GB2166932A

GB2166932A - Adjustable plough offset or like arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2166932A
Application number: GB08528316A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Vernon Roge Dowdeswell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-17
Filing date: 1985-11-18
Publication date: 1986-05-21
Also published as: GB2166932B; GB8528316D0

Abstract

Offset and/or angular adjustment of a plough beam (1) of a plough such as a reversible plough is provided by parallelogram linkage (3) which carries the beam (1) from a tractor mounting support member (30). The linkage (3) is operated by linear actuator means such as ram and/or screw mechanism. Thus a ram (4) is shown acting diagonally between opposite links (31, 32) of the linkage (3) for offset adjustment of the beam (1) in a parallel manner whilst angular adjustment of the beam (1) relative to the linkage (3) and fore and aft axis X of the mounting support (30) is effected by the turnbuckle (5) which is connected by selective pivotal connection (51,53) between the linkage (3) and a rearward part of the beam (1). Alternatively the linkage (3) may be otherwise operated such as by ram and turnbuckle connection between the linkage (3) and beam (1) for offset adjustment together with angular adjustment of the latter. The linkage (3) may be also linked to push/pull rod operation of plough leg brackets (2) on the beam (1) for their automatic angular adjustment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable plough offset or like arrangement Theobjectofthis invention isto provide an arrangement of plough beam orframe mounting more especially of a reversible plough and actuating mechanism therefor whereby offset or side move mentofthe plough beam relative to the tractor drawing it can be readily adjusted to suit ploughing irequirementssuch as variation offrontfurrowwidth.

Afurtherobjectisto include provision wherebythe angle ofthe plough beam relative to the direction of travel or plough turnover axis can be varied for obtaining variation in the width apart of the furrows ploughed. These and other practical advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description.

Basically in accordance with the invention a plough offset or like adjustment arrangement is characterised bythe plough beam being carried by parallelogram mic linkage from a tractor mounting support member, actuating means being provided which acts on the linkageforimparting sideways movement to itso asto effect lateral movement of the plough beam relative to the mounting support member.

According to a furtherfeature of the invention the plough beam is angularly adjustable relative to the parallelogrammic linkage and fore and aft axis of the mounting support member e.g. for varying ploughing furrow width.

Practical examples ofthe adjustable arrangement areshown inthe accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a basic form of the arrangement.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are similar plan views of a developed arrangement showing different settings, and FlGURE4isa planviewofa modifiedform ofthe arrangement shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Like parts are referred to by the same orsimilar reference numeralsthroughoutthe drawings.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the plough beam 1 carries brackets 2 forthe legs of plough bodies (not shown) in the usual manner of a reversible plough and forthe purpose ofthis invention is carried by a parallelog rammic linkage 3 which includes a mounting support member 30 having a tubular bearing 300 which receives a horizontal shaft (not shown) extending rearwardlyfrom mounting support structure which in use is mounted from the rearofa tractor. Such shaft mounting ofthe support member 30 enables the plough beam 1 to beturnedoverforplough reversal purposes i.e. about the fore and aft axis X. The tubular bearing 300 may laterally offset on the support member 30 from the central position shown e.g. to the axis X'.

The linkage3 is oftrue parallelogrammicform so that on side movement opposite links remain parallel to one another and the plough beam 1 is moved or offset sideways maintaining the same angleto the fore and aft axis X unless such angle is varied as later described. Such offset or side shift adjustment effects variation of front furrow width FF i.e. of that furrow adjacent the furrowwall During ploughing.

The parallelogrammic linkage 3 is shown comprising a pair of side links 31,32 of equal effective length and pivotallyconnected between the mounting sup port member 30 and a rear cross link33 of equal effective length to the member 30. By a bracket 10 the plough beam 1 is pivotally connected to the linkage 3 i.e. atthe pivotal connection 13 ofthe side link 31 to the rear cross link33.

In orderto operate the parallelogrammic linkage 3 for this purpose actuating means in the form of at least one linear actuator such as a fluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram 4 a nd/or sciew means such as a turnbuckle, is pivotally connected in a diagonal manner between opposite end parts ofthe side links 31,32 at43 so that, in the example shown, on extension ofthe ram 4, the beam 1 is moved to the left and vice versa i.e. as viewed from thefront ofthe plough. If desired the ram 4 may be connected between the side links 31,32 in the opposite diagonal direction in which case extension of the ram 4 moves the beam 1 to the right, (again as viewed from the front).It isto be understood that other arrangements of ram or like operation ofthe linkage 3 may be employed to obtain required side movementofthe beam 1 such as those later described.

In orderto maintain the angle ofthe beam 1 a link 5 is provided between the linkage 3 and part or bracket 11 of the beam 1 lying rearwardly ofthe linkage 3. In the example shown the link consists of a turnbuckle 5 but may consist of a ram, and by the axial adjustment so provided the angle of the beam 1 can be varied relative to the fore and aft axis X forfu rrow width variation. Further adjustment can be provided in this respect by alternative pivotal connection points 51 to the bracket 11 on the beam 1 and at 53 on a lateral extension arm 320 ofthe side link 32.

With a combination of adjustment ofthe parallelog- rammic linkage 3 by the ram 4 and theturnbuckle 5 it is possible to obtain a correctfront furrow width FF and also ensure th at the plough is in alignmentwith the tractor linkage and fore and aft axis X ofthe tractor thereby keeping the line of draft correct against the rudder like action ofthe plough bodies astheyturn the soil.

Furthermore by selecting appropriate pivotal connection of the turnbuckle 5 at 53 the desired alignment ofthe plough with thetractorcan be automatically maintained as adjustment ofthe linkage 3 is effected by operation ofthe ram4andwithoutfurther adjustment ofthe turnbuckle 5 once the initial setting at 53 has been carried out. Selection of pivotal connection at 53 also varies the ratio ofthe angle ofthe beam 1 to the offset effected by operation ofthe linkage 3.

Aiternative pivotal connection atA', B', C' at 51 may correspond to the usual alternative hole location A, B, C of the leg brackets 2 at 22 on the beam 1 in effecting adjustment or setting to providedifferentfurrow widths Fwith an appropriate beam angle.

The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

In a development shown in FIGURES 2and 3the parallelogrammic linkage 3 is actuated forside movementofthe beam 1 by a ram 6 connected between the rear pivotal connection 332 ofthe cross link 33to the side link32 and a bracket 110 extending from the beam 1 at a point rearwardlyfrom the linkage 3. Connection by a turnbuckle 7 is also provided between the bracket 110 and side link 32 at 732 which link 32 is in the nature of a bell crank leverforsuch extended connection. The operation ofthe ram 6 in conjunction with the connection provided by the turnbuckle7 causes angular movementofthe beam 1 to take place as sideways movement is imparted to it bythe action ofthe linkage 3thereby altering both furrow width and front furrow width FF. (Compare Figures 2 and 3).

Axial length adjustment of the turnbuckle 7 enables the extent of angular movementofthe beam 1 to be varied i.e. as it is subjectto side movement and thus sets frontfurrow width FF whereas operation ofthe ram 6 varies furrow width F and front furrow width FF equally.

On such angular movement ofthe beam 1 the leg brackets 2 are automatically subjectto angular adjustment abouttheir pivotal mountings21 on the beam 1 by the action of a pushlpull rod 8 pivotally connected to them at 82 and also connected to the linkage 3 by a link again provided by a turnbuckle 9for adjustment purposes. The turnbuckle 9 is shown pivotally connected between the rear link 33 and a pivotal connection point 98 on the rod 8 although such connection may be coincident with that82 of the rod 8 to the adjacent leg bracket 2. Axial adjustment ofthe turnbuckle9 has a similareffecttotheadjustmentof turnbuckle 5 ofthe arrangementshown in FIGURE 1 in maintaining the plough in alignmentwith thefore and aftaxisXofthetractor.

lfdesiredtheturnbuckle7andlortheturnbuckle9 can be replaced by a corresponding ram as an adjustment linear actuator.

In FIGURE 4the arrangement is generallythe same as that described with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3 except thatthe positions ofthe ram 6 and turnbuckle 7 have been changed over but provide a similar action in obtaining side movement ofthe beam 1 together with its angular adjustment which can be varied by appropriate axial adjustment ofthe turnbuckle 7. Thus operation ofthe ram 6 in this case varies or sets front furrow width FF. This arrangement is particularly suited for hillside ploughing.

In addition to the considerable range of side movement or offset andior angular adjustment of the beam 1 which is obtainable the parallelogrammic linkage 3 and related mechanism is capable of simple and robust construction.

Claims

1. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement in orfor a plough is characterised by the plough beam being carried byparallelogrammiclinkagefroma tractor mounting support member, actuating means being provided which acts on the linkage for imparting sideways movement to itso as to effect lateral movement of the plough beam relative to the mount ing support member.

2. 2. A plough offsetorlikeadjustmentarrangement according to claim 1 wherein the plough beam is angularly adjustable relative to the parallelogrammic linkage and fore and aft axis ofthe mounting support member e.g. forvarying ploughing furrowwidth.

3. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement according to claim 1 or2 wherein the actuating means comprises linearactuator means such as at least one fluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram and/or screw mechanism acting between and/or on the parallelogrammic linkage.

4. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangeme,nt according to claim 3 wherein linear actuator mearis is provided acting in a diagonal manner between opposite links ofthe parallelogrammic linkage.

5. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the parallelogrammic linkage is pivotally linked to the plough beam rearwardlyfrom said parallelogrammic linkage.

6. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the pivotal linking of the parallelogrammic linkage to the plough beam comprises linear actuator means such as screw means and/orfluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram meansforobtaining offset adjustment ofthe plough beam relative to the tractor mounting support member andlor angular adjustment ofthe plough beam relativetothe parallelogrammic linkage and fore and aft axis of the tractor mounting support member.

7. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the linearactuator means providing said pivotal linking comprises fluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram means and screw means pivotally connected alongside one anotherfrom the parallelogrammic linkage or exten sionthereofanda rearward part or bracket of the plough beam.

8. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the pivotal linking has a selective pivotal connection with the parallelogrammic linkage or extension thereofand/or withthe plough beam.

9. A plough offset or like adjustment arrangement according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein the parallelogrammic linkage is linked to push/pull rod meanswhich is pivotallyconnectedto plough leg brackets pivotallymounted on the plough beam for automatically obtaining corresponding adjustment of the angle of each bracket to the plough beam on adjustment of the angle of inclination ofthe latter relative to the parallelogrammic linkage and fore and aft axis ofthetractor mounting support member.

10. A ploughoffset or like adjustment arrangementaccording to claim 9 wherein the linking ofthe parallelogrammic linkage to the pushlpull rod means is adjustably provided by a linear actuator such as a screw means orfluid pressure operated (e.g. hydraulic) ram means.

11. A plough offset or like adjustment arrange- ment in orfora ploughwhen substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 2 and 3 or Figure 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.