Two-way, multiple bottom plow with lift assist

A two-way, multiple bottom plow comprising:

• (a) a plow frame adapted at its forward end for connection to a tractor,
• (b) a plow supporting bar normally disposed at an angle to said plow frame for supporting two sets of oppositely disposed plow bottoms,
• (c) a reversing arm having opposite ends, said arm fixed at one end to the plow supporting bar and pivotally connected to the plow frame at its opposite end,
• (d) fluid pressure means including a cylinder and a movable piston therein and a rod for the piston, said cylinder being pivotally fixed to the plow frame and said piston rod being pivotally fixed to said reversing arm, said fluid pressure means being adapted to introduce pressure fluid into the cylinder to start rotation of said reversing arm and plow supporting bar from a first position at one side of the plow frame toward a second position at the opposite side of the plow frame and
• (e) control means for shutting off pressure fluid to said cylinder after said plow supporting bar has passed beyond the vertical position
• (f) wherein said plow frame is provided with a transverse hitch arm having spaced connections for engagement with the lower arms of a three-point hitch on a tractor, and cooperative engagement means on the hitch arm and the reversing arm in substantial alignment with said spaced connections for engagement when said plow supporting bar is in said first or second positions whereby the pulling force of the tractor is always transmitted to the plow supporting bar along the longitudinal axis of one or the other of the lower hitch arms of the tractor.

A tractor having a three-point hitch and means for raising that hitch, a two-way, multiple bottom plow for use with said tractor, said plow including

• (a) a plow frame adapted for connection to the three-point hitch of the tractor,
• (b) a plow supporting bar normally disposed at an angle to said plow frame having two sets of oppositely disposed plow bottoms mounted thereon,
• (c) a reversing arm having opposite ends, one end being fixed to the plow supporting bar and the opposite end being pivotally connected to the plow frame,
• (d) a gauge wheel pivotally secured to said plow frame,
• (e) fluid pressure means including a first hydraulic cylinder having a movable piston therein and a rod for the piston, said cylinder being pivotally fixed to the plow frame and the piston rod being pivotally fixed to the reversing arm, said fluid pressure means being adapted to introduce pressure fluid into the cylinder to start rotation of said reversing arm and plow supporting bar from a first position at one the side of the flow frame toward a second position at opposite side of the plow frame,
• (f) said pressure fluid means including a second hydraulic cylinder having a movable piston therein and a rod for the piston, said second cylinder being pivotally fixed to the plow frame and the piston rod being pivotally fixed to the gauge wheel, said pressure fluid means being adapted to introduce pressure fluid into said second cylinder to raise the plow frame relative to the gauge wheel at the same time the tractor hitch is raised by said means for raising the tractor three-point hitch, and
• (g) a deceleration valve on the plow frame, said valve having a depressable plunger for gradually closing off the flow of pressure fluid to said first hydraulic cylinder, said plunger being engaged and depressed by the plow supporting bar as it approaches a vertical position during its rotation from said first plowing position to said second plowing position to close off said flow of pressure fluid after the plow supporting bar has passed beyond the vertical position.

In a two-way, multiple bottom plow having a plow frame adapted at its forward end for connection to a tractor and a plow supporting bar for supporting two sets of oppositely disposed plow bottoms, the combination of means for rotating said plow bottoms and plow supporting bar through about 180.degree. to reverse the plow bottoms, said means comprising:

• (a) a reversing arm having opposite ends, said arm being fixed at one end to the plow supporting bar and pivotally connected to the plow frame at its opposite end,
• (b) fluid pressure means including a cylinder and a movable piston therein and a rod for the piston, said means being pivotally fixed to the plow frame and to said reversing arm, said means being adapted to rotate said reversing arm and plow supporting bar whenever pressure fluid is introduced to said cylinder,
• (c) control means for shutting off pressure fluid to said cylinder after said plow supporting bar has passed beyond a vertical position, and
• (d) means in said fluid pressure means for restricting the flow of fluid from said cylinder when said control means has shut off pressure fluid to the cylinder comprising, said restricting means being in a by-pass line conntecting one side of the piston with the opposite side of the piston of said cylinder, whereby further rotation of said plow supporting bar occurs under its own weight against the resistance of the pressure fluid in said cylinder.

A two-way, multiple bottom plow for use with a tractor having a three-point hitch comprising:

• (a) a plow frame having a transverse hitch arm at its forward end for connection to a tractor,
• (b) a plow supporting bar normally disposed at an angle to said plow frame for supporting two sets of oppositely disposed plow bottoms,
• (c) a reversing arm having opposite ends, said arm fixed at one end to the plow supporting bar and pivotally connected to the plow frame at its opposite end,
• (d) fluid pressure means for moving said reversing arm and plow supporting bar from a first position at one side of the plow frame toward a second position at the opposite side of the plow frame,
• (e) spaced connections on said transverse hitch arm for engagement with the lower arms of the three-point hitch of the tractor;
• and
• (f) cooperative engagement means on the hitch arm and the reversing arm in substantial alignment with said spaced connections for engagement when said plow supporting bar is in said first or second positions whereby the pulling force of the tractor is always transmitted to the plow supporting bar along the longitudinal axis of one or the other of the lower hitch arms of the tractor.