Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~35Z~L3
The invention relates to a plough with right-hand
and l.eft-hand ploughshare pairs mounted on a swing-over
saddle frame extending backwards diagonally with respect
to t.he direction of advance of the plough,.the front end
of the saddle frame being hitched to the lifting fork o.f
a tractor, the saddle frame being supported by a single-
axle 2-wheeled carriage by means of a T-frame which
provides two axes of rotati.on perpendicular to each other,
the one axis serving as a pivot axis for the front end of .
10 the -trailing-lînk chassis of the carriage, and therefore ;:
extendi.ng transversely and substantially paralle1 to the
wheel-axis of the carriage, the other axis, above the --
first, serving as the swing-over axis of the saddle frame
and therefore extending fore-and-aft approximately in the
15 direction of advance of the plough, the T~frame having a :
lift:ing cylinder, connected between the saddle frame and
the carriage chassis and, forward of thi.s, at least one
swi.ng-over cylinder pivoted to the T-frame on a fore-and-
aft pivot axis and engaging, by its other end, with the
saddle frame, the plough also being equipped with
supl)orting, locking and adjustment devices for securing
the saddIe :frame in its working and transportation posltionsO
Ploughs of this general kind are known in a wide
variety of forms. The main variations are concerned with
25 . the .qwing-over mechanism for swinging the saddle-frame over
froln the one side to the other, with the mechanism used or
lii`t.i.ng the saddle frame upwards relative to a supporting
whefl, and with the mechanical or hydraulic control system
provided for controlling these movements.
In beet ploughs a hydraulically actuated lifting
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mechanism wi-th a single supporting wheel has been known
for a long time.
And ploughs are known in which a saddle frame is
swung over from the one lateral working position to the
other, through an intermediate transport position. But
in the known swing-over saddle frame ploughs the entire
construction, with provision for the various movements
of lowering the saddle frame for ploughing, lifting it,
swinging it over, securing it in its working and transport
positions and controlling all these operations from the
fore-frame of the plough, involves a considerable degree
of mechanical complexity.
In a known plough (German Offenlegungsschrift
25 35 271) the swing-over saddle frame, equipped with
right-hand and left-hand ploughshare pairs, is supported
at its leading end by a fore-frame hitched to the powered
lifting fork of a tractor. The trailing end of the
saddle frame is supported by a wheeled carriage which runs
along on the ground. A powered device æwings the saddle
frame over, on axes extending fore-and-aft approximately
in the direction of advance of the plough, between its -two ~;
la-teral working positions, for right-hand and left-hand
ploughing, and into a transport position. A lifting
cylinder acts between the wheeled carriage and a frame-
part fixed to the trailing end of the saddle frame. The
frame-part supports a pivot for the carriage and also
supports the swing-over pivot for the saddle frame. A
working cylinder connected to the frame-part powers the
swinging-over of the saddle frame, stabilizes the carriage
and displaces the centre of gravity between the carriage
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~85Z13
-- 4
and the trailing end of the saddle frame. The workin~
cylinder is a double~acting hydraulic cylinder and is
connected to the saddle frame through a rocker. One
cylinder chamber of the working cylinder is connec-ted
through a hydraulic passage to the single-acting lifting
cy~inder, which acts as a hydraulic reservoir for the
working cylinder. Consequently the carriage load is -
transmitted through the lifting cylinder to the working
cylinder.
This known arrangement has several disadvantages.
One chamber, towards the piston, of the working cylinder
communicates through a cont:rollable non-return valve
with a pressureless storage tank for hydraulic fluid.
Nevertheless, it is not possible to adjust with satisfactory ~-
precision the sideways-leaning angle of the plough in its
two lateral working positions by actuation of the working
cylinder. And the fluctuating loads which occur during
ploughing greatly stress the entire hydraulic system of
the plough.
A further disadvantage occurs when the plough -`
approaches the end of the furrow, that is to say the
termination of the array of furrows made by the set of
ploughshares. When the plough is lifted the carriage,
due to its mobility relative to the saddle frame, can
topple over sideways, rotating on the swing-over axis of
the saddle frame, which extends essentially fore-and-aft
in t~le direction of advance of the plough, particularly
if the carriage is already leaning over exc-essively on
uneven ground. For preventing the carriage from toppling
over, devices are knoun which connect the carriage to the
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~0852~L3
fore-frame in such a way that the saddle frame can swing
in all the necessary direc-tions relative to the tractor,
but tlle carriage cannot rotate rela-tive to the fore-framé.
For example, a rod can be provided which extends
approximately parallel to the saddle frame and is
connected through a universal join-t to the fore-frame and
to the carriage. And it has been proposed to connect
the fore-frame to the carriage hydraulically by inter-
posing a hydraulic cylinder to act between the fore-frame
and the saddle frame, and a further one to act between
the carriage and the saddle frame, and connecting the two
cylinders together by a hydraulic line in such a way that
the carriage cannot move relative to the saddle frame
independently of the fore-frame.
But these arrangements are comparatively complex,
and if they are entirely mechanical a cumbersome
construction results. They have the further disadvantage
that when it is desired to change to a different number
of ploughshare pairs, in adaptation to different ploughlng
circumstances, it is necessary to lengthen or shorten ~he
colmecting members between the fore-frame and the carriage.
Moreover, they impede the movements of the carriage over
uneven ground.
To remedy these disadvantages it is known to equip
(German Offenlegungsschrift 25 34 077) the carriage with
a device which responds to the sideways leaning of the
carriage. The device has an automatic lock which limits
the angle arising between the saddle frame and the carriage.
As soon as the sideways-leaning angle of the carriage
exceeds a certain value, the lock engages. The device
;2~3
can be purely mechanical, or hydraulic. But in both of its
two versions the device is comparatively complex and it is
highly stressed by the fluctuating loads occurring during
ploughing operations.
The intention in the present invention is to pro-
vide a plough of the kind described at the beginning, with
hydraulically actuated devices for lifting and swinging-over
the saddle frame between its two lateral working positions,
and with devices for adjusting the sideways-leaning angle of
the saddle frame in its two working positions, for vertically
adjusting ploughing depth, and for locking the saddle frame
in its central position for transportation, all in such a way
that a simple and robust construction is obtained and so that
the plough is safe and simple to operate. The invention can
be applied to heavy ploughs with multiple pairs of ploughshares
and to those in which the individual ploughshare pairs are
attached to the saddle frame by overload safety connections.
According to the invention there is provided a plough
with right-hand and left-hand ploughshare pairs mounted on a
swing-over saddle frame extending backwards diagonally with re-
spect to the direction of advance of the plough, the front end
of the saddle frame being adapted for hitching to the lifting
fork of a tractor, the saddle frame being supported by a single-
axle 2-wheeled carriage by means of a T-frame which provides
two axes of rotation perpendicular to each other, the one
axis serving as a pivot axis for the front end of a trailing-
link chassis of the carriage, and therefore extending trans-
versely and substantially parallel to the wheel-axis of the
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~352~3
carriage, the other axis, above the first, serving as the swing-
over axis of the saddle frame and therefore extending fore-and-
aft approximately in the direction of advance of the plough, the
T-frame having a lifting cylinder, connected between the saddle
frame and the carriage chassis and, forward of this, two single-
acting, swing-over cylinders each pivoted to the T-frame on a
fore-and-aft pivot axis and engaging, by its other end, with the
saddle frame, the plough also being equipped with supporting,
locking and adjustment devices for securing the saddle frame in
its working and transportation positions, said swing-over
cylinders being pivoted at their lower ends to the T-frame on
pivots spaced apart on either side of the swing-over axis of
the saddle frame, the swing-over cylinders rising upwards so
that their pistons approach each other in inverted V-formation,
the upper ends of the pistons working in guiding slots in slot~
ted plates of a guiding system fixed to a middle portion of the
saddle frame, and in further slots in the cheek plates of a
rocker which pivots on a fore-and-aft axis of the T-frame par-
allel to the swing-over axis, the T-frame and/or the carriage
having supports for supporting the saddle frame laterally in
its two working positions, for supporting it centrally and at
an adjustable depth during ploughing and for supporting it
centrally during transportation.
The invention has the advantage that all the devices
used for lifting the saddle frame, for swinging it over, for
adjusting the sideways-leaning angle of the saddle frame in
each working position and for securing it, in its working and
transport positions, to its wide-track 2-wheeled carriage, are
-- 7 --
1~35~3
brought together in a simple constructional unit, making
the plough easy and safe to operate, with good access to
the parts. In particular, the fore-frame is free from
the actuating and locking devices used in ploughing opera-
tions and for transportation on the road. A simple uni-
versal joint, adjustable in position sideways, is all that
is required on the fore-frame for hitching the plough to
the lifting fork of the tractor. The plough follows the
tractor, without any additional steering system, in the
manner of an ordinary l-axle 2-wheeled trailer, both during
- ploughing and during transportation on the road. The car-
riage preferably supports the saddle frame near half-way
between the leading and trailing ends of the plough. This
; has static and dynamic advantages, giving a favourable fore-
and-aft equilibrium of the masses both during ploughing and
during transportation. The furrows are formed regularly,
both when the saddle frame is being lowered and when it is
subsequently raised at the termina.tion of the array of
furrows.
If the carriage and the lifting and swinging-
over devices are suitably dimensioned, the leading and
the trailing portions of the saddle frame can be removed,
that is to say detached from the middle portion, and re-
placed by longer or shorter frame portions, allowing a
greater or lesser number of ploughshare pairs to be used,
in adaptation to different kinds of ground, without it
being necessary to modify the carriage chassis, the
. lifting cylinder, the swing-over cylinders or the securing
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1~8529~3
and locking devices.
A vertically adjustable spindle for adjusting
ploughing depth is preferably combined with the device
for locking the saddle frame in its transportation
position. A locking web fixed to the carriage chassis
acts as the support for the ad~ustable spindle.
Moreover, the arrangement provides an unusually simple
and robust lock for securing the saddle frame in its
central position during transportation of the plough.
Preferably the two synchronously counter-acting
swing-over cylinders and the lifting cylinder are all
single-acting hydraulic cylinders connected independently
through individual hydraulic passages and hoses containing
adjustable return-flow throttling constrictions to a
control on the tractor connected to the tractor hydraulic
system. By this arrangement there is obtained an
exceptionally robust construction consisting of only a
few reliable and conventional, easily purchased parts
which are quick and easy to repair or replace.
In swinging the saddle frame over from the one
working position to the other, in the first phase of
this movement one of the two swing-over cylinders extends,
thrusting the saddle frame up as far as its central ;~'
equilibrium position. The saddle frame then descends
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1~352~3
-- 10
under gravity into its other working position, the
second swing-over cylinder retarding the descent of the
saddle frame by expulsion of hydraulic fluid through its
adjustable throttling constriction, so that the saddle
frame is let down gently into its working position. For
returning the saddle frame to its first working position,
the dri~er of the tractor actuates his control, reversing :~t
the actions of the two swing-over cylinders.
An example of the invention is represented in the
: 10 drawings, ln which :
Figure 1 is a side view of the plough, with the
saddle frame in its right-hand working posi-tion;
Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of the plough, with the
saddle frame in its transportation position;
Figure 4 is a back view of the plough, as seen iIl
the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a three-dimensional sketch showing
the T-franile and the swing-over mechanism, the lifting
cylinder and the support spindles for adjusting the
sideways~leaning angle, or roll angle, of the saddle frame,
which is here shown in its right-hand working position;
Figure 6 is a further three-dimensional sketch,
this one showing the saddle frame in its centri~lized
position, ready for transportation;
Figure 7 is a side view of the T-frame;
- Figure 8 is a front view of the T-frame, seen in
~r tl1e direction of the arrow VIII in Figure 7;
Figure 9 shows the middle portion of the saddle
frame as seen from underneath when the saddle frame is
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1~85Z~3
in its centralized position, ready for transportation;
Figure 10 is a side view as seen in the direction
of the arrow X in Figure 9;
~; Figures 11 and 12 show slotted parts of the swing-
over mechanism;
Figure 13 is a partly sectioned back view, as seen
in tile direction of the arrows XIII in Figure 1, drawn to~
~ a larger scale and showing parts of the swing~over
; mechanism, the saddle frame being in its right-hand
`` 10 working position;
~:~ Figure 14 is a partly sectioned back view, as seen
in the direction of the arrows XIV in Figure 3, the saddle
frame being in its central, transportation position;
Figure 15 shows the swing-over mechanism in an
intermediate position, the saddle frame descending towards
its left-hand working position;
Figure 16 shows the swing-over mechanism with the
saddle fr~me in its left-hand working position; and
Figure 17 represents diagrammatically the hydraulic
.: 20 system for the two swing-over cylind.ers and the lifting ~`
cylinder of the plough. .
- In the drawing, Figures 1 to 4 show a plough 1
- hitched to a trac-tor 2 which has, for towing the plough, ..
~: a powered lifting fork 3 with two fork arms 4a, 4b .
25 supporting a transverse connecting rail 6 mounted to pivot
on a horizontal axis 6a extending transversely across the f
:.~ direction of advance 20 of the plough. The plough has a
`~ ~ saddle frame 11 hitched to the rail 6 through a universal
joint 7 whose front end is pivoted to the rail 6 on a
j 30 vertical axis 8. The front.~nd of the saddle frame 11
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~5Z13
- 12
is pivoted -to the universal joint 7 on a horizontal
fore-and-aft axis 9. The saddle frame 11 can, if
desired, be connected to the universal joint 7 by a
perforated crossbar 12 with a transverse fine-adjustment
spi~ldle 13, or with two such spindles extending parallel
to each other, to allow the plough to be adjusted in
position sideways wi-th respect to the tractor 2. ,~
As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the saddle frame 11
comprises three portions 11a, llb, llc forming angles
with each other. The middle portion llb extends fore-
and-aft, in the direction of advance of the plough. But
the saddle frame 11 as a whole extends, when the plough
is working, as shown in Figure 2, diagonally backwards
from the tractor 2. The saddle frame 11 sup~70rts,
15 distributed along its length, several pairs of left-hand
and right-hand ploughshares~14a, 14b, 1~o, l~ld, 14e, each
pair connected to the saddle frame 11 by a hydraulic
overload safety connector 15. The middle portion llb of
the saddle frame 11, situated between ploughshare pairs
l~c and 14d, is supported by a wide-track single-axle
2-wheeled carriage 16. Mounted on the carriage 16, for
.. supporting the saddle frame 11, is a T-frame 17 (Figures
. 1 to 3, 5, 7, 8 and 13 to 16) to which the carriage 16
is pivoted on a transverse axis 18 IFigure 2). The
saddle frame 11 is pivoted to the T-frame 17 on a fore-
and-aft axi.s 19, situated above the transverse axis 18,
so as to allow the saddle frame 11 to swing over, from
onc side to the other, in changing from right-hand to
left-hand ploughing, and vice versa. The carriage 16
has a trai.ling-link chassis 161 pivoted at its front end
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108S~13
to swing up and down on the transverse axis lo, which
extends parallel to the wheel axis 162 of the carriage.
A lifting cylinder 21 is pivoted at its upper
end to an upright web 171 of the aft end of the T-frame
17, and at its lower end to the carriage l6, the lifting
cylinder 21 sloping downwards and backwards to the
carriage. In front of the lifting cylinder 21 the
T-frame 17 has two single-acting swing-over cylinders 22,
23 whose feet are pivoted, at points right and left of
the swing-over saddle axis 19, to the transverse cross-
beam 172 which forms the forward portion of the T-frame.
As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the T-frame 17
; comprises a longitudinal beam 173 which extends fore-and-
aft, in the direction of advance 20 of the plough, and
15 therefore extends parallel to the swing-over saddle axis
19. From front and back ends of the T-frame 17 there
~ rise uprights 174, 175, each supporting at its upper end
r~ a forwards-directed stud-bearing 176, 177. These two
bearings define the fore-and-aft swing-over axis 19 on
` 20 which the saddle frame 11 of the plough swings over.
Fixed across the front end O.L the longitudinal beam 173
is the transverse cross-beam 172 of the T-frame 17. The
croics-bealll 172 has, at its two ends, bearings 178, 179
in which pivots, about the transverse axis 18, the ~ron-t
end of the trailing link chassis 161 of the carriage 16.
The foot of each swing-over cylinder 22, 23 is
pivoted to ths T-frame 17 between a pair of lower webs
180 or 181 extending downwards from the cross-beam 172
and rrom the longitudinal beam 173 of the T-frame 17~
30 Fixed to the upper surface of the longitudinal beam 173
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Z~IL3
:
is a pair of upper webs 182, 183 on which pivots, abou
a fore-and-aft axis 184, a slotted guiding rocker 40
whose construction and method of functioning will be
described further below.
Projecting forwards at each side from the
transverse cross-beam 172 are horizontal brackets 185,
186 equipped with support spindles 187, 188, adjustable ~l
in height, for supporting the saddle frame 11 of the
plough in its right-hand and left-hand working positions.
As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 9 to 16, the middle
portion llb of the saddle frame 11 has two lower brackets
191, 192 (Figures 9, 10) which pivot on the forwards-
directed stud bearings 176, 177 of the two uprights 174,
175 of the T-frame 17, to allow the saddle fri~me 11 to
swing over from one side to the other.
Fixed to the middle portion llb of the saddle
frame`11 between the two Iower brackets 191, 192 there is
`, a guiding system 30 consisting of two slotted plates 301,
- 302 (Figures 13, 11). Each plate 301, 302 has a pair of`, 20 guiding slots (303, 304) forming mirror images of each
;~ other symmetrically disposed on either side of the fore-
and-aft swing-over axis 19 (Figure 14) of the saddle
` frame 11. In the guiding slots 303, 304 work two cross-
head pins 221, 231 of the uppér ends of the pistons o~ the
25 swing-over cylinders 22, 23, which slope upwards and
in~ards towards each other, as an inverted V, forming an
acute angle between them.
The slotted guiding rocker 40 (Figures 12, 5),
which pivots on the fore-and-aft axis 184 of the T-frame
17 has two slotted cheekplates 401, 402 situated outside
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- 15
(Figure 5) the pair of slotted plAteS 301, 302 of the
guiding system 30. Each cheekplate 401, 402 has two
S-curved slots 403, 404 (Figure 12) in which also work
the crosshead pins 221, 231 of the swing-over cylinders
5 22, 23, the two S-curved slots also forming mi.rror
images of each other. And it will be observed that when
the saddle frame 11 is in its central position (Figure 14) ~i:
these two slots are also symmetrically disposed on either
side of the fore-and-aft swing-over axis 19 of the saddle
frame 11.
The slot geometry can easily be derived from
Figures 11 to 16. The guidins slots 303, 304 of the
guiding system 30 form arcs of a circle centred on the
fore-and-aft swing-over saddle axis 19, which is itself
15 in the longitudinal middle plane 111 of the middle
portion llb of the saddle frame ll (Figure 14). From
the bridging portion 305, situated on the middle plane 111
of the saddle frame 11, each slot 301, 302 ex~ends
outwards through nearly a right angle, or through 70 to ..
20 80, so that in total the two slots, with the bridging
portion 305, sweep an angle 306 of about 180 .
In regard to the slotted guiding rocker 40
(Figure 12), the two S-curved slots 403, 404 are disposed
symmetrically on either side of the symmetry axis 111a
25 of the cheekplate, such as 402, the symmetry axis 111a
passing through the fore-and-aft pivot axis 184 of the
guiding rocker 40. The lower portion of each S-curved
slot, such as 403, forms an arc of a circle whose radius
is about the same as the radius of the slot in the plate,
such as 302, of the guiding system 30. And the length
~8~213
-- 16
of the lower portion of the S-curved slot is about the
same as the length of the slot in the plate, such as 302,
of the guiding system 30. But the lower ends 407, 408
of the S-curved slots are closer together.
As shown in ~igure 12, the two S-curved slots 403,
404 rise upwards at first approximately parallel to each
other. Then they approach each other and finally run J
nearly parallel again till they terminate at their upper
ends 409, 410 spaced apart by approximately the width of
the bridgi~g portion 305 of the plate 302 of the guiding
system 30. Each S-curved slot is longer than the slot,
such as 303, of the guiding system 30 by about one slot
width, due to the extra upper end 409, 410.
If Figures 13 to 16 are now considered, these
figuries show the saddle frame 11 in its right-hand and
left-hand working positions and in two intermediate
positions. In these figures it will be observed that
the outwards curved upper ends 409, 410 of the S-curved
slots 403, 404 of the rocker 40 are co-ordinated in r
shape to the guiding slots 303, 304 of the guiding system i
30 so as to produce the effects which will now be
described. In Figure 13, which shows the saddle frame
11 in its right-hand working posi-tion, the lower portion
of the rightward S-curved s:l.ot of the rocker 40 forms an
upward continuation of the circular arc (centred on the
swing-over saddle axis 19) of the lower slot, in this
case 304, of the guiding system 30. The upper end of
the leftward S-curved slot coincides in position with
what is here the upper end of the other slot, in this
case 303, of the guiding system 30. A corresponding
~ . .
2~3
- 17
situation occurs when the saddle frame 11 has been SWUilg
over into its other working position.
A further geometric feature shown clearly in ''
Figure 13 is that an isosceles triangle is formed by the
three points 223, 184 and 233. The points 223 and 233
are the pivot points of the feet of the two swing-over
cylinders Z2, 23. The apex of the triangle is the locus .
of the fore-and-aft pivot axis 184 on which the guiding
rocker 40 pivots. The triangle is approximately "'^-
equilateral. The sides 51, 52 of the triangle slope
inwards to meet at the longitudinal vertical middle
plane 111 of the T-frame 17. The distance 54 between
the lower pivots 223, 233 of the swing-over cylinders 22,
23 is at least twice the radius 311 of curvature of the
slots 303, 304 of the guiding system 30. A further
requirement is that the distance 54 must be great enough
to ensure that when.the saddle frame 11 is swung over
into a working posi$ion, to the right or to the left,
the axis 222 or 232 of the extended swing-over cylinder ,~
20 (in Figure 13 this is the cylinder 2Z) does not sweep '~
angularly to beyond the fore-and-aft swing-over axis 19
of the saddle frame 11.
The~geometry of the arc-shaped slots 303, 304 of
the guiding system 30, the geometry of the S-curved slots
4~ 40Ll of the rocker 40, the geometric locations of the
lower pivots 223, 233 of,the swing over cylinders 22, 23
on ~he T-frame 17, the geometric location of the swing-
over saddle axis 19, relative to the other pivot points,
and the working of the crosshead pins 221., 231 of the
single-acting swing-over cylinders 22, 23 ,in the two slot
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Sz:13
- 18
syst;ems, together ensure that the saddle frame swings
over evenly and steadily through an arc of 180 from
its one working position to the other. The speed of
the swinging movement is adjustable to suit the
5 hydraùlic system of the particular tractor with -the
-help of adjustable return-flow throttles, such as 22b
in Figure 5. t
In addition to the two la-teral support brackets
185, 186 projecting forwards from the T-frame 17 for
10 supporting the saddle frame 11 in its two working
positions, the plough has a third support bracket 210
(Figure 6) fixed to the back crossbeam 163 (Figures 2,
4, 6) of the trailing link chassis 161 of the carriage
16, with a vertically adjustable spindle 211, for adjusting
15 ploughing depth. The support bracket 210 is located in
the longitudinal vertical middle plane 111 of the T-frame
17, this plane containing the swing-over saddle axis 19.
The support bracket 210 is fixed to the crossbeam 163 by
a locking web 212 for securing the saddle frame 11 safely ~!
20 in position when centralized, for example during '
transportation (Figures L~ and 6). The locking web 212,
which acts as support for the spindle 211, projects
backwards fronl the crossbeam 163 behind the lower pivot
of the lifting cylinder 21 and preferably behind the
25 wheel axis lG2 of the carriage. Projecting downwards
from the saddle frame 11 is a fork 112 which engages with
the locking web 212 when the saddle frame 11, in its
centralized position, is lowered by the lifting cylinder
21, a U-shaped slot 113 of the fork engaging with the
25 locking web 212.
35213
- 19
Considering the plough as a whole, it will be
observed in the drawing that the carriage 16 is situated
lengthwise about half-way between the two ends of the
plough. The fore-and-aft swing-over saddle axis 19 is
in the longitudinal vertical middle plane of the carriage
16. But the axis 19 is displaced sideways by about
three furrows with respect to the furrow wheel 2a of the
tracto~ 2. This arrangement greatly Pacilitates control
of the angular position of the saddle frame 11 about its
swing-over AXiS 19 when -the saddle frame is in either of
its two working positions, represented in Figures 13 and
16. In either of these two positions the weight of the
ploughshare pairs 14a, 14b, 14c, on the one side or the
other, holds the saddle frame 11 firmly down on the
lateral support spindles 187, 188, making it unnecessary
to provide any extra lock between the saddle frame 11
and the T-frame 17.
As shown in Figure 17, the two single-acting swing-
over cylinders 22, 23, and the single-acting lifting
cylinder 21, are each connected by their own hydraulic
hoses 21a, 22a, 23a, with individual adjustable return-
flow throttles 21b, 22b, 23b, to a control device 60 on
the trac-tor 2. The connection to the hydraulic system
of the tractor is shown at 61.
The swinging over of the saddle frame is
accomplished as follows.
The driver of -the tractor actuates control 50,
causing one of the two swing-over cylinders 22, 23 to
extend, the other to retract. To retain the saddle
frame 11 in its central position, the driver centralizies
SZ~3
_ 20
the control 60. False actuation of the control 60,
which might endanger the system, is not possible because
only one of the two swing-over cylinders 22, 23 can be
made to extend at each instant.
If the hoses are connected wrong~ this merely
changes the direction of actuation of control 600 When
the tractor driver is swinging the saddle frame over from
one side to the other, he holds the con-trol 60 engaged
constantly until the saddle frame 11 has swung over from
the support spindle 187, 188 on the one side, through the
intermediate positions shown in Figures 1~ and 15, and
comes to rest on the support-spindle 187, 188 on the
other side. To prepare the plough for transportation,
the driver brings the saddle frame to its central position
(Figures 4, 5, 14) and at that instant disengages control
60. He then lowers the saddle frame 11, by means of the
lifting cylinder 21, until the saddle frame 11 has become
securely locked, by a simple method and safe against
toppling over, to the trailing-link chassis 161 of the
20 carriage 16. `
The lifting cylinder 21 is controlled by a single-
acting hydraulic control 6a, which must not be coupled to
the powered lifting fork of the tractor because at the
termination of the array of furrows if the front and back
ends of the saddle frame were raised simultaneously this
would result in an irregular (diagonally stepped)
termination of the array of furrows. The front end of
the saddle frame should be lifted first, by means of the
lifting fork of the tractor 2, and subsequerltly, after the
plough has advanced one plough-length, the back end of the
~L~8~iZ~3
saddle frame is lifted by actuating the lifting
cylinder 21. By this method the individual furrows
terminate near together, in spite of the longitudinal
spacing of the ploughshare pairs 14a, 14b .~.., giving
5 a particularly well-ordered furrow termination showing
hardly any irregularities.
When the saddle frame 11 is in its central
position, as represented in Figure 14 ~ considered in
conjunction with Figures 11 and 12 ~ the crosshead pins
221~ 231 of the swing-over cylinders 22, 23 engage, on
either side of the bridging portion 305 of each slotted~
plate, such as 302~ of the guiding system 30~ in the
upper ends of both pairs of slots, that is to say the
pai.r of arc-shaped slots 303 ~ 304 of the guiding system
30 and the pair of S-curved slots 403 ~ L~o4 of the
cheekplate, such as 402 ~ of the rocker 40. And it will
be observe~ that, under these circumstances, the upper
ends of the two kinds of slots coincide. The swinging
over of the saddle frame 11 into one of its working
20 positions ~Figure 16) takes place as follows. One,
such as 23 ~ of the two single-acting swing-over
cylinders extends, pushing the saddle frame 11 out of -
its equilibrium position, with the result that the saddle
frame swings over by the weight of the set of ploughshare
25 pai.rs fixed only on one side of it, the saddle frame
rotating on its swing-over axis l9o In this movement
-the piston of the other swing-over cylinder 22 is pushed
back into its cylinder, hydraulic fluid being expelled
through the adjustable throttle 22b, as represented in
Figure 15~ During this process the crosYhead pin 221
~L085Z3.3
- 22
remains engaged in the upper end of the arc-shaped slot
303, but slides downwards in -the S-curved slot 404,
finally reaching the lower end of this.
On the other hand, the swing-over cylinder 23
which is extending (Figure 15), although remaining in the
upper end of the S-curved slot 403, travels along in the
arc-shaped slot 304 until it reaches the other end of
this. The saddle frame 11 has now reached its working
position, where it is supported, by its side, on the
adjustable spindle 188 and, near its back end, by the
adjustable spindle 211 projecting upwards at the back end
of the trailing-link chassis 161 of the carriage 16, as
represented diagrammatically in Figure 2.
