GROUND-WORKING IMPLEMENT AND LIFT LINKAGE THEREFOR

INSTRUMENT ARATOIRE AVEC TIMONERIE DE RELEVAGE

English Abstract

GROUND-WORKING IMPLEMENT AND LIFT LINKAGE THEREFOR
Abstract of the Disclosure
A drawn moldboard plow includes a lift linkage for the rear
furrow and ground wheels which improves ground penetration by
causing the plow frame to roll as it is lowered so the share
points contact the soil first. A hydraulic cylinder contained
within a part of the frame operates both the furrow and the
ground wheels through a linkage which, during retraction, raises
the ground wheel at a faster rate than the rear furrow wheel so
the plow frame rolls in the direction of the ground wheel. If
the ground wheel reaches its plowing position determined by an
adjustable stop before the furrow wheel, a lost motion connection
allows continued retraction of the cylinder to further raise the
furrow wheel to its plowing position.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a ground-working implement having an elongated frame
carrying a plurality of ground-working tools, a lift mechanism
comprising:
forward and rearward ground engaging wheels connected to,
and vertically movable with respect to the frame; and
power means mounted on the frame for moving the ground
engaging wheels vertically and raising and lowering the frame on
the wheels between a lower position in which the tools are in a
ground-working condition and an upper position in which the tools
are out of engagement with the ground, said power means including
means for raising the forward and rearward wheels at a
differential rate to generally roll the frame as the frame moves
from the upper to the lower position so as to tilt the tools for
better entry into the ground.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the power
means comprises a reciprocating member operably connected to the
rear wheel and forming a lost motion connection with the forward
wheel.
3. The invention defined in claim 1 or 2 further
comprising stop means, and an arm member pivotally connected at
one end to the frame and at the opposite end to the forward
wheel, wherein the stop means includes a bracket connected to the
frame and a bolt threaded through the bracket and having an end
portion projecting toward the arm member and contacting the arm
member when the plow frame is in the lower position.
4. In a ground-working implement having an elongated main
frame extending obliquely to the forward direction of travel and
a plurality of ground-working tools with points depending from
the frame, a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the frame
between a transport and an operating position and for tilting the

(Claim 4 Continued)
frame to change the angle at which the points contact the ground
upon lowering the frame comprising:
forward and rearward ground-engaging wheel assemblies
connected to and for vertical movement with respect to the
frame, the assemblies located on opposite fore-and-aft sides of
the frame near the rear extremity of the frame;
activating means for raising and lowering the rear wheel
assembly between the transport and the operating position; and
means responsive to the raising of the rear wheel assembly
for raising the forward wheel assembly to the operating position
during, but at a faster rate than, the raising of rear wheel
assembly to roll the frame about its longitudinal axis towards
the forward wheel assembly.
5. In a plow having a frame extending obliquely to the
forward direction of travel, and a plurality of plow bottoms each
having a plow share with a leading point secured to the frame, a
frame support including a fore-and-aft extending beam connected
to the rear of the frame, a rear furrow wheel mounted at the rear
of the beam for vertical movement with respect to the frame and a
ground wheel mounted at the fore end of the beam forwardly of the
furrow wheel for vertical movement with respect to the frame, and
a lift linkage for moving the furrow and ground wheels vertically
between a plowing position wherein the furrow wheel rides in the
furrow and the ground wheel rides on the ground adjacent the
furrow and transport position wherein both the ground and furrow
wheels extend at their lowermost points below the bottom of the
plow shares to support the beam above the ground, the lift link-
age comprising:
an extensible and retractable activator connected to the
frame support;
first means connecting the activator and the rear furrow
wheel for moving the latter between the transport and the plowing
position as the activator is extended and retracted; and

(Claim 5 Continued)
second means responsive to extension and retraction of the
activator for moving the ground wheel between the transport and
the plowing position and for vertically moving the ground wheel
at a faster rate than the first means vertically moves the furrow
wheel while the wheels are moved towards their plowing positions
thereby tilting the fore end of the beam downwardly with respect
to the aft end and rolling the plow frame in the direction of the
ground wheel to angle the share points downwardly.
6. The invention defined in claim 5 further including
depth adjustment means for stopping the vertical movement of the
ground wheel in the plowing position and wherein a lost motion
connection is provided between the first and second means for
operating the second means from the first to move the ground
wheel to the plowing position as the furrow wheel is moved
towards the plowing position and for permitting further movement
of the furrow wheel to its plowing position after the ground
wheel has stopped in its plowing position.
7. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the first
means includes means for adjusting the plowing position of the
furrow wheel.
8. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the fore-and-
aft beam includes a tubular portion and wherein the activator is
mounted within the tubular portion.
9. In a plow having a frame, a plurality of plow bottoms
secured to and depending from the frame and wheel means including
a rear furrow wheel and a ground wheel supporting the frame; lift
means connected between the frame and the wheel means for raising
and lowering the frame on the wheel means between raised
transport and lowered plowing positions; activating means
connected between the frame and the lift means to raise and lower
the frame; the lift means comprising first and second arm means
rockably mounted on the frame and carrying the rear furrow wheel
11

(Claim 9 Continued)
and the ground wheel, respectively, means operably connecting the
activating means and first arm member for raising and lowering
the rear furrow wheel, lost motion connection means located
between the second arm means and the activating means and
responsive to the operation of the activating means to raise and
lower the ground wheel with, but at a faster rate than, the
furrow wheel so the frame rolls toward the ground wheel, and
adjustable depth setting means for stopping the vertical movement
of the ground wheel to set the plowing depth upon lowering the
frame, the lost motion connection means permitting continued
operation of the activating means after the ground wheel has
stopped at the plowing depth setting.
10. The invention defined in claim 9 wherein the connecting
means comprises a control member rockable by the activating
means.
11. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein the lost
motion connection means comprises contact means connected for
rocking with second arm member, the contact means biased into
engagement with and rockable with the control member while the
ground wheel is below its plowing position but separable from the
contact means upon the ground wheel reaching its plowing position.
12. In a plow having a frame extending obliquely to the
direction of travel, a plurality of plow bottoms secured to the
frame, a lift assembly for raising and lowering the frame between
plowing and transport positions comprising:
forward and rearward arm members each mounted on opposite
fore-and-aft sides of and near the rear of the frame for rocking
in a substantially vertical plane;
a furrow wheel mounted on the rearward arm member;
a gauge wheel mounted on the forward arm member;
activating means mounted on the frame and operably connected
to the rearward arm member for rocking the arm member to raise
and lower the frame on the furrow wheel;
12

(Claim 12 Continued)
means responsive to the operation of the activating means
for rocking the forward arm member to raise and lower the frame
on the gauge wheel and for raising the gauge wheel at a faster
rate than the furrow wheel while lowering the frame to the
plowing position so the frame tilts to change the angle of the
plow bottoms with respect to ground.
13. The invention defined in claim 12 wherein the
activating means comprises an extensible and retractable
hydraulic cylinder.
14. The invention defined in claim 12 further including
adjustable stop means for limiting the vertical movement of the
gauge wheel to set the plowing depth.
15. The invention defined in claim 14 wherein the means
responsive to the activating means includes a lost motion connec-
tion between the forward and rearward arm members for permitting
further raising of the furrow wheel after the gauge wheel has
reached the plowing position.
16. In a plow including a diagonally extending elongated
plow frame carrying a plurality of plow bottoms with downwardly
extending bottom edges, a rear wheel assembly comprising:
a fore-and-aft extending wheel frame connected to the plow
frame near the rear extremity thereof for rocking therewith about
its longitudinal axis;
a furrow arm mounted for relative vertical movement between
a transport and a working position on the rear of the wheel frame
and carrying a furrow wheel;
a land arm mounted for relative vertical movement between a
transport and a working position on the front of the wheel frame
and carrying a land wheel wherein a portion of the wheels extend
below the bottom edges of the plow bottoms when the arms are in
the transport position;
13

(Claim 16 Continued)
a reciprocating member mounted on the frame;
means connecting the reciprocating member to the furrow arm
and the land arm to raise and lower the rear of and the front of
the wheel frame on the furrow and land wheels and including a
lost motion connection for lowering the front and rear of the
wheel frame at a differential rate to thereby rotate the plow
frame about its longitudinal axis.
17. In a plow having an elongated main frame carrying a
plurality of plow bottoms, a lift mechanism comprising:
a fore-and-aft extending wheel frame connected to the rear
portion of the main frame;
a furrow arm mounted for relative vertical movement on the
rear of the wheel frame and carrying a furrow wheel;
a land arm mounted for relative vertical movement on the
front of the wheel frame and carrying a land wheel;
engageable stop means located between the wheel frame and
the land arm for limiting downward movement of the front of the
wheel frame to a preselected position corresponding to the work-
ing depth of the plow bottoms;
a reciprocating member mounted on the frame;
means connecting the reciprocating member to the furrow arm
and the land arm to raise and lower the front end of the wheel
frame to engagement and disengagement of the stop means with the
furrow arm and to raise and lower the rear end of the wheel frame
between transport and working depth of the plow bottom positions
for both, said means raising the wheels at a differential rate to
roll the frame and tilt the plow bottoms for better entry into
the ground, the stroke of the reciprocating member being of such
length that the front and rear ends of the wheel frame will lower
in unison until the stop means limits downward movement of the
front end of the wheel frame and will continue to lower the rear
end of the wheel frame until the rear end of the wheel frame is
in the desired position for the working depth of the plow bottoms.
14

18. In a plow having a plow bottom carrying main plow frame
extending diagonally with respect to the fore-and-aft direction
and a hitch structure extending forwardly from the main frame and
connectible at its forward end to a tractor, a lift mechanism
comprising:
a fore-and-aft extending rear wheel frame connected to the
rear end portion of the main frame to rock with the latter about
its axis;
a furrow wheel arm pivotally mounted for relative vertical
movement on the rear end of the wheel frame and carrying a furrow
wheel thereon in substantial trailing relation to the rearmost
plow bottom on said main frame; a land wheel arm pivotally
mounted for relative vertical movement on the wheel frame and
carrying a land wheel thereon forward of the rear portion of the
main frame;
an adjustable stop means between the wheel frame and the
land wheel arm for limiting downward movement of the forward
portion of the wheel frame relative to the ground, said stop
means separable therefrom upon the forward end of the wheel frame
being raised on the land wheel arm;
a member mounted on the wheel frame for reciprocal motion
and engageable with the land wheel arm during a portion of its
reciprocal stroke to cause the arm to separate from its stop
means and thereby raise the forward end of the wheel frame;
power means on the wheel frame and connected to the member
for effecting the reciprocal stroke of said member; and
means connecting the furrow wheel arm to said reciprocal
member and effective to raise and lower the rear portion of said
wheel frame throughout opposite phases respectively of the recip-
rocal stroke, said means lowering the furrow wheel at a
differential rate with respect to the land wheel to roll the
frame and tilt the plow bottoms for better entry into the ground.

19. The invention defined in claim 18 wherein the wheel
frame includes a hollow portion and the power means is located
within said portion.
20. In a plow having an elongated plow frame, extending
diagonally with respect to the forward direction of travel, the
frame carrying a plurality of downwardly extending earthworking
tools, a wheel assembly comprising:
a fore-and-aft member connected to the plow frame and
including a hollow beam portion;
a forward and a rearward wheel arm each mounting a ground-
engaging wheel and rockably connected for vertical movement with
respect to the frame at the fore and aft ends respectively of the
member to raise and lower the frame between a working and a
transport position, wherein in the transport position a portion
of the wheels extend below the lower extremities of the
earthworking tools to support the frame above the ground;
reciprocating means at least partially contained within the
hollow beam portion for rocking the forward and rearward arms,
the reciprocating means including means for rocking the forward
and the rearward wheel arm at a differential rate to roll the
frame about its axis.
21. The invention defined in claim 20 wherein the forward
wheel and the reciprocating means are aligned in the fore-and-aft
direction so that bending moments are reduced.
22. In a plow having a frame, a plurality of plow bottoms
each having a plow share with a leading point secured to the
frame, and a frame support including a rear furrow wheel mounted
at the rear of the frame for riding in the furrow and for
vertical movement with respect to the frame and a ground wheel
mounted on the frame forwardly of the furrow wheel for riding on
the ground adjacent to the furrow and for vertical movement with
respect to the frame, a lift linkage for moving the furrow and
16

(Claim 22 Continued)
ground wheels vertically between plowing and transport positions
comprising:
an extensible and retractable activating means connected to
the frame;
first means connecting the activating means and the rear
furrow wheel for moving the latter towards the transport or the
plowing position as the activating means is extended or retracted,
respectively;
second means responsive to the activating means for moving
the ground wheel towards the transport or the plowing position as
the activating means is extended or retracted, respectively, the
second means adapted to vertically move the ground wheel at a
faster rate than the first means vertically moves the furrow
wheel so that upon movement of the wheels towards their plowing
positions the plow frame will roll in the direction of the ground
wheel to angle the share points downwardly;
depth adjustment means for stopping the vertical movement of
the ground wheel in the plowing position; and
wherein a lost motion connection is provided between the
first and second means for operating the second means from the
first means to move the ground wheel to the plowing position as
the furrow wheel is moved towards the plowing position and for
permitting further movement of the furrow wheel to its plowing
position after the ground wheel has stopped in its plowing
position.
23. In a plow having a frame, a plurality of plow bottoms
each having a plow share with a leading point secured to the
frame, and a frame support including a rear furrow wheel mounted
at the rear of the frame for riding in the furrow and for
vertical movement with respect to the frame and a ground wheel
mounted on the frame forwardly of the furrow wheel for riding on
the ground adjacent to the furrow and for vertical movement with
17

(Claim 23 Continued)
respect to the frame, a lift linkage for moving the furrow and
ground wheels vertically between plowing and transport positions
comprising:
an extensible and retractable activating means connected to
the frame;
first means connecting the activating means and the rear
furrow wheel for moving the latter towards the transport or the
plowing position as the activating means is extended or retracted,
respectively;
second means responsive to the activating means for moving
the ground wheel towards the transport or the plowing position as
the activating means is extended or retracted, respectively, the
second means adapted to vertically move the ground wheel at a
faster rate than the first means vertically moves the furrow
wheel so that upon movement of the wheels towards their plowing
positions the plow frame will roll in the direction of the ground
wheel to angle the share points downwardly; and
wherein the first means includes means for adjusting the
plowing position of the furrow wheel.
24. In a plow having a frame, a plurality of plow bottoms
secured to the frame, a lift assembly for raising and lowering
the frame between plowing and transport positions comprising:
forward and rearward arm members each mounted on the frame
for rocking in a substantially vertical plane;
a furrow wheel mounted on the rearward arm member;
a gauge wheel mounted on the forward arm member;
activating means mounted on the frame;
first means operably connecting the rearward arm member with
the activating means for rocking the arm member to raise and
lower the frame on the furrow wheel;
second means connected to the forward arm member and respon-
sive to the operation of the first means for rocking the arm
18

(Claim 24 Continued)
member to raise and lower the frame on the gauge wheel, the first
and second means raising the wheels at a differential rate while
lowering the frame to the plowing position so the frame tilts to
change the angle of the plow bottoms with respect to ground; and
adjustable stop means for limiting the vertical movement of
the gauge wheel to set the plowing depth, said stop means being
separate from said activating means.
25. The invention defined in claim 24 wherein the first and
second means form a lost motion connection for permitting further
rocking of the rearward arm member after the gauge wheel has
reached the plowing position.
26. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein the wheel
frame comprises a tubular member, and wherein the reciprocating
member is contained within the tubular member.
27. The invention defined in claim 20 wherein the forward
wheel arm is connected near its upper end to the hollow beam
portion for rocking about a horizontal pivot and includes a lever
member extending upwardly through an aperture in the hollow
portion for engagement with the reciprocating means.
28. A lift assembly for a framed ground-working implement,
comprising:
a fore-and-aft extending wheel frame connected to the
implement frame and including a hollow portion;
a first arm member having upper and lower ends and pivotally
connected near its upper end to the fore end of the beam for
rocking between generally a downwardly extending position and a
forwardly extending position;
a second arm member pivotally connected near the aft end of
the beam for rocking between generally a downwardly extending
position and a rearwardly extending position;
a ground-engaging wheel supported near the lower end of each
arm member;
19

(Claim 28 Continued)
a hydraulic cylinder mounted for fore-and-aft extension and
retraction within the hollow portion of the beam, wherein said
cylinder when completely extended remains contained between the
opposite fore-and-aft ends of the wheel frame; and
means responsive to the extension and retraction of the
cylinder for rocking the first and second arm members at a
differential rate between their respective positions and causing
the implement frame to roll in a preselected direction as the
respective arms are rocked toward their forward and rearward
positions.
29. The lift assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein the
means responsive to the extension and retraction of the cylinder
comprises first lever means extending from one of the arm members
into the hollow portion for operably connecting said arm member
to the cylinder, and means for operably connecting the other one
of the arm members to the cylinder.
30. The lift arm as set forth in claim 29 wherein the means
for operably connecting the other one of the arm members to the
cylinder comprises second lever means supported adjacent and for
contacting the first lever means, and a rod member connected
between the second lever means and said other one of the arm
members.

Description

~Z32~;~
1 GROUND-WORKING IMPLEMENT AND LIFT LINKAGE THEREFOR
The present invention relates generally to plows and more
specifically to a lift linkage for a plow.
The typical drawn or towed plow is supported on front and
rear furrow wheels and on a land wheel located forwardly of the
rear furrow wheel. The plowing depth is conventionally controlled
by adjusting the land wheel and the front furrow wheel. Such a
plow is shown, for example, in U. S. Patent ~o. 3,731,74g.
Typical of previous plows, a hydraulic cylinder is directly
connected to the ground wheel. The furrow wheel is vertically
adjusted by the cylinder through a linkage which includes a lost
motion connection. A cylinder having an adjustable stop for
setting the plowing depth is commonly re~uired and is more
expensive than conventional cylinders.
Often in the case of conventional drawn plows, when the --
wheels are raised so that the plow enters the ground, the frame
lowers in the approximate plowing attitude. Better and faster
ground penetration can be achieved by slightly rolling or tilting
the plow frame towards the landwheel so the point of each of the
plow shares angles downwardly and enters the ground before the
remainder of the share contacts and penetrates the soil. Although ;~
numerous lift linkage and hydraulic systems have been devised to
adjust the rear furrow wheel with respect to the ground wheel,
none have heretofore provided a satisfactory mechanism for tilting
the plow frame while it is being lowered so that ground penetra-
tion is enhanced. `;
Summary of the Invention
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to
provide a lift linkage for raising and lowering the ground wheel
and furrow wheel of a plow and for causing the plow frame to roll
or tilt so the points of the plow shares enter the ground first
as the plow is lowered.
. .

s
1 Another object of the invention is to provide a rear lift
linkage for raising and lowering the plow for tilting the plow as
it is lowered. The linkage is operated by a conventional hydrau-
lic cylinder which is connected for directly controlling the rear
furrow wheel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a lift
linkage including a fore-and-aft hollow wheel frame for mounting
the rear furrow and ground wheels wherein the means for raising
and lowering the frame is at least partially contained within the
10 frame itself,
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a plow
having a frame supported on a furrow wheel and a ground wheel,
with a hydraulic cylinder connected through linkages to the
wheels to raise the ground wheel at a faster rate than the furrow
wheel so the frame rolls or tilts towards the ground wheel as the
plow is lowered into the ground. An adjustable depth stop limits
the movement of the ground wheel so that it supports the plow for
the desired plowing depth. If the stop is adjusted for less than
the maximum plowing depth, a lost motion connection between the
20 cylinder and the ground wheel allows the furrow wheel to continue
to be raised to the desired height so that the plow assumes its
conventional plowing attitude after initial entry into the ground
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
clear from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the drawings:
~ ig. 1 is a top view of a plow constructed in accordance
with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the rear of the plow in Fig. 1 with
the ground and furrow wheels lowered so the plow is in the
raised position;

5~
1 Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the plow as
it is entering the ground;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but with the
wheels raised and the plow in the ground working position;
Fig. 5 is a top view of a part of the linkage including the
ground wheel arm and the control arm; and
Fig. 6 is a side view of the linkage shown in Fig. 5.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the drawings, the plow according to the present
10 invention includes a frame assembly having a main frame 10 extend-
ing obliquely to the direction of movement of the plow. Pivotally
connected to the frame 10 by a pin 11 is a hitch tube 12. A
drawbar 14 that forms part of the hitch is pivotally connected to
the hitch tube 12 by a generally horizontal pin 15. The forward
part of the hitch tube is laterally supported by a bar 16 extend-
ing between the frame 10 and the tube 12. The frame moùnts a
plurality of coulters 18 and a plurality of conventional plow
bottoms 20, each with a share having a leading edge or point 22.
Alternatively, the frame could carry similar earthworking tools
20 having leading edges or points for penetrating the ground as the
rame is lowered.
A pin 24 connects a generally horizontal fore-and-aft hollow
beam or wheel rame 26 to the rear of the main frame 10 to rock
with the latter about its axis. A bar 27 secures the forward end
of the beam 26 with respect to the frame 10.
Connected for rocking about a generally horizontal pivot or
pin 28 is a furrow wheel arm 30 which carries a bearing 32. A
shaft 34 mounted in the bearing 32 carries a conventional rear
furrow wheel 36. As best seen in Fig. 1~ the arm 30 is angled
30 inwardly so that the wheel 36 trails the rear plow bottom 20.
A land wheel assembly 38 includes an arm 40 rockably con-
nected to the beam 26 by a generally horizontal pivot 42 which in

~3~PS
1 turn is connected between brackets 44 welded or otherwise secured
on either side of and near the forward end of the beam 26. A
pair of ground or gauge wheels 48 are carried by an axle 50
supported for limited pivoting about an axis 52 on the end of the
arm 40.
Connected towards the front of the frame 10 is a canventional
front furrow wheel assembly 54. A hydraulic cylinder raises and
lowers the forward end of the frame with respect to the furrow
wheel.
The land wheel arm 40 is welded or otherwise secured to a
bushing or sleeve assembly 56 mounted for rocking about the pivot
42. Also secured to the bushing assembly 56 in parallel spaced
apart relation are a pair of plates 58. A contact bar 60 extends
between and is welded to the plates. The bushing assembly 56,
plates 58, bar 60 and land wheel arm 40 form a single rigid arm
member. A control arm or reciprocating plate member 62`is con-
nected for freely rocking about the hushing assembly 56 between
the plates 58 and includes a contact face 63 which abuts against
the contact bar 60 as plate 62 is rotated in the clockwise direc-
20 tion from the position shown in Fig. 6.
An opening 64 is provided in the bottom wall of the beam 26,
and th~ plates 58 and 62 extend upwardly through the opening. A
double-acting hydraulic cylinder 66 is anchored within the beam
26 by a bracket 68. A pin passes through the bifurcated end of
the cylinder rod and through a hole 70 near the upper end of the
arm 62 to operably connect the cylinder with the arm. Pinned to
the arm 62 through a hole 72 located radially inwardly rrom the
hole 70 is one end of a rod assembly 74 including a clevis 76
internally threaded for receiving the threaded end of a rod 78.
3~ A portion of the pin and clevis 76 and the arm 62 are centrally
confined with respect to the bushing assembly 56 ~Fig. 5) by the
plates 58 which also prevent the pin from slipping out of the

~2~5
1 clevis and hole 72. A jam nut 80 threaded over the rod 78 is
tightened against the clevis 76 to secure the rod against rotation.
The opposite end of the rod assembly 74 extends through and is
held by a rear lock nut within a pin or trunnion 82 pivotally
connected to a rock arm 84 which is preferably in the form of
parallel plates welded on either side of the furrow wheel arm 30
for rocking therewith about the pivot 28.
When the cylinder 66 is extended, the control arm 62 is
pivoted against the forward face of the bar 60 and rocks the
10 plates 58 and the arm 40 in the clockwise direction, lowering the
ground wheels 48 until the cylinder is fully extended. Movement
of the control arm 62 in the clockwise direction also shifts the
rod assembly 74 forwardly, pivoting the rock arm 84 and the
furrow wheel arm 30 in the counterclockwise direction to lower
the furrow wheel 36, lifting the beam 26 and the frame 10. The
linkage moment arm lengths are designed to rotate the arm 40
about the pivot 42 at a greater rate than the furrow wheel arm 30
is rotated about the pivot 28. The land wheels 48, therefore,
are raised and lowered at a greater rate than the rear furrow
20 wheel 36. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the moving elements of
the lift linkage including the arm 40, the plates 58, arm 62, the
rod assembly 74, the rock arm 84, and the cylinder 66 are located
directly in line with each other to eliminate bending moments.
Retracting the hydraulic cylinder 66 rotates the control arm
62 in the counterclockwise direction and the weight of the plow
on the land wheel assembly 38 biases the arm 40 and the plates 58
in the counterclockwise direction so that the bar 60 remains
abutted against the contact portion 63 until the ground wheels 48
reach the plowing position. As the control arm 62 moves in the
30 counterclockwise direction, it shifts the rod assembly 74 rear-
wardly allowing the rock arm 84 and the furrow wheel arm 30 to
pivot in the clockwise direction to permit the furrow wheel 36 to
- 5 -

3~;5
1 raise but at a slower rate than the ground wheels 48 are raised
because of the linkage arm lengths. Since the ground wheels 48
are raised more quickly than the furrow wheel 36, the front of
the beam 26 tilts downwardly below the rear of the beam causing
the main frame 10 to roll or tilt in the clockwise direction
toward the ground wheels 48 as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1. The
plow shares 20 roll with the frame so the share points 22 are
tilted downwardly (Fig. 3) to contact and enter the ground before
a larger portion of the plow shares contact the soil. The pivotal
10 connection between the hitch tube 12 and the drawbar 14 allows
the forward end of the tube to drop as the frame 10 rolls in the
direction of the arrow.
An adjustable depth stop 88 is secured to the frame for
contacting a plate 90 on the arm 40 to limit the counterclockwise
movement of the arm for adjusting the plowing depth. The stop 88
preferably includes a stud 92 threaded through a hole in a support
94 bolted to the forward end of beam 26. A bent pin 96 is pro-
vided for turning the stud 92 to the adjusted position. When the
plate 90 on the arm 40 contacts the stop 88 ~Fig. 3~, the arm and
20 the plates 58 stop rocking about the pivot 42. With all depth
stop settings except the ma~imum, the arm 40 contacts the stop 88
before the rear furrow wheel 36 has reached its operating or
plowing position. Continued retraction of the cylinder 66 causes
the control arm 62, since it is free to pivot about the sleeve
56, to rotate in the counterclockwise direction away from the bar
60. The rod assembly 74 moves rearwardly and the furrow wheel 36
rises to the final plowing position (Fig. 4). Simultaneously,
the beam 26 returns to a generally horizontal attitude as the
furrow wheel 36 enters the furrow, and the frame 10 rolls back to
30 its normal plowing position so the share points 22 are no longer
tilted downwardly. The depth of the furrow wheel can be adjus~ed
by loosening the jam nut 80 on the rod assembly 74 and turning
-- 6 --

3;~55i
1 the threaded rod 78 to extend or retract the rod with respect to
the internally threaded clevis 76.
To lift the plow from the ground working position, fluid
under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 66 extending the
cylinder rod and rotating the control arm 62 in the cloakwise
direction about the pivot 42. The rod assembly 74 is moved
forwardly by the control arm 62, rotating the furrow wheel arm 30
in the counterclockwise direction to raise the rear end of the
plow. As the control arm 62 contacts the bar 60, the plates 58
10 begin to rotate with the control arm about the pivot 42 thus
lowering the arm 40 and the ground wheels 48 with the furrow
wheel 36 to aid in lifting the plow to the raised position. The
cylinder 66 can be fully extended at which time both the furrow
wheel 36 and the ground wheels 48 are in the final transport
position ~Fig. 2).
To lower the plow into the ground, the front furrow wheel 54
is raised so the forward plow bottoms 20 begin to penetrate the
soil as the p~ow moves forwardly. The hydraulic cylinder 66 is
retracted, rotating the control arm 62 and allowing the arm 40
20 and ground wheels 48 to raise with respect to the frame under the
weight of the plow. Simultaneously the arms 84 and 30 are allowed
to rock as the rod assembly 74 moves rearwardly, and the furrow
wheel 36 rises but at a slower rate than the ground wheels 48 to
tilt the beam 26 towards the ground wheels. The main frame 10
rolls slightly about its longitudinal axis to angle the share
points 22 towards the ground. The stop 88 prevents further
rotation of the arm 40 and the plates 58 when the wheels 48 have
reached the preselected plowing position. If the depth stop 88
is set for plowing at less than the maximum depth (Fig. 4), the
furrow wheel 36 continues to raise as the control arm 62 pivots
away from the bar 60 between the arm 58 until the cylinder 66 is
completely retracted. If the depth stop 88 is adjusted for

~3~Z~;5
1 maximum plowing depth, both the ground and the rear furrow wheels
reach their plowing positions at approximately the same time.
However, it should be noted that regardless of the depth setting,
the ground wheels raise more quickly than the rear furraw wheel.
The plates 58, the bar 60 and the freely pivoting control arm 62
on the bushing assembly 56 provide a lost motion connection, and
the choice of linkage arm lengths allows the ground wheels 48 to
raise faster than the furrow wheel 36 to cause the plow frame 10
to roll or tilt with the beam 26 so the plow share points are
10 angled toward the ground. Better and quicker ground penetration
is achieved by tilting the frame rather than lowering it in the
approximate plowing attitude. The lost motion connection and the
adjustable depth stop 88 allow the ground wheels 48 to be set for
the desired plowing depth without affecting the operation of rear
furrow wheel and without requiring a cylinder with an adjustable
stop. The cylinder is fully extended during transporting and
fully retracted during plowing.
The placement of the cylinder 66 and part of the wheel arm
and control arm assemblies within the beam 26 reduces the number
20 of exposed moving parts as well as enhances the appearance of the
unit. The moving parts of the assemblies are placed directly in
line to eliminate bending moments and minimize wear.