Three point hitch frame, draft arm and rear counterweight design

A work machine comprising:

• a three point hitch comprising:
• an elongate substantially straight first draft link having a mounting end portion and a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion, the mounting end portion being mounted to a first side of the work machine to allow upward and downward pivotal movement of the free end portion beside an upwardly and downwardly extending fixed structural element of the work machine;
• an elongate substantially straight second draft link having a mounting end portion and a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion thereof, the mounting end portion of the second draft link being mounted to a second side of the work machine opposite the first side to allow upward and downward pivotal movement of the free end portion of the second draft link;
• and
• a sway restrictor mounted on the free end portion of the first draft link and engaged with the upwardly and downwardly extending structural element so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly therealong during the upward and downward pivotal movement of the free end portion of the first draft link while restricting sideward swaying thereof toward and away from the structural element;
• a structural body disposed between the upwardly and downwardly extending fixed structural element and the second draft link;
• and
• the structural body having a recess defined by inner surfaces of the structural body and farming a geometrically shaped generally horizontal opening having an arrangement of tabs around the perimeter of an internal surface, the tabs configured to horizontally receive therein in a first configuration a correspondingly shaped counterweight, a first portion of the counter weight having a flange structure for sliding horizontally into spaces between the tabs of the structural body and the counterweight mounting to a first side of the tabs, and alternatively in a second configuration a rotary motor is mounted to a second side of the tabs opposite the first side, a shaft of the rotary motor extends rearward from the tabs and into the recess to drive an implement.

A work machine comprising:

• a three point hitch comprising:
• an elongate substantially straight first draft link having a mounting end portion and a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion, the mounting end portion being mounted to a first side of the work machine to allow upward and downward pivotal movement of the free end portion beside an upwardly and downwardly extending fixed structural element of the work machine;
• an elongate substantially straight second draft link having a mounting end portion and a free end portion opposite the mounting end portion thereof the mounting end portion of the second draft link being mounted to a second side of the work machine opposite the first side to allow upward and downward pivotal movement of the free end portion of the second draft link, and
• a sway restrictor mounted on the free end portion of the first draft link and engaged with the upwardly and downwardly extending structural element so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly therealong during the upward and downward pivotal movement of the free end portion of the first draft link while restricting sideward swaying thereof toward and away from the structural element;
• and
• a structural body disposed between the upwardly and downwardly extending fixed structural element and the second draft link, the structural body having a generally horizontal recess extending through the body and defined by inner surfaces of the body, the inner surfaces forming a geometrically shaped opening configured to interchangeably receive both a counterweight and a rotary motor to drive an implement, wherein the recess extends to an arrangement of tabs, the tabs configured in a first configuration for generally horizontal sliding engagement with a first connecting portion of the counterweight, the counterweight mounting to a first side of the tabs, and alternatively in a second configuration connection to a rotary motor, the rotary motor including a base having an outwardly extending base flange the base flange mounted to the second side of the tabs opposite the firs side, a shaft of the rotary motor extends rearward through the base flange, and into the recess to drive an implement.