# US 4,393,596 A · Remotely adjustable sighting device for tractors

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,393,596 A
- Document ID: US4393596A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/204,454
- Filed: 1980-11-06
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1979-12-03
- Inventors: B. Lynn Gerber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4393596A

## CPC

- G01C 15/00: Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
- A01B 69/001: {Steering by means of optical assistance, e.g. television cameras (steering devices for road marking vehicles E01C23/163)}
- B62D 49/0614: {equipped with visual aids for positioning implements or to control working condition (optical signalling for vehicles in general B60Q1/26)}
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A sighting device for attachment to the hood of the tractor is remotely adjustable by a driver seated in a driver's seat of the tractor to enable him to visually align the tractor with a swath or furrow previously cut in a field by a towed farm implement so that a swath or furrow presently being cut by the farm implement is properly aligned with the previously cut swath or furrow. The sighting device includes a pair of opposed horizontal telescopic extension arms and a pair of pivot arms pivotally attached to respective outer ends of the extension arms. Each of the pivot arms is utilized as a sighting blade which is oriented so that, as seen by the eyes of the driver, the sighting blade is parallel to and aligned along the previously plowed furrow or the edge of the previously cut swath. The degree of extension of the horizontal extension arms and the degree of inclination of the pivot arms are independently controllable by means of a pair of momentary switches located near the driver's seat.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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 to the tractor, said sighting apparatus comprising in combination:
a. a first extension arm for extending outwardly an adjustable distance to one side of the tractor from a mounting point of the tractor, said first extension arm having an outer end and an inner end;
b. support means pivotally connected to the mounting point and also engaging the inner end of said extension arm for supporting said first extension arm;
c. first adjustment means adjustable by a driver seated in the driver's seat of the tractor for controlling extending and retracting of said extension arm from said support means;
d. first sighting bar means rotatably connected to the outer end of said first extension arm for effecting visual alignment of the tractor with the previously cut swath or furrow;
e. second adjustment means adjustable by the driver when the driver is seated in the driver's seat of the tractor for controlling rotation of said first sighting bar means, said first and second adjustment means being located sufficiently close to the driver's seat to be conveniently controlled by the driver while the driver assumes a normal driving position in the driver's seat;
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 the tractor 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sighting apparatus of claim 1 further including a second extension arm for extending outwardly an adjustable distance to another side of the tractor from the mounting point, said support means supporting said second extension arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pendulum means includes a weight suspended beneath said support means, said weight being sufficiently heavy to cause said support means to maintain the level orientation although the tractor tilts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The sighting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said damping means includes a first taut cord frictionally engaging said weight and means connected to the tractor for supporting said first cord and maintaining said first cord taut.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The sighting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said damping means includes a second cord tautly supported by said cord supporting means for frictionally engaging one side of said weight.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first extension arm includes a rack gear, and said support means supports a pinion gear for engaging the teeth of said rack gear, said pinion gear being included in said first adjustment means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sighting apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first adjustment means includes a cable means connected to said pinion gear for effecting turning of said pinion gear and a control actuatable by a driver seated in the driver's seat for turning a center element of said cable means.

### Claim 8

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; and
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; and
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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The sighting apparatus of claim 8 further including a second telescoping extension arm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The sighting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mounting bracket means includes means for effecting rigid attachment of said sighting apparatus to a steering column of the tractor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The sighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first telescoping extension rod is manually extendable to adjust the extension of the second end from the mounting point.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The sighting apparatus of claim 11 including a pivot ball attached to said first end, said mounting bracket means frictionally engaging said pivot ball to cause said resistance.

### Claim 13

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.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The sighting apparatus of claim 13 further including second sighting means disposed closer to the driver of the tractor than said first sighting means for effecting visual checking of alignment of the tractor with nearby portions of said edge of said previously cut swath or furrow, said second sighting means including third means aligned in linear relationship with said sighting blade, said third means having an edge for simultaneous alignment with both the eye of the driver and two other nearer, substantially spaced points on said edge of said previously cut swath or furrow, said sighting apparatus further including fourth means for aligning said third means in linear relationship with said sighting blade of said first sighting means.