Attachment mount for a tow cable on an agricultural tractor
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsJohn T. Rasset, Landon J. Fries, Daniel M. Glood, Budan Yao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tow cable mounting structure for an agricultural tractor that includes a pin-connection feature for a tow cable so that an easily accessible tow connection anchored to the tractor frame can be provided on the tractor. The mounting structure includes a contoured end portion and a bracing structure to manage stress distribution in the mounting structure and the tractor chassis thereby enabling the attachment mount to be added to a tractor with minimal alteration of the chassis
Claims20
A tow cable attachment mount for an agricultural tractor, the tractor having a ground-supported chassis and relative forward and opposing rearward ends defining a vehicle longitudinal axis, said attachment mount comprising:
- a base portion for connecting said attachment mount to the tractor chassis, said base portion having generally parallel and opposing first and second planar surfaces, a base length, and a perimeter edge, said perimeter edge having a forward perimeter edge portion;
- and
- an attachment portion having generally parallel and opposing planar surfaces, a contour edge, a bracing tab, and an eyelet structure for receiving a tow cable, said mounting portion being generally perpendicularly disposed with respect to said base portion so that said attachment portion extends generally away from said base portion, said contour edge being shaped to manage stress distribution in said attachment mount, said stress distribution resulting from application of a tow force along a tow axis applied to said attachment mount, and said bracing tab extending beyond said perimeter end for contact with said chassis in order to manage stress distribution in the connection between said attachment mount and said chassis.
In an agricultural tractor for pulling a ground-engaging implement across the ground, the tractor having a chassis and relative forward and opposing rearward ends defining a vehicle longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising:
- an attachment mount for a tow cable having generally opposing forward and rearward ends defining a tow axis, said mount generally having a T-shape when viewed from an end, said mount having a base portion and an attachment portion, said base portion for connection to said chassis and having a perimeter, said attachment portion having an eyelet structure and a bracing tab, said eyelet structure for receiving a tow cable, said bracing tab extending beyond said perimeter end for contact with said chassis in order to manage stress distribution in the connection between said attachment mount and said chassis when a tow force is applied along said tow axis.
A method for attaching a tow cable attachment mount to an existing chassis structure on an agricultural vehicle comprising the steps:
- providing an attachment mount for a tow cable, the mount having generally opposing forward and rearward ends defining a tow axis, a base portion and an attachment portion disposed generally perpendicularly to form a T-shape when viewed from an end, the base portion for connection to the chassis and having a perimeter;
- providing an eyelet structure in the attachment portion for attaching a tow cable;
- providing a bracing tab disposed adjacent the forward end of the attachment mount on the attachment portion, the bracing tab extending forwardly beyond the perimeter of the base portion and shaped to contact the vehicle chassis adjacent the base portion;
- connecting the attachment mount to the agricultural vehicle;
- providing a tow cable connected to the eyelet structure on the attachment mount, the tow cable extending in a forward direction;
- applying a tow force on the tow cable, and
- managing, by the bracing tab, the stress distribution in the connection between the attachment mount and the vehicle chassis by reducing bending moments in the connection between the base portion and the chassis so that minimal alteration of the chassis is necessary to withstand the stresses resulting from application of the tow force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.