Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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.