GB2112741A

GB2112741A - Tractor link box

Info

Publication number: GB2112741A
Application number: GB08136996A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Alan Smoldon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-08
Filing date: 1981-12-08
Publication date: 1983-07-27
Also published as: GB2112741B

Abstract

A tractor link box assembly is arranged to provide tipping facilities and to increase the height at which such tipping can be carried out. The box is carried on pivots near its open edge by a frame about which it can be tilted by ram means. As shown the frame itself can be tilted in relation to the three point linkage to which it is attached as the top link is extendible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Link box for tractors This invention relates to a load-carrying container for mounting on an agricultural tractor. The usual load-carrying container is the link box which is normally in the shape of a rectangular open-topped box arranged across the rear of the tractor and connected to the tractor implement links which are normally used for such activities as ploughing. This enables the operator to lower the box so that its bottom rests upon the ground, orto raise it for transport, and where an extendible top link is fitted the box may also be tilted rearwardly somewhat for emptying.

According to the invention a link box assembly for a tractor comprises a frame for fitting to a threepoint linkage and having a projecting arm or arms to which the box is pivotted at a position near its open rear edge, means for tilting said frame so as to raise or lower the outer end of said arm or arms, and ram means for tilting said box about its rear edge or thereabouts so as to empty the contents.

According to a feature of the invention the box is shaped like a trapezium in side elevation so that, when in a transport position, it has forwardly and backwardly sioping front and rear faces.

The box according to the invention is preferably combined with a top link that is extendible, so as to enable the operator to raise the box so that at least its open edge is considerably higher than normal, so as to permit the use of the box as a loader. The link is preferably power operated and hydraulic top links are already available and fitted to some tractors.

When a tractor is already fitted with an extending top link, this is usually operated by a position control hydraulic system and can be set to a suitable position for the mode of operation desired. The tilting ram or rams can, if desired, be connected so as to operate when the lifting ram that lifts the bottom links reaches the end of its stroke, for example by choosing a ram size such that there will be insufficient pressure to cause tilting until additional resistance is encountered by the lifting ram.

Alternatively the tilting rams can be operated by the valve normally used for tipping a trailer.

One form of the invention is now described in connection with the accompaying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the frame and box, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the frame, box and implement links in a normal lowered position, and Figure 3 is a similar view showing two further positions when used for loading.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 a trangulated frame 1 has an atttachment point 2 for connection to a top link 3 of a tractor, in this case being shown as a hydraulically extendible top link. The other end of this top link is connected to a fixed point 4 on the tractor. Two further attachment points 5 are provided for attachment to the outer ends of the tractor bottom links 6. These are pivotted on further fixed points 7 and can be raised and lowered under power by conventional means (not shown).

The frame 1 has a pair of rearwardly (in relation to a normal tractor, that is) extending arms 8 to the rearward extremities of which a box 9 is pivotted and the box may rest by means of stops (not shown) on the foward ends of the arms. Hydraulic rams 10 are provided between the arms 8 and suitable pins attached to upward extensions 11 of the sides of the box 9.

The box of the invention is envisaged as being primarily for fairly light weight materials such as forage, and is of light construction. It may be reinforced however by triangular webs 12 welded to the bottom and rear faces. An extension piece 15, which may be of wood, can be used around the forward edge to increase the capacity for bulky materials.

The position of the box shown in Figure 2 is a loading position with the box resting on its bottom face 13 on the ground 14. For transport, the links 6 would be raised, and with the link 3 in its shortened condition as shown, this will result in the conventional roughly parallel motion of the frame 1.

The box is somewhat trapezoidal in side elevation, the forward face being sloped so that the bottom will clear the frame when the box is tilted forward, and the rearward face is sloped so that it can be laid flat on the ground as shown in full lines in Figure 3. To achieve this position the link 3 is extended so that, when lowered, the arms 8 slope downwards to the rear. This brings the mouth of the box adjacent to the ground to facilitate the loading of bulk materials, either by pitching or by backing into a heap. For transport of such materials the link 3 may be retracted, and the frame 1 raised while permitting the rams 10 to collapse.

The pecked lines in Figure 3 show the links 6 fully raised and the link 3 in its shortest condition. In this condition the mouth of the box is raised very high off the ground and the contents of the box may be tipped by operating the rams 10. It will be seen that the sloping rear face of the box facilitates this operation.

The hydraulic controls may be those normally provided on an aggricultural tractor. For example, the lifting of the links 6 is part of the conventional draught control system, the ram 3 is usually a separate position control system, and the ram 10 may be connected to the usual tipping control usually used for trailers. Thus, all the necessary control operations can be carried out from the cab of the tractor.

CLAIMS (Filed on 23.12.82) 1. A tractor link box assembly comprising a frame for fitting to a three point linkage and having a projecting arm or arms on which the box is mounted by pivots at a position at or near its open rear edge, means for tilting the frame so as to raise or lower said pivots and ram means for tilting said box about said pivots so as to empty the contents.

2. A tractor link box assembly according to claim 1 wherein the box is shaped like a trapezium in side elevation so as to have a transport position with sloping front and rear walls.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Link box for tractors This invention relates to a load-carrying container for mounting on an agricultural tractor. The usual load-carrying container is the link box which is normally in the shape of a rectangular open-topped box arranged across the rear of the tractor and connected to the tractor implement links which are normally used for such activities as ploughing. This enables the operator to lower the box so that its bottom rests upon the ground, orto raise it for transport, and where an extendible top link is fitted the box may also be tilted rearwardly somewhat for emptying. According to the invention a link box assembly for a tractor comprises a frame for fitting to a threepoint linkage and having a projecting arm or arms to which the box is pivotted at a position near its open rear edge, means for tilting said frame so as to raise or lower the outer end of said arm or arms, and ram means for tilting said box about its rear edge or thereabouts so as to empty the contents. According to a feature of the invention the box is shaped like a trapezium in side elevation so that, when in a transport position, it has forwardly and backwardly sioping front and rear faces. The box according to the invention is preferably combined with a top link that is extendible, so as to enable the operator to raise the box so that at least its open edge is considerably higher than normal, so as to permit the use of the box as a loader. The link is preferably power operated and hydraulic top links are already available and fitted to some tractors. When a tractor is already fitted with an extending top link, this is usually operated by a position control hydraulic system and can be set to a suitable position for the mode of operation desired. The tilting ram or rams can, if desired, be connected so as to operate when the lifting ram that lifts the bottom links reaches the end of its stroke, for example by choosing a ram size such that there will be insufficient pressure to cause tilting until additional resistance is encountered by the lifting ram. Alternatively the tilting rams can be operated by the valve normally used for tipping a trailer. One form of the invention is now described in connection with the accompaying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the frame and box, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the frame, box and implement links in a normal lowered position, and Figure 3 is a similar view showing two further positions when used for loading. Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 a trangulated frame 1 has an atttachment point 2 for connection to a top link 3 of a tractor, in this case being shown as a hydraulically extendible top link. The other end of this top link is connected to a fixed point 4 on the tractor. Two further attachment points 5 are provided for attachment to the outer ends of the tractor bottom links 6. These are pivotted on further fixed points 7 and can be raised and lowered under power by conventional means (not shown). The frame 1 has a pair of rearwardly (in relation to a normal tractor, that is) extending arms 8 to the rearward extremities of which a box 9 is pivotted and the box may rest by means of stops (not shown) on the foward ends of the arms. Hydraulic rams 10 are provided between the arms 8 and suitable pins attached to upward extensions 11 of the sides of the box 9. The box of the invention is envisaged as being primarily for fairly light weight materials such as forage, and is of light construction. It may be reinforced however by triangular webs 12 welded to the bottom and rear faces. An extension piece 15, which may be of wood, can be used around the forward edge to increase the capacity for bulky materials. The position of the box shown in Figure 2 is a loading position with the box resting on its bottom face 13 on the ground 14. For transport, the links 6 would be raised, and with the link 3 in its shortened condition as shown, this will result in the conventional roughly parallel motion of the frame 1. The box is somewhat trapezoidal in side elevation, the forward face being sloped so that the bottom will clear the frame when the box is tilted forward, and the rearward face is sloped so that it can be laid flat on the ground as shown in full lines in Figure 3. To achieve this position the link 3 is extended so that, when lowered, the arms 8 slope downwards to the rear. This brings the mouth of the box adjacent to the ground to facilitate the loading of bulk materials, either by pitching or by backing into a heap. For transport of such materials the link 3 may be retracted, and the frame 1 raised while permitting the rams 10 to collapse. The pecked lines in Figure 3 show the links 6 fully raised and the link 3 in its shortest condition. In this condition the mouth of the box is raised very high off the ground and the contents of the box may be tipped by operating the rams 10. It will be seen that the sloping rear face of the box facilitates this operation. The hydraulic controls may be those normally provided on an aggricultural tractor. For example, the lifting of the links 6 is part of the conventional draught control system, the ram 3 is usually a separate position control system, and the ram 10 may be connected to the usual tipping control usually used for trailers. Thus, all the necessary control operations can be carried out from the cab of the tractor. CLAIMS (Filed on 23.12.82)

1. A tractor link box assembly comprising a frame for fitting to a three point linkage and having a projecting arm or arms on which the box is mounted by pivots at a position at or near its open rear edge, means for tilting the frame so as to raise or lower said pivots and ram means for tilting said box about said pivots so as to empty the contents.

3. A tractor link box assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the means for tilting the frame comprises an hydraulically extendable top link.

4. A tractor link box assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame consists essentially of a bell-crank lever having a first arm arranged to extend between the attachments points of a three point linkage and a pair of parallel arms arranged to extend rearwardly from positions near the attachment points of the bottom links.

5. A tractor link box assembly according to claim 4 wherein the parallel arms are appreciably longer than the first arm.

6. A tractor link box assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.