Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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l TRACTOR FRAME FOR TRACTOR-MOUNTED IMPLEME~IT
_ck~round_of _he Invention
This invention relates to a tractor-implernent comhination,
more particularly to a tractor-loader combination and even more
particularly to an i~proved vehicle frar~e having an integral
member Eormed therewith which can be utilized as means for
mounting implel,~ents to the vehicle frame. In many of the small
utility-type tractors, when it is desired to mount a power
loader or other implement on the tractor, it is often necessary
to provide a complete sub-frame that underlies the tractor frame
and which may be connected to the tractor frame at the front and
rear portion of the tractor frame. The implement sub-frame
generally underlies the tractor, and implement supports such as
vertical posts on a loader are carried on this sub-frame. The
greatest problem with this type of mounting arrangement is that
the small utility tractors are often used for more than one
job. For example, in a utility tractor, a mower may be mounted
on the tractor when it is desired to mow grass or small crops.
When it is desired to cultivate or till ground, another type of
implement frame may be required. Likewise, when it is desired
to mount a loader on the tractor frame, it becomes a tedious job
for the reason that the tractor, being of a small size, has its
underside relatively close to the ground, and it is difficult to
mount a loader sub-frame on the underside of the tractor.
Often, it is n~cessary to raise the small tractor completely off
of the ground and to insert the loader frame or -to roll the
tractor on its side for mounting the loader frame. Also, while
a loader frame may be relat~vely small, it nevertheless weighs
sufficiently so that it is difficult for one man to mount the
whole loader frame on the tractor.
Summary of the Invention
With the above in mind, it is the primary purpose of the
present invention to provide a tractor frame which not only
serves to support the tractor, but also serves partially as the
loader or other implement frame. More specifically, it is the
purpose of the present invention to provide a tractor frame
composed of vertical side plates that are rigidly interconnected
by transverse beam means, one of which is located at a fore-and-
aft mid-portion of the frame and which is a transverse tubular
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l ~ember that extends throuyh both side plates and has open ends
outwardly, respectively of the side plates.
The implement or loader frame is composed oE a basic
transverse tubular beam that i5 slidable within the t~actor
tubular member and has opposite end portions projecting
outwardly, respectively of the open ends of the tractor tubular
member. The posts of the loader are detachably supported on
this transverse beam on the end portions thereof. Loader lift
arms are, of course, supported on the post, as are likewise the
lift cylinders that extend between the posts and the li~t arms.
The tubular beams oE the loader frame are held against
transverse movement with respect to the tractor by bolts that
extend diagonally through both the tractor tube and loader
beam. The bolts, when tightened, also prevent vibrations and
shifting of the loader beam with respect to the tractor tube.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be
a~parent from the following description, accompanying drawings
and the appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. l is a front side perspective view of a tractor-loader
combination which incorporates the frame structures of the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of -the tractor frame showing a portion
of the loader frame mounted on the tractor frame.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the tractor frame structure and
loader frame portion shown in Fig~ 2.
Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing a small portion of the
tractor frame, and portions of the loader frame and loader.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lower end of the right
loader post and its mounting clamp as taken from the rear inner
side thereof.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6-
6 of Fig. 2.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
For purposes of the present description, left and right and
front and rear shall denote directions as viewed by an operator
sitting on the tractor seat and facing in the forward direction
of travel.
The tractor 10 is composed of front and rear pairs of wheels
11, 12, respectively, and an engine, which is not shown, but
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l carried under a tractor hood 13~ ~n operator's station,
indicated by a tractor seat 14 and steeriny wheel 15, is
provided on the rea~ portion of the tractor, as is a re~r Eender
deck 16. The tractor 10 is supported on the wheels lL, 12 by a
tractor frame, indicated in its entirety by the re~erence
numeral 20, composed of leEt and right-hand side plate means 21,
22 of channel construction and interjoined by transverse beam
means 23 at the front end, and a transverse rectangular
structural tube 24 at the fore-and-aft mid portion of the frame
21. Specifically, the plate means 21, 22 each include upper and
lower flanges extending over substantially the entire length of
the plate means with the lower flanges defining a horizontal
bottom 18 of the frame which extends substantially the entire
length of the frame. The tubular structural member 24 extends
l~ through the respective side plate means 21, 22 at respecti~e
locations above the horizontal bottom 18 of the frame and has
open ends 25, 26 outboard of the side plate means 21, 22
respectively. Other than the shape and nature of the structure
of the tractor frame 20, the tractor is of conventional nature,
having the usual hydraulic systems, brake systems, and steering
systems, etc.
An implement in the form of a power loader 29 is supported
on the tractor 10 by a basic rectangular-shaped structural tube
member 30 that extends through the structural member 24 of the
tractor frame and has opposite end portions 31, 32 projecting
outwardly of the open ends 25, 26 of the tubular member 24.
While the preferred form o~ the invention shows tubes 24, 30 to
be rectangular in cross-section, it should be understood that
other cross-sectional shapes, such as round, triangular, etc.,
would be satisfactory~ In cross-section, the two tubular
members 24, 30 are complimentary in the sense that the
dimensions of the outer sides of the loader tube member 30 are
substantially the same, although slightly smaller, than the
inner dimensior. of the tubular structural member 24. The
tubular member 30 may slide or telescope transversely in the
tubular member 24. Being rectangular shaped, the members 24, 30
cannot rock or rotate relative to one another. The tubular ends
25, 26 of the tubular frame member 24 have cut-outs or notches
33, 34 at those ends and in the upper forward corner of the
ends. Aligned diagonally with the notches 33, 34 and positioned
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1 in the lower rear corner of the respective tubular meMber are
bolt openings, only one of which is shown at 35 in Figs. 4 and
6, that receive bolts, such as at 3~
Referring now t~ Figs. 4 and 6, carried on the bolt 36 is a
S washer 37 that is shaped to confor~n to the shape of the outer
corner of the tubular end portion 26. The loader structural
tube 30 has diagonally aligned bolt holes 38~ 39 that align with
the notch 34 and opening 35 and receive the shank of the bolt
36. The bolt has an internally threaded part or nu-t 40 and a
suitable washe. 42 that is received in the notch 34. The washer
42 bears against -the upper forward corner of the tubular
structural member 30 and, when tightened, draws the structural
tube 30 to fit tightly against the inner, lower corner surfaces
of the tubular member 76, such being shown clearly in Fig. 6.
It should also be recognized tha-t while only the right-hand side
of the tractor tube 24 and loader tube 30 is shown in Figs~ 4
and 5, a similar arrangement is provided for the left-hand side
connection between the structural tubes 24 and 30.
The loader 29 also includes a pair of upright posts, only
one of which is shown at 50, at the right-hand side of the
tractor. As is obvious from viewing Fig. 1 and to one skilled
in the art of loader manufacture, a similar post, while not
shown, is provided on the left-hand side of the tractor.
Details of the mounting arrangement between the posts 50 and the
25 outer end 32 of the loader frame tube 30 are shown in Figs. 4
and 5. It should be understood that a similar mounting
arrangement is provided for the left-hand post.
Referring now specifically to Figs. 4 and 5, the post 50 is
detachably mounted on the outer end portion 32 of the beam 30 by
means of a clamp, indicated in its entirety b~ the reference
number 51. The clamp is composed of a main downwardly opening U-
shaped member 52 having a horizontal section 53 and depending
transversely spaced leg portions 54, 55. The plate or leg
portions 54, 55 are vertical, fore-and-aft extending elements
that are integral with the plate portion 53. The innermost
plate portion 55 is cut out so as to receive the upper rear
corner of the beam portion 32. The outermost plate portion 54
lies alongside the end of the outer beam portion 32 and closes
the open end of the beam or tube 30. It also serves to guide
the loader post on the beam portion 32 when the loader is being
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1 mounted thereon. A transverse filler plate 56 e~tends between
and is welded to the inner surfaces of the vertical leg por~ions
54, 55 and abuts against the rear surface of the outer beam
portion 32. It serves to properly position the beam portion 32
with respect to the clamp member 52. The horizontal plate
portion 53 has at its Eorwardmost end an inclined section 57
As can best be seen from viewing Figs. 4 and 5, the vertical
wall 56 and the bottom wall 53 of clamp member 52 fit against
the rear vertical surface and the horizontal upper surface oE
the beam portion 32. A horizontal transverse hinge pin 60
extends between the walls 54, 55 adjacent the rear lower corner
of the beam portion 32.
A lower clamp member 61 has a lower horizontal wall 63
fit~ing against the underside of the beam portion 32 and a
vertical wall 62 that bears against the forward vertical surface
of the beam portion 32~ The bottom wall 63 has a rolled hinged
end 64 that fits around the pin 60. As can best be seen, the
entire clamp member 61 is hinged on the pin 60. ~lso as is
clear from viewing Figs~ 4 and 5, the lower hinge member 61,
when in place, has the front wall 62 and the lower wall 63
bearing agains~ the front vertical surface and the lower
horizontal surface of the end portion 32 of the tube 30. The
lower clamp member 61 terminates in its front side in an
inclined wall portion 65. A hand bolt 66 extends through the
wall 65 and is threadably received in the inclined wall 57 of
the other clamp member. Thus, the bolt 66 may be adjus~ed to
tighten the clamp on the end portion 32 of the tube 30.
Similarly, the clamp may be detached from the end portion 32 by
loosening the bolt 66 until the post 50 and the respective clamp
51 can be disconnected from the end portion 32, or in some
instances slid off the end of the member 30.
Referring again to Fig. 1, the loader is composed of the two
posts 50 and a pair of lift arms 70, 71 that extend forwardly
from the respective posts and are rigidly interconnected first
by a transverse tube member 72 and then by a loader bucket 73.
Wrap-around framework, composed of side beams 7~, extend
forwardly from the respective posts 50 and to a front transverse
tube member 75 that fits adjacent to but forwardly of the
tractor. Carr.ed on the forward part of the wrap-around
framework are downwardly extending brackets 76, 77 that are
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1 detachably mounted by being bolted to the tractor and serve to
mount the forward end of the loader frame on the tractor.
Hydraulic cylinders 79, 80 extend from the respective posts 50
to the lift arms 70, 71.
When mounting the loader on the tractor, the tubular beam is
inserted in the tractor frame tube 2~ until the openings 38, 39
are properly aligned with the opening 35 and slot 34 of the
tractor frame tube 24. The bolts 36 are then properly inserted
and the nuts 4n are tightened down so as to hold the loader
frame tube 30 against axial and vibration-type motion. ~t this
time, the tractor can be driven under a raised rear end of the
post 50 until the clamp ends are properly aligned with the outer
end portions of the tube 30. The hydraulic cylinders 75 may
then be adjusted in length to drop the respective clamps on the
1~ end portions 31, 32 of the tube 30. The clamp portion 61 is
then manually closed and tightened until the post is rigid with
the end portion 32. It should, however, be understood that the
manner of mounting the loader on the tractor other than
providing a detachable connection 51 and the telescoping and
locking of the beam or tube members 24, 30 together, is not a
part of this invention, and other mounting arrangements could be
utilized.
While only a loader has been shown mounted on the square
sectioned support tube 30, it should be understood that other
implements could have their supports clamped to the sub-frame
beam 30. Also, it should be understood that the small utility
or lawn and garden tractor must be versatile in its use. For
example, while a loader is shown, mowers and snow removal
equipment are also available for mounting on the tractor. To
this end, there is shown a bracket 82 on the right end of the
beam tube 24. This is for the purpose of hanging a mower deck
on the underside of the tractor. Similar brackets could be
detachably mounted or clamped on the beam 30 for supporting a
mower deck, snow blower, or other small implements.
While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute
preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of
apparatus and changes may be made therein without departing from
the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended
Claims
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