US 4,483,131 A · Tractor-mounted harvester

Abstract

A mounting and dismounting system for a rear-mounted cotton harvester or similar implement which permits the tractor to be removed from under the crop receptacle without utilizing a hoist or other large equipment. By attaching dismounting stands to the rear cross auger frame and to the rear lift frame assembly, the rear basket posts which normally are connected to the tractor axle can be lifted therefrom by extending the hydraulic cylinders connected to the rear lift frame assembly. The front basket support posts are unpinned from the forward frame of the basket, and as the rear basket posts tilt rearwardly, the basket is lifted to provide clearance in the forward direction. The tractor can then be driven out from under the basket. An extension hose is connected to the lift cylinders so that they remain connected to the source of pressure on the tractor as the tractor is driven forwardly. Once the tractor has cleared the basket assembly, the front basket posts are reattached to the basket and the pressure in the cylinders is released so that the basket tilts downwardly and rests on the posts for storage. The procedure is reversed for mounting the harvester.

Claims38

Dependent claims

In a tractor-mounted harvester having a crop receptacle mounted above the tractor on upright support members normally fixed to the tractor frame, a lift assembly connected for rocking vertically with respect to the upright support members, harvesting structure connected to and rockable with the lift assembly, and activatable power means connected to the lift assembly for vertically rocking the lift assembly and harvesting structure with respect to the tractor frame, means for lifting the crop receptacle from the tractor and providing a generally unobstructed path for the tractor in one of the fore-and-aft directions, said means for lifting comprising:

attaching means for selectively releasing the upright support members from the tractor frame;
stand means selectively attachable to the lift assembly, said stand means in the attached position extending downwardly from the lift assembly to a ground-contacting portion, and preventing substantial vertical rocking of the lift assembly when the power means is activated and the attaching means is released for rocking the upright support member and crop receptacle relative to the lift assembly between mounted and dismounting positions, wherein in the dismounting position, the crop receptacle is positioned away from the tractor path.

In a harvester adapted for mounting on tractor having axle-mounted wheels for propelling the tractor forwardly over the ground, said harvester including a fore-and-aft extending crop receptacle, first and second upright support members connected to forward and rearward portions, respectively, of the tractor for supporting the fore-and-aft ends, respectively, of the crop receptacle above the tractor, a lift assembly having a first end pivotally connected to the second upright support member for rocking vertically about a generally horizontal axis, rearwardly disposed harvesting means connected to the opposite end of the lift assembly for rocking therewith generally behind the tractor, and activatable hydraulic cylinder means connected between the lift assembly and the second upright support member for rocking the former with respect to the latter about the axis, means for lifting the crop receptacle from the tractor and providing a generally unobstructed path for the tractor in the forward direction, comprising:

bracket means for selectively connecting the second upright support member to and disconnecting said member from the tractor;
and
support means preventing the lift assembly from rocking with respect to the ground as the cylinder means is activated and causing the second upright member, when disconnected from the tractor, to rock in generally a vertical plane with respect to the lift assembly for rocking the receptacle therewith upwardly out of interfering relationship with the tractor in the forward direction.

A mounting method for a tractor-mounted crop harvester, wherein the tractor includes a fore-and-aft extending body supported for forward movement over the ground by axle-supported drive wheels, and wherein the harvester includes a fore-and-aft extending receptacle supported above the tractor body by front and rear upright support members connected to the body, a lift assembly rockably connected to the rear upright support members for rocking in generally a vertical plane aft of the tractor body, harvesting structure connected to the lift assembly, and operable power means connected between the rear upright support members and the lift assembly for rocking the lift assembly and harvesting structure between transport and field-working positions, said method comprising:

preventing substantial vertical rocking of the lift assembly as the power means is operated by attaching support structure to the lift assembly;
disconnecting the rear upright support members from the tractor body;
rocking the receptacle upwardly from the tractor body and out of interfering relationship with the tractor in the forward direction by operating the power means with the support structure attached;
and
driving the tractor out from under the receptacle in the forward direction.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tractor-mounted harvester

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Tractor-mounted harvester

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Abstract

Claims38