US2850956A - Cultivator - Google Patents

Description

P 9, 5 I 'l. c. ROGERS ETAL 2,850,956

CULTIVATOR' Filed April 25. 1955 1 i I INVENTORS IVOR C. ROGERS 8 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent CULTIVATOR I Ivor C. Rogers and Julian J. Karasievicll, Toronto, On-

tario, Canada, assignors to Massey-Ferguson Inc., a corporation of Maryland Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,564 1 Claim. c1. 97-4733 This invention relates to earth working tools such as plows or cultivators and is more particularly concerned with a mounting therefor. More specifically, this invention pertains to a tool mounting of the quick release type which permits the tool to rise quickly and free itself of any obstruction and then automatically return to its normal operating position.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic resetting, quick release, resilient mounting for earth working tools.

An object ofthis invention is to provide an automatic resetting, resilient mounting for an earth working tool, in which the force required to raise the tool does not increase as the tool is raised but, rather, remains substantially constant. This insures relief for the tool without the danger of damage to the mounting or supporting structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool mounting of the above type which, as the tool is being raised, has a decreasing moment arm of resistance which acts in cooperation with an increasing spring force. This results in a substantially constant force being required on the tool, throughout its upward movement, in order to raise the tool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic resetting, quick release, tool mounting in which a spring of economical size and strength can be utilized, due to the position and location of the spring, but yet results in a tool having a higher preload than would otherwise be obtained. The ultimate result is a tool which is maintained at a more constant working depth, and which is economical to manufacture because of the efficient use of its component parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic resetting, resiliently mounted tool, the fulcrum point of which is so located so as to have exceptionally good ground clearance for a relatively small amount of angular movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic resetting, resilient mounting for an earth working tool which is easily and quickly adjustable onthe supporting frame, gives good trash clearance when in 'the working position and good ground clearance, or

vertical movement, for a relatively small amount of arcuate movement.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the tool mounting constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, in section, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the resilient means, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1. t

secured to the underside of supporting frame.

thereto.

ice

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the bracket as shown in Figure 1.

In implements of the character to which this invention relates, a generally horizontally disposed supporting frame is usually provided for carrying a plurality of tools over the ground at a substantially constant attitude relative Such a frame is usually of rectangular form and comprises a series of longitudinally and laterally arranged beams. Referring more particularly to the drawings, one of such longitudinal beams 10 is shown which is of I-shaped cross section and to which is secured a lateral beam 12 of square tubular cross sectional shape. Beam 12 is secured to beam 10 by means of clamps 13, 14 which engage either side of beam 10. Lugs 16, 17 are Welded to beam 12 and bear against clamps 13, 14 to prevent lateral displacement of the latter relative to beam 10. Bolts 18 pass through apertures in the flanges 19, 20 of mounting bracket 21 and through apertures in clamps 13, 14 where they are secured by nuts 22. The bracket 21 is thus rigidly and adjustably In this regard it should be noted that the entire tool mounting is located underneath the support frame 10, 12 where it is easily adjusted and serviced. Furthermore, it does not interfere with other component parts of the implement, such as drill or fertilizer hoppers which may be located on the upper side of the support frame, and the tools can be positioned on the support frame without interference therewith.

Mounting bracket 21 is comprised of two parallel arranged angle members 24, 25 having downwardly extending flanges 26, 27 respectively, which form a downwardly facing channel opening 28 arranged .ina fore and aft direction relative to the direction in which the implement is moved over the ground. A reinforcing plate 29 is Welded across the forward ends of angles 24, 25. At the rear ends of angles 24, 25 is welded an upstanding portion 31 having a laterally arranged bore 32 extending therethrough and at a location above the downwardly facing channel opening 28. The downwardly extending flanges 26, 27 of bracket 21 each have an aperture 34 extending therethrough and which are in lateral alignment and form the fulcrum point for the tool shank about to be described. The bracket 21 and beams 10, 12 form a rigid support structure.

Tool shank 40 has a forward portion 41 which is relatively straight and extends between the flanges 26, 27 and into the channel opening 28. The forward end 42 of shank 40 is enlarged and has a bore 43 which is registerable with apertures 34. The shank 40 has a downwardly and rearwardly extending curved portion 44 and a forwardly curved portion 45 to which is secured a tool 4-6, shown here as a chisel point.

A pin 50 extends through apertures 34 and bore 43 and is secured therein by keys 51 at either end. The pin 50 thus forms the fulcrum for shank 40 and it will be noted that its location is below and forward of bore 32 in the rear end of bracket 21. or pin 50, is located considerably forward of the tool point 53.

Resilient means, in the form of compression coil springs 60, 61, is located to the rear of fulcrum 50 and above the shank 40. This resilient means operatively connects the support structure, at a point above fulcrum 50, with a portion of shank 40 which is rearwardly of fulcrum 50. A collar 62 is welded to shank 40 and has a projection 63 at either side. A bolt 64 extends through bore 32 in bracket 21 and is secured therein by nut 65. On either end of bolt 64 is mounted an eye bolt 66, 67 by means of the eye portions 68, 69 respectively. Eyebolts 66, 67 also have collars 70, 71 against which abut Furthermore, this fulcrum, I

the forward ends of springs encircling bolts 66, 67. The rear ends of springs 60, 61 bear against the washers 73, 74 which in turn are rockably mounted in their grooves 76, 77, respectively, on projections 63 of collar 62. Nuts 79 hold the resilient unit in assembled relation. It will be noted that the point of spring (or resilient unit) connection to the frame structure is approximately midway between the shank pivot point and the point where the spring is connected with the shank. The resilient unit extends generally forwardly and also at an acute angle to the upper portion 41 of shank 40.

As shown in Figure 1, the tool is in the working position and the moment arm through which the springs 60, 61 act relative to the fulcrum point 50 is designated by the letter a. In the raised position, however, as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1, the moment arm is considerably shorter and is indicated by the reference letter b. Due to the position of the resilient unit relative to point 50, as the tool is raised, this moment arm progressively decreases. However, while the moment arm of the spring is decreasing, the spring is also being compressed, and its reactive force increases. Thus the decreasing moment arm and the increase of force required to compress the spring contribute to require a substantially constant force to raise the tool throughout its raising period. As a result, relief of the tool is assured and damage to the tool, mounting and support structure prevented. Furthermore, by so locating the spring unit above the shank, good trash clearance is obtained.

By locating the fulcrum above and considerably ahead of the point 53, good ground clearance is obtained for only slight angular movement of the shank. Additionally, because of this relationship, the tool quickly and easily reenters the ground due to its angle of attack and positive penetration takes place immediately after the obstruction is passed. Because this arrangement does not require an increasing force on the tool in order to continue raising it, a higher preload force can be set on the tool which would be required to raise it, without the necessity of utilizing heavier and more expensive parts throughout. In other Words, a higher preload can be used, resulting in even depth of plowing, by the efiicient use of relatively smaller and economical springs and associated mounting and supporting parts.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A ground working cultivator of the resiliently mounted, automatically resetting type; including a support structure, a cultivator shank pivotally secured at its forward end to said structure and extending rearwardly from its point of pivotal connection, a spring guide rod pivotally secured to said support above and rearwardly of said pivotal connection and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, abutment means secured to an intermediate portion of said shank and having an aperture therein loosely receiving the outer end of said guide rod, a compression coil spring positioned on said guide rod between said support structure and said abutment, and a fulcrum on said abutment engageing the end of said spring, said fulcrum permitting the inner end of said spring to remain substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said guide rod as the spring is compressed by said cultivator shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,225 Osborn Nov. 20, 1877 1,068,832 Alsup July 29, 1913 1,088,767 Bradford Mar. 3, 1914 1,687,422 Bensien Oct. 9, 1928 2,649,725 Oehler Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,356 Great Britain of 1908 731,210 France May 24, 1932

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