Implement with horizontal linkage depth control
AssigneeDMI, Inc.
InventorWilliam J. Dietrich, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agricultural tillage implement has a main frame provided with support wheels and carrying the first set of ground working tools. A first lift mechanism raises and lowers the main frame relative to the support wheels. A sub-frame, carrying a second set of ground working tools, is adjusted in height relative to the main frame by means of a second lift mechanism comprising a single rock shaft and four-bar linkage. Vertical frame extensions on the main frame and the sub-frame provide parallel links in the four-bar linkage to permit greater angular adjustment of the rock shaft and, hence, greater vertical adjustment of the sub-frame for a single rock shaft actuator.
Claims11
In a tillage apparatus adapted to be pulled by a vehicle, including a main frame adapted to carry a first set of ground working tools;
- wheel means coupled to said main frame for supporting and carrying said main frame;
- and first lift means coupled to said wheel means and main frame for raising and lowering said main frame, the improvement comprising:
- a sub-frame carried by said main frame at a location forward of said first set of tools;
- a second set of ground working tools mounted to said sub-frame, at least some tools of said second set being located forward of other tools of said second set;
- and a second lift means coupled to said main frame and said sub-frame for adjusting the height of said sub-frame, including a single rock shaft rotatably mounted to said main frame;
- power means coupled to said rock shaft for rotating it;
- and linkage means for mounting said sub-frame to said main frame and constructed and arranged to support said sub-frame while maintaining said sub-frame in horizontal disposition when said second set of tools are in working engagement with the soil, said linkage means comprising a first pair of generally parallel opposing links formed by a generally vertical frame extension of said main frame and said sub-frame respectively;
- and a second pair of generally parallel opposing links formed by a shaft arm rigidly attached to said rock shaft at one end and pivotally connected to said sub-frame at the other end, and a connecting link means pivotally mounted to said main frame vertical extension at one end and pivotally mounted to said sub-frame vertical extension at the other end.
A tillage apparatus, adapted to be pulled by a vehicle, comprising:
- a main frame having horizontal members extending substantially fore-and-aft and a main frame extension, said main frame extension extending in generally vertical orientation above and below said main frame members, said main frame adapted to carry a first set of ground working tools;
- wheel means coupled to said main frame for supporting and carrying said main frame;
- first lift means coupled to said wheel means and main frame for raising and lowering said main frame;
- a sub-frame coupled to said main frame and adapted to carry a second set of ground working tools, said sub-frame having a sub-frame extension, said sub-frame extension extending in a generally vertical orientation;
- and a second lift means coupled to said main frame and said sub-frame to adjust the working depth of a second set of ground working tools carried on said sub-frame, said second lift means including:
- a single rock shaft rotatably mounted to said main frame extension below said main frame horizontal members;
- hydraulic power means for rotating said rock shaft;
- at least one shaft arm rigidly mounted to said rock shaft at one end for rotation therewith and pivotally coupled at the other end to said sub-frame, said sub-frame substantially cantilevered rearwardly of said shaft arm;
- and link means pivotally mounted to said main frame extension with an axis of rotation in a generally vertically spaced position relative to said rock shaft and pivotally mounted to said sub-frame extension at the other end with an axis of rotation in a generally vertically spaced position relative to the axis of rotation of said shaft arm about said sub-frame, said link means extending between said main frame and sub-frame substantially parallel to said shaft arm, said link means including a turnbuckle to allow compensation for wear in the second lift means, rotation of said rock shaft effecting movement of said shaft arm, to raise and lower said sub-frame, said link means maintaining said sub-frame in a horizontal orientation through a four bar linkage movement with said shaft arm to allow multiple sets of ground working tools to be adjusted as to working depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.