Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRANSPORT ATTACHMENT FOR PACKER DRIILS AND THE LIKE
BACKGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in attachments for packer drill units or assemblies.
Such devices normally lnclude a pair of front ground engaging
wheels, furrow and seed disc openers supported from a frame,
a seed box supported in the frame, and rear packer wheel as-
semblies which support the rear of the assembly when it is
pulled by a tractor or the like.
Such devices are difficult to transport because of
the undesirability of moving the devices upon the packer
wheels. Furthermore, due to the width of such implements,
particularly when connected together in side by side relation-
ship, they cannot be transported normally, in the field opera-
ting position. The operator therefore has to mount the de-
vices on a low-bed trailer or the like or, if they are not
too wide, back the assemblies onto a wheeled dolly engaged
by the packer wheel unit. Either method is inconvenient and
awkward.
2 0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
by providing rear wheel assemblies which can be lowered into
ground engaging relationship and which at the same time, can
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lift the packer unit clear of the ground. The rear wheel as-
semblies are preferably castoring action type assemblies so
that the press drill or seeder can be pulled lengthwise by means
of a tractor or the like.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a
press drill assembly and the like which includes a supporting
frame having a side frame member at each end thereof, ~ront
ground engaging wheels, a seed box, furrow opening and seed disc
assemblies and packer wheel assemblies all supported upon said
supporting frame; the improvement comprising in combination at
least one rear ground engaging wheel assembly secured to the
rear of said supporting frame, means to raise and lower said
rear ground engaging wheel assembly from a rear ground engaging
press drill transporting position to a press drill working
position and vice versa, wherein said rear ground engaging wheel
assembly is lifted clear of the ground when in said press drill
working position, and means operatively connected between said
means to raise and lower said ground engaging wheel assembly
and the associated packer wheel assembly, to raise said packer
~0 wheel assembly clear of the ground when said rear ground engag-
wheel assembly is lowered and to lower said packer wheel assem-
bly to the ground when said rear ground engaging wheel assembly
is raised clear of the ground, said packer wheel assembly being
pivotally secured to said supporting frame, said means opera-
tively connected between said means to raise and lower the rear
ground engaging wheel assembly and the associated packer wheel
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assembly comprises linkage means operatively connected between
said packer wheel assembly and said means to raise and lower
said rear ground engaging wheel assembly, said linkage means
comprising a link secured by one end thereof to said rear ground
engaging wheel assembly and extending forwardly therefrom, means
detachably connecting said link intermediate the ends thereof,
to said supporting framework and a flexible cable extending be-
tween the other end of said link and said packer wheel assembly.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this
invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention
is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings
forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the pre-
ferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present in-
vention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRPWINGS
` Figure 1 is a top plan view, partially schematic, of
a conventional press drill assembly with the invention secured
thereto and showing a tow bar at one end of the press drill as-
sembly~
Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 showing the inven-
tion in the lower or transport position.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing
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the invention in the raised or press drill working position.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the
preferred method of attachment of the invention to the frame of
the press drill assembly.
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but show-
i ~.
ing an alternative arrangement.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, but show-
ing a yet further arrangement.
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4, but show-
ing still another method of attachment~
In the drawings like characters of reference indi-
cate corresponding parts in the dif-ferent figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in
detail, reference should first be made to Figures 1 and 2 in
which a standard press drill assembly is illustrated including
a supporting frame collectively designated 10 having spaced
and parallel longitudinally extending side frame members 11
and at least one cross member 12. A transversely extending
seed box 13 is mounted upon the supporting frame and extends
over the side members 11.
Front ground engaging wheel assemblies 14 are secu-
red to the front ends of the frame members 11 and include ver~
tical frame members 15 and ground engaging tired wheels 16
journalled for rotation in the lower ends thereof. These
wheels are usually castoring action type wheels.
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Furrow opening and seed disc assemblies 17 are
pivotally secured across the supporting framework and are
- adjustable in position for depth control, by r.leans of an
hydraulic or fluid operator 13 connected to a source of
hydraulic power (not illustrated) and usually carried by
the towing means such as a tractor (also not illustrated).
Conventional linkage 19 extends between the fluid
operator or ram assembly 19 and the seed disc and furrow
opening assemblies 17.
Situated behind the seed disc and furrow opening
assemblies 17, is a plurality of packer wheel units 20 jour-
nalled for rotation within depending support members 21 se-
cured by the upper ends thereof to the supporting frame 10,
all of which is conventional. Means may be provided to apply
pressure to the packers but normally the weight thereof is
sufficient and in this connection, they are normally hinged
to the frame as indicated by pivot 22, so that they may be
relatively free floating and follow the surface contour.
The invention collectively designated 23 is situa-
ted rearwardly of the press drill assembly and in this embo-
diment, includes a pair of rear ground engaging wheel assem~
blies collectively designated 2~, there being one of such as
semblies for each of the longitudinal frame members 11.
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Although only a single standard press drill assem-
bly is shown in the drawings, nevertheless it will be appre-
ciated that such assemblies can be connected together in side
by side articulated relationship and pulled from a single
tractor. However, as such connections are conventional, it
is not believed necessary to show same. Suffice -to say that
each section is provided with at least one rear ground enga-
ging wheel assembly and preferably -two such assemblies, one
at each end of eachpress drill section
Each rear ground engaging wheel assembly includes
a frame portion 25 pivotally secured to the rear end of the
side frame member 11 by means of pivot 26 so that it may move
in a vertical plane as will hereinafter be described.
Figures 4 through 7 show various methods of attach~
ing this frame portion 25 to the side frame member 11. In
Figure 4, a butt plate 27 is welded to the rear end of the
frame 11 and a corresponding butt plate 28 is welded to the
frame portion 25. The two butt plates 27 and 28 are welded
together and the hinge 26 consists of a pair of spaced and
parallel portions 29 formed on the distal end of the inner
portion 25A of the frame portion 25 with a single extending
lug 30 being formed on the rear end of the frame portion 25B.
Pivot pin 26 extends through these portions as clearly shown
in Figure 1 thus pivoting the portion 25B for movement in a
vertical plane relative to the portion 25A.
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Figure 5 shows a similar configuration to that
illustrated in Figure 4 with the exception that the plates
27 and 28 are secured together by fasteners such as nut and
bolt assemblies 31.
In Figure 6, the portion 25A is bolted transver-
sely to the rear end of the frame member 11 by means of nut
and bolt assemblies 32 and in Figure 7, the portion 25~ is
strapped to the rear end of the frame member 11 by means
of encircling strap components 33 which in turn are secured
by nut and bolt assemblies 34.
In all cases, a castor wheel assembly collectively
designated 35 is mounted on the rear end of the frame portion
25, said assembly including a vertical attaching portion 36
which is mounted for pivotal action in a horizontal plane in
a conventional manner. This portion 36 terminates in a wheel
fork 37 between which a ground engaging wheel 38 is ~ournal-
led for rotation.
A pair of ].ock plates 39 and 40 are provided, 39
being stationary and secured to the underside of the frame
~0 portion 25 and plate 40 being secured to the member 36 and
rotatable therewith. A pin 41 may be selectively engaged
within matching apertures 42 within the plates to prevent
rotation but, when removed, the wheel assembly is fully
castoring in its action.
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Means are provided to raise and lower the rear
ground engaging wheel assembly around the pivot 26, said means
taking the form of a fluid operator or ram assembly collective-
ly designated 43 and being pivotally mounted by one end thereof
to a lug 44 secured to and extending upwardly from the frame
member 11.
The piston rod 45 is pivotally secured to a further
lug 45 secured to and extending upwardly from the frame portion
25 forwardly of the pivot 26. The fluid operator or ram is
operatively connected to the hydraulic system of the towing
vehicle (not illustrated) and operates in the usual way. When
the ram assembly is contracted, then the wheel assembly is lift-
ed clear of the ground pivoting around pivot point 26 and when
it is lowered, the wheel assembly engages the ground.
Means are provided to lift the packer units clear of
the ground when the wheel assembly is lowered and to lower the
packer units into contact with the ground when the wheel assem-
blies are raised. Said means take the form of a link 46 secured
by one end thereof to the underside of the frame portion 25 rear
wardly of the pivot 26 as clearly shown. It passes through a
lock pin bracket or clevis 47 secured to and depending downwardly
from the underside of the frame member 11 and is normally secur~
ed in this position by means of a
lock pin 43 extending throuyh the clevis or bracket 47 and
through the link 46 intermediate the ends thereof. Means
such as a flexible cable 49 is secured by one end thereof
to the distal or forward end of the link 46 and by the other
end thereof to the packer unit by means of a clamp 50 or the
like secured to the members 21 supporting the packer unit.
In the position shown in Figure 2, the rear ground
engaging wheel assemblies are in the lowermost or ground en-
gaging position due to the extension of ram 43 thus lifting
the packer unit 20, clear of the ground. They are maintained
in this position by means of a lock pin 48 as hereinbefore
described.
Under these conditions, the press drill assembly
can be pulled lengthwise by means of a tractor or the like
being engaged with a tow bar assembly Sl secured to one end
of the supporting frame of the press drill. The lock pin 41
is also removed so that the wheel assemblies are fully cas-
toring thus enabling the press drill to be -transported from
one place to another.
When it is desired to use the press drill in field
position, the lock pins 48 are removed and the ram 43 retxac-
ted thus lifting the rear ground engaging wheel assemblies to
the position shown in Figure 3 at which time the rear ground
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engaging castor wheel assemblies can be locked into position
by means of lock pins 41. This lowers the distal end of the
link 46 thereby allowing the packer wheel unit to be lowered
: to the ground whereupon the press drill may be operated by a
tractor or the like connected to the conventional hitch as-
sembly 52 secured to the front tra.nsverse member 12.
Finally, it should be appreciated that a transverse
rod or member 53 is secured between the frame portions 25 thus
stabiliæing same and ensuring that they are raised and lowered
concurrently by the respective hydraulic ram 43. This cross
member 53 also prevents the rear ground engaging wheel assem-
blies from placing strain on the side frame members 11 when
being transported.
Since various modifications can be made in my inven-
tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely dif-
ferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of
the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying speci-
fication shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in
a limiting sense.
