapting the fitment with the chassis of the vehicle, are provided alongside the holes 22, which are provided both in the mounting plate and in the longitudinal bearers, and holes 33 are for example provided for these sizing bolts.

The fitment according to the invention can be added to by further units, for example those for guaranteeing positioning during travel. Such units however have not been illustrated in the drawings.

Claims (6)

1. A fitment for connecting ancillary equipment to an agricultural tractor, comprising a frame including a crosspiece for mounting at the front of the chassis of the tractor, longitudinal bearers connected to said crosspiece and extending laterally along the two sides of said chassis in use, and means mounted on said frame for lifting the ancillary equipment, such means including two lateral open-fronted pockets for detachable reception of parts of the ancillary equipment a horizontal pivot axis for the reception pockets parallel to said cross-piece, and hydraulic piston-cylinder units extending alongside said bearers and engaging said pockets through lever arms.

2. A fitment according to Claim 1, in which each reception pocket comprises a pivot bolt and a stop controlling movement of ancillary equipment carried by said fitment.

3. A fitment according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the reception pockets are connected by a rigid tube carrying lugs for the pivotal mounting of said pockets.

4. A fitment according to any of Claims 1 to 3, in which said lever arms are each provided with a plurality of pivot points for the corresponding piston-cylinder unit.

5. A fitment according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the crosspiece comprises a flanged mounting plate with an upstanding loop having a link point for the ancillary equipment.

6. A fitment for connecting ancillary equipment to a tractor, substantially as herein described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.