Attachment assembly for powered implements
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsJared Eller, Lance Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An attachment assembly for connecting an agricultural implement to a tractor. The attachment assembly comprises tractor-side frame configured to extend from the tractor. The attachment assembly additionally comprises an implement-side frame configured to be removably attached to the implement. The implement-side frame is configured to rotate with respect to the tractor-side frame. The implement-side frame comprises connection elements configured to attach the implement to the implement-side frame. The connection elements provide at least four points of connection for the implement.
Claims12
An attachment assembly for connecting an agricultural implement to a tractor, said attachment assembly comprising:
- a tractor-side frame configured to be removably attached to the tractor and to extend from the tractor;
- and
- an implement-side frame configured to be removably attached to the implement,
- wherein said implement-side frame is configured to rotate with respect to said tractor-side frame, wherein said implement-side frame comprises connection elements configured to attach the implement to said implement-side frame, and wherein said connection elements provide at least four points of connection for the implement,
- wherein said connection elements include a pair of lower connection elements with each one of the pair positioned on a respective lateral side of the implement-side frame, and wherein said connection elements include at least a pair of upper connection elements centrally positioned between the pair of lower connection elements with respect to a lateral direction,
- wherein said pair of lower connection elements comprises a pair of lower engagement hooks and wherein said at least a pair of upper connection elements comprises a pair of upper engagement hooks,
- further comprising a power take-off (PTO) adapter configured to facilitate a rotary-power connection between the tractor and the implement, wherein the PTO adapter is configured to be removably coupled with the implement-side frame, and wherein the PTO adapter is configured to rotate with respect to the implement-side frame.
A method of attaching an implement to a tractor, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an attachment assembly removably attached to the tractor and extending from the tractor, wherein the attachment assembly comprises a tractor-side frame and an implement-side frame rotatably coupled with the tractor-side frame, wherein the attachment assembly is configured to be shifted between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the implement-side frame comprises connection elements configured to attach the implement to the implement-side frame, and wherein the connection elements provide at least four points of connection for the implement, wherein said connection elements include a pair of lower connection elements with each one of the pair positioned on a respective lateral side of the implement- side frame, and wherein said connection elements include at least a pair of upper connection elements centrally positioned between the pair of lower connection elements with respect to a lateral direction;
- (b) removably coupling a power take-off (PTO) adapter with the implement-side frame;
- (c) shifting the attachment assembly to the open configuration, wherein during said shifting of step (c), the PTO adapter rotates with respect to the implement-side frame;
- (d) securing the implement-side frame to the implement;
- and
- (e) shifting the attachment assembly to the closed configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.