Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
GROUND WORKING IMPLE~IENT AND DISC G~NG TRIPPING MECHANIS~I
THEREFOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in ground working agricultural implements which inclu-
de a plurality of disc gangs depending from a main frame,
together with disc gang tripping mechanism.
Conventionally, the sets of discs are mounted to the
frame and the depth of penetration is normally controlled by
adjusting the frame and the gangs relative to the ground en-
gaging wheels upon which the frame is mounted, it being un-
derstood that the implement is normally pulled behind a trac-
tor or the like.
If one or more of the individual discs strikes an
obstruction during operation, the disc can readily be damaged
; or the gang mounting the disc can be damaged. Sometimes the
entire side of the machine is lifted clear of the ground as
the disc passes over the obstruction thus causing uneven depth
~ of cultivation or ground working and in some instances, skip-
; 20 ped areas of cultivation or ground working.
: :
Furthermore, i~ one or more of the discs or gangs is
damaged, then considerable disassembly has to take place so
that the part can be repaired and/or replaced and this is ex-
, ~
`:`' ~
~ .
~ - ' . ':
. .
- , ' ' ~ . ' ' ~' ` :
'
`
''S7~'~
--2--
; ' tremely time consuming and sometimes relatively expensive. SU~MARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
by providing the individual disc gang assemblies with means
to hinge them to the main frame of the implement and to pro-
vide a trip mechanism for each individual gang. This means
that only one relatively small section is affected if an ob-
struction is engaged and this section merely hinges out of the
way clear of the obstruction until same has been passed where-
upon the spring loaded trip mechanism returns this individual
gang assembly to the original preset position.
Furthermore, if damage does occur to an individual
disc gang assembly, it is readily removed from the machine for
repair and/or replacement.
In accordance with the invention there is provided,
a disc gang assembly for ground working implements which in-
clude a frame; said disc gang assembly comprising in combina-
tion a gang frame, means hinging said gang frame to the frame
of the implement whereby said disc gang assembly can move from
a ground working position towards a fully tripped position
rearwardly of said frame, and vice-versa, and a trip assembly
operatively connected between said frame and said gang frame
normally maintaining said disc gang assembly in the ground
working position, said trip assembly including supporting
structure secured to the frame of the implement, a bell crank
component pivotally supported by one end thereof within said
~.
J~
~/~3_
supporting structure, adjustable spring means operatively ex-
tending between said bell crank component and said supporting
structure, a pivot member pivotally secured by one end thereof
to said supporting structure and below said bell crank compon-
ent, link means pivotally connected between said bell crank
component and said pivot member and further link means pivotally
connected between said pivot component and said gang frame,
said spring means normally maintaining said disc gang assembly
in the ground working position, and detachable fastening means
connecting said further link means to said pivot member where-
by said trip assembly may be connected and disconnected to
said disc gang assembly.
Another aspect of the invention may provide a ground
working implement comprising in combination a frame, a plura-
lity of disc gang assemblies, means hinging said disc gang as-
semblies to said frame whereby said disc gang assemblies can
move from a ground working position towards a fully tripped
position rearwardly of said frame and vice-versa and a trip
assembly operatively con~ected between said frame and each of
said disc gang assemblies~ normally maintaining said disc gang
assemblies in the ground working position, each of said trip
assemblies including supporting structure secured to the frame
of said implement, a bell crank component pivotally supported
by one end thereof within said support structure, adjustable
spring means operatively extending between said bell crank com-
ponent and said supporting structure, a pivot member pivotally
~ ,...,. ~
~,
-3A-
secured by one end thereof to said supporting structure and
below said bell crank component, link means pivotally connect-
ed between said bell crank component and said pivot member and
further link means pivotally connected between said pivot com-
ponent and said gang frame, said spring means normally main-
taining said gang frame assemblies in the ground working posi-
tion, and detachable fastening means connecting said further
link means to said pivot member whereby said trip assembly may
be connected and disconnected to said disc gang assembly.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide a
device of the character herewithin described which is simple
in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise we'l
suited to thP purpose for which it is designed.
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 DRAWINGS
.
Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear view of a ground worX-
ing implement showing the disc gangs secured thereto.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of Figure 1 showing the
,, . -,
- .
,' ` ~ .
r~l~7~
disc gang in the ground working position.
Figure 3 is a view substantially similar to Figure
2, but showiny the disc gang in the tripped position.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the supporting
structure per se, for one of the tripping assemblies.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing
the mounting of one of the trip springs.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of part of the trip-
ping mechanism.
Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of part of
the tripping mechanism.
Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation of part of
the tripping mechanism.
In the drawings like characters of reference indi-
cate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefoxe to describe the invention in
detail, reference to the drawings will show in fragmentary
form, a ground working implement generally designated 10 such
as a disc cultivator or the like.
This implement includes a frame generally designated
ll having a hitch 12 (shown in fragmentary form only) extend-
ing forwardly therefrom by which the implement may be secured
to a tractor or the like. Ground engaging wheel assemblies
h~
13 extend downwardly from the frame 11 and are pivotally
secured to the frame so that by raising and lowering the
frame relative to the wheel assemblies 13 by conventional
means (not illustrated), the disc gangs collectively de-
signated 14, may be adjusted as to depth of penetration be-
low the ground surface 15.
The disc gang assemblies 14 consist of a plurality
of discs (5 in this embodiment) mounted as individual units
to the frame 11. Each disc gang 14 includes a gang frame
collectively designated 16 which, in this embodiment, inclu-
des a main beam 17 with an auxiliary beam 18 therebehind.
Hangers 19 depend from the main beam 17 and support an axle
20, for rotation therein, suitable bearings (not illustrated)
; being provided for rotation of the axle 20 and individual
discs 21 are secured to this axle as shown in Figure 1 and
in a conventional manner~
Means are provided to hingedly secure each disc gang
: independently to a member llA of the frame of the implement
;~ and in this connection, hinge sleeves 22 are secured as by
welding, to the rear side of the frame member llA in spaced
~: apart relationship. A further hinge sleeve 23 is secured as
by welding to adjacent the rear of the upper surface of the
main beam 17 of the disc gang and a hinge pin 24 extends
through the hinge sleeves 22 and through the hinge sleeve 23
.. ,. , . : .
. , , ,- ' ~ ,, ~ -, .
-
" '' ' - ~ :
-- 6
thus pivotally securing the disc gang in position. These
pins are preferably detachable so that the entire disc gang
can be removed for repair or replacement, if necessary.
Reference to Figure 3 will show a support member 25
which extends downwardly from the auxiliary gang frame mem-
ber 18 and supports a conventional disc scraper (not illus-
trated).
It will be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that the im-
plement normally travels in the direction of arrow 26 and
t,hat the disc gang ].4 hinges rearwardly around the hinge pin
24.
However, normally the disc gang assembly 1~ is in
the position shown in Figure 2 and is detachably maintained
in this position by means of a trip assembly collectively
designated 27 which is operatively connected between the
frame 10 of the implement and the gang frame 16.
~: This trip assembly consists of supporting structure
collectively designated 28 which includes a plate 29 bolted
to a bracket 30 welded to the upper side of the frame member
llA. A pair of side flanges 31 extend forwardly from the
plate 29 and a spring support arm 32 is secured as by weld-
ing or the like between the plates 31 and extends upwardly
and rearwardly therefrom, the purpose of which will be here-
inafter described.
'' `
~ s,~7~
A bell crank component 33 is pivoted between lugs
34 towards the front of the side plates 31, by one end of
the bell crank component and a wishbone type link 35 is
pivotally secured adjacent the other end of -the bell crank
component, by means of pivot pin 36. This wishbone type
link 35 is shown in front elevation in Figure 6 and com-
prises the main arm 37 which diverges outwardly to the two
portions 38, one upon each side of a pivot member collec-
tively designated 39 to which the wishbone type link 37 is
l~ pivotally secured by means of pivot pin 40.
This pivot member is in turn pivotally secured bet-
ween the plates 31 by means of a pivot pin 41 and normally
extends outwardly from the ends of the side plates 31.
Further link means 42 are pivotally connected by one
end thereof to the other end of the pivot member 39 by means
of pivot pin 43 and this ~urther link means 42 is in turn
pivotally secured between lugs 44 depending downwardly from
the front edge of the main beam 17 of the disc gang frame 16,
pivot pin 45 providing this connection.
Referring back to the spring anchor member 32, a
pair of tension springs 46 are secured by one end thereof,
one upon each side of the bell crank component 33 by means
of the ends of the spring engaging over headed pins 47 extend-
ing one from each side of the bell crank component. The other
~ ,...
ends of the springs 46 are secured to the inner ends of
adjusting rods 48 which engage through apertures in a
cross member 49 at the upper end of the spring anchor mem-
ber 32. Nuts 50 screw threadably engage the screw threaded
portion of the portion 48 and are situated one upon each
side of the cross member 49 thus allowing limited adjustment
of the tension of the springs 46.
~n operation, the tension of the springs normally
maintains the disc gang in the ground working position il-
lustrated in Figure 2 with the main beam of the gang frame
14 being against the underside of the frame member llA of
the implement and the tension ol the springs 46 together
with the leverage characteristics of the linkage assembly
is sufficient to maintain the disc gangs in this position
under normal working conditions.
However, if one or more of the individual discs 21
of any of the disc gangs 14 strikes an obstruction within
the ground such as a rock or a heavy root or the like, then
the disc gang pivots rearwardly as shown in Flgure 3, thus
extending the springs 46 and when fully tripped, as shown
in Figure 3, the various components of the linkage take up
a position substantially as illustrated ln Figure 3. As
soon as the obstruction is passed, then the springs 46 exert
sufficient pressure to return the disc gang to the original
- -
.. :
,
,
,
- .:
7~
ground working position shown in Flgure 2. This means that
only a few discs are displaced at any one time and that the
implement itself is not raised clear of the ground as in
conventional disc type implements.
Finally, it should be noted that the pivotal con-
nection between the further link 42 and the pivot member 39
identified by reference character 43, preferably takes the
form of a nut and bolt assembly so that if it is necessary
or desirable to remove any one of the disc gang assemblies,
it is only necessary to remove this bolt type pivot 43 and
remove the hinge pin 24 whereupon the entire disc gang can
be removed from the implement and either repaired or repla-
ced by a spare disc gang component.
Since various modifications can be made in my inven-
tion as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely
different embodiments of same made within the spirit and
scope of the claims without departins from such spirit and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accom-
panying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative
2~ only and not in a limiting sense.
;
.
. ` ~ .
