US3380759A

US3380759A - Tractor draft arm support

Info

Publication number: US3380759A
Application number: US582724A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger F Engelmann
Original assignee: JI Case Co
Current assignee: Case LLC
Priority date: 1966-09-28
Filing date: 1966-09-28
Publication date: 1968-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-04-30

Description

April 30, 1968 R. F. ENGELMANN 3,330,759

TRACTOR DRAFT ARM SUPPORT Filed Sept. 28, 1966 .Z'NVE'NTOR ROGER E ENGELMM United States Patent 0 3,380,759 TRACTGR DRAFT ARM SUPPORT Roger F. Engelrnann, Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Sept. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 582,724 6 Claims. (Cl. 280-474) This invention relates to a tractor draft arm support, and, more particularly, it relates to a draft arm support which can be set in two different positions for selectively placing the support in either a rigid relationship or an articular relationship.

The prior art contains several examples of draft arm supports of the selectable fixed and articular or floating positions. Thus, where it is desired to have the draft arm connected between a tractor and a trailing implement, it is common to support the draft arm by a suspension member which can be placed in either a rigid position or an articular position so that the draft arm itself can either pivot or be fixed with respect to the tractor. This of course is important with regard to the movement of the implement which can then either be retained in a rigid or non-pivotal position with respect to the tractor, or it can be pivotal with respect to the tractor. The heretofore known supports for draft arms are relatively complex in both their manufacture and their requirements for converting them from the rigid position to the floating position. Certain of these prior art supports require telescoping members having aligned slots and holes with a pin passing therethrough for securing the members in the selected one of the two desired relations mentioned. Generally, in these constructions, the two sets of aligned openings must be provided in such alignment and relationship so that the pin can be manipulated with respect to the Openings for easy insertion and withdrawal as well as for the desired function of effecting either the rigid or articular construction.

Still further, the prior art constructions are not sturdy constructions, and they soon fail to perform their desired function.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a support for a tractor draft arm wherein the support can be readily provided in manufacture, and it can be readily manipulated to convert the support between a fixed support position and a fioatating support position with respect to the draft arm. In accomplishing this object, the support is sturdy, relatively inexpensive, and capable of long-time service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a draft arm support wherein the conversion between the rigid position and the floating position can be readily and easily accomplished, and it can be readily detected as to which of the two positions the support is disposed in.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a convertible draft arm support wherein the support is snugly disposed in its rigid position with a very minimum of movement between the parts, and the support retains itself in this firm or snug position. Further, it is significant that the parts are automatically disposed in the articular position, that is, off a dead-center or self-locking position, when the control part is maneuvered to dispose the support in the articular position. This particular feature is accomplished by a camrning action which moves the parts off the aligned or deadcenter relationship so that the articular relationship is assured.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the support related to a draft arm and having parts thereof broken away and showing a part in a different position in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

Ice

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view longitudinally of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but show ing a link thereof in one position in solid lines and in another position in dot-dash lines, and showing the pin in a different rotated position.

It will be understood that the convertible support of this invention is adaptable to a standard type tractor having a draft arm and a lift link for supporting and controlling the draft arm. Accordingly, the invention will be described in that art. It will further be understood and obvious to one skilled in the art that this invention pertains to the support of a draft arm 10 which is of a conventional type and is pivotally connectable to a tractor (not shown) at the right hand end of the draft arm in FIG. 1, which right hand end is of course broken away. Therefore, the broken away left hand end of the draft arm if), as viewed in PEG. 1, is normally attached to an implement, such as a plow. Thus the draft arm can pivot up and down with respect to the tractor, but it is also desired to hold the draft arm 10 against pivotal movement for various purposes. Such pivotal connections, arrangements, and functions are very well known in the art and therefore need not be further described herein. Also, the support itself, and generally designated 11, is provided in the art for suspending the draft arm 10 from an elevated point on the tractor, and the draft arm 10 and the support 11 are shown pivotally connected together by a pin 12. Thus the support 11 is commonly arranged to not only support the arm 16 but to also raise and lower the arm 10 with respect to the level of the tractor, all in a common and well-known manner.

The novel contribution in this instance is in the sup port 11 which is shown to include the rod 13 which is the piece suspended from the tractor as mentioned. The lower end of the rod 13 then connects to the bifurcated member 14 which in turn connects to the draft arm 10 through the link 16 and the pin 12. These parts thus comprise the lift means for the support of the draft arm 10, as mentioned and as one skilled in the art readily understands.

The bifurcated member 14 supports a pivot pin 17 which pivotally receives the link 16. FIG. 2 shows that the link 16 extends intermediate the draft arm 10 which may therefore be provided with a slot 18 for reception of the link 16, as shown. Thus the lift means 11 and the draft arm 10 are pivotally connected so that the draft arm 19 can pivot up and down but still be supported in its lowest pivotal position, that is, when the link 16 and member 14 are aligned as shown in FIG. 1.

Thus the member 14 is shown to have an opening 19 which receives the end of the link 16. Also, a lock pin 21 is rotatably mounted on the member 14 and extends across the opening 19. The end of the link 16 is provided with an arcuate surface 22 which snugly mates with the corresponding curvature or arcuate surface 23 on the central portion of the pin 21.

FIG. 4 shows the

mating surfaces

22 and 23 in abutment, and this is so arranged that the link 16 is then secured in the rigid or extended position with respect to the member 14. This is therefore the locked or rigid position of the lift means 11, and it secures the draft arm 10 fixed or non-pivotal with respect to the tractor, as desired in that position.

The pin 21 is rotatable 180 degrees out of the FIG. 4 position and to the position then shown in FIG. 5. Also, FIG. 1 shows a handle 24 connected to the pin 21, and the lower or solid line position of the handle 24 corresponds with the FIG. 4 position of the pin, and the upper or dotted line position of the handle 24 corresponds with the FIG. 5 position of the pin.

In the unlatched or dotted line position of the handle 24, the handle abuts a stop 26 afiixed to the member 14. This holds the handle 24 in that position, it further precludes the operator from moving the handle beyond that position to an undesirable position, and it still further indicates to the operator that the pin is in the released or unlatched position of FIG. 5 which provides the articular relationship in the lift means 11, when such is desired.

It will therefore be understood that the link 16 can be released from the member 14 by means of rotation of the pin 21. Such release will permit the link 16 to move from the solid line position of FIG. 4 to the solid line position of FIG. 5 and even to the dot-dash line position of FIG. 5, all while the draft arm 10 pivots upwardly with respect to its pivotal attachment to the tractor.

The pin 21 has a fiat surface 27 which engages a hook 28 on the end of the link 16. This relationship between the pin and the hook serves to limit the rotation of the pin 21 to its fully latched position, as desired. Further, when the pin 21 is rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, the pin portion 29 will engage the angled surface 21 on the link 16 to cam the link 16 upwardly to the solid line FIG. 5 position and thereby assure that the link 16 will not be on dead center relationship with respect to the member 14.

FIG. 2 shows a pin holding member 32, which may be a spring type washer, disposed between the pin 21 and the member 14 to yieldably restrain the pin against rotation. Therefore the pin will remain in its selected set position until the operator forcibly moves the pin. The pin will therefore not move accidentally.

Of course it is shown that the latching pin 21 is spaced away from the fulcrum or pivot pin 17 connecting the

members

14 and 16. Further, the arrangement with the

arcuate surfaces

22 and 23, and with the surfaces 27 and 28, the pin 21 is easily made snug with respect to the link 16 so that there will be only a minimum of movement, if any at all, when the support is placed in the latched position. This provides for snug latching, and it precludes accidental release of the parts from the latched position. It of course also prevents wear of the parts since they are not free to impact one upon the other as they are held in snug relationship.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that certain changes can be made in the embodiment, and the invention should therefore be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tractor draft arm support convertible between a rigid connection and an articular connection for respective fixed and floating connection of an implement to a tractor,

the combination comprising a pivotal draft arm for up and down movement, support means including a link pivotally connected to said draft arm and being pivotally connected to the remainder of said support means, a pin rotatably mounted on said lift means on an axis spaced from the axis of the pivotal connection between said link and said remainder of said support means being selectively free of said link, said pin and said link respectively having mating surfaces disposed in latched abutment when said link is in one pivoted position and said pin is in one rotated position for effecting said fixed connection, and said mating surfaces being disposed in uniatched relation when said pin is in another rotated position, and means on said pin for rotating said pin.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said pin is rotatably mounted on said remainder of said support means and has a relieved portion on one side thereof and spaced from said link a distance sufiicient to have said link pivot free of and past said link when said pin is in said another rotated position.

3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said mating surfaces extend into the path of rotation of said pin and secure said pin from rotating in one direction of pin rotation while permitting said pin to rotate only in the other direction of pin rotation.

4. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said pin relieved portion is a flat surface and wherein said link has a hook extending along said flat surface and into the path of the remainder of said pin to be cammed away from and by said pin upon rotation of said pin from said one position to said another position and thereby pivot said link off dead-center with respect to said remainder of said support means and insure effecting the position of articular connection,

5. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said mating surfaces are both arcuate and disposed in abutment upon rotation of said pin for snug latching relation between said surfaces.

6. The subject matter of claim 1, including means operatively connected to said pin for yieldably restraining rotation of said pin and thereby assure maintaining said support against accidental release from either selected position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,491,637 4/1924 Schrum 280-474 1,655,351 1/1928 Altgelt 280474 2,415,968 2/1947 Price 280'474 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

J. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner.

e UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,380,759 April 30, 1558 Roger F. Engelmann It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Eli Column 4 line 5 "lift" should read support ling 7 "means" should read means and Signed and sealed this 9th day of September 1969.

Ailfiefiting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A TRACTOR DRAFT ARM SUPPORT CONVERTIBLE BETWEEN A RIGID CONNECTION AND AN ARTICULAR CONNECTION FOR RESPECTIVE FIXED AND FLOATING CONNECTION OF AN IMPLEMENT TO A TRACTOR, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PIVOTAL DRAFT ARM FOR UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT, SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID DRAFT ARM AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE REMAINDER OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A PIN ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID LIFT MEANS ON AN AXIS SPACED FROM THE AXIS OF THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID LINK AND SAID REMAINDER OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING SELECTIVELY FREE OF SAID LINK, SAID PIN AND SAID LINK RESPECTIVELY HAV-