Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02132072 2004-02-12
FARM IMPLEMENT FRAME
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS
This invention relates to frames for farm implements such as cultivators which
operate to cover large sections of the ground being tilled and particularly
such frames
as are adapted to be part of an implement cart or other farm vehicle and which
may be
folded for transportation from one field to another.
As farm techniques become more selective and specialized, it is increasingly
necessary for farm implement frames such as found in cultivator frames to
provide for
flexibility in the working position, easily adjustable and uniform height
above the
ground when working and stable folded transport with a minimum of materials,
particularly hydraulic components and energy requirements.
An object of the present invention is to provide a farm implement frame
element which readily provides for uniform and readily controllable height
adjustment
above the ground.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a farm implement frame
element which provides for tool supports to be rotated out of contact with the
ground
into a generally vertical position so that it may be folded for transport.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the
ensuing description thereof and of its application in preferred embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists of a farm implement frame element supported out of
contact with the ground for connection to a farm vehicle or cart with at least
one crank
member mounted on said frame element and rotatable about a main first axis
parallel
to said frame element between a first and a further position, a lock to
selectively
restrain said crank member in the said first position, a tool support
pivotally supported
on said crank member for rotation about a second axis parallel to and offset
from said
main first axis between working positions at different heights above the
ground, and
between such working positions and a transport position spaced from the
ground, an
actuator operable when said lock selectively does not restrain said crank
member in
said first position to rotate both of said crank member about said first axis
between
said first and said further position, and said tool support about said second
axis, in
conjunction, thereby to change the height of the tool support above the ground
in its
working positions, and operable when said lock restrains said crank member in
said
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first position, to rotate said tool support about said second axis, between
the working
positions to the said transport position.
The invention further consists of a farm implement frame with a ground
engaging element further supporting the said tool support means out of contact
with
the ground wherein said ground engaging element may be adjustably mounted on
said
tool support and rotation of said tool support about said second axis varies
the
disposition of said ground engaging element relative to said tool support.
The invention further consists of a farm implement frame wherein said ground
engaging element comprises a press wheel assembly pivotally mounted on said
tool
support about a third axis parallel to and substantially offset from both of
said first
and said second axis and wherein said actuator may comprise a first extensible
linkage extending between said crank member and said ground engaging element.
The invention further consists of a farm implement frame wherein said
actuator may comprise a second extensible linkage extending between said crank
member and said frame member operating selectively in conjunction with and
separately from said first extensible linkage.
The invention further consists of a farm implement frame wherein said tool
support is generally upright in said transport position.
The invention further consists of a farm implement frame with a wheel linkage
between said crank member and said press wheel assembly operable to change the
height of the tool support above the ground wherein rotation of said tool
support about
said second axis imparts a corresponding rotation of said ground engaging
element
relative to said tool support and wherein said wheel linkage may maintain the
said
tool support generally horizontal to the ground when said lock does not
restrain said
crank member in said first position.
The invention further consists of a farm implement frame with an abutment
between said crank member and said tool support to limit relative rotation
therebetween particularly relative rotation at said further position and in
said transport
position.
LIST OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of the
farm
implement frame of the invention in the upright position showing the transport
mode
but with the frame element transverse to the direction of travel.
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Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of the
farm
implement frame of the invention in the highest working position.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of farm
implement frame of the invention in the working position at its lowermost
limit.
Figure 4 is a cross-section of another embodiment of the farm implement
frame of the invention in the highest working position corresponding to Figure
2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of the
invention taken through frame element 1. Typically frame element 1 is
incorporated
into a farm implement cart or other vehicle, such as a seeder or tractor, or
it is
incorporated into a larger frame in a conventional manner.
Typically frame element 1 is transverse to the direction of travel 30 in the
working positions and when upright is shown in Figure 1. After reaching the
upright
position of Figure 1 frame element 1 may be folded about one or more vertical
axes
(not shown) to form a V-shape or a U-shape, otherwise rotated or end-towed, in
a
conventional manner, so as to be all or substantially all generally parallel
to the
direction of travel for full transport (not separately shown). The upright
position of
Figure 1 is maintained. Frame element 1 may be supported above the ground by
wheel 27 and carriage 25 as shown in Figure 2.
Main rock shaft 2 is mounted to frame element 1 by conventional means (not
shown) for rotation about main first crank axis 3 parallel to and offset
rearwardly
from the frame element 1. Main rock shaft is preferably a hollow tube as shown
in
Figure 1. Crank member 4 is fixedly attached to main rock shaft 2 rotation
about
main first crank axis 3 between a first (upright) crank position Sa shown in
Figure 1,
also the highest working position shown in Figure 2, to a second crank
position Sc
shown in Figure 3 which is shown as corresponding to the working position
lowermost limit.
Tool support 6 is pivotally mounted to crank member 5 for rotation about
second axis 18 which is parallel to first main axis 3 and preferably offset
from tool
support center line 31. Tool support 6 is shown in Figure 1 in an upright
position 6a.
Main rock shaft 2 preferably carries multiple crank members (not shown) in the
same
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fashion which may be paired for individual tool supports. Conventional tillage
tools,
such as cultivator shanks, may be attached to tool support 6.
Hydraulic actuator 13, shown fully contacted in Figure l, is pivotally
connected between tool support 6 and crank member 4 at attachment points 14
and 15
to control the position of tool support 6 relative to crank member 4 by
rotation of tool
support 6 about second axis 18 parallel to main first axis 3. Fixation of the
hydraulic
ram by balanced pressure in a conventional manner fixes the relative position
of tool
support 6 in relation to crank 4.
Counter-clockwise rotation of tool support 6 about second axis 18 is limited
as
shown in Figures 1 and 3 as abutting end 11 comes into contact with stop 12.
Locking arm 7, shown in locked position 7a in Figure 1, is pivotally attached
to frame member 1 for rotation about axis 8 and preferable is of a general U-
shape. In
position 7a lock pin 9 which may form part of the preferred U-shape engages
recess
10 in the crank member 4 to maintain crank member 4 in the first upright
position
fully rotated counter-clockwise against stop pad 19. The weight of tool
support 6 and
the fixation provided by cylinder 13 retain pin 9 in the locked position.
Extension of cylinder 13 from fully retracted position 13a of Figure 1 to
fully
extended position 13b as shown in Figure 2 (with locking arm 7 in the locked
position
7a) rotates tool support 6 clockwise about second axis 18 from the generally
upright
position 6a towards a generally horizontal position 6b maximally elevated
above the
ground level 26b as shown in Figure 2. Maintenance of lock arm 7 in locked
position
7a (shown in dotted outline in Figure 2) maintains crank member 4 in the first
position Sa against stop pad 19 throughout this range.
Wheel assembly generally designated 32 in Figures 2 and 3 is pivotally
mounted to tool support 6 for rotation about packer arm pivot axis 22 between
positions 32b and 32a. Packer arm pivot axis 22 is preferably parallel to main
first
axis 3. . Wheel assembly 32 is preferably a coil packer or press wheel 20
mounted on
packer arm 21 for rotation about transverse wheel axis 24 and packer arm pivot
axis 22.
Preferably the relative angular relationship of packer arm 21 in relation to
tool
support 6 is maintained by wheel linkage 16 pivotally connected between crank
member 4 at point 17 and packer arm 21 at point 23. Adjustment of the relative
rates
of rotation and final relative positions of the tool support 6 and the packer
arm 21 may
be achieved by adjusting the distances between their respective pivotal axes.
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Rotation of tool support 6 from position 6a, Figure 1, to position 6b, Figure
2,
with lock arm 7 in locked position 7a rotates wheel assembly 32 clockwise from
position 32a, (shown in dotted outline in Figure 2 but not shown in Figure 1)
in
relation to tool support position 6a, to a ground engaging position 32b as
shown in
Figure 2. Tool support 6 is supported in a generally horizontal maximally
elevated
position 6b above ground level 26b on crank member 4 and packer arm 21b.
Contraction of cylinder 13b from the position of Figure 2, while maintaining
lock arm 7 in the locked position 7a, rotates tool support 6b counter-
clockwise about
second axis 18 while crank member 4 remains in first position Sa. Wheel
linkage 16
rotates packer arm 21 from position 21b, with packer 20 in position 20b in
contact
with the ground, counter-clockwise about axis 22 towards elevated position 32a
in
relation to tool support 6.
Release of crank member 4 by rotation of lock arm 7 from locked position 7a
to unlocked position 7b (shown in solid outline in Figure 2) releases crank
member 4
for rotation about main first axis 3. Retraction of cylinder 13 from fully
extended
condition 13b in Figure 2 imparts clockwise rotation of crank member 4 about
first
main axis 3 while tool support remains in a generally horizontal position
supported on
crank member 4 and wheel assembly 32.
Figure 3, in dotted outline, shows crank member 4 and tool support db with
cylinder 13 in fully extended condition 13b corresponding to Figure 2.
Contraction of cylinder 13b, with lock arm in unlocked condition 7b, rotates
both of crank member 4 clockwise about first main axis 3 from first crank
position Sa
towards the second crank position Sc shown in solid outline in Figure 3. At
crank
position Sc, stop 12 re-engages abutting end 11 and prevents further rotation
of both
of crank member 4 about first axis 3 and tool support 6 about second axis 18
forming
the lowermost working position limit. In the range shown in Figure 3 tool
support 6
moves from maximally elevated position 6b to a minimally elevated position 6c
in
response to extension and contraction of cylinder 13.
Tool support 6 is maintained in generally horizontal working positions
between position 6b and working limit 6c while supported on wheel assembly 32.
Wheel assembly 32, in Figure 3, is shown in dotted outline at 32b which
corresponds to tool support position 6b in relation to ground level 26b. As
cylinder
13 is retracted from position 13b to position 13c wheel linkage 16 rotates
wheel
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assembly 32 from position 32b to position 32c in relation to ground level 26c
thereby
lowering tool support 6 from position 6b to position 6c.
Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment in a position corresponding to
Figure 2 where cylinder 13 is replaced by co-acting cylinders 19, pivotally
attached
between crank member 4 and packer arm 21 for extension and contraction along
line
B-B', and 28, pivotally attached between crank member 4 and frame element 1 at
a
suitable location, not shown, for extension and contraction along line A-A'.
Operation
of cylinder 29 alone will rotate tool support 6 between maximally elevated
position 6b
and a generally upright transport position corresponding to Figure 1, not
shown.
Cylinder 28 may optionally be restrained by lock arm 7 or other conventional
means.
Operation of both of cylinders 28 and 29, with lock arm 7 unlocked, as shown,
will adjust the height of tool support 6 above the ground from the position 6b
shown
to a position corresponding to Figure 3, not shown.
Numerous modifications can be made in the specific expedients described
without departing from the invention, the scope of which is defined in the
following
claims.
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