GB2234419A

GB2234419A - A coupling system for coupling accessories to farm tractors

Info

Publication number: GB2234419A
Application number: GB9013627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benno Wiemeyer
Original assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Amazonen Werke H Dreyer SE and Co KG
Priority date: 1989-06-23
Filing date: 1990-06-19
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Also published as: GB9013627D0; DE3920578A1

Abstract

A coupling system for coupling accessories to farm tractors, more especially on the front end of farm tractors without front hydraulic lifts, in order to provide an economical and simple coupling system for coupling accessories to farm tractors, comprises a coupling frame (1, 2) mounted on the front end of the frame of the farm tractor and includes two lower coupling members (9) and at least one upper coupling member (10, 11, 15), and the lower coupling members (9) form a snap-locking mechanism (13, 14), which acts in the horizontal direction. <IMAGE>

Description

A COUPLING SYSTEM FOR COUPLING ACCESSORIES TO FARM TRACTORS The invention

relates to a coupling system for coupling pieces of equipment as accessories to farm tractors, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

In practical usage, accessories are screwconnected to the front end of farm tractors without front hydraulic lifts by means of bolts. It is relatively difficult and time-consuming to detach and attach accessories with this known coupling system.

The basic object of the invention is to provide an economical and simple coupling system for coupling accessories to farm tractors more especially at the front end of farm tractors not having front hydraulic lifts.

According to the present invention there is provided a coupling system for coupling an accessory to the front end of a farm tractor without front hydraulic lifts, wherein a coupling frame is mounted on the front end of the frame of the farm tractor and includes two lower coupling members and at least one upper coupling member with the lower coupling members being engageable with an automatic or snap-locking mechanism of an accessory and which act in the horizontal direction.

As a result of these features, it is readily possible for one person to be able to couple the accessory to the farm tractor in a very short period of time. It is only necessary for a coupling frame of the invention to be disposed on the frame of the farm tractor, so that the accessory can be easily coupled in accordance with the invention.

i An extremely simple embodiment of the invention is one in which the coupling frame is provided with two lower coupling pins, which each lie in a rearwardly open receiving recess of the accessory when the accessory frame is coupled and are retained in position in receiving recesses by securing members, when the accessory frame and acessory is in its coupled position, wherein the upper region of the coupling frame is provided with a coupling rod which is upwardly and downwardly displaceable in an upwardly/vertically extending slot and lies in an upwardly open receiving recess of the accessory frame when the accessory is in its coupled position. and wherein the coupling rod is retained in position in the receiving recess by a securing member.

In order to be able to vary the weight acting on the front wheels for different circumstances provision is made, according to the invention, for the accessory to be mounted on the coupling frame at different longitudinal spacings, since the frame of the accessory can be lengthened or shortened telescopically or otherwise. it is hereby possible for the coupled accessory, for example, a tank of liquid for a field sprayer, to be disposed directly at the front end of the tractor or to be disposed at a distance from the front end of the tractor.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is a basic side elevational view of a coupling system showing an accessory in uncoupled position; i t 1 Fig 2 is a basic side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 of a stage in coupling phase in the coupling system of the invention; Fig. 3 is a basic side elevational view of the accessory which has been coupled to the front end of a tractor in accordance with the coupling system of the invention; Fig. 4 is an elevation of an accessory which is disposed at a distance from the front end of the farm tractor and from the coupling frame; and Fig. 5 is a basic side elevational view of the accessory which is disposed at a greater distance from the front end of the tractor and from the coupling frame.

The coupling system of the invention includes a coupling frame 1 on the end of the tractor and an accessory coupling frame 2. The coupling frame 1 on the end of the tractor is disposed at the front end 3 of the tractor 4 by means of screws and struts 5. The agricultural accessory, for example, a liquid container tank 6 for a field sprayer, is disposed on the accessory coupling frame 2. The accessory coupling frame 2 may be self-supported at a distance above the ground surface 8 by means of supports 7. The coupling frame 1 includes two lower coupling pins 9. These coupling pins 9 may be formed by a continuous rod. Furthermore, the coupling frame 1 includes an upper coupling member 10, which comprises a coupling rod 11, which is disposed in a vertically extending slot 12 so as to be upwardly and downwardly displaceable therein.

On its underside or lower side, the accessory frame 2 includes two receiving recesses 13, which are spaced transversely relative to the direction of travel and have the same spacing therebetween as do the coupling pins 9, which are disposed on the coupling frame 1. Furthermore, a respective securing member 14 is disposed in the region of each recess 13. Moreover the accessory frame 2 is provided, as an upper region, with the two receiving recesses 15, which are disposed the same distance apart as the end regions of the coupling rod 11. The receiving recesses 13 and 15 have a spacing therebetween, which corresponds to the spacing between the coupling pins 9 and the coupling rod 11.

In order to couple the accessory frame 2 to the coupling frame 1, the tractor is moved towards the accessory frame 2 in the direction of arrow 16. Because of the upper inclination of inclined surfaces 17 leading to the lower receiving recesses 13, the coupling pins 9 engage automatically in the recesses 13, and, because the securing members 14 each have a front inclination 18 which cause the member 14 to be displaced during coupling to permit the pins to enter the recesses 13, the coupling pins 9 are automatically locked in the collecting pocket 13 by the securing members 14 relocating in the locking position as shown in Fig. 2. The coupling f rame 2 is subsequently raised manually at the location 19, so that the accessory frame 2 is also then coupled to the coupling frame 1 in its upper region. In such case. the coupling pin 11 is raised by the inclination 20 and then subsequently drops into the upwardly open receiving recess 15 when the accessory frame 2 is raised in the direction of arrow 21. The coupling pin 11 is subsequently retained in position by the securing member 22, as shown in Fig. 3. the parking supports 7 are then moved into the raised position, as shown in Fig. 3. In consequence, the accessory frame 2 is coupled to the coupling frame 1 in a simple manner.

p n As shown in Fig. 3,the tank of liquid 6 for a field sprayer is situated in a position close to the coupling frame 1, that is to say close to the front end of the farm tractor.

The accessory frame 2 can be lengthened or shortened telescopicallyg as shown in Figures 3 to 5. As shown in Fig. 4, the front portion 23 of the accessory frame 2 is displaced forwardly and is secured by being screwed tightly in position.

If necessary, in order to exert greater pressure upon the front wheels, the front portion 23 may be disposed at a greater distance from the coupling frame 1, that is to say, in use from the front end of the tractor 4, as shown in Fig. 5.

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Claims

1. A coupling system for coupling an accessory to the front end of a farm tractor without front hydraulic lifts, wherein a coupling frame (1, 2) is mounted on the front end of the frame of the farm tractor and includes two lower coupling members (9) and at least one upper (10.11.15), with the lower coupling members (9) being engageable with an automatic or snaplocking mechanism (13. 14) of an accessory and which act in the horizontal direction.

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2. A coupling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling frame (1) is provided with two lower coupling pins (9), which each lie in a rearwardly open receiving recess (15) of the accessory (6) when the accessory frame (2) is coupled and are retained in position in receiving recesses (13) by securing members (14) when the accessory frame (2) and accessory (6) is in its coupled position, wherein the upper region of the coupling frame (1) is provided with a coupling rod (11), which is upwardly and downwardly displaceable in an upwardly vertically extending slot (12) and lies in an upwardly open receiving recess (15) of the accessory frame (2) when the accessory (6) is in its coupled position. and wherein the coupling rod (11) is retained in position in the receiving recess (15) by a securing member (22).

3. A coupling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory (6) is to be mounted on the coupling frame (1) at different intervals longitudinally, and the frame (2) of the accessory (6) can be lengthened or shortened telescopically in said coupling frame.

4. A coupling system for coupling an accessory to the front end of a farm tractor comprising a first frame 1 1 f t (1) locatable on the frame and of a tractor (4) and having upper and lower interlocking means (9;10911,12), a second frame (2) for supporting an accessory (6) having upper and lower interlocking means (1522:13y1417s18) interengageable with said upper and lower interlocking means of said first frame with said second frame (2) being supportable at a distance above the ground and such that said lower interlocking means (9) of said first frame (1) may be displaced horizontally to automatically interengage with the lower interlocking means (13,14,17,18) of the second frame (2).

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, in which the second frame (2) is extendable and retractable and/or has an inclined guide surface leading to the lower interlocking means and/or is supported on retractable legs.

5. A coupling system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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- S - Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A coupling system for coupling an accessory to the front end of a farm tractor without front hydraulic lifts, wherein a coupling frame (1, 2) is mounted on the front end of the frame of the farm tractor and includes two lower coupling members (9) and at least one upper coupling member (10,11,15), with the 16wer coupling members (9) being engageable with an automatic or snap locking mechanism (13, 14) of an accessory and which act in the horizontal direction; wherein the coupling frame (1) is provided with two lower coupling pins (9), which each lie in a rearwardly open receiving recess (15) of the accessory (6) when the accessory frame (2) is coupled and are retained in position in receiving recesses (13) by securing members (14) when the accessory frame (2) and accessory (6) is in its coupled position, wherein the upper region of the coupling frame (1) is provided with a coupling rod (11), which is upwardly and downwardly displaceable in an upwardly vertically extending slot (12) and lies in an upwardly open receiving recess (15) of the accessory frame (2) when the accessory (6) is in its coupled position, and wherein the coupling rod (11) is retained in position in the receiving recess (15) by a securing member (22).

2. A coupling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accessory (6) is to be mounted on the coupling frame (1) at different intervals longitudinally, and the frame (2) of the accessory (6) can be lengthened or shortened telescopically in said coupling frame.

3. A coupling system for coupling an accessory to the front end of a farm tractor comprising a first frame (1) locatable on the frame and of a tractor (4) and having upper and lower interlocking means (9;10,11,12), a second % OW - q - frame (2) for supporting an accessory (6) having upper and lower interlocking means (15,22:13,14,17,18) interengageable with said upper and lower interlocking means of said first frame with said second frame (2) being supportable at a distance above the ground and such that said lower interlocking means (9) of said first frame (1) may be displaced horizontally to automatically interengage with the lower interlocking means (13,14,17,18) of the second frame (2).

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, in which the second frame (2) is extendable and retractable and/or has an inclined guide surface leading to the lower interlocking means and/or is supported on retractable legs.