Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a track~marker
~or an agricultural machine arranged upon a boom secured
to the ~rame o~ the machine by hinge means and adapted to
move in both the vertical and the horizontal plane.
A track-marker of this kind is already known
from German OS 24 20 323. The boom of this track-marker is
arranged to move freely on the frame of the machine by means
of a so-called universal joint. Fitted to the end of ~he
boom remote from the universal joint is a hydraulic motor
which drives the track-marker. The rotational velocity
of the hydraulic motor, and thus that of the track-marker
is regulated by a valve controlled by a mechanism arranged
on the universal joint. This ensures that the track-marker
advances at the same speed as the machine; i.e. the machine
and the tr~ck-marker are synchronised. The latter design
of track-marker involves considerable technical expense
which in many cases is unacceptably high.
US Patent 2,722,168 discloses a fur~her ~rack-
marker; the boom of which is fitted to the frame of the
machine in such a manner as to be pivotable in a vertical
plane about a hinge. A tension element is arranged 7 between
the frame of the machine and the outer end of the boom, on
the front side thereo~ t as seen in the direction of travel~
the tension elemen-t being secured to the frame at a distance
in front o~ the hinge, as seen in the direction of travel.
This tension element is intended to ensure that no lateral
fle-~ural forces act upon the hinge; i.eO that the boom pivots
only about the axis passi~g through the hinge in the direction
of travel. The disadvantage o~ this track-marker is that,
upon en~ou~tering an obstac~e, it cannot deflect and is
~herefore inevitably damaged.
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It is an aim of the present invention to
simplify substantially, the track-marker described at the
beginning hereof and, a~ t~e same time9 to provide a simple
means whereby the said marker can deflect upon encountering
an obstacle, in order to avoid damage to the marker or the
boom thereof.
According to ~he invention, the aim is achie~ed
in that, in a manner known per se, at least one tension
element is arranged between the boom and the ~rame, at
10 the ~ront side of the said boom, as seen in the direction
of travel, the tension element being secured to the ~rame
at a distance in front of the hinge, as seen in ~he direction
of travel 7 ~he attachment point of the tension element to
the ~rame lying upon a straight line ascending in the
direction of travel, passing through the hinge, and enclosing
an angle of approximately 25 to 45 to the horizontal; and
in that a ~top is provided to limit the ~orward pivoting
movement ~f the boom.
As a result of this arrangement, the boom of
~he track-marker deflects upwardly and, above all~ rearwardly
upon encountering obstacles, pivoting about an axis passing
through the hinge and the point at which the tension element
is secured to the frame. After the obstacle has been passed,
the boo~ returns by gravit~ to its starting, i.e. operative,
position.
According to another configuration of the invention,
at least one tension element is arranged, between the boom
and the frame, at the front side o~ the boom, as seen in the
direction o~ travel, the tension element being securPd to
3Q the frame at a distance in front of the hinge, as seen in
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the direction of travel 9 the attachment point of the tension
element to the frame lying upon a straight line ascending
as seen in the direction o~ travelg passing through the
hinge~ and enclosing an angle of approximately 25 to 45
to the horizontalg at least one tension element being also
secured, between the frame and the boom, at the rear side
of the said boom, as seen in the direction of travel,
the attachment point of this tension element to -the frame
lying upon a straight line ascending in a direction opposite
to the direotion of travel, passing through the hinge, and
enclosing an angle o~ approximately 25 to 45 to the horizontal.
As a result of this arrangement, the boom can deflect upon
encountering obstacles 9 when travelling either in forward
or in reverse. This is achieved by corresponding suspension
o~ the boom at the rear side al50.
Having thus generally described the nature o~
the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings, shvwing by way o~ illustration, a pre~erred embodiment
thereof, and in whicho
Figure 1 is a plan view o~ a track-marker arrange-
ment in accordanre with the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation o~ the arrangement
track-mar~er shown in Fig. l;
Figure 3 is a plan view o~ a fur~her track marker
arrangement in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the arrangement
shown in Fig. 3;
3 Figure 5 is a rear view of the arrangement shown
in Fig. 3;
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Figure 6 is a plan view of a device for shortening
the tension element; and
Figure 7 is a plan view of an overload fracture
element arranged ~etween the tension
element and ~he boom.
: Referring now in detail to the drawings ~ a
track-marker 1 according to Figs. 1 and 2 is mounted
rotatably ~pon a boom 2. By hinge means in the ~o~m of a
universal joint 3, boom 2 is arranged on frame 4 of an
agricultural machine, ~not shown in detail~5 in such a
manner that i^t can mo~e in a vertical and a horizontal plane.
Tension element 5 is arranged, between boom 2 and frame 4,
on front side 7 of boom 2, as seen in the direction o~
travel 6. Tension element 5 is secured to ~rame 4 at a
distance A in front of universal joint 3, a~ seen in the
direction of travel. Attachment point 8 o~ tension element
5 lies upon a dott~d straight line 9 ascending 9 as seen in
the direction of travel, passing through universal joint ~ t
and enclosing an angle~ of approximately 35 to the horizontal
10. Arranged on front side 7 of boom 2 and bearing against
~rame 4 is a stop 11 which limits the forward pivoting
movement of the boom. In this connection it has been found
desirable that distance C between hinge 3 and the attachment
point o~ tension element 5 on boom 2 be greater than distance
D between hinge 3 and attachment point 8 of tension element
5 on frame 4.
Arranged upon tension element 5 i5 a de~ice 12
by means of which tension element 5 may be shortened or
lengthened. In this example of embodiment, device 12
comprises a cable 13, one end of which is secured to tension
element 5 by mean~ of a cable clamp 14, while the other end
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is secured to a hydraulic cylinder 15 arranged on frame 4.
As already indicated, device 12 allows tension element
5 to be shortened, so that boom 2 bears against stop 11
and slides upwardly thereon and track-marker 1 is raised.
In the case o~ a sowing machine, for example, this allows
the track-markers arranged on each side to be raised and
lowered alternately.
Referring now to operation of the track-marker 1.
Track-marker 1~ shown in the operative position projects
laterally outwards from frame 4 o~ ~he machine. Since,
according to the invention9 front side 7 of the boom is
suspended by tension element 5, boom 2 and track-marker 1
can deflect rearwardly and upwardly upon encountering
ob~tacles in its pa-th, in ~hat the said boom pivots
obliquely rearwardly ~nd upwardly about straight line 9
ascending in a direction opposite to the direction of
travel. In this way~ the said boom and track-marker moYe
out of the way of the obstacle and are there~ore not
damaged. ~ter the obstacle has been passed, the boom
and track-marker pivot back automatlclly into the starting
or operative position,
Finally, boom 2 and track-marker 1 may be piYoted
rear~ardly about strai~ht line 9 to assume a transportation
position, the said boom and track-marker being then located
in an area de~ined by frame 4. In this connection 3 it is
particularly advantageous that attachment point 8 of tension
element 5 be located, as seen in the direction of travel,
on frame 4 on the side cf hinge 3 remote from track-marker
1 when the latter is in its operative position. This is
the simplest way o~ holding boom 2 in the transportation
position, since boom 2 cannot move over the "dead point"
wi-thout as~i~tance.
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According to Figs. 3 to 5, track-marker 16 is
mounted rotatably upon a boom 17, boom 17 being arranged
to pivot, by means o~ a hinge in the ~orm of a universal
joint 3, on ~rame 18 of an agricultural machine, (not shown
in detail), in a vertical and horizontal plane. Between
boom 17 and frame 18, tension element 19 is arranged on
~ront side 20 o~ boom 17, as seen in the direction o~ travel.
Tension element 19 is secured to an eye 21 on ~rame 18 at
a distance A in ~ront of universal joint 3~ as seen in the
direction of travel, the said eye lying upon a dotted straight
line 22 a~cending in the direction of travel 6 9 passing ~hrough
universal joint 3, and enclosing an angle~o~ approximately
35 to the horizontal. As a result of this 7 the said
attachment point lies in a plane above universal joint 3.
Furthermore, tension element 25 is arranged on rear side
24 of boom 17, as seen in the direction of travel, and is
secured to eye 26 o~ a device 27 arranged on frame 18, at
a distance B behind universal ~oint 3, a~ seen in ~he direction
o~ travel. This at~achment point, in the ~orm of ~n eye 267
o~ ten~ion element 5 lies upon a dotted straight line
ascending~ as seen in the ~irection of travel, in a direction
opposite the direction of travel, and enclosing an angle
of appro~imately 35 to the horizontal 230
Referring to Figure 6, device 27 is provided ~or
the purpose o~ shortening or lengthening rear tension
element 25, so that, in the case of a sowing machine,
laterally arranged track-markers 1 may be raised and lowered
alternately. Device 27 comprises a mounting 29, arranged
to pivot upon frame 18, carrying a hydraulic cylinder 30
3o and a pivotable lever 31. Lever 31 pivots upon mounting
29 by means of joint 32 located intermediate the two outer
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ends o~ the said lever, one end of which is connected to
the hydraulic cylinder~ while the other end is connected
to tension element 25 by means o~ eye 26 comprising a
bore 33. Track-marker 16 is thus raised or lowered by
pivoting lever 31~
~ urning to the operation o~ track-marker 16 shown
in FigsO 3 to 5. Track-marker 16, shown in its operative
position, projects laterally outwards f`rom frame 18 of the
machine. The suspension of boom 17, according to the
invention, by means of tension elements 19 and 25,-allows
the marker and boom 17 to move out o~ the way of any obstacles
encountered t when the maohine or the marker are travelling
either forwardly or in reverse, when the track-marker is
moving forwardly, boom 17 pivots raarwardly and upwardly
about straight line 22 acting as a pivot axis. When the
track-mar~er is mo~ing in reverse, boom 17 pivots forwardly
and upwardly about straight line 28 acting as a pivot axisc
Thus in either cas~, neither the track-marker nor the boom
is damaged.
~0 In order to avoid dam~ge to the boom and track-
marker, under the most extreme conditions, an overload
~racture element 34 is arranged between front tension element
19 and frame 18, element 34 being in the form o~ a tripping
device 35 comprising a shear pin 3~0 A~ will be appreciated,
if the track-marker digs under an obstacle and the boom
cannot therefore deflect upwardly, damage could occur without
the presence o~ overload fracture element 34~ Therefore 9
when the marker cannot deflect upwardly, pin 36 is sheared
off and pawl 37 o~ the tripping device pivots about bolt ~8 in
~he direction of arrow 39, thus releasing tension element 19
and allowing boom 17 to pivot freely rearward. After the
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obs tacle has been passed, tension element 19 is re-hooked
into pawl 37 and a new shear pin 36 is fitted. Operatisn
can thus begin again immediately.
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