GB2135562A

GB2135562A - Plough offset adjustment

Info

Publication number: GB2135562A
Application number: GB08305912A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Vernon Roge Dowdeswell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-03
Filing date: 1983-03-03
Publication date: 1984-09-05
Also published as: GB2135562B; GB8305912D0

Abstract

The plough frame (1) including the plough carrying beam (10) is laterally movable relative to mounting support (3) from a tractor for offset adjustment by actuator means (4). The actuator means (4) may consist of or include screw mechanism but is shown provided by a hydraulic ram (40) pivotally mounted at (140) on the plough frame (1) and is connected by links (42, 45) to rearward and forward parts (330, 34) of the mounting support (3) via bell crank levers (41, 44) pivotally carried by the plough frame (1). The plough frame (1) is shown having a sliding pin and slot connection (130, 131 and 120, 121) with the mounting support (3) for lateral offset adjustment movement. For setting ploughing furrow width adjustment of the angle of inclination of the plough beam (10) is by turnbuckle adjustment (430) between the bell crank levers (41, 44) and/or by variable length link connection (as at 450). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable plough offset arrangement The object of this invention is to provide an arrangement of plough frame mounting more especially of a reversible plough and actuating mechanism therefor whereby offset of the plough frame relative to the tractor drawing it can be readily adjusted to suit ploughing requirements.

A further object is to include provision whereby the angle of the plough frame beam relative to the direction of travel or plough turnover axis can be varied for obtaining variation in the width apart of the furrows ploughed. These and other practical advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

Basically in accordance with the invention a plough offset adjustment arrangement is characterised by the plough frame being laterally movable relative to its tractor mounting support, actuating means being provided which acts between the plough frame and the mounting support for adjusting lateral offset of the plough frame relative to said mounting support.

A typical adjustable arrangement of the plough frame and of the actuating mechanism is shown in the accompanying drawing which is an exploded perspective front view and in which the assembled relationship of the various parts are indicated by chain dotted lines especially axes of pivotal connection.

The plough frame 1 consists of a beam 10 carrying brackets 2 for the legs of plough bodies (not shown) of a reversible plough and includes a forwardly directed frame side member 11 and a front cross member provided by a pair of upper and lower cross pieces 12.

A further or rear part of cross pieces 13 are also provided between the beam 10 and side member 11 and the cross pieces 12, 13 receive between them with a close sliding fit a bearing assembly 3 consisting of upper and lower parallel plates 30 fast with a tubular bearing member or sleeve 33 between them and which receives a horizontal shaft (not shown) extending rearwardly from the mounting support structure of the plough which in use is mounted from the rear of a tractor Such shaft mounting of the assembly 3 and the plough frame 1 enables it to be turned over for plough reversal purposes, i.e. about the axis X.

For obtaining offset adjustment of the plough frame 1 relative to its mounting and the tractor, the plough frame 1 is capable of lateral sliding movement relative to the bearing assembly 3 by means of vertical pins or bolts 121, 131 through the latter and which engage transverse slots 120, 130 in the cross members 12, 13.

The bolts 1 21 pass through corresponding curved slots 320 in the plates 30 of the assembly 3 and the bolt 131 passes through rear holes 330 in the plates 30.

In order to laterally move the plough frame 1 relative to the bearing assembly 3 actuating means 4 is carried by the plough frame 1 and may be of any suitable construction for the purpose such as screw mechanism. However, in the preferred arrangement shown the mechanism 4 is as follows:- A hydraulic ram 40 is pivotally mounted to a rear part of the side member 11 at 140 and is connected at its other end such as by its piston rod 400 to an arm 411 of a bell crank lever 41 pivotally mounted at an intermediate point 141 from the side member 11.A link 42 connected to the other arm 412 of the bell crank lever 41 passes through an opening or slot 114 in the side member 11 and is pivotally connected to the rear pivot pin 131 which passes through the transverse slot 130 in the rear cross pieces 13 and through the holes 330 in the upper and lower plates 30 of the bearing assembly 3.

The arm 411 of the bell crank lever 41 is also connected by a link 43 to an arm 441 of a second bell crank lever 44 pivotally mounted at 144 from the forward end of the side member 11 the link 43 including a turn buckle 430 for adjusting its length in obtaining beam angle adjustment as referred to later. The other arm 442 of the second bell crank lever 44 is pivotally connected to a link 45 in turn pivotally connected to the bearing assembly 3 at the forward end of the latter at 34.

The position of the pivotal connection of the arm 442 of the second bell crank lever 44 along the link 45 can be varied or selected, i.e. by pin connection through any one of a series of holes 450 provided in fork members 451 of the link 45 which receive the arm 442. This is for beam angle adjustment purposes later described.

Bearing in mind that the bearing assembly 3 remains fixed laterally relative to the tractor, extension operation of the ram 40 causes the bell crank levers 41,44 to be turned to thrust their respective links 42, 45 against the bearing assembly 3 which has the effect of moving or jacking the plough frame 1 laterally to the left (as viewed from the front end), contraction of the ram 40 producing the opposite effect, i.e. movement of the plough frame 1 to the right relative to the bearing assembly 3.

Thus, extension of the ram 40 has the effect of moving the plough frame 1 to the left so decreasing the offset of the plough relative to the tractor. Conversely and on contraction of the ram 40 the frame 1 is moved to the right thus increasing the offset. The extent of such adjustment is determined by the length of the slots 1 20, 130.

The arrangement is such that the plough frame 1 moves in a parallel manner relative to the axis X of the turnover bearing sleeve 33 so that the angle of the plough beam 10 to said axis remains constant. However, this angle can be varied to some extent by adjustment of the turn buckle 430.

By appropriate operation of the ram 40, the lateral offset adjustment of the plough frame can be effected prior to or during ploughing, i.e.

dependent on the track of the rear wheels of the tractor drawing the plough and also to counteract the effects of slide slip of the plough, e.g. when ploughing on a hillside.

Provision is also included for adjusting the angle of the plough beam 10 relative to the axis of the turnover bearing sleeve 33 and this is achieved by altering the connection of the arm 442 of the second bell crank lever 44 to the link 45, i.e. by appropriate pivot hole selection at 450 of the latter.

Thus the arm 442 of the second bell crank lever 444 is shown pivotally connected to the outermost hole of the three holes 450. This has the effect of increasing the length of the link 45, i.e. the distance between the pivotal connections 144 and 34 so that the plough frame 1 is angularly set about the pivot 131 to the left bringing the beam 10 closer to the axis X of the bearing sleeve 33 and so reducing the angle of the beam 10 relative to the axis X. In such setting the plates 20 of the brackets 2 are set at an appropriate angle to the beam 10 by selection of the appropriate bolt hole 220 i.e. that next to the bracket 2, the plates 20 pivoting about their forward bolting 201 to the beam for such setting.

By this setting a narrow width apart of furrows ploughed by the plough bodies is obtained.

In order to increase the angle of the beam 10 relative to the axis X of the bearing sleeve 33 an intermediate setting can be obtained at the mid hole 450 and with the bracket plates 20 bolted to the beam 10 at the mid hole 200 for angular setting.

For a maximum beam angle and furrow width apart the innermost hole 450 is selected with bracket plates 20 bolted to the beam 10 at the holes 200 furthest from the leg brackets 2.

Any of these angular settings of the beam 10 can be varied to some extent by operation of the turnbuckle 430, whilst such settings are maintained as the ram 40 is operated to increase or decrease lateral offset of the plough frame 1 relative to the bearing assembly 3.

By varying the effective length of the arms of the bell crank levers 41, 44 i.e. by the provision of pivotal connection holes along the arms (especially the arms 412, 442) for appropriate selection and where the effective length of an arm or arms of one bell crank lever is unequal to that or those of the other, it is possible to also change the angle of the beam 1 to the axis X of the bearing sleeve 33 as the offset of the plough frame 1 is changed.

Claims

1. Plough offset adjustment arrnagement characterised by the plough frame being laterally movable relative to its tractor mounting support, actuating means beingprovided which acts between the plough frame and the mounting support for adjusting lateral offset of the plough frame relative to said mounting support.

2. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the actuating means is further arranged to effect adjustment ofthe angle of inclination of a plough carrying beam of the plough frame relative to the fore and aft axis of the mounting support e.g. for varying ploughing furrow width.

3. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuating means is connected to forward and rearward parts of the mounting support and the plough frame engages forward and rearward parts of the mounting support for lateral movement relative thereto.

4. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plough frame has a pin and slot sliding engagement with the mounting support for lateral movement relative thereto.

5. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the pin and slot sliding engagement includes curved slot engagement for permitting adjustment of the angle of inclination of the plough carrying beam of the plough frame relative to the fore and aft axis of the mounting support.

6. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the actuating means comprises or includes screw mechanism.

7. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the actuating means comprises or includes fluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram means.

8. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein a linear actuator of the actuating means, such as screw mechanism or a fluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram, is connected to the plough frame and is linked to the mounting support for effecting offset adjustment of the plough frame relative to the mounting support by appropriate extension or contraction of the linear actuator.

9. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the linear actuator is linked to the mounting support via bell crank lever mechanism pivotally carried by the plough frame.

10. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to any of claims 3 to 9 wherein the actuating means or linear actuator thereof is linked by a pair of linkages respectively to forward and rearward parts of the mounting support.

11. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 9 /nd 10 wherein the pair of linkages includes corresponding bell crank levers each pivotally carried by the plough frame.

1 2. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 11 wherein the bell crank levers are each pivotally connected by a link to a corresponding part of the mounting support.

1-3. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the bell crank levers are pivotally interconnected by a member of adjustable or variable effective length such as a turnbuckle for relative angular adjustment of the bell crank levers e.g. for adjusting the angle of inclination of the plough frame beam relative to the fore and after axis of the mounting support.

1 4. Plough offset adjustment arrangement according to any of claims 9 to 1 3 wherein pivotal connection of the or each bell crank lever to cooperating linkage is of variable effective length such as by selective pin and hole connection for adjustment purposes e.g. for adjusting, or further adjusting, the angle of inclination of the plough frame beam relative to the fore and aft axis of the mounting support.

1 5. Plough offset adjustment arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.