Adjustable tillage implement positioning apparatus

Apparatus for mounting a rotary agricultural implement to a main frame of a tillage machine adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle, comprising:

• a subframe;
• first mounting means for mounting said subframe to said main frame for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle;
• second mounting means for mounting said implement to said subframe for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis;
• cushion mounting means connected to said subframe and including compression spring means for urging said subframe to a normal working position for said implement in relation to the ground being tilled thereby and characterized in that when said implement encounters an obstacle or ground elevation, said implement rotates in a first angular direction about said first axis to compress said spring means and when said implement encounters a depression relative to said normal working position said implement rotates about said first axis in a second direction opposite to said first direction primarily under gravity and without urging of said spring means, said cushion mounting means further including a strut member aligned with said compression spring means and including a plurality of mounting apertures along the length thereof;
• and
• hinged coupling means variably positioned along said strut member by means of one of said mounting apertures for pivotally coupling said cushion mounting means and said main frame whereby the downward force applied to said implement by said cushion mounting means during normal operating conditions may be varied and wherein said main frame includes a first portion rigidly coupled to said first mounting means and a second portion pivotally coupled to said hinged coupling means, said first and second portions connected by means of a shear pin and bolt combination with said shear pin breaking upon impact of said implement with an obstacle allowing the second portion of said main frame and said hinged coupling means to pivot about the first portion of said main frame by means of said bolt coupled therebetween.

Apparatus for mounting a rotary agricultural implement to a main frame of a tillage machine adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle, comprising:

• a subframe;
• first mounting means for mounting said subframe to said main frame for rotation about a horizontal axis tranverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle;
• second mounting means for mounting said implement to said subframe for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis;
• cushion mounting means connected to said subframe and including compression spring means for urging said subframe to a normal working position for said implement in relation to the ground being tilled thereby and characterized in that when said implement encounters an obstacle or ground elevation, said implement rotates in a first angular direction about said first axis to compress said spring means and when said implement encounters a depression relative to said normal working position said implement rotates about said first axis in a second direction opposite to said first direction primarily under gravity and without urging of said spring means, said cushion mounting means further including a strut member aligned with said compression spring means and including a plurality of mounting apertures along the length thereof;
• and p1 hinged coupling means variably positioned along said strut member by means of one of said mounting apertures for pivotally coupling said cushion mounting means and said main frame whereby the downward force applied to said implement by said cushion mounting means during normal operating conditions may be varied and wherein said main frame includes rotation stop means immediately adjacent said hinged coupling means for limiting the pivotal displacement thereof and thereby limiting the upward displacement of said implement during normal operation.

An apparatus for mounting and positioning a rotary agricultural implement on a horizontal mounting bar of a tillage machine, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second lateral arms rotationally coupled respectively to first and second end portions of said implement and pivotally coupled to said horizontal mounting bar for mounting said implement thereto;
• cross member means positioned generally parallel to said mounting bar for rigidly coupling said first and second lateral arms;
• support means rigidly coupled to said mounting bar and extending rearward therefrom;
• variable length strut means in combination with linearly compressible spring means connected to said cross member means for urging said rotary implement in a downward direction and in contact with the ground being tilled;
• and
• hinged coupling means for pivotally coupling said varible length strut means to said support means for selectively controlling the downward force applied to said implement by said variable length strut means and linearly compressible spring means combination and wherein the upward displacement of said implement is limited by the rotational impact of said hinged coupling means with said support means.

An apparatus for mounting and positioning a rotary agricultural implement on a horizontal mounting bar of a tillage machine, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second lateral arms rotationally coupled respectively to first and second end portions of said implement and pivotally coupled to said horizontal mounting bar for mounting said implement thereto;
• cross member means positioned generally parallel to said mounting bar for rigidly coupling said first and second lateral arms;
• support means rigidly coupled to said mounting bar and extending rearward therefrom, said support means including a first member rigidly coupled to said mounting bar and a second member coupled to said first member by quick disconnect means such that upon the severing of said quick disconnect means, said second member is free to rotate with respect to said first member;
• variable length strut means in combination with linearly compressible spring means connected to said cross member means for urging said rotary implement in a downward direction and in contact with the ground being tilled;
• and
• hinged coupling means for pivotally coupling said variable length strut means to said support means for selectively controlling the downward force applied to said implement by said variable length strut means and linearly compressible spring means combination with the upward vertical displacement of said implement forcing said hinged coupling means in rotation-limiting contact with the second member of said support means in limiting the upward vertical displacement of said implement during normal operating conditions and wherein the impact of said implement with an obstacle vertically displaces said hinged coupling means beyond said rotation-limiting position severing said quick disconnect means in providing for the free displacement of said implement.

Apparatus for mounting a rotary agricultural implement to a main frame of a tillage machine adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle, said main frame including a forward and an aft support member, said apparatus comprising:

• a subframe;
• first mounting means for mounting said subframe to said forward support member for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said vehicle;
• second mounting means for mounting said implement to said subframe for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis;
• cushion mounting means connected to said subframe and including compression spring means for urging said subframe to a normal working position for said implement in relation to the ground being tilled thereby and characterized in that when said implement encounters an obstacle or ground elevation, said implement rotates in a first angular direction about said first axis to compress said spring means and when said implement encounters a depression relative to said normal working position said implement rotates about said first axis in a second direction opposite to said first direction primarily under gravity and without urging of said spring means;
• and
• hinged coupling means variably positioned along said cushion mounting means for pivotally coupling said cushion mounting means and the aft support member of said main frame and for varying the downward force applied to said implement by said cushion mounting means during normal operating conditions.