US 4,306,732 A · Depth control for agricultural implement

Abstract

A control for selectively setting the operating depth of a ground working agricultural tool without changing the elevated height of the tool when in the transport position. The control includes a ground supported wheel frame pivotally mounting a tool frame. The tool frame is pivoted on the wheel frame between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position by operation of a cylinder assembly. The cylinder assembly is pivoted at one end to the tool frame. Its remaining end is connected to a bracket on the wheel frame. The bracket includes a slot, slidably mounting the remaining end of the cylinder. The slot is aligned along an arc centered on the pivot axis of the cylinder at its one end when the tool frame is elevated to the inoperative position. The slot is inclined upwardly toward this pivot axis as the tool frame is lowered to the operative position. An adjustment on the bracket enables positioning of the remaining cylinder end within the slot without changing the stroke length of the cylinder. The adjustment can be operated to raise or lower the tool frame in relation to the wheel frame, thereby changing the operating depth. Such adjustments will not affect the transport position of the tool frame.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A depth control for selectively adjusting the elevation of an agricultural tool relative to the ground surface in response to full extension or retraction of a cylinder assembly, comprising:

a tool frame;
a wheel frame mounting the tool frame for pivotal movement thereon about a first horizontal axis, the tool frame being movable between a first elevational position and a second elevational position;
a cylinder assembly;
first support means pivotally mounting one end of the cylinder assembly to a first one of said frames for movement about a second horizontal axis;
second support means mounted to the remaining frame;
pivot means mounted at the remaining end of the cylinder assembly for connecting the cylinder to said second support means about a third horizontal axis;
said second support means comprising guide means locating said pivot means along a path substantially aligned along an arc centered on the second axis when the tool frame is at the first elevational position;
and
adjustment means movable along an axis substantially aligned with the guide means and operably connected between the pivot means and the second support means for selectively locating the position of the pivot means along said guide means and for transferring an angular component of its movement between the frames about the first horizontal axis when the tool frame is at the second elevational position without affecting the position of the tool frame relative to the wheel frame when the tool frame is at its first elevational position.

6 more elements

A depth control for selectively adjusting the elevation of an agricultural tool relative to the ground surface in response to full extension or retraction of the cylinder assembly, comprising:

a tool frame;
a wheel frame mounting the tool frame for pivotal movement thereon about a first horizontal axis, the tool frame being movable between a first elevational position and a second elevational position;
a cylinder assembly;
a first bracket pivotally mounting one end of the cylinder assembly to a first one of said frames for movement about a second horizontal axis;
a second bracket fixed to the remaining frame;
an elongated slot on the second bracket substantially aligned along an arc centered on the second axis when the tool frame is at the first elevational position;
pivot means mounted at the remaining end of the cylinder assembly said pivot means being movably positioned along the slot for pivotally connecting the cylinder assembly and second bracket about a third horizontal axis;
and
adjustment means movable along an axis substantially aligned with the elongated slot and operably connected between the pivot means and the second bracket for selectively locating the position of the pivot means along the length of the slot and for transferring an angular component of its movement between the frames about the first horizontal axis when the tool frame is at the second elevational position without affecting the position of the tool frame relative to the wheel frame when the tool frame is at its first elevational position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Depth control for agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Depth control for agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9