FR2489080A1 - CONNECTION DEVICE FOR ATTACHING AGRICULTURAL MACHINES TO A TRACTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A CONNECTION DEVICE ALLOWING TO ATTACH AN AGRICULTURAL MACHINE 15, 15 TO A TRACTOR VEHICLE INCLUDES A CONNECTION PART 7 MOUNTED ON THE SUSPENSION 2 AT THREE POINTS OF THE SAID VEHICLE, AS WELL AS A SUPPORT SPRING 8 OF THE LADITE 15, 15 , SWIVELING THROUGH AN END 9 ON THE SAID PART 7 BY MEANS OF A VERTICAL AXIS 12. THE SPRING 8 TAKES SUPPORT ON THE GROUND BY THE INTERMEDIATE OF A SUPPORT WHEEL 30 SWIVEL AROUND A VERTICAL AXIS 36 AND IT CAN BE LOCKED ON THE SAID PART 7 BY A LOCKING DEVICE 16 INCLUDING A BOLT 17. LEDIT LONGERON 8 SWIVEL AROUND A HORIZONTAL AXLE 11 JOINT IN PIVOTING DUDIT VERTICAL AXLE 12 AND THE SUPPORT WHEEL 30 CAN BE ANGLED IN DIFFERULENT POSITIONS.

Description

1 2489080

  Connection device for coupling

  agricultural machinery to a towing vehicle.

  The present invention relates to a device

  connection to laterally couple a ma-

  agricultural china, especially a harvesting machine such

  the that, for example, a chopper or a

  but at the rear of a tractor vehicle equipped with a three-point type suspension, said device comprising a connection piece mounted on said three-point suspension, as well as a machine support beam, which, being able to pivot at one end on said connecting piece by means of a vertical axis, bears on the ground by means of a support wheel pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on said spar, the latter being able to be locked in its working position on said connection piece to

  by means of a locking device.

  In a known connection device of this type (patent application DE-OS 1 657 328), the bulky machine can, by pivoting the support beam

  substantially in the direction of movement, be favorable-

  transported on roads and paths so that it can be easily driven on narrow roads, being

  given that, in this transport position, said ma-

  china only protrudes slightly beyond the lateral limits of the towing vehicle. In this connection device, the locking mechanism consists of a vertical pin engaged in an eyelet secured to the connection piece when the support beam is held in place in the working position of the machine. This known connection device, however, entails risks of deterioration, both during the operation of the machine and during its transport, since an adaptation to different structures of the ground and of

  the road is impossible, and because the support beam

  port does not occupy an insured position in the transport position.

  The present invention therefore aims to--

  jet to perfect a connection device of the aforementioned type, so that the machine and its associated connection device are preserved from deterioration

  and excessive stress as well during operation-

  machine only during transport, without

  cease additional measures of realization nota-

  wheat. In accordance with the invention, to achieve this aim, in a connection device of the aforementioned type,

  the support beam can pivot around a horizontal axis

  zontal which accompanies its pivoting around the ver-

  tical; in addition, the locking device comprises a locked latch, when the machine is in the working position; with a vertical slide-shaped stirrup, and

  the support wheel can take different positions an-

gulear.

  Thanks to these measures, the machine can be adapted

  ted in service to uneven ground, while being pro-

  protected against damage also in the transport position, thanks to a secure position of the side member

  support; and said beam can, in the position of trans-

  also wearing, marry uneven ground without con-

drag.

  In order for the locking device to resist the forces which manifest themselves in the working position of

  the machine, even under rough operating conditions-

  lead, the lock may consist of a bolt that can be

  retracted parallel to the side member.

  be spring action, the stirrup being able to include

  an upper stop and a lower stop in order to

  miter the vertical pivoting of said beam.

  The locking bolt is simple

  can be retractable by means of a lever with two arms.

  In many cases the machine must be able to be moved in service a short distance above the ground. On the other hand, when transporting this machine on paths and roads, the support beam must

  ability to have as much ground clearance as possible

  sible. To meet these requirements, the support wheel can be adjustable in height by means of a hydraulic cylinder. This is possible without difficulty thanks to the fact that the support beam can pivot around its axis

  horizontal and be adjusted smoothly so that

  laying, both in working position and in position

transport tion.

  The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting examples and in which FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the

  connection device when the machine is in position

  sition. of work; Figure 2 is a plan view of said device, in the transport position; Figure 3 is an elevational view from behind of the front end of the support beam and the locking device; and Figure 4 is a corresponding plan view

in Figure 3.

  Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the front wheels.

  res 1 of a towing vehicle, the direction of movement of which is indicated by an arrow F.

  Reference 2 generally designates a suspension

  at three points, with pins 4 and 5 and an axis 6 used to receive the lower links and the

  upper link, respectively.

  On the three-point suspension, a connecting piece 7 is mounted on which is fixed a

  vertical pivot axis 12, supplemented by a horizontal axis

  pivot pivot 11 to form a Cardan joint to which a horizontal beam of

  support 8. The latter can pivot

  in a horizontal plane and, moreover, a pivotal

  substantially in a vertical plane, in which case

  l Horizontal pivot axis It accompanies said lanyard

  ron 8 in its pivoting in said horizontal plane.

  A working machine, generally referred to as 15, is mounted on the support beam 8. This machine 15 can be fixed removably on said beam 8, but the latter can also be integral with the chassis of said machine 150

  In the illustrated embodiment, it is

  git of a corn harvesting machine having bulky guide members 15 'and projecting widely forward. It could also be, for example, a harvester-chopper, as evoked by the configuration illustrated in phantom in the figures

1 and 2.

  Near an anterior end 9 of the length

  geron 8, a PTO connection 13 is arranged at a distance from the vertical pivot axis 12 chosen so that, when the spar 8 is pivoted

  in the working position, said connector 13 is located di-

  directly in front of the end of an articulated shaft 14 of the towing vehicle. On spar 8, near the

  suspension 2 at three points, there is a sliding bearing

  sant 18 relatively long and cooperating with a bolt

  lock 17 which can be moved in said pa-

  link 18 approximately parallel to the beam 8, being pushed by the force of a spring (not shown) towards the front end 9 of said support beam B.

  When the beam 8 is in the working position

  vail, the locking bolt 17 is engaged in a track or stirrup 21 having in plan the shape of a U

  (Figure 4), a head or a roller integral with said bou-

  lon 17 being guided against flanks 22 and 23 of said

caliper 21.

  As shown in Figure 3, the sides 22 and 23 of the stirrup have the shape of circular sectors, the

  center of the circumference corresponding to the axis of pivo-

11.

  During the pivoting movement of the support beam B, the head of the locking bolt 17 strikes in a vertical plane an upper stop 24 or lower 25,

  these stops limiting the vertical pivoting of the beam 8.

  To be able to easily retract the locking bolt 17 against the action of the spring, a

  double lever 19, secured to the bearing 18 by means of

  diary of a pivot 20, is connected by conformation, by its short end, with said bolt 17 and can

  be operated by its longest arm.

  As shown in Figure 4, the end an-

  9 of the side member 8 is forked, the ends of this fork having respective bearings 26 and 27

  which support the horizontal pivot axis 11.

  As shown in Figure 3, the connecting piece

  dement 7 has two bearings 28 and 29 which, superimposed and aligned and supporting the vertical axis 12, form a universal joint with the horizontal pivot axis Il

  in the example shown. However, the two axes of pi-

  vote could also be arranged at a certain

  distance from each other. In addition, it would also

  It is also possible to ensure the mobile assembly of the lanyard.

  ron 8 on the coupling part 7 by means of urm ball joint

  or a similar type of joint.

  In the vicinity of a posterior end 10 of the

  spar 8, a console 31 subject to said spar as-

  if the mounting of a ground wheel or support wheel

  30 adjustable in height. To this end, provision is made for

  sinks 32 which, forming a parallelogram, are actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 33. On these levers 32, a support 37 for the earth wheel rests, on which is mounted

a vertical axis 36 of said wheel.

  The support wheel is rotatably mounted in a frame having an upper plate 34, however on the support 37 there is a horizontal plate 38 parallel to said plate 34. Holes 40 and 41 are provided in the plate 38, while the plate 34 is pierced with a hole 35. When one of the holes 40 or 41 is brought into alignment with the hole 35, the support wheel 30 can be held in place in the angular position

  corresponding by means of a pin 39 (Figure 2).

  In the illustrated embodiment, the support wheel 30 consists of a trailed wheel, but the vertical pivot axis of this wheel could also be arranged so as to "cut" the horizontal axis

movement of said wheel.

  In FIG. 2, the support beam 8 and the

  machine 15 which is integral with it are illustrated in posi-

  transport tion. In the example considered, the pivot axis 12 is offset laterally to the left, which has a favorable repercussion in the fact that the bulky guide members 15 ′ of said machine protrude only slightly beyond the limits

  side of the towing vehicle in transport position.

  Furthermore, due to this lateral offset from the pivot axis 12, the end of the articulated shaft 14 or the connector 13 is easily accessible, from which it results

  that the connection can take place without difficulty.

  In the transport position, the support wheel 30

  pivots, thanks to its vertical axis 36, to an an-

  gular and is maintained in the latter by means of

  the pin 39, so as to be oriented in the di-

  rection of the displacement, so that the beam 8 and the integral machine essentially follow the tracks of the towing vehicle during transport. To maintain the position, an additional grab bar could be inserted with a corresponding clearance between

  the side member 8 and the connecting piece 7. -

  By means of the hydraulic cylinder 33, which can be controlled from the driver's seat, the rear end 10 of the support beam 8 can, by bearing on the support wheel 30, be raised so that the beam and the machine have a guard at

  sufficient soil, When traveling on ir-

  regular, the support beam can freely rotate alternately during trans- port and thus adapt to any unevenness on the ground. In this case, neither the connecting piece 7, nor the suspension to

  three points of the towing vehicle is not subject to any

  conch manner to undue hardship.

  In Figure 1, the beam 8 is illustrated in a position in which the machine 15 can perform

his work operations.

  To bring the machine 15 from its transport position (FIG. 2) to its working position (FIG. 1), the pin 39 is extracted from its associated holes 40 or 41 and 35, so that the support wheel 30 can pivot freely around its vertical axis 36. Next, the support beam 8 is pressed against the connecting piece 7, in which case the wheel 30, acting like a trailed wheel, adjusts itself in a way

  corresponding and supports said spar during pivoting-

  ment, so that it suffices to exert a small force to bring the beam 8, and jointly the machine 15,

  in the working position of figure 1.

  Before the beam 8 is fully applied

  that against the connecting piece 7, the bolt of ver-

  rusting 17 is retracted by means of the lever 19 at the

  against spring action, allowing a flap

  integral. When said locking bolt has been loosened

  wagered, his head penetrates under the action of the spring into the

  sort 21 in a U, so that this bolt is held in place by conformation in the horizontal direction, while being able however to carry out upward or downward movements up to the considered stop 24 or 25 in

  the vertical stirrup 21 in the form of a slide.

  The beam 8 then pivots around the axis ho-

  pivoting face 11, so that an ex-

  termination imposed on connection piece 7 or three-point suspension is excluded, even in position

A 2 489 080

  of work. In addition, the pivot axis 11 allows a

  adaptation of the machine 15 to the ground, in order to be able to

  ter the desired harvesting work in the most favorable way. To this end, the beam 8 can be lowered accordingly by means of the hydraulic cylinder 33.

  As seen in Figure 1, when the ma-

  china is in working position, the support wheel 30

  is again oriented in the direction of movement. When-

  that this wheel is designed as a trailing wheel, it has assumed this angular position by itself following a pivoting of the beam 8 from the transport position to the working position. Therefore, a subjection in

  this angular position, for example by means of the gou-

  pille 39, is not necessary. The wheel 30 supports a

  considerable part of the weight of the machine 15 and of the long

  geron 8 and, combined with the horizontal pivot axis

  11, it decisively relieves the connection piece

  dement 7 and in particular the three-point suspension

of the towing vehicle.

  In addition. as shown in Figure 2, even when the machine consists of a chopper "(configuration illustrated in phantom), this

  machine barely protrudes beyond the lateral limits

tractor vehicle rales.

  Instead of the locking bolt,

  Also use a swivel hook whose part

  tie hook retractable would then be engaged in

  sort. We could also consider other arrangements

  locking devices, on the condition that they are able to hold in place the side member 8 in the horizontal direction in the working position, but to ensure it

  freedom of movement in the vertical direction.

  Instead of a locking device, one could also use a steering bar - which,

  interposed between the side member 8 and -the connecting piece-

  ment 7, would allow a vertical pivoting of said lanyard

  ron 8 within specified limits, while prohibiting

2489080

  however substantially a horizontal movement of this spar.

  In addition, it would also be possible to equate

  per the support wheel 30 of a guide mechanism formed

  this, so that it is thus oriented in the direction of movement, both in the transport position

  in the working position of the machine.

  Of course, the locking device could also be placed between the PTO connection 13 and the joint 11, 12. However, for

  reasons of congestion and taking into account the constraint-

  te, it is advantageous to mount this locking device

  lage on the opposite side, as in the illustrated embodiment. The forces which, when operating the machine, act on the locking device in

  the horizontal direction, that is to say in the direction of movement

  identify, can be extraordinarily important if

  lon the soil structure. To be able to withstand equally-

  ment such extreme stresses, one could provide, for example, two locking bolts whose heads

  would be opposed and would thus ensure a double sou-

  yours in two corresponding stirrups, at a considerable distance. In this case, the bearing 18 can for example pivot around a horizontal bolt oriented in the

  direction of movement, so that the double lock

  ble either out of engagement and in engagement with the two opposite stirrups, in a substantially vertical position and

  in a substantially horizontal position, respectively-

is lying.

  It goes without saying that many modifications

  can be made to the device described and shown

  felt, without departing from the scope of the invention.

-if! 2489080

Claims (4)

  1. Connection device allowing   laterally side an agricultural machine, in particular a harvesting machine such as a chopper or a grass collector but, at the rear of a tractor vehicle equipped with a three-point suspension, said device having a connecting piece mounted on said   three-point suspension, as well as a support beam   port of the machine, pivotally mounted at one end on said connection piece by means of a vertical axis,   said spar resting on the ground by means of   re of a support wheel pivoting about a vertical axis   cal on said spar, and can be locked on said connecting piece in the working position thanks to a locking device, connection device characterized in that said support spar   (8) can pivot around a horizontal axis (11) accom-   pagnant said vertical axis (12) in its pivoting by the fact that said locking device [16) has a lock (17) which, when said machine (15) is in the working position, is engaged in a vertical track (21) slide-shaped; and by the fact that   said support wheel (30) can be adjusted in different different angular positions. -   2. Connection device according to the res-   dication 1, characterized in that the latch [17)   consists of a bolt that can be retracted parallel-   ment to the spar (8) against the action of a spring   goes out; and by the fact that the track (21) comprises a   upper stop (24) and a lower stop (25) limited   both the vertical pivoting of said beam (8).   3. Connection device according to the res-   dication 2, characterized in that the locking bolt (17) can be retracted by means of a lever il 2489080 (19) with two arms.   4. Connection device according to one which   conch of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that   that the support wheel (30) is adjustable in height by means of a hydraulic cylinder.