GB2420065A

GB2420065A - Articulated arm for agricultural tools

Info

Publication number: GB2420065A
Application number: GB0522807A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sandro Ferri
Original assignee: Ferri Srl
Current assignee: Ferri Srl
Priority date: 2004-11-09
Filing date: 2005-11-09
Publication date: 2006-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-09
Also published as: ITBO20040692A1; FR2878121A1; GB2420065B; GB0522807D0

Abstract

An articulated arm device for agricultural tools (2) is assembled to a vehicle (3) having at least a front axle and a rear axle (4). The arm device (1) comprises at least a first member (5) whose ends are respectively joined to the vehicle (3) and to an end of a second member (6) whose remaining end has a connection (7) for the tool (2). At least one of the two members (5, 6) is shaped for having its own end connected to the tool (2), behind its end connected to vehicle (3) in respect to forward direction from rear (4) to front axles.

Description

ARTICULATED ARM DEVICE FOR AGRICULTUL TOOLS AND SIMILAR

The present invention relates to support devices for agricultural tools for maintenance and care of vegetation and to an articulated arm device for agricultural and similar tools, for instance cutting or crashing rotating cylinders, particularly for a vehicle, i.e. pick-up, tractor or truck, having small or medium power and size.

Known articulated arms, particularly for small or medium sized vehicles, fit for positioning of tools, for instance cutting or crashing cylinders used for cutting grass, bushes, fences or similar and for maintaining vegetation on the road edges.

An end of such arms is bound to the vehicle, generally to the loom in a side rear position, typically behind and very close to cabin, by means of a rotation pivot nearly horizontal and parallel to the vehicle axle for allowing the tool extension outwardly.

The free end of the arm has a connection for fixing the tool backwardly or upwardly.

A disadvantage of the arms with upper connection for the tool consists in limiting the rotation and orientation of the tool.

A disadvantage of the arms with connection, consists in that the tool has a more advanced position in comparison to the vehicle preventing the complete arm closing in transport condition for avoiding the interference and bumps between tool, cabin or rear wheels.

They are also known arms provided with further joints and/or telescopic elements fit to allow the arm closure within the vehicle outline without damaging cabin or other members, but such arms has the drawbacks to be heavier, more

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* * S.. *.S S *Se * S S * S * * * * S S S S * . S* S S * S S * S * S S. ** * * , S.. S * * S.. * complexes and expensive and therefore unsuitable to light or middle-light vehicles.

A purpose of the present invention is to propose a simple and light arm with rear connection for the tool and fit for self closing approaching the members, in the transport rest condition, without interference between tool and cabin, wheels or other members of the vehicle.

The characteristics of the invention are underlined in the following with particular reference to the attached drawings, in which: - figures 1, 3 and 5 show the device of the invention in a closing condition and assembled to vehicle and tool, in views respectively in plant, side and rear; - figures 2, 4 and 6 show the device of figure 1 in an extension condition and respectively in views in plant, side and rear.

With reference to figures 1-6, numeral I indicates the articulated arm device for agricultural tools 2, consisting, for instance, in a cutting or crashing rotating cylinder to be assembled to a vehicle 3, for instance a tractor, having at least a front axle and a rear axle 4.

The arm device I includes a first member 5 whose ends are respectively articulated to vehicle 3 and to an end of a second member 6 whose remaining end has a rear connection 7 for the tool 2.

The second member 6 is shaped so that, in an assembling condition of the arm device I to vehicle 3, its end closed to tool 2 or, in other words, the which one has the connection 7, is rear to its end closed to vehicle 3 or, in other words, the which one connected to the first member, with respect to the forward direction and way of vehicle advancement.

* * *.* *** * *** * S S * * * . * * S S S S 5 * *S S S S S S S S S * ** ** S S * 555 5 5 * *** S Alternatively or additionally, the invention provides that the first member 5 can be similarly shaped.

The rear end of the first member 5 is behind, in comparison with the front end, of a length ranging between a fifth and double of the dimension of the tool 2, in direction of the longitudinal axle of vehicle 3. Preferably such length is about half such dimension so that the tool protrudes forwardly no more than a tool with upper connection to the arm.

The first member 5 is approximately rectilinear and the second member 6 is approximately "s" shaped having two end portions 8, 10 nearly parallel to the first member 5 and an middle portion 9 tilted with respect to end portion 8, 10.

Such portions 8, 9, 10 of the second member 6, are made in a single body and the end portions 8, 10 form, with the middle portion 9, angles ranging between 900 and 150 , preferably of around j350* The length of the end portion 10 of the second member 6, having the connection 7, is approximately equal or bigger than about half of the tool width for avoiding interferences between this latter and the middle portion 9.

The first member 5 is jointed to vehicle 3 and attack 7 is jointed to tool 2, by respective rotation means with rotation axes nearly parallel to the longitudinal axle of the vehicle or nearly perpendicular to the first member.

Eventually the second member 6 can be symmetrically made for the use in vehicles for right and left hand traffic road.

The device operation provides that, for obtaining the closed Condition suitable for the inoperative transport, is possible, for instance, to activate the actuators of the arm device and of the connection to tilt the two members and the tool of around 45 with respect to the vertical line, as shown in figure 5.

* S *55.55 5 5*t * S * S * * S S S a S S S * * *S * S * * S S * S S Sq Si S * a *55 S S * **, 5 The operational condition is obtained by activating actuators for extending the arm and properly directing the tool.

An advantage of the present invention is to propose a simple and light arm with rear attack for the tool and fit to close itself approaching the elements under the inoperative transport conditions without interference between tool and cabin, wheels or other members of the vehicle.

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Claims

1) Articulated arm device for agricultural tools (2) and similar for a vehicle (3) having at least a front axle and a rear axle (4), said arm device (1) comprises at least a first member (5) whose ends are respectively joined to the vehicle (3) and to an end of a second member (6) whose remaining end has a connection (7) for the tool (2); said device (1) is characterized in in an assembling condition of arm device (1) to vehicle (3), at least one of the two members (5, 6) is shaped for having its own end, closed to the tool (2), behind its end closed to vehicle (3) in respect to forward direction and way or from rear (4) to front axles.

2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the rear end of the member (5, 6) is behind to its front end of a length ranging from a fifth and the double of the dimension of the tool (2), in direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (3), preferably of about half of such dimension.

3) Device according to claim I characterized in that the second member (6) is shaped having the end of the connection (7) behind the end connected to the first member (5).

4) Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the first member (5) is approximately rectilinear.

5) Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the second member (6) is approximately "5" shaped.

6) Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the second member (6) has two end portions (8, 10) nearly parallel to the first member (5) and a middle portion (9) tilted with respect to the end portions (8, 10).

* I *e* 0S* I *** * S S S * 5 S * * * S * S * * II S S 5 * * S * * S ** * * * S 55* 5 * S **$ S 7) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the portions (8, 9, 10) of the second member, are made in a single body.

8) Device according to claim 6 charactenzecj in that the end portions (8, 10) of the second member (6) with the middle portion (9) form angles ranging from 900 to 150 , preferably of about 135 .

9) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the end portion (10) of the second member (6) having the connection (7) has a length equal or bigger to around half of tool width.

10) Device according to claim I characterized in that the first member (5) is joined to vehicle (3) and the connection (7) it is joined to the tool (2) through respective rotation means whose axes of rotation are nearly parallel to the longitudinal axes of the vehicle.

11) Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the second member (6) is symmetrical.

12) Device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the connection (7) is of the type for rear fixing of tool (2).

13) Articulated arm device constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Figs. 1-6 of the accompanying drawings.

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