GB2057831A

GB2057831A - Folding agricultural implements

Info

Publication number: GB2057831A
Application number: GB8018278A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-08-20
Filing date: 1980-06-04
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: FR2463570A1; NZ193986A; DK236180A; FR2463570B1; SE418139B; DK157110C; CA1138248A; DK157110B; GB2057831B; SE7906946L

Abstract

The invention relates to a latching/unlatching assembly in agricultural equipment having at least two laterally arranged sections (10, 20) e.g. harrow or roller sections, which are swingable towards each other. Through the action of operating apparatus (40) a releasable catch device (30) not only automatically locks the sections together when they are in a retracted position but also automatically releases the catch device when the sections (10, 20) are swung outwardly. This is achieved by the operating apparatus (40) being connected to one section (20) with the aid of connecting means (38), which latter is movable between two stops (42, 43). Thus, in the first stop position, the catch device (30) assumes a locking position when the sections (10, 20) are swung towards each other, while in the second stop position, the connecting means (38) automatically moves the catch device (30) from its locking position to free said sections (10, 20) for swinging movement away from each other, this swinging movement being provided by the operating apparatus (40). The catch comprises a spring-loaded rod (31) whose end (32) is moved behind a detent (13) by an arm (37) attached to the rod and pivoted to the connecting means (38). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A latching/unlatching assembly in agricultural equipment The present invention relates to a latching/unlatching assembly for use on agricultural equipment such as rollers and harrows for working arable land, of the kind which comprises at least two laterally disposed sections transverse to the direction of travel, which are mutually articulated by means of a joint with it axis susbstantially in the direction of travel. Such agricul- tural equipment usually has great width so that it can work over a large area when it is moved over a field, and it is customarily drawn by a tractor.For road transport, such equipment is usually provided with wheels enabling itto be taken along a road and different devices are known for retracting the different sections together to give a lesser width, making transport on roads possible. Mutual retraction ofthe sections either takes place by hand or, which is more usual today, with the aid of hydraulic cylinders supplied with pressurized oil from the tractor hydraulic system.When the sections have been folded to their retracted position and the hydraulic pressure is cut off, they are prevented from swinging away from each other by a releasable catch means, arranged such that during the last part of the swinging move menttowards each other of the sections, it assumes a spring biassed locking position whereby both sections cannot swing away from each other, but are kept in the retracted position.

With the known described device, the driver of the tractor can retract the sections from the driver's seat, the sections then being automatically locked in the retracted position. On the other hand, when the sections are to be swung out, the driver must release the catch by hand, which means that he must leave the driver's seat. This is naturally a large disadvantage.

An object of the invention is to remove this disadvantage and to provide a latching/unlatching assembly which both automatically locks the sections when they reach their retracted position, and automatically releases the catch means when the sections are to be swung away from each other, so that both these operations can be controlled from the driver's seat.

According to the invention, such a latching/unlatching assembly is characterised in that the operating apparatus for swinging the sections is connected to a given section with the aid of connecting means movable between two stops, said connecting means assuming a first stop position when the sections swing towards each other, in which position the catch device is unhindered from assuming its locking position, while said connecting means, at least during initial movement of the operating apparatus for swinging the sections away from each other, assumes a second stop position in which the catch device is automatically moved from its locking position to a free position.

The invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with an embodiment selected as an example and which is illustrated on the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the latching/unlatching assembly in a locking position, with an inset illustrating the position ofthe vital members in the free position, and Figure 2 illustrates an agricultural roller of known form, to which the latching/unlatching assembly according to Figure 1 can be fitted.

In Figure 2 there is shown a rollerwith a middle section provided with transport wheels, the latter being retractable between a down position, when they carry the roller during transport on a road, and an up position retained during the working position of the roller. The roller has a hydraulic cylinder 40', the ends ofwhich are each connected to an outer section 20'. When the cylinder is telescoped, it lifts up both outer sections to an upstanding position, where they are locked with the help of a catch device indicated by 30', this taking place automatically as mentioned. The outer sections slope somewhat inwards over the middle section 10' in this position.

Figure 1 illustrates the embodiment of a latching/unlatching assembly, used for the roller in Figure 2. In the figure, the numeral 10 denotes the section situated on one side of the pivot joint and the numeral 20 the section situated on the other side of the joint. The complete catch device is denoted by the numeral 30.

The section 10 includes a beam 11 connected to a bracket 12, at the upper end of which a detent 13 is formed. At the top of the detent there is a guide surface 14, disposed obliquely and terminating at a locking tooth 15. A pivot joint 16 is arranged at the right hand portion ofthe section.

The section 20, arranged on the other side of the pivot joint, includes a beam 21, which carries two cleats 22, 23, each provided with a hole 24, 25 through which a rod 31 moves. A pivot 26 is arranged above the cleats for a moveable connecting member in the form of a link 38.

Apart from the rod 31, which has a chamfered lower end 32, the catch device 30 includes a pin 33 passing through the rod 31, and, via a washer 34, this pin takes up the force from a spring 35 compressed between the washer 34 and cleat 23. A further pin 39 is arranged at the upper end of the rod 31 and constitutes a stop for a sleeve 36, which can slide on the upper part of the rod 31. An operating arm is attached to the sleeve, the upper end of the former being pivotally connected to the link 38. The link is connected at its outer end, via a pivot 41, to the piston rod 44 in a hydraulic cylinder 40, the other end of which is connected to a pivot 42 arranged on a bracket 43 on the beam 11 of the section 10.

Figure 1 illustrates the position where the sections 10 and 20 are retracted or swung together with the catch device in the locking position, by the end 32 of the rod 31 being lifted upwards by the guide surface 14 during the last part of the swinging movement, over the tooth 15 and behind it. The rod 31 can execute the described movement without hinder, against the bias of the spring 35, the rod sliding in the holes 24, 25 of the cleats 22, 23 and through the sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 is kept in the position illustrated in the Figure, during the retraction ofthe sec tions, by the operating arm 37 and link 38, which are kept pressed against the stop 42 during retraction, when the hydraulic cylinder 40 lifts the section 20 by tensional force in the piston rod 44, pivot 41 and link 38.

When the sections are to be released from each other, the tractor driver arranges the supply of hydraulic oil to the cylinder 40 so that the piston rod 44 is thrust outwards, i.e. upwards in Figure 1.The link 38 pivots around the pivot 26 to the position 38', illustrated by dashed lines, whereat the link hits the bracket 43 and the pivot of the piston rod 44 reaches the position 41'. Via the operating arm 37 the link 38 lifts the sleeve 36 during this movement and thereby the pin 39 and rod 31 a distance which is given by the arrow 48. As is apparent from the inset, left-hand depiction of the rod 31, it is freed from the detent 13 in this position and can pass over the detent.

With continued movement of the cylinder 40 and piston rod 44, the section 20 is thrust outwards by the link 38' via the force it exerts against the stop 43.

When section 20 has been thrust a small angular distance to the right, it strives to continue to fall underthe action of gravity. The link 38 hereby reiinquishes the stop 43 to engage instead against the stop 42 by moving from the position 38' to the position 38. The movement of the section 20 can subsequently continue, fully controlled by the hydraulic cylinder 40 until its travel is terminated.

In the described example, the hydraulic cylinder is arranged between the frame of section 10, which can be the middle section 10' illustrtated in the Figure.

The cylinder can naturally also be attached as shown in Figure 2, i.e. with the ends each connected to an outer section, which is then provided with links corresponding to the link 38 in Figure 1.

The connecting, or movable means for actuating the catch device can be made in many ways already known per se. For example, the piston rod can be provided with an elongate slot for a sliding shaft.

The sliding movement can be used for resetting the catch device to the positions where it is respectively either unhindered, or prevented, from assuming its locking position. One skilled in the art can provide many different embodiments of the invention within the scope ofthe invention.

Claims

1. A latching/unlatching assembly for use in agricultural equipment (e.g. a roller or harrow) for working arable land, of the kind which comprises at least two laterally disposed sections transverse to the direction of trave I, which are mutually articulated by means of a joint with its axis substantially in the direction of travel, the sections situated on either side of the joint being disposed for swinging rela tively to each other, under the action of operating apparatus, between a downward operating position and an upward retracted position, in which said sections are locked by means of a releasable catch device from swinging away from each other, the catch device being disposed fortaking up a locking position during the last part of the swinging movement of said sections towards each other, characterized in that the operating apparatus is connected to a section with the aid of connecting means movable between two stops, said connecting means assuming a first stop position when the sections swing towards each other, in which position the catch device is unhindered from assuming its locking position, while said connecting means, at least during initial movement of the operating apparatus for swinging the sections away from each other, assumes a second stop position, in which the catch device is automatically moved from its locking position to a free position.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means consists of a link, connected to the section by means of a pivot joint, the link having a pivot at its end remote from the swinging pivot, said pivot being arranged for actuation by a hydraulic cylinder constituting the operating apparatus.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the catch device has a locking means in the form of a catch arranged on the section and displaceable by a spring towards the locking position, said catch being formed for coaction with a detent provided on the adjacent section, the catch being lifted into the free position when the sections are swung away from each other, by means of a member, movable relative to the locking means towards a stop on said locking means, the movement of said member being controlled by the link.

4. A latching/unlatching assembly for use in agricultural equipment constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw- ing.

5. Agricultural equipment incorporating a latching/unlatching assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.