US3120281A

US3120281A - Adjustable ripper shank

Info

Publication number: US3120281A
Application number: US98572A
Authority: US
Inventors: France D Peveler; Richard L Launder
Original assignee: H&L Tooth Co
Current assignee: H&L Tooth Co
Priority date: 1961-03-27
Filing date: 1961-03-27
Publication date: 1964-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-04

Description

1964 F. D. PEVELER ETAL 3,120,281

ADJUSTABLE RIPPER SHANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1961 INVENTOR. FRANCE PEVELEI? R/C/IARD A. ZAMVDEA A Gem/r 1954 F. D. PEVELER ET AL 3,120,281

ADJUSTABLE RIPPER SHANK Filed March 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4. FIG.-5

United States Patent 3,120,281 ADJUSTABLE RIPPER SHANK rancc D. Peveler and Richard L. Launder, Downey, Caifi assignors to H. & L. Tooth Company, Montebeilo, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 98,572 13 Claims. (Cl. 172699) This invention relates to an adjustable ripper shank and is particularly concerned with a tractor mounted ripper, it being a general object of this invention to provide selective adjustment operable to change the angle of a ripper tooth at the terminal end of the ripper shank.

Tractors, for the most part track-laying tractors, are used in the treatment and processing of earth and surfaces thereof. Varied implements are moved by these tractors in order to break through and into earth formation and to move the same. This invention is specifically concerned with a tractor and ripper that is pulled by the tractor to penetrate and to upset and move earth formation, that is, to go beneath the surface upon which the tractor is operating and to break through the formation to a certain depth as the tractor moves forward. As a result, a furrow is ripped thereby and along the earths surface. It is to be understood that said implements can be employed as circumstances require to rip out obstacles and to tear out surface paving, etc.

Tractors with rippers are presently in wide use, comprising a tooth carried by a shank that is supported on a shiftable beam by means of a clevis. The beam is usually hydraulically powered to have a raised retracted position and a lowered operating position. Since earth formations vary, it is necessary to vary the operating angle of the tooth, this requirement being complicated by the swinging nature of the beam mounting. That is, when the beam is raised above the lower operating position, the tooth inclination is too great for proper initial penetration, and in some instances it is, for this reason, virtually impossible to penetrate a hard surface. By the same token, when the beam is lowered to operat ing position the tooth inclination is too little for continned penetration, and in some instances full depth of ripping cannot be attained. As a result, it is usually difficult to gain initial penetration and once said penetration is gained it is difiicult to rip to a maximum depth. In any case, circumstances arise when it is highly advantageous to vary the inclination of the ripper tooth, and for this reason ripper shanks are set to operate at several fixed angles of inclination. However, said fixed settings heretofore provided have been widely separated and are not readily selected or altered.

It is an object of this invention to provide a ripper shank that can be angularly adjusted, in predetermined increments, so that the desired tooth inclination can be readily selected as circumstances require.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ripper shank that is adjustable and which securely mounts the same. In this instance, the shank is mounted on a beam and is secured to said beam by means of an intermediate clevis member. The shank is pivoted to the clevis and is selectively positioned, incrementally, by turning of a cam member. However, point contact is avoided, it

3,120,281 Patented Feb. 4, 1964 "ice being a further object to avoid point contact which is characteristic of cams and in lieu thereof provide substantial surface contact for transmitting thrust.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an adjustment of the character referred to that is easily operated by manual actuation, or otherwise, in a minimum of time and without resort to dismantling the mechanism that is involved.

The various objects and features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed descrip tion of the typical preferred form and application thereof, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tractor carrying a ripper and attachment therefor.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the attachment of the ripper and incorporating the adjustment features of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the intermediate position of the cam and slot arrangement that characterizes the adjustment means of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar to FIG. 3, showing the pivotal arrangement of the shank of the ripper, and showing the opposite extreme positions thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 66 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of the device and taken as indicated by line 77 on FIG. 6.

Tractors and rippers therefor, and all machinery of the type under consideration, are heavy and rugged, and any attachment or addition thereto must be equally heavy and rugged in order to be dependable. Being of large size, such equipment is ordinarily difficult to manipulate and to assemble and to adjust, and fine adjustment thereof, although to be desired, is ordinarily unobtainable. In the particular case under consideration the prior art provides a two-position adjustment for a ripper shank, positioning the shank selectively about 15 apart. Such a wide angle of adjustment serves no real practical purpose, it being desirable to provide only several degrees of adjustment per increment thereof. Therefore, to this end the present invention is adapted to the positioning of a ripper shank, it being understood that other and like equipment can be selectively adjusted according to this invention.

The present invention involves generally a tractor type vehicle X, a ripper Y, and a ripper mounting attachment Z adapting said ripper Y to the vehicle X. The said vehicle X is preferably a continuous tread type vehicle having a body 10 carrying a power plant 11, driving facilities 12, and a chassis 13 with wheels supported by tracks 16. The vehicle X is a traction vehicle adapted to pull implements and the mounting attachment Z and ripper Y are, therefore, located at the rear, as shown.

The ripper Y is adapted to be used in connection with heavy and rugged earth handling equipment, such as a scarifier, or grubber, or the like. It is a common eX- pedient, in this type of equipment, to rotatably mount the ripper which involves a shank or arm, so that it swings. Said swinging action is effective in raising and lowering the ripper but results in changes of inclination of the r 3 tooth point that is provided to penetrate the earth formation.

The ripper Y involves generally, an arm-like shank A, a tooth point B carried at the terminal end of the shank A, and retainer means C to secure the point B in working position. In FIG. 1 of the drawings the ripper Y is show in a retracted and raised position wherein the inclination of the tooth point B is excessive.

The shank A is an arm-like element that is provided to carry a tooth point B and is adapted to be adjustably supported by the mounting attachment Z. The shank A is elongate having a flat front 21, a fiat back 22, and flat sides 23. The front and back and the sides are parallel with each other respectively, the shank A being rectangular in cross-section with the sides 23 substantially closer together than the front and

back

21 and 22. The shank A is preferably uniform in cross-section throughout its length with a mounting opening 24 intermediate the ends thereof and with a laterally and forwardly projecting adapter 25 at its active lower and terminal end. The adapter'25'comprises upper and lower faces 26 and 27 converging to a vertex, there being an opening transversely through the adapter to receiver a retainer pin.

The tooth point B is a removable element adapted to be secured to the adapter 25 above referred to, and involves a point 30 and a housing 31. The point 30 is a flat plate-like part sharpened at its forward end and having a bottom face that has seating engagement with the top 26 of the adapter. The housing 31 is a U-shaped part with side sections spaced to receive the adapter 25 and with a lower wall that'converges forwardly where it joins the point 30. Aligned openings are provided in the'opposite side sections to receive a retainer pin..

The retainer means C engages through the openings in the adapter and tooth point respectively and it is in the form of a yieldingly expansible elongate pin. When in place or in operating position, the pin extends through both the housing and the adapter 25 that occupies the housing. The pin is a sectional structure involving two like metal sections and coupled together by a separating spreader section; The spreader section is resilient and is squeezed when the pin is in place, to the end that the tooth point B is urged tightly onto the adapter 25, the said openings being initially ofiset so as to gain this effeet.

In carrying out this invention the mounting attachment Z is employed, which may vary widely in construction and specific details of design. Therefore, the attachment Z is shown rather generally in FIG. 1 of the drawings, including a clevis D, a beam E, mounting arms F, and actuating means G. The clevis D is swivelly connected to the beam E on a normally upright axis by means of a bolt50. The beam E is horizontally disposed to extend transversely with the clevis D trailing behind the beam. The clevis is characterized by a pair of spaced vertically disposed cheeks 51 with the shank A carried therebetween and rotatably coupled to the clevis by means of a pivot 52 engaged through the opening24 in the shank. The beam E swings upwardly and downwardly as it is controlled by the arms F that are pivoted at their forward ends to the vehicle.

A plurality of sets of openings 55 are provided through the cheeks 51 at the upper'portion of the clevis D, only one set of said openings being required to carry out this invention. However, it is preferred to employ both sets of openings, as shown. The openings 55 occur at the upper end portion of the shank A, each set comprising aligned openings through the two cheeks 51, and the sets of openings being spaced circumferentially with respect to turning of the shank A at the pivot pin 52. In accordance with the invention, one set of openings 55"accommodates the adjustment means -M of the present invention while the other set of openings 55 is utilized to locate positioning means associated with said adjustment means.

to the shaft '74 by providing one or more flats 62 on the. shaft and cooperatively engaged with a face or faces in p a bore through said cam. In any case, the cam 60 is journalled to turn With theshaft 79, said shaft projecting laterally and having a lever 71 to turn the same.

In order to position the shaft 79 and cam Gil, a series of circumferentially spaced

recesses

72, 73 and 74 are provided in the shaft 70, and which open radially. In accordance with the invention these recesses are spaced apart in order that there will be three positions for selectively placing the cam 60. his significant that the said recesses be so spaced, to be engaged by a pin 76 or the like, to stop the shaft and cam in a predetermined rotative position. In the preferred form, two through openings pass through the shaft and intersect, and a bar 75 engages over the shaft 70 with the lock pin 76 engaged through the selected recess 72, 73, or 74-. The bar is anchored against turning by means of a lug 77 thereon that enters through the other opening 55 in the side check of the clevis D. Thus, the shaft 70' is locked in three selective positions spaced 90 apart.

It is significant that the cam 69 is round and circular in form and that the cam slot 8% is elongated with opposed semi-circula-r seats 81 and 32. Further, it is significant that the slot 88' is elongated in a direction radially of the pivotal axis at pin '52, and with the opposed

semicircular seats

81 and 82 centered on said radius. A feature of the present invention is that the round cam 60 is of a diameter a-nd/ or radius corresponding to the radii of the

seats

81 and 82, whereby the cam 60 is adapted to have engagement with either of said seats. Also, the shank being of substantial thickness, the earn 6%) is of corresponding thickness with substantial area for hearing contact, that is, the cam -69 has a Wide peripheral wall 61. V V

In accordance with the invention, the elongation of the slot fit is equal to the throw of the cam 6%, that is the radius between the axis of shaft 76 and the center of the cam. With this relationship of parts the cam 60 is movable between the seat 81 and seat 82 to engage with either of the same.

With the structure hereinabove described, adjustment means M is selectively operable through three positions as clearly shown in "FIGS. 4, 3 and 5, respectively:

In FIG. 4 (also FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 the upper. end

and slot mechanism, thereby increasing the inclination of the tooth point B to a maximum angle. In this position the cam 69 is rotated forwardly to a stopped position where the radial throw of the cam 69 is normal to the elongation of t e slot 8% As shown, the cam 68 has 180 engagement with the seat 82 and forward thrust, as indicated by the arrow, results in 99 of circumferential pressured engagement of the seat with the cam.

In FIG. 3 the upper end portion of the shank A is moved rearwardly to an intermediate position by the cam and slot mechanism, thereby decreasing the inclination of the tooth point B, for example, by an increment of 2. In this position the cam 60' is rotated downwardly and rearwardly to a central position, through 90 of rotation, where the radial throw of the earn 6% is aligned with the elongation of the slot 8%. Again, the cam "69 has 180 engagement, but with the seat 81, and forward thrust as indicated by the arrow results in 90 of the cam.

in FIG. the upper end portion of the shank A is moved rear-wardly to a third position by the cam and slot mechanism, thereby completely decreasing the inclination of the tooth point B, for example, by an additional increment of 2, or a total of 4. In this position the cam 60 is rotated upwardly and rearwardly to a stopped position where the radial throw of the cam 60 is again normal to the elongation of the slot 80. As shown, the cam '60 has 180 engagement wtih the seat 82 and forward thrust, as indicated by the arrow, results in 90 of circumferential pressured engagement of the seat with the cam.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the cam 69 has 180 engagement with either

seat

81 or 82, in any one of the three positions spaced 90 apart, as the case may be. Therefore, in each of said three positions thrust is transmitted through at least 90 of the circumference of said cam 60 and with the result that an extremely rugged and durable adjustment means M is provided. It is to be observed that pivotal engagement is established with the part that is positioned, namely, the shank A, and the said means M can be easily operated by simply releasing or removing the pin 76, whereby it is practical to make adjustments at any time, even during operation of the tractor X and ripper and attachment Y-Z.

Having descrimd only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. Adjustment means for angularly positioning two pivotal-ly related parts and comprising, a rotatable cam on one part operable in an elongated slot in the other part, the slot having a seat at one end thereof, and the cam being operable to rotatably spaced positions to engage and stop at the seat.

2. Adjustment means for angularly positioning two pivotally related parts and comprising, a rotatable cam on one part operable in an elongated slot in the other part, the slot having spaced seats at the opposite ends thereof, and the cam being operable between opposite rotative positions to engage and stop at one seat and through an intermediate position to engage and stop at the other seat.

3. Adjustment means providing for selective positioning of bearing engagement to position a shiftable part, and including, an elongated slot in said part and having an arcuate seat at one end thereof, and a convex cam rotatable between two opposite positions to engage and stop at the seat.

4. Adjustment means providing for selective positioning of bearing engagement to transmit thrust through a shi-ftable part, and including, an elongated slot in said part and having a semi-circular seat at one end thereof, and a round cam rotatable between two opposite positions to engage and stop at said seat,

5. Adjustment means providing for selective positioning of bearing engagement to transmit thrust through a shi-ftable part, and including, an elongated slot in said part and having spaced semi-circular seats at the opposite ends thereof, and a round cam rotatable between two opposite positions to engage and stop at one of said seats and through an intermediate position to engage and stop at the other of said seats.

6. Adjustment means providing for selective positioning of bearing engagement to transmit thrust through a shiftable part, and including, an elongated slot in said part and having a semi-circular seat at one end thereof, and a round cam rotatable 180 between two diametrically opposite positions to engage and stop at said seat.

7. Adjustment means providing for selectively positioning of bearing engagement to transmit thrust through a shiftable part, and including, an elongated slot in said part and having spaced semi-circular seats at the opposite ends thereof, and a round cam rotatable 180 between two diametrically opposite positions to engage and stop at one of said seats and through an intermediate position to engage and stop at the other of said seats.

8. In combination with a vehicle having an attachment to carry a ripper having a tooth point disposed forwardly and inclined to penetrate into a supporting surface, a substantially upright shank with said tooth point at the lower end of the shank, means pivotally mounting the shank to said attachment, and adjustment means to angularly position the shank relative to said attachment and comprising a rotatable cam journalled in the attachment and operable in an elongated slot in the shank, the slot having a seat at one end thereof and the cam being operable to rotatably spaced positions to engage and stop at the seat.

9. In combination with a vehicle having an attachment to carry a ripper having a tooth point disposed forwardly and inclined to penetrate into a supporting surface, a substantially upright shank with said tooth point at the lower end of the shank, means pivotally mounting the shank to said attachment, and adjustment means to angularly position the shank relative to said attachment and comprising a rotatable cam journalled in the attachment and operable in an elongated slot in the shank, the slot having spaced seats at the opposite ends thereof, and the cam being operable between opposite rotative positions to engage and stop at one seat and through an intermediate position to engage and stop at the other seat.

10. In combination with a vehicle having an attachment to carry a ripper having a tooth point disposed forwardly and inclined to penetrate into a supporting surface, a substantially upright shank with said tooth point at the lower end of the shank, means pivotally mounting the shank to said attachment, and adjustment means to angularly position the shank relative to said attachment and including, an elongated slot in the shank and having a semi-circular seat at one end thereof and a round cam journalled in the attachment and operable in the slot between two opposite positions to engage and stop at said seat.

11. In combination with a vehicle having an attachment to carry a ripper having a tooth point disposed forwardly and inclined to penetrate into a supporting surface, a substantially upright shank with said tooth point at the lower end of the shank, means pivotally mounting the shank to said attachment, and adjustment means to angularly position the shank relative to said attachment and including, an elongated slot in the shank and having spaced semi-circular seats at the opposite ends thereof, and a round cam journalled in the attachment and rotatable in the slot between two opposite positions to engage and stop at one of said seats and through an intermediate positions to engage and stop at the other of said seats.

12. In combination with a vehicle having an attachment to carry a ripper having a tooth point disposed forwardly and inclined to penetrate into a supporting surface, a substantially upright shank with said tooth point at the lower end of the shank, means pivotally mounting the shank to said attachment, and adjustment means to angularly position the shank relative to said attachment and including, an elongated slot in the shank and having a semi-circular seat at one end thereof and a round cam journalled in the attachment and operable in the slot between two diametrically opposite positions to engage and stop at said seat.

13. In combination with a vehicle having an attachment to carry a ripper having a tooth point disposed forwardly and inclined to penetrate into a supporting surface, a substantially upright shank with said tooth References Cited in the file of this patent point at the lower end of the shank, means pivotally a mounting the shank to said attachment, and adjustment UBITED STATES PATENTS means to angularly position the shank relative to said 185,383 Billups Dec. 19, 1876 attachment and including, an elongated slot in the 5 1,135,172 Scott Apr. 20, 1915 shank and having spaced semi-circular seats at the oppo- 2,676,226 Much-er Apr. 20, 1954 site ends thereof, and a round cam journalled in the at- 2,704,331 Stott et a1 Mar. 15, 1955 tachment and rotatable 180 in the slot between two 2,998,965 Larson Sept. 5, 1961 diametrically opposite positions to engage and stop at T T one of said seats and through a 90 intermediate position 10 FOREIGN PAENTS to engage and stop at the other of said seats. 2,136/ 26 Australia May 20, 1927

Claims

1. ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ANGULARLY POSITIONING TWO PIVOTALLY RELATED PARTS AND COMPRISING, A ROTATABLE CAM ON ONE PART OPERABLE IN AN ELONGATED SLOT IN THE OTHER PART, THE SLOT HAVING A SEAT AT ONE END THEREOF, AND THE CAM BEING OPERABLE TO ROTATABLY SPACED POSITIONS TO ENGAGE AND STOP AT THE SEAT.