US 2016/0096405 A1Published application

Drawbar Hitch Conversion for Planters with Two-Point Hitches

AssigneeSchnell Industries Inc.

InventorsFred Plett Dueck, Brenton Leray Dueck

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Abstract

A planter with a two-point hitch is converted to a drawbar configuration through use of an existing through-bore in the planter's pull tongue that originally served as part of a swiveling connection between the tongue and the two-point hitch. A pinned connection to the frame of the conversion unit via this existing through-bore of the planter tongue is augmented with a clamping mechanism that secures the planter tongue in place between two spaced-apart side plates of the conversion unit to prevent relative rotation between the planter tongue and the conversion unit about the axis of the coupling pin. The side plates are shaped so as not to interfere with connection lugs on the pull tongue of the planter where diagonal braces are connected between the tongue and foldable of the planter. Installation requires no modification to the planter, and the conversion unit is entirely removable in a non-destructive manner.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A drawbar hitch conversion unit for a planter that is arranged to have a two-point hitch unit coupled to a longitudinal pull tongue of the planter near a forward end thereof by a pivotal connection through an upright bore in the pull tongue, the drawbar hitch conversion unit comprising:

a frame comprising:
a pair of side plates residing in upright planes horizontally separated one another in a lateral direction to leave a space between said side plates, the space being open at a rear end thereof for receipt of the forward end of the pull tongue into a position between the upright side plates;
and
at least one cross member attached to the upright side plates and spanning across the space defined therebetween;
a tongue extension pivotally coupled to the frame for pivoting of the tongue extension in an upright plane about a pivot axis passing laterally through the upright planes of the side plates, the tongue extension reaching forwardly from the side plates to a front end of the drawbar tongue that is arranged for coupling to a drawbar hitch of a tractor;
an opening spanning through the at least one cross member from a topside thereof to an opposing underside thereof to accommodate passage of a coupling pin through said opening in a manner also passing through the upright bore of the pull tongue of the planter when said upright bore of the pull tongue is aligned with said opening in the at least one cross member, thereby coupling the hitch conversion unit to the pull tongue of the planter;
an actuator connected between the frame and the tongue extension and operable to effecting raising and lowering of the front end of the tongue extension relative to the frame about the pivot axis;
and
a clamping mechanism on the frame that is operable to clamp the pull tongue securely between the side walls of the frame at a longitudinally spaced distance from the opening in the at least one cross-member when the frame is connected to the pull tongue by the coupling pin.

6 more elements

In combination, a planter and a hitch conversion unit therefore, the planter having a longitudinal pull tongue with an upright bore passing therethrough near a forward end of the pull tongue for optional use as part of a swiveling connection between the planter and a compatible two-point hitch unit, wherein the hitch conversion unit comprises:

a frame;
a tongue extension having one end pivotally coupled to the frame of the hitch conversion unit and another end that is arranged for coupling to a drawbar hitch of a tractor;
an opening in the frame the hitch conversion unit that is arranged for alignment with the upright bore in the pull tongue of the planter to enable receipt of a coupling pin through said opening and said bore in order to couple the hitch conversion unit to the planter;
and
a clamping mechanism mounted to the frame of the hitch conversion unit and operable to clamp the pull tongue of the planter securely to the frame at a longitudinally spaced distance from the opening in the when the frame is connected to the pull tongue by the coupling pin.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.