GB2133666A

GB2133666A - Automatic implement-lifting device for an agricultural device, in particular a mower

Info

Publication number: GB2133666A
Application number: GB8403074A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean Pierre Amstutz
Original assignee: Bucher Guyer AG
Current assignee: Bucher Guyer AG
Priority date: 1979-12-07
Filing date: 1984-02-06
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: GB8403074D0; GB2133268A; FR2471130A1; GB8324714D0; GB2064290B; FR2471130B1; DE2949335A1; CH654976A5; GB2133268B; GB2133666B; GB2064290A; CH655426B

Abstract

Automatic implement-lifting device lifts the implement (for example, a mower) which is mounted on a vehicle (for example, an agricultural tractor) when said implement strikes an obstacle. The implement is attached to two lateral carriers or support means 101 each of which is articulated on a bell crank lever 103 pivotal about a horizontal axis and carrying a rod 108 which extends through slot 109 in the carrier. Adjustable spacing means 102 are provided between flanges 110 on the implement and tie bars 100 of the implement carriers. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB 2 133 666 A

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SPECIFICATION

Automatic implement-lifting device for an agricultural device, in particular a mower

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This invention relates to an automatic implement-lifting device for an agricultural implement, in particular a mower.

Such an implement may be connected to a tractor 10 via a linkage mechanism which, in the event that the implement strikes against an obstacle, allows the implement to be pivoted relatively to a carrier which is arranged on the tractor. In order to provide protection against harmful effects in the event of 15 agricultural implements unintentionally striking solid objects, it is known in connection with mowers to use devices which (as a result of the impact) remove the mower from the obstacle in a pivoting motion contrary to the direction of travel. Some 20 devices functioning in this matter consist of two rods which can be extended parallel to one another,

which run in fish-plates and which, by virtue of mutual coupling by means of claw-like cams with the coupling point loaded by a spring, maintain the 25 mower in the operating position offset to one side at the rear of the tractor. Should the mower strike against a stone or another solid object, the rod which is connected to the mower is drawn out of the coupling device so that the mower frees itself from 30 the obstacle by a backwards pivoting motion.

However, devices of this kind are effective only when the mower is attached offset to one side at the rear of the tractor because a backwards pivoting motion is only possible from this position. At the 35 same time, this device offers only a small range of pivoting so that, immediately having noticed the impact, the tractor driver must stop the vehicle in order to prevent the next impact. This device also only allows the pivot motion to take place in an 40 approximately horizontal plane; therefore, hitherto, damage to the mowers and to their attaching devices and to the tractor could be avoided only insufficiently. For this reason, the mowers and the attaching devices are provided with greater load-45 bearing components at the structural design stage.

The principal aim of the present invention is to provide a lifting device of the type in question which allows the implement which is arranged offset to one side at the rear or the front of the tractor to be 50 lifted out of its operating position in such manner as to avoid an impact which would give rise to damage.

In accordance with the present invention, this aim is realised by the implement being attached to an implement carrier which can be pivoted about a 55 horizontal axis relative to a device carrier and by the implement carrier assigned a lifting device by which the implement is lifted from the ground.

This structural design of the lifting device reliably avoids damage to the implement in the event of 60 impact with an obstacle because the carrier is in this case pivoted by the lifting device about a horizontal axis relative to the traction engine and the implement is raised from the ground. This mode of functioning of the lifting device allows the imple-65 ment to be arranged both at the tail end and at the front end of the tractor.

Expedient further developments of the invention are described in the sub-Claims.

The present invention will now be more particular-70 ly described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of an automatic implement-lifting device, according to the present invention, with a mower attached. Thus, a mower 20 is attached by means of two lateral . 75 carriers101 and two adjustable spacing means 102 to the carrier 103 of a mobile machine of which only one wheel 104 is shown. The carriers 101 are mounted on the device carriers 103 which each comprise a short pivot arm 105 and a long pivot arm 80 106. One end of the carrier 101 is articulated to the short pivot arm 105 by means of a horizontal pin or spindle 99. The long pivot arm 106 is attached to a fork-like support 107 into which there is inserted a rod 108 which extends through a slot 109 which is 85 formed in the carrier 101 and which extends longitudinally of said carrier 101. In order that the mower may be maintained in a stable position, it is provided with lateral flanges 110 which are connected to the tie-bars 100 of the device carrier 103 by means of the 90 spacing means 102.

As soon as the mower 20 is subjected to a sudden force, the impact is transmitted to the carrier 101 and is transmitted thereby to the arm 105. The resultant torque influences, albeit to a reduced extent, the arm 95 106 in that the latter is lifted and the mower is conveyed out of the impact area. The lowering of the mower is effected by means of a hydraulic operating cylinder (not shown) which acts upon the device carrier 103.

100 It goes without saying that, in any of the lifting devices in accordance with the present invention, a detachable joint is provided between the mower on the one hand and the lifting device on the other hand so that a lifting device can be used for different types 105 of implements.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Automatic implement-lifting device connected 110 via a linkage mechanism to a tractor which, when the implement strikes against an obstacle, allows the implement to be pivoted relatively to a device carrier which is arranged on the tractor, wherein an implement is attached to a carrier therefor which can be 115 pivoted about a horizontal axis relatively to the device carrier and wherein the implement carrier is assigned a lifting device which is such as to ensure that the implement is raised from the ground when the implement strikes said obstacle. 120 2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device carrier is a bell crank lever which can be pivoted about another horizontal axis relative to the tractor and which possesses one arm pointing upwards and the other arm pointing forwards, the 125 implement carrier being articulated to the free end of the upwards-pointing arm so as to be pivotal about said first-mentioned horizontal axis, and the forwards-pointing arm engaging underthe implement carrier. 130 3. Device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein a 2 GB 2 133 666 A 2 fork-like support is arranged on the free end of the forwards-pointing arm and bears a transverse rod which extends through an elongate slot which is formed in the implement carrier. 5 4. Device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the forwards-pointing arm of the device carrier is longer than the upwards pointing arm thereof. 5. Automatic implement-lifting device con-10 structed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawing. 15 Superseded claims 1-6 New or amended claims:-

1. An automatic implement-lifting arrangement connected to an agricultural tractor and including a

20 work-implement fastened to support means therefor, said support means being connected to bell-crank levers which are mounted for angular movements about a horizontal axis relatively to the tractor, each bell crank lever possessing one arm 25 pointing upwards and the other arm pointing forwards (as defined above), and said support means being articulated to the respective free ends of the upwards-pointing arms, whereby, when the work-implement strikes an obstacle, a force is transmitted 30 by the support means to said upwards-pointing arms, thereby causing the bell-crank levers to pivot about said axis and to lift the work-implement.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a fork-like support is arranged on the free end of

35 each of the forwards-pointing arms of said bell crank levers and engages a transverse rod which extends through elongate slots which are formed in said support means.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or 40 Claim 2, wherein said forwards-pointing arms are longer than said upwards-pointing arms.

4. An automatic implement-lifting arrangement constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference

45 to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawing.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, 1984.

Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A1AY, from which copies may be obtained.