Remotely adjustable sighting device for tractors

A sighting apparatus attachable to a tractor to enable a driver of the tractor to precisely align the tractor with swaths or furrows previously cut in a field by a farming implement towed by the tractor, said sighting apparatus comprising in combination:

• a. a first telescoping extension rod for extending outwardly an adjustable distance from a mounting point of the tractor in front of the driver, said first extension rod having first and second ends;
• b. mounting bracket means attachable to said mounting point for pivotally supporting the first end of said first telescoping extension rod, said mounting bracket means causing resistance to pivoting of said first telescoping extension rod in order to allow manual movement of said first telescoping extension rod to a selected orientation and causing said first telescoping extension rod to maintain that orientation;
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• c. first sighting bar means pivotally connected to the second end of said first telescoping extension rod for alignment with two points which lie along an edge of the previously cut swath or furrow to effect visual alignment of the tractor with the previously cut swath or furrow;
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• d. pivotal connecting means for pivotally connecting said first sighting bar means to the second end of said first telescoping extension arm, said pivotal connecting means causing resistance to movement of said first sighting bar means relative to said first telescoping extension arm.

A sighting apparatus attachable to a tractor to enable the driver of the tractor to precisely align the tractor with swaths or furrows previously cut in a field by a towed farming implement, said sighting apparatus comprising in combination:

• (a) a first extension arm for extending outwardly a variable distance from a first point of the tractor on which said sighting apparatus is attached, said first extension arm having first and second ends;
• (b) mounting means pivotably connected to a mounting point of the tractor for supporting said first extension arm;
• (c) first sighting means connected to the second end of said first extension arm for effecting visual checking of alignment of the tractor with an edge of said previously cut swath or furrow to determine whether said first sighting means lies along a straight line between an eye of the driver and the edge of the previously cut swath or furrow, said first sighting means including a sighting blade pivotably connected to the second end of said first extension arm, said sighting blade having a blade edge for simultaneous alignment with both the eye of the driver and two substantially spaced points on the edge of said previously cut swath or furrow;
• (d) first means coupled to said first extension arm for controlling the variable distance through which said first extension arm extends, a portion of said first means being located sufficiently close to a driver's seat of the tractor to enable the driver to operate said first means while the driver is in a normal driving position;
• (e) second means coupled to said first sighting means for effecting pivoting of said sighting blade to precisely align two spaced points on said blade edge with the eye of the driver and respective ones of both of said substantially spaced points on the edge of said previously cut swath or furrow;
• (f) pendulum means connected to said support means for maintaining said support means in a level orientation as the tractor tilts or is jolted as it moves over uneven or rough ground;
• and
• (g) damping means engaging said pendulum means for damping movement of said pendulum means relative to the tractor.