US2607177A

US2607177A - Offset harrow

Info

Publication number: US2607177A
Application number: US612049A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce E Rose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-08-22
Filing date: 1945-08-22
Publication date: 1952-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-19

Description

g 19, 1952 B. E. ROSE 2,607,177

OFFSET HARROW Filed Aug. 22. 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR ,Bruce :5. Rose M w M,

B. E. ROSE OFFSET HARROW Aug. 19, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1945 //w//v TOR Bruce E. Rose BY flTTOR/VEYS Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES re oFFI cE This invention relates to disc harrows of the offset gang type and the present invention is in the nature of an improvement over the ofiset harrows disclosed in my two prior patents, No.

1,895,136, issued January 24, 1933, and No. 5 broken away to illustrate parts therebehind; 1,924,416, issued August 29, 1933. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on In offset harrows of the type in which two line 66 of Fig. 5; gangs of discs are positioned in tandem and have Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a cut away their axes relatively angularly disposed when in angle member before bending which is bent to operation, it is relatively easy to turn the -har- 10 form corner constructions of frame members row in the direction toward which the axes of the employed in my invention; and gangs converge but is difficult to turn said har- Fig.8 is a view of the parts of Fig. 7 after bendrow in the opposite direction or in the direction ing and welding to form a corner construction. toward which the axes of the gangs diverge; In In the drawings, 9 and H] indicate, in a general common practice the axes of the gangs of har-- Way, the front and rear gangs of an oifsetharrow. rows of this type are made to diverge toward the Each gang 9 and It comprises a plurality of right of the narrow and they will be so referred concavoconvex discs ll assembled in spaced to in this description. However, it willbe underapart relation on axle means I2. The concave stood that the direction of divergence of these sides of the discs H of the front a d re gangs axes may be reversed. r are, oppositely directed. The front and rear It is an object of this invention to provide gangs 9 and It are respectively provided with simple and efi'icient means of very strong and rectangular frames I 3 and [4 that are connected rugged construction for connecting together the y bearing means l5 with the axle means 12 of two gangs of an offset harrow in such a manthe gangs. Where'the corners are rounded, the ner as to facilitate turning said harrowto the 5 corner construction of the frames l3 and I4 right or in the direction toward which the gangs preferably fOIlOWS that which is best illustrated diverge when in operation. 1 in Figs. 7 and 8. The frames l3 and M are made It is a further object of this invention'to proof angle iron having two plates I30, and i311 which vide simple and efficient means for automatically are substantially of the same width. One of changing the angle of axial divergence between t p ates, Such as I31), is cut away as shown in the two gangs of an offset harrow in response to Fig. 7 of the drawings. Then the plate l3a, is a change in the direction of travel of a prime bent as indicated in 'Fig. 8 so that the portions mover that is being used to pull the harrow. As of the plate I311 will interfit to form a right angle the commonly used prime mover is a tractor, the bend. Thereafter the parts of the pla e 11 e term tractor is employed herein by way of. ex- 35 welded together. This forms a corner construcample and not as a limitation. tion which can be .bent cold and where the bend The above mentioned general objects of my is v r a lar e ar a. The bend can thus be acinvention, together with others inherent in the complished without weakening of the member l3a, same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated and after bending, the plates [30. and [3b can be in the following drawings, the same being'a. pre- 40 welded together and the weld area will be extenferred exemplary form of embodiment of my insive as indicated. ThusI provide a corner convention, throughout which drawings like refstruction which is characterized by utmost ease erence numerals indicate like parts: and economy of manufacture and utmost Figure 1 is a plan view (with parts broken strength after completion. The other above deaway) of an offset harrow constructed in aoscribed parts are of well known construction. cordance with this invention showing the gangs It is to be understood that the terms right and in an operative ground cultivating position; left as herein used refer to the'positions of parts Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gangs in a as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and are applied to a postion they will assume when making a right harrow in which the axes of the gangs diverge turn, this also being a preferred position of the to the right when the harrow is in operation. gangs when the harrow is being moved but is The novel means herein disclosed for connectnot being used for ground cultivation; ing the two gangs together comprises three links Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views, or bars PS, I? and I8, a lever 19 and an adjustable with parts in elevation, taken substantially on bar 20. broken lines 33 and 64 respectively of Fig. 2 The bar It is a coupling or reach bar that 6 Claims. 01. 55-83) Fig. 51s a view taken substantially on broken line 5-5. of Fig. 1 and showing a releasable device for locking an adjustable bar employed in my invention-a portion of the spring 58 being pivotally connects the front and rear gangs. The front end portion of this reach bar I6 is connected by a pivot 2| with the front bar of the front frame l3. The pivot H is positioned substantially midway of the length of the front frame [3. The rear end portion of the reach bar I6 is connected by a pivot 22 with the rear bar of the rear frame [4. The pivot 22 is positioned approximately halfway between the center and the left end of the rear frame l4.

The diagonal link I! extends diagonally or obliquely between the two frames l3 and i4 and in part controls the relative transverse positioning of the two gangs. The front end portion of the diagonal link IT is connected by a pivot 23 with the medial portion of the rear bar of the front frame i3. The rear end portion of the diagonal link [1 is connected by a pivot 24 with the front bar of the rear frame l4 near the left end of said frame.

The diagonal link I! further serves as a compression member to withstand or counterbalance the side thrust in opposite directions of the two gangs when the gangs are in operation in the round.

The link l8 has its rear end portion connected by a pivot 25 with the left end portion of the front bar of the rear frame 14. Preferably the pivot 25 is offset a short distance to the left of the left end of the rear frame l4 as shown.

Three hold-down bars'26, 21' and 28 are rigidly secured respectively to the front bar of the rear frame M, to the rear bar of the front frame [3 and to the front bar of the front frame I3. Each hold-down bar is spaced above the frame piece to which it is secured far enough to provide working clearance for the bars l6 and I3. The reach link l6 operates between the frames [3 and I4 and the hold-down

bars

26 and 21. The draw link l8 operates between the frame 13 and the hold-down bars 2T and 28.

The front end portion of the draw link l8, see 'Fig. 4, has a downwardly extending block or arm 30 fixedly secured thereto forwardly of the front frame 13 and hold-down bar 28. The arm 36 serves as a hitch with which a main draw bar member 3! is connected by pivot means 32 as hereinafter explained.

The lever 19 functions to adjust the angle between the axes of the two

gangs

9 and 16 This lever I3 is fulcrumed, by a pivot 33, on the left end portion of the front frame i3 near the forward left corner of said front frame.

One end portion of the lever 19 overhangs the front frame l3 and is connected by a pivot 34 with the draw link H3. The other end' portion of the lever 19 extends sidewise to the left of the frame 13 and has a flexible control member, such as a chain 35, connected therewith. The forward end portion of the control chain 35 is connected with a tractor frame member 36 at a point to the left of the main draft connection to the tractor when the harrow is in use.

The draft means for connecting the harrow to the tractor comprises the previously mentioned draw bar member 3| and another draw bar member made up of two

links

31 and 38 that are adjustably secured together as by pin 43 passing through selected spaced holes 4!. By adjusting the effective length of

links

31 and 33 by means of holes 4! and pins 40, the amount of offset of the-

gangs

3 and 10 relative to each other can be-regulated. The forward end portion of the link 31 is connected by a bushed pivot 42 with the draw bar member 31 and the rear end portion of the link 38 is connected by pivot means 43 with a fixed lug 44 on the forward right corner portion of the front frame [3.

The forward end portion of the draw bar member 3| is connected by a pivot 45 with a swinging draw bar 46 of the tractor. The swinging draw bar 46 may be adjusted into various different positions relative to the tractor frame member 36 and is preferably connected with said tractor frame member 36 by pin means 49 being inserted in a suitable opening in the tractor frame member 36.

The bar 20, shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2, is for the purpose of locking the right end portions of the two gangs [3 and 14 in any desired relative angular position. This bar 23 is connected by a pivot 41 with the rear frame l4 and is slidably disposed in a U shaped latch member 48 that is pivotally connected with the front frame l3 by pivot means 59 (Figs. 5 and 6). The bar 26, Figs. 5 and 6, has notches 50 in its top edge portion and is provided at intervals with holes 5|. A stop bolt 52 may be inserted in any one of the holes 5| to limit the maximum movement of the bar 26 relative to the latch member 48 through which it slides.

The U shaped latch member 43 has a cross bolt 53 operable in upright slots 54 therein and adapted to lock within or be raised clear of the notches 53 in the bar 20.

A lever 55 of inverted U shape fits over the latch member 48 and is connected therewith by pivot means 56. The lever 55 has horizontal slots 51 that slidably receive the outer end portions of the cross bolt 53 so that the lever 55 will raise and lower the cross pin 53 when said lever 55 is angularly moved on its pivot means 56 One or'more tension springs 58 are secured to the lever 55 and U shaped member 48. The springs 58 are positionedso that their line of pull will be on one side of the pivot means 56 when the cross pin 53 is in a notch 50 in the bar 20 and on the other side of said pivot means 56 when the locking pin 53 is raised and retracted clear of the bar 20. In Fig. 5 the locked position of lever 55 and pin 53 is shown by full lines and the unlocked position thereof is shown by dot and dash lines. Obviously the springs 58 will yieldingly hold the lever 55 in'either of the two positions in whichit is shown in Fig. 5. A flexible control means 60 is connected with the upper end portion of the lever 55 and extends forwardly to the tractor for operation by the driver. A pull on the control means 63 will move the lever 55 from the full line locked position of Fig. 5 into the dot and dash line released position. A proper flip of this means will move the lever 55 from the dot and dash line released position of Fig. 5 to the full line locked position. Of course, devices may be provided to directly move (by a pull thereon) the lever 55 from its dot and dash line position to its full line position, but the same have not been found necessary in practice. Thus, devices shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6 are illustrative of one convenient means, operable from the tractor, for rigidly and adjustably holding the gangs at different angles relative to each other.

In operation, the chain 35 is connected with the frame member 35 of the tractor a substantial distance to the left of the draw bar connection 45-46. This chain 35 is adjusted so that it has very little or no slackness when the harrow gangs are positioned at a desired angle of divergence for cultivating the ground and the-tractor is traveling in a straight line, as illustrated in Fig. l.

' If the driver wishes to make a right turn he will first move the lever: 55 tounlatched position (the dot and dashline positionof Figzt) and will then begin ,to turn the tractor to the right and into the position shown in 'Fig. 2. I When the harrow is being pulled directly forward the tractor name. member 3S 'will' beiin the-:positi'on'shown' in Fig. I. In such position the flexible connector or-rop'e 35 will be slightly slack; The pull from the tractor will'be exerted through links 3! and [3 to the frame It. Also, the

links

31 and 38 will connect the link (it with the-front frame I3- The front frame l3 is prefera-bly locked to the rear frame [4 by'adj ustable link 20. "At the same time links l6 and llwill maintain theframes I 3 and i l inthe angular.

relationshown in Fig." 1 so long as the tractor pulls in the direction shown in Fig. l and through link 3| and with fiexibleconnector 35' slightly slack.

; Because of the direction of the discs ll of the front gang 9 and the hitch connection, the discs I l of the front gang will tend to follow well in the ground and not move upwardly. On the other hand because of the direction of the discs H of therear gang l0 and the fact" that the hitch connection connects substantially with the left end upper portion of rear gang Hi, the right discs H of the rear gang I!) tend to move out of the ground and therefore I preferably provide a support 6|, fragments of which are broken away. Thus suitable weights may be located on the supports 6| so that the right end portion of the gang I 0 maintains the proper elevation for proper operation of the discs I I.

As the tractor frame 3% angularly movesfroin thefposition shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2 there will be increased pull on the rope 35 anda relative decrease of pull on the linkage Sl-j-l-li. Thus the lever lewill turn clockwise and from-the'position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2. This will angularly move the two gangs relative to each other in such a manner as to reduce or entirely neutralize their angle of divergence to the right, or this movement can be sufficient to position these gangs so that the lines of their axes will converge toward the right. Ob-

viously the harrow can be readily turned in a direction toward which the lines of the axes of the gangs converge or in either direction if the convergence is substantially eliminated.

In practice I find that a satisfactory right turn can be made when the axes of the two gangs are substantially parallel, as shown in Fig. 2.

The members it to 20, 35, 3|, 3'! and 33 of this harrow interconnect the two gangs 9 and it and provide for relative angular adjustment of said two gangs between the substantially parallel position shown in Fig. 2 and the relatively inclined position shown in Fig. l.

When the tractor, in making a right turn, begins to straighten its course it will tend to slack the chain 35, allow counterclockwise movement of the lever l9 and relative forward motion of the links SI and it. This will allow the two gangs 9 and ill to begin to assume a divergent angle. When the tractor has completed its turn and is again moving on a straight course the two gangs will assume a given angle (depending upon the relative effective length of links 3? and 38) unless the operator, by manipulation of the lever 55, looks said two gangs together at a lesser angle.

The reach bar 16 connects the front and rear gangs together for relative swingingmovement. The diagonal link l1 holds the front and rear gangs in the correct adjustment relative to each other transverse to their direction of travel. Also this link I! is the member whiclrwithstands the balanced side thrust in opposite direction of the two gangs. In this'connection'it is to' :be noted that the rear gangis'positionedso that its discs I I will cut out the cores of earth left between the discs I I .of the front gang;

. The draw. link i8 is part of the mechanism through which a pull-is exerted and cooperates in the angular adjustment of the two gangs. The lever [B connects link I8 and rope 35 and transmits the force employed to reduce the angle'of divergence between the two gangs in making a right turn. Obviously, changes may be made intheforms; dimensions, and arrangements of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle ther'eof,-the above setting forth only'a. preferred. form of embodiment.v I claim: 11 An offset harrow comprising a front harrow gang; 2. rear harrow gang; a reach bar connecting said two gangs in tandem for relative angular movement of the gangs; a diagonal link connecting said two gangs and relatively positioning said two gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; a locking bar adjustably connecting said two gangs adjacent one side of the harrow; a draw bar member having one end connected with the rear gang adjacent the side of theharrow opposite said locking bar and the other end adapt ed to be connected with a harrow drawing means; a lever *fulcrumed on the front gang and having pivotal connection with said draw bar member; and lever turning devices adapted to be connected-with the harrow drawing meansfor angu Iarly moving the lever to control the relative angular positioning of the gangs by turning of theharrow drawing means.

2.- An offset harrow comprising a front and-a rear gang positioned in relatively inclined relation when in normal operation; a draw bar member connected with one end portion of said rear gang; a reach bar having its forward end pivotally connected with the front gang substantially medially of the length of said front gang and having its rear end pivotally connected with the rear gang approximately mid way between the center of said rear gang and the end thereof that is connected with said draw bar member; a diagonal link connecting said two gangs and relatively positioning said two gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; a locking bar adjustably interconnecting the end portions of said two gangs remote from said draw bar member; a lever fulcrumed on the front gang outwardly from said draw bar member and having a pivotal connection with said draw bar member; and remotely controlled hitch means connected with said lever for moving said lever to vary the relative inclination of said gangs.

3. An offset harrow comprising a front and a rear gang; a front frame and a rear frame carried by the respective gangs; a draw bar member connected with one end portion of said rear frame; a reach bar having its forward end pivotally connected with the front frame and having its rear end pivotally connected with the rear frame; a diagonal link connecting said two frames and relatively positioning said two gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; hold-down bars rigid with said frames and spaced above said discs; a reach bar pivotally connected to the mid forward portion of the said front gang and forwardly of its discs and to the side rearward portion of the said rear gang and rearwardly of its discs for connecting the said gangs in tandem for relative angular movement; a diagonal link connecting the said gangs and relatively positioning the said gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; lever means controlling the relative angular position of the said gangs, pivotally mounted on the said front gang and having arm portions extending to opposite sides of said pivotal mounting; a link connecting one arm portion of said lever means to the rear gang; hitch means for directly connecting the other arm portion of said lever means to a harrow drawing means; and a draft means connecting said link to said harrow drawing means.

5. An offset harrow comprising a front harrow gang having discs; a rear harrow gang having discs; a reach bar pivotally connected to the mid forward portion of the said front gang and forwardly of its'discs and to the side rearward portion of the said rear gang and rearwardly of its discs for connecting the said gangs in tandem for relative angular movement; a, diagonal link connecting the said gangs and relatively positioning the said gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; lever means controlling the relative angular position of the said gangs, pivotally mounted on the said front gang and having arm portions extending to opposite sides of said pivotal mounting; a link connecting one arm portion of said lever means to the rear gang; flexible hitch means for directly connecting the other arm portion of said lever means to a harrow drawing means; and a draft means connecting said link to said harrow drawing means.

6. An ofiset harrow comprising a front harrow gang having discs; a rear harrow gang having discs; a reach bar pivotally connected to the mid forward portion or the said front gang and forwardly of its discs and to the side rearward portion or the said rear gang and rearwardly of its discs for connecting the said gangs in tandem for relative angular movement; a diagonal link connecting the said gangs and relatively positioning the said gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; a draw bar means having one end portion adapted to be connected with a harrow drawing means and the other end portion thereof connected with the said rear gang adjacent one side portion of said gang; lever means controlling the relative angular position of the said gangs, pivotally mounted on the said front gang and having arm portions extending to opposite sides of said pivotal mounting; a link connecting one arm portion of said lever means to said rear gang; hitch means for directly connecting the other arm portion of said lever means to a harrow drawing means; and a draft means connecting said link to said harrow drawing means.

BRUCE E. ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS