GB2552818A

GB2552818A - Tractor attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2552818A
Application number: GB1613811.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Hamblyn Steven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-08-11
Filing date: 2016-08-11
Publication date: 2018-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-11
Also published as: GB2552818B; GB201613811D0

Abstract

A tractor attachment I0, comprising: a frame 20 comprising first and second opposed side plates 60, 70 connected by at least one cross member 80, 90; a tractor coupling 50; a first blade 30 orientated in a first advancement direction and a second blade 40 orientated in a second advancement direction opposed to the first direction, the first and second blades being orientated to define a chamber 22 there between; characterised in that the at least one cross member comprises: a first cross member 90 connected to first ends of the first and second opposed side plates; and a second cross member 80 connected to second ends of the first and second opposed side plates, with the second cross member extending through the chamber formed between the first and second blades. The attachment maybe a soil leveller.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Steven Richard Hamblyn

Great Fen Road, Ely, Soham, CB7 5UQ,

United Kingdom (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2050475 A NL 007810460 A US 4524532 A

GB 0463817 A US 7942209 B1 US 20070084088 A1 (72) Inventor(s):

Steven Richard Hamblyn (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA01B, E01H, E02F Other: WPI & EPODOC; Internet (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Maguire Boss

East Street, ST IVES, Cambridgeshire, PE27 5PD, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Tractor attachment Abstract Title: Tractor attachment (57) A tractor attachment I0, comprising: a frame 20 comprising first and second opposed side plates 60, 70 connected by at least one cross member 80, 90; a tractor coupling 50; a first blade 30 orientated in a first advancement direction and a second blade 40 orientated in a second advancement direction opposed to the first direction, the first and second blades being orientated to define a chamber 22 there between; characterised in that the at least one cross member comprises: a first cross member 90 connected to first ends of the first and second opposed side plates; and a second cross member 80 connected to second ends of the first and second opposed side plates, with the second cross member extending through the chamber formed between the first and second blades. The attachment maybe a soil leveller.

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TITLE: TRACTOR ATTACHMENT

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a tractor attachment, particularly but not exclusively a tractor attachment for a tractor having a three-point linkage system, and to a method of assembling a tractor attachment.

Tractors with a three-point linkage (or three-point hitch) system are well known in the art. The three-point linkage system typically comprise a pair of laterally spaced lower arms and a central upper arm. A hydraulic cylinder may be provided for raising/lowering the three-point linkage system relative to the tractor.

A variety of tractor attachments are available on the market connectable via the threepoint linkage system. One relatively recent development is a soil leveller attachment comprising: a first end including a soil leveller blade; and a second end including a soil collector blade (orientated in a back to back configuration with the soil leveller blade) and a tractor coupling for connecting the device to a three-point linkage system on a tractor. In use, the soil leveller attachment is typically connected to the rear of the tractor so that relative to the tractor the soil leveller blade faces rearward and the soil collector blade faces forward. When the tractor reverses across the ground the soil leveller blade acts to level the soil. When the tractor drives in a forward direction the soil collector blade acts to collect soil in a collector box region of the blade. Pivoting of the soil leveller attachment (achieved by a hydraulically controlled pivot arm) allows the soil leveller attachment to pivot relative to the tractor to enable the blades to be angled relative to the tractor (e.g. to allow the blades to form angled cuts and to allow the soil collector blade to be angled to assist in depositing of collected soil).

This dual use blade device has proven to an extremely useful tool. However, the present applicant has identified the need for an improved soil levelling tractor attachment that is both stronger and simpler to manufacture.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tractor attachment, comprising: a frame comprising first and second opposed side plates connected by at least one cross member; a tractor coupling; a first blade orientated in a first advancement direction and a second blade orientated in a second advancement direction opposed to the first direction, the first and second blades being orientated to define a chamber therebetween; characterised in that the at least one cross member comprises: a first cross member (e.g. first tubular cross member) connected to first ends of the first and second opposed side plates (e.g. with the first blade facing the first cross member); and a second cross member (e.g. second tubular cross member) connected to second ends of the first and second opposed side plates, with the second cross member extending through the chamber formed between the first and second blades.

In one embodiment, the first cross member has a first end received in an aperture formed at the first end of the first side plate and a second end received in an aperture formed at the first end of the second side plate. In one embodiment, the first cross member is welded in place in the apertures.

In one embodiment, the second cross member has a first end received in an aperture formed at the second end the first side plate and a second end received in an aperture formed at the second end of the second side plate. In one embodiment, the second cross member is welded in place in the apertures.

In this way, a soil levelling tractor attachment is provided in which front and rear cross members are both interlocked and welded in place to form a highly rigid structure, with the second cross member being positioned to avoid interfering the blades by utilising the space between the blades. Advantageously, blades of different widths may be accommodated using the same modular construction simply by varying the width of first and second cross members.

Typically the first cross member is positioned at an upper end of the first and second side plates.

In one embodiment, the first and second blades are angled and the chamber has a tapered profile (e.g. when viewed from the side).

In one embodiment the first blade is a soil collector blade.

In one embodiment the second blade is a soil leveller blade.

In one embodiment, the first blade is located between the second blade and the tractor coupling.

In one embodiment, the tractor coupling is mounted to the first cross member.

In one embodiment the tractor coupling comprises a plurality of brackets configured to connect to a three-point linkage (three-point hitch) system on a tractor, i.e. a connector comprising first and second lower link arms and an upper link arm. In one embodiment the plurality of brackets comprise an upper mounting bracket and a pair of lower mounting brackets. One or more of the brackets may be slidingly received on and subsequently welded to the first cross member.

In one embodiment, the tractor attachment includes a pivot arm rigidly connected (e.g. slidingly received on and subsequently welded to) to the first cross member for use in pivoting the tractor attachment (e.g. raising and lowering the tractor attachment between a loading position and an unloading position). In one embodiment, the tractor attachment further comprises an actuator (e.g. hydraulic actuator/cylinder) for operating the pivot arm.

In one embodiment, the pivot arm is pivotally connected to one of the plurality of brackets (e.g. pivotally connected to a first of the pair of lower mounting brackets). In one embodiment the pivot arm includes at least one pivot hole for receiving a pivot pin coupled to the one of the plurality of brackets.

In one embodiment, the tractor attachment further comprises a guide aperture formed in at least one (e.g. both) of first and second opposed side plates for inserting a guide member (e.g. assembling jig bar) during assembly of the tractor attachment to guide angular alignment of parts (e.g. one or more of the plurality of brackets and/or the pivot arm) slidingly mounted to the first cross member.

In one embodiment, the guide member is configured to engage a notch provided on one or more parts (e.g. provided on one or more of the plurality of brackets such as on the second of the pair of lower mounting brackets - i.e. the lower mounting bracket which is not pivotally connected to the pivot arm).

In another embodiment, the guide member extends through an aperture in one or more parts (e.g. through the at least one pivot hole in the pivot arm).

In one embodiment, the tractor attachment further comprises one or more longitudinally extending members (e.g. longitudinally extending plates) configured to brace the first cross member (e.g. to the first blade). Since the first cross member is typically positioned at an upper end of the first and second side plates, the one or more longitudinally extending members may be positioned to avoid unduly interfering with operation of the first blade. For example, in one embodiment the one or more longitudinally extending members may brace the first cross member to an upper part of the first blade.

In one embodiment, the one or more longitudinally extending members are slidingly received on (and subsequently welded to) the first cross member.

In one embodiment the one or more of the plurality of brackets mounted on the first cross member includes a longitudinally extending brace member. For example, the upper mounting bracket may comprise a (e.g. integral) longitudinally extending brace member part.

In one embodiment, the tractor attachment further comprises an angled brace member (e.g. L-shaped brace member) configured to brace the upper mounting bracket. In one embodiment, the angled brace member is connected at an upper end to the upper mounting bracket. In one embodiment, the angled brace member is connected at a lower end to first and second longitudinally extending brace members coupled to the first cross member. In one embodiment, the angled brace member is connected to the first and second longitudinally extending brace members at points spaced longitudinally from the first blade. In this way, the angled brace member may be entirely spaced from the first blade and (in the case of a soil collector blade) substantially raised from any soil collector box region of the blade.

In one embodiment, the tractor attachment further comprises one or more spacer plates mounted to the second cross member. In one embodiment, the one or more spacer plates are mounted within the chamber.

Advantageously, the bracing/spacer members defined above allow the tractor attachment to be formed as a highly rigid/strong structure without the need for a conventional central brace extending into active areas of the first blade.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a tractor attachment, comprising: providing: first and second opposed side plates each side plate including a first aperture formed at a first end thereof and a second aperture formed at a second end thereof; at least one centrally mountable part including a tractor coupling; first and second blades; and first and second cross members (e.g. first and second tubular cross members); wherein the method further comprises: positioning a first end of the first cross member in the first aperture of the first side plate and positioning a first end of the second cross member in the second aperture of the first side plate; positioning the at least one centrally mountable part on the first cross member; positioning a second end of the first cross member in the first aperture of the second side plate and positioning a second end of the second cross member in the second aperture of the second side plate; welding the first and second cross members in place to form a rigid frame; and connecting the first blade to the frame so that the first blade is orientated in a first advancement direction; and connecting the second blade to the frame so that the second blade is orientated in a second advancement direction opposed to the first direction, with the first and second blades being orientated to define a chamber therebetween through which the second cross member extends.

In one embodiment the first blade is a soil collector blade.

In one embodiment the second blade is a soil leveller blade.

In one embodiment, the at least one centrally mountable part includes at least one part defining an aperture configured to slidingly receive the first cross member.

In one embodiment, the at least one centrally mountable part comprises one or more brackets ofthe tractor coupling (e.g. an upper mounting bracket and a pair of lower mounting brackets).

In one embodiment, the at least one centrally mountable part comprises a pivot arm including at least one pivot hole for receiving a pivot pin.

In one embodiment, the at least one centrally mountable part comprises one or more longitudinally extending members (e.g. longitudinally extending plates) configured to brace the first cross member (e.g. to the first blade).

In one embodiment, at least one (e.g. both) of the first and second side plates comprise a guide aperture for inserting a guide member (e.g. assembling jig bar), and the method further comprises: inserting a guide member through the (or each) guide aperture and rotationally orientating the at least one centrally mountable part relative to the guide member.

In one embodiment, the method comprises rotationally orientating one of the at least one centrally mountable parts (e.g. a lower mounting bracket of the tractor coupling) until the guide member is in position to engage with a notch provided on the at least one centrally mountable part.

In another embodiment, the method comprises rotationally orientating one ofthe at least one centrally mountable parts until the guide member is in position to be advanced through an aperture provided on the at least one centrally mountable part (e.g. the pivot axis hole in the pivot arm).

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a tractor attachment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the tractor attachment of Figure 1 with the front blade in a detached position;

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the tractor attachment of Figure 1 with the front blade in a detached position; and

Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of the tractor attachment of Figure 1.

Figures 1-4 show a tractor attachment 10 for mounting to a tractor with a three-point linkage system (not shown).

Tractor 10 comprises a frame 20 supporting a front soil leveller blade 30, a rear soil collector blade 40 and a tractor coupling 50.

Frame 20 comprises first and second opposed side plates 60, 70 connected by front and rear tubular cross members 80, 90. Front tubular cross member 80 has first and second ends 80A, 80B received (and welded in place) in front apertures 62A, 72A provided respectively at a front end of first and second side plates 60, 70. Rear tubular cross member 90 has first and second ends 90A, 90B received (and welded in place) in rear apertures 62B, 72B provided respectively at a rear end of first and second side plates 60, 70.

As illustrated Figure 1, front soil leveller blade 30 and rear soil collector blade 40 are orientated to define a tapered chamber 22 therebetween through which front tubular cross member 80 extends.

Tractor coupling 50 is mounted to rear cross member 90 and comprises an upper mounting bracket 52 and a pair of lower mounting brackets 54, 56. Upper mounting bracket 52 and lower mounting bracket 54 are rigidly mounted to rear cross member 90.Lower mounting bracket 56 is pivotally coupled (via a pivot axis hole 102) to a pivot arm 100 which is rigidly mounted to rear cross member 90. Together, upper mounting bracket 52 and the pair of lower mounting brackets 54, 56 enable connection to a three-point linkage system on a tractor.

Each of the first and second opposed side plates 60, 70 includes a registered guide apertures 64, 74 for inserting an assembling jig bar during assembly of the tractor attachment to guide angular alignment of parts (e.g. one or more of the plurality of brackets) mounted to the first cross member. Specifically, the guide member is configured (when inserted through guide apertures 64, 74) to engage a notch 54A provided on lower mounting bracket 54 and pass through pivot axis hole 102 in pivot arm 100 to ensure accurate rotational positioning of these parts. Once positioned correctly, lower mounting bracket 54 and pivot arm 100 are welded into place on rear tubular cross member 90.

Upper mounting bracket 52 includes a pair of longitudinally extending plates 52A 5 provided to brace rear tubular cross member 90 and rear soil collector blade 40 at a central location. A further pair of longitudinally plates 110, 120 (spaced either side of plates 52A) are also slidingly received on and welded to rear tubular cross member 90 to brace rear tubular cross member 90 and rear soil collector blade 40.

An angled brace member 130 is additionally provided to brace upper mounting bracket 10 52 and plates 110, 120.

A pair of spacer plates 140 are slidingly received by and welded to front tubular cross member 80 and act to accurately position front soil leveller blade 30 and a rear soil collector blade 40 in a predetermined angular orientation.

Advantageously, tractor attachment 10 provides a dual blade assembly in which front 15 and rear cross members 80, 90 are both interlocked and welded in place to form a highly rigid structure, with front cross member 80 being positioned within the space between the blades.

Upper mounting bracket 52, lower mounting bracket 54, pivot arm 100 and plates 110, 120 are each slidingly mounted onto rear tubular cross member 90 and welded into position after being correctly angled with reference to the assembling jig bar/other parts of the assembly.

Advantageously, the tractor attachment 10 is simple to accurately manufacture and highly rigid.

In use, tractor attachment 10 is mounted to a three-point linkage system of a tractor with upper mounting bracket 52 connected to the top link and the pair of lower mounting brackets 54, 56 connected to the lower links.

When the tractor reverses over ground, front soil leveller blade 30 acts to level the soil. 25 When the tractor moves forward, rear soil collector blade 40 acts to collect soil in a collection box region 42. A hydraulic actuator (not shown) may be operated to move lower mounting bracket 56 relative to pivot arm 100 and cause pivoting of tractor attachment 10 (e.g. between a loading position (as shown) and an unloading position, or between different angled cut positions).

Claims

Claims:

1. A tractor attachment, compri sing:

a frame comprising first and second opposed side plates connected by at least one cross member;

a tractor coupling;

a first blade orientated in a first advancement direction and a second blade orientated in a second advancement direction opposed to the first direction, the first and second blades being orientated to define a chamber therebetween;

characterised in that the at least one cross member comprises:

a first cross member connected to first ends of the first and second opposed side plates; and a second cross member connected to second ends of the first and second opposed side plates, with the second cross member extending through the chamber formed between the first and second blades.

2. A tractor attachment according to claim 1, wherein the first cross member has a first end received in an aperture formed at the first end of the first side plate and a second end received in an aperture formed at the first end of the second side plate, the first cross member being welded in place in the apertures.

3. A tractor attachment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second cross member has a first end received in an aperture formed at the second end of the first side plate and a second end received in an aperture formed at the second end of the second side plate, the second cross member being welded in place in the apertures.

4. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first blade is a soil collector blade.

5. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second blade is a soil leveller blade.

6.

A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tractor coupling is mounted to the first cross member.

7. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tractor coupling comprises a plurality of brackets configured to connect to a three-point linkage system on a tractor.

8. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tractor attachment includes a pivot arm connected to the first cross member for use in pivoting the tractor attachment.

9. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tractor attachment further comprises a guide aperture formed in at least one of the first and second opposed side plates for inserting a guide member during assembly of the tractor attachment to guide angular alignment of parts slidingly mounted to the first cross member.

10. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more longitudinally extending members configured to brace the first cross member.

11. A tractor attachment according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more spacer plates mounted to the second cross member.

12. A method of assembling a tractor attachment, comprising: providing:

first and second opposed side plates each side plate including a first aperture formed at a first end thereof and a second aperture formed at a second end thereof;

at least one centrally mountable part including a tractor coupling; first and second blades; and first and second cross members;

wherein the method further comprises:

positioning a first end of the first cross member in the first aperture of the first side plate and positioning a first end of the second cross member in the second aperture of the first side plate;

positioning the at least one centrally mountable part on the first cross member;

positioning a second end of the first cross member in the first aperture of the second side plate and positioning a second end of the second cross member in the second aperture of the second side plate;

welding the first and second cross members in place to form a rigid frame; and connecting the first blade to the frame so that the first blade is orientated in a first advancement direction; and connecting the second blade to the frame so that the second blade is orientated in a second advancement direction opposed to the first direction, with the first and second blades being orientated to define a chamber therebetween through which the second cross member extends.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first blade is a soil collector blade.

14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the second blade is a soil leveller blade.

15. A method according to any of claims 12-14, wherein at least one of the first and second side plates comprise a guide aperture for inserting a guide member, and the method further comprises:

inserting a guide member through the guide aperture and rotationally orientating the at least one centrally mountable part relative to the guide member.

16 A method according to claim 15, wherein the method comprises rotationally orientating one of the at least one centrally mountable parts until the guide member is in position to engage with a notch provided on the at least one centrally mountable part.

17. A method according to any of claims 12-16, wherein the method comprises rotationally orientating one of the at least one centrally mountable parts until the guide member is in position to be advanced through an aperture provided on the at least one centrally mountable part.

18. A method according to any of claims 12-17, wherein the at least one centrally mountable part comprises one or more brackets of the tractor coupling.

19. A method according to any of claims 12-18, wherein the at least one centrally mountable part comprises a pivot arm including at least one pivot hole for receiving a pivot pin.

20. A method according to any of claims 12-19, wherein the at least one centrally mountable 5 part comprises one or more longitudinally extending members configured to brace the first cross member.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1613811.7 Examiner: Bryony Barcelo