GB608884A - Improvements in or relating to an intermediate hitch for grain drills - Google Patents

Abstract

608,884. Hitch for agricultural implements. FERGUSON, Inc., H. Feb. 8, 1946, No. 4070. Convention date, March 8, 1945. [Class 6(i)] Intermediate hitch means for connecting a grain drill or like implement with poweroperated hitch means on a tractor, has a connection with the raisable parts of the implement operated by vertical movement of the tractor hitches without causing vertical movement of the connection between the intermediate hitch and the draft member of the implement. As shown, the hitch, comprising coupling members 26 and a crosspiece 27 having a pair of upstanding arms 28 mounted thereon, is fixed to a tractor having lower draft links 18 which can be raised or lowered by crank arms 21 controlled by a hydraulic mechanism as in Specification 470,069 embodied in the transmission case. The other end of the coupling member 26 is connected to the draft member of a seed drill which comprises a wheeled frame on which is mounted a shaft 5 having a plurality of levers 12 connected through rods 14 to discs 10a and seed funnels 11 which are themselves hingedly connected to the frame by members 8. Also mounted on shaft 5 are levers 6 to which are connected springs 7 anchored to the frame and members 17 which converge and straddle part of the implement tongue 16a. The members 17 are used to actuate the implement and are connected to a depending arm 29 of the hitch by means of a chain 36. Vertical movement of the draft links 18 causes the hitch to move relative to the implement tongue about a universal connection 30, without vertical movement of the implement tongue 16a thereby swinging the arm 29 forwardly and turning the shaft 5 clockwise against the action of the spring 7 to lower the disc 10a. and seed funnel 11 into their ground-engaging position. The ends of members 17 are provided with a pin 37 which slides on top of the tongue 16a and is engaged by the teeth of a pivoted latch 39 which is operated by a cord or chain 40. When the implement is at the desired depth and the pin 37 is engaged in the latch 39, the links 18 are lowered. To lift the discs and funnels clear of the ground, the cord 40 is operateed thus lifting the latch 39 and allowing the spring 7 to turn the shaft 5 in an anti-clockwise direction. The arm 28 of the coupling is connected to an upper link 23 on the tractor which is adjustable at 24 thus varying the vertical position of the implement tongue. By mounting the lever 6 on the top of shaft 5 the spring can be used to lower the discs and funnels, the hitch then performing the lifting operation.