Drawbar side cushioning for tractors
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorKevin M. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A removable side impact load cushioning device for use on the hitch on an agricultural tractor or prime mover that allows operator selectable use of the device to dampens side impact loads on a drawbar by enabling slight lateral movement of the drawbar or to retain the drawbar in a generally laterally fixed position.
Claims20
A hitch for coupling a towed-implement to a prime mover, said drawbar comprising:
- a drawbar having opposing first and second ends, said first end pivotally connected to and supported by the prime mover;
- a hanger connectable to and supportable by the prime mover and having a laterally disposed elongate guide structure for supporting said drawbar between said first and second ends and allowing movement of said drawbar about said pivot connection;
- and
- a pair of drawbar cushion modules disposed within said guide structure on opposing sides of said drawbar, each said module having a pinned member and a connected cushion member, said pinned member securing said module to said hanger, said cushion member being disposed generally adjacent said drawbar whereby limited movement of said drawbar is allowed within said guide structure through deflection of said cushion members.
A cushion module for use with a drawbar on a prime mover, said cushion module comprising:
- a pinned member for selectivity securing said module to a drawbar guide structure on said prime mover;
- an impact member;
- and
- a cushion member connected to said pinned member and said impact member, said cushion member enabling relative movement between said impact member and said pinned member.
The module of claim 16, wherein said cushion member is rubber.
The module of claim 16, wherein said cushion member is urethane.
In a prime mover having a hitch for towing an implement, the hitch having a drawbar with opposing first and second ends, the first end pivotally connected to the prime mover, and a hanger with a laterally elongate guide structure connected to and supported by the prime mover, the guide structure supporting the drawbar between the first and second ends, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of attachment structures located in pre-determined positions on the elongate guide structure;
- a pair of drawbar cushion modules selectively disposed within the guide structure on opposing sides of the drawbar, each said module having a pinned member and an impact member with a cushion member disposed therebetween, said cushion member being a compressibly elastic material enabling movement of said impact member relative to said pinned member, said pinned member securing said module to said attachment structures, said impact member being disposed generally adjacent said drawbar whereby limited movement of said drawbar is allowed within said guide structure through deflection of said cushion members
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.