EP0072831A1

EP0072831A1 - A coupling means

Info

Publication number: EP0072831A1
Application number: EP19820900576
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan-Henrik Lidgren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-24
Filing date: 1982-02-23
Publication date: 1983-03-02
Also published as: SE8101194L; WO1982002814A1; SE425538B

Abstract

Organe d'accouplement servant a coupler de maniere alternative des equipements transportes, remorques ou tires a un vehicule entraine par un moteur, par exemple un tracteur pourvu de ce qu'on appelle un bras elevateur a trois points. L'organe d'accouplement comprend un chassis d'accouplement (6) connecte au vehicule entraine, et un chassis (7) d'accouplement d'equipement relies aux equipements respectifs. Le chassis d'accouplement de vehicule est connecte au tracteur par l'intermediaire d'un organe d'attache superieur et par l'intermediaire de deux organes d'attache inferieurs pour les barres de traction (2) du tracteur. Des dispositifs hydrauliques sont prevus pour le reglage angulaire du chassis d'accouplement de tracteur 16). Un organe de crochet a verrouillage (16) est connecte a chacun des organes d'attache inferieurs, et des dispositifs hydrauliques sont prevus pour actionner l'organe de crochet. Un dispositif d'accouplement superieur (17) est dispose sur le chassis d'accouplement de tracteur (6), le chassis d'accouplement d'equipement etant pourvu d'organes (14, 15) disposes de maniere a agir de concert avec le dispositif d'accouplement superieur et l'organe de crochet afin de coupler l'equipement au tracteur d'une maniere fiable. Un systeme hydraulique qui comprend des organes de soupape sert a actionner les dispositifs hydrauliques. Conformement a l'invention, le chassis d'accouplement de tracteur (6) est connecte au tracteur au moyen d'un cylindre superieur (5) qui remplace la barre de poussee du tracteur et qui est connecte entre un point d'attache superieur (25) sur le chassis et le chassis du tracteur (1). Le cylindre superieur (5) fait partie du dispositif hydraulique de reglage, et un organe de tirant (10) pouvant etre verrouille dans des positions angulaires desirees dans le plan horizontal et vertical est connecte entre la partie superieure (26) du chassis de couplage de tracteur (6) et les barres de traction respectives (2).Coupling device used for alternately coupling transported, trailer or towed equipment to a vehicle driven by a motor, for example a tractor provided with a so-called three-point lifting arm. The coupling member comprises a coupling chassis (6) connected to the driven vehicle, and an equipment coupling chassis (7) connected to the respective equipment. The vehicle coupling frame is connected to the tractor by means of an upper attachment member and by means of two lower attachment members for the drawbars (2) of the tractor. Hydraulic devices are provided for the angular adjustment of the tractor coupling frame 16). A locking hook member (16) is connected to each of the lower attachment members, and hydraulic devices are provided for actuating the hook member. An upper coupling device (17) is arranged on the tractor coupling frame (6), the equipment coupling chassis being provided with members (14, 15) arranged to act in concert with the upper coupling device and the hook member in order to couple the equipment to the tractor in a reliable manner. A hydraulic system which includes valve members is used to actuate the hydraulic devices. According to the invention, the tractor coupling frame (6) is connected to the tractor by means of an upper cylinder (5) which replaces the tractor push bar and which is connected between an upper attachment point ( 25) on the chassis and the chassis of the tractor (1). The upper cylinder (5) is part of the hydraulic adjustment device, and a tie rod (10) which can be locked in desired angular positions in the horizontal and vertical plane is connected between the upper part (26) of the coupling chassis. tractor (6) and the respective drawbars (2).

Description

A coupling means

The present invention relates to a coupling means for alternatively coupling carried, towed or drawn appliances or implements to a tractor or some other driven vehiole provided with a so-called three-point lift, the coupling means comprising a vehicle-coupling frame connected to the driven vehicle, and an appliance-coupling frame connected to respective appliances, the vehicle-coupling frame being connected to the tractor through an upper attachment means and through two lower attachment means for the draw bars of the tractor; hydraulic devices for angular adjustment of 'the tractor-coupling frame; a locking hook-means connected to each of said lower attachment means; hydraulic devices for operating said hook means; an upper coupling device arranged on the tractor-coupling frame, said appliance-coupling frame being provided with means arranged to co-act with said upper coupling device and said hook means in a manner to couple said appliance and said tractor reliably together; and a hydraulic system which includes valve means for actuating said hydraulic devices. Such a coupling means is known substantially from the Swedish Lay-Out Print No. 390 516.

Tractors which are used, inter alia, for forestry and agricultural work are now often provided with so-called three- point lifts, i.e. a hydraulic lifting device operative to detachably connect carried and partially carried appliances or implements to the tractor. Thus, the appliances are connected at three locations, namely one upper location and two lower locations. In addition to such coupling means there is also found other coupling possibilities and arrangements, for example draw beams, hitching hooks, transverse coupling bars, coupling yokes etc. Thus, a plurality of coupling devices are known which are intended for coupling wagons, carts, implements and machines all with differing functions within the fields of agriculture, forestry and industry. There is a need for a single coupling means capable of being used for coupling all types of appliances and machines. Such a coupling means shall eliminate all manual coupling work, not least in view of the majority of accidents which occur when connecting and disconnecting implements and amchines to and from tractors. There is also needed an effective docking system between tractor, and appliance, with which the transfer of hydraulic oil and power from tractor to appliance will be effective at the same time as the appliance is coupled to the tractor. Such a docking system presumes that there is provided a unitary coupling for all kinds of equipments, machines and wagons.

These requirements are satisfied by means of the coupling means according to the invention, which is mainly characterized in that the tractor-coupling frame is connected to the tractor by means of a top cylinder which replaces the push rod of the tractor and which is connected between an upper connecting point on the frame and the tractor body, said top cylinder forming part of said adjusting hydraulic device; and in that a stay means capable of being locked in a desired angular position in the horizontal and vertical planes is connected between the upper part of the tractor-coupling frame and respective draw bars.

This construction is intended to function as a switchable locking means enabling the alternative coupling of carried, partially carried and towed or drawn appliances or implements to the aforementioned three-point lift. The object of the constructions is to provide a functional unitary coupling between tractor and appliance or wagon, in combination with the coupling frame desrcibed in Swedish Lay-Out Print 390 516 and standardized appliance frames for all appliances and wagons. The novelty of the new coupling means resides mainly in the stay arrangement together with the function of said stay arrangement in combination with the conventional three-point lift of the tractor, and a coupling means according to Swedish Lay-Out Prints 390 516 and 409 806. The arrangement enables the use of the three-point lift of a tractor to be expanded to include the coupling of towed carriages, wagons and appliances having their own wheel-carrying .axles, in addition to the coupling of carried and drawn appliances. The stay arrangement also makes it possible, in conjuction with a coupled carried appliance to steer the appliance laterally and to fix said appliance in a desired position. The arrangement can also be used in combination with the top cylinder to transfer the load from a coupled vehicle to the tractor.

In summary, the stay construction according to the invention enables the use of a three-point lift to be widened to include the coupling of a plurality of machines, appliances, carriages and wagons present on the market to one and the same coupling means, which in turn forms in this way a truly unitary coupling between tractor and the appliance, machine or wagon coupled thereto.

The coupling means according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to acconpanying drawings, which illustrate the function of a stay arrangement mounted between a coupling frame of the kind described in the Swedish Lay-Out Print 390 516 and two draw bars forming part of the three-point lift of the tractor.

Figure 1 is a side view of the element of the coupling means associated with the tractor;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same elements; Figure 3 illustrates said elements together with an appliance or implement provided with coupling means; Figure 4 is analogous with Figure 3, but illustrates a dif ferent appliance or implement. F-igure 5 illustrates another embodiment of coupling means on an appliance or implement; Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of appliance coupling means;

Figure 7 illustrates parts of the hydraulic system.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown the rear part of a driven vehicle, hereinafter called tractor, on each side of which there is pivotally mounted a lifting arm 3 whose free end is pivotally connected at 23 to a stay 4. The other end of the stay 4 is pivotally connected to a draw bar 2, one end of which is connected to the tractor body 1 by means of a pin 11, and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the coupling frame via a pin 18. The draw bar 2 can be raised via the arm 3, which in turn is operated by the conventional hydraulic system of the tractor. A hydraulic piston-cylinder device 5 replaces the mechanically adjustable top bar incorporated in a conventional three-point lift, and can be hydraulically regulated from the driving seat. The valve of the top cylinder 5 is shown at 21, and the cylinder is pivotally connected to the tractor at 24 and to the upper part of the frame 6 at 25. The coupling frame 6 is provided in the upper region thereof with a catcher hook 17, and in the lower region thereof with a pair of locking hooks 16, which are operated by cylinders 27 and associated valve 22. The coupling frame 6 is intended for coupling carried implements 8 (Fig.6) and partially carried implements and towed trucks and implements 9 (Fig.4) all provided with similar appliance-frames 7 (Figs.5,6).

Preferably, double-acting stay cylinders 10 are arranged diagonally between the coupling frame 6 and the draw bars 2, more specifically in the upper region of the frame at 26 and in the lower region thereof adjacent the draw bars 2, via an attachment 19. The cylinders 10 are moveably means for relieving the load on the conventional lift of the tractor, the coupling frame 6, when pulling trucks, wagons and towed implements or appliances, and is intended to fix the vertical position of the coupling frame 6 in a desired position, and to alternately guide the frame from right to left or visa versa. They are, on the other hand, neutralized when carried implements or appliances, i.e. the top cylinder is then activated in a known manner. The stay cylinders 10 can be replaced with mechanically functioning stays arranged to be locked in desired positions.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate respective appliances 8 and 9 coupled to a tractor. The appliance-frame 7 is normally fixedly connected to the appliance 8, as illustrated in Figure 6, while the appliance frame associated with towed wagons and implements or appliances having their own carrying wheel axles is moveably connected to the appliance, as illustrated in Figure 5, which means that the frame is connected to the wagon or appliance shown in Figure 4 so as to be moveable in both a radial and a horizontal direction.

In Figures 3 and 4 the locking hooks 16 are shown to be coupled to a locking means 15 on the appliance frame, while the hook 17 -is shown to be coupled to a locking means 14 on the same frame. In the Figure 4 embodiment, the reference 13 identifies a stay for supporting an fixing an appliance or a wagon 9 having its own carrying wheel axle.

When driving a carried appliance 8, which is coupled to the tractor via the coupling frames 6, 7 and the three- point lift of the tractor, the direction valve 20 of the cylinders 10 is switched to a flow position (position 4), the valve 20 being illustrated schematically in Figure 7. The top cylinder 5 is locked in a fixed position via the direction valve 21 in position 1. The three-point lift can then function normally, without being affected by the stay cylinders 10.

Under certain conditions, the stay cylinders 10 can be used to steer the lateral movement of the appliance frame 7 and the appliance, or to lock the appliance in this position towards the centre, with the aid of the direction valve 20 of the stay cylinders, positions 2-3.

When coupling and uncoupling appliance 8 and wagon 9 to the tractor with the aid of the coupling frame 6, the direction valve 20 of the stay cylinders 10 is set to the flow position, position 4.

The coupling frame and its function when coupling and uncoupling, for example, an appliance to the tractor is described in more detail in lay-out prints 390 516 and 409806. When the appliance soupled to the tractor is changed from a carried appliance to a towed appliance, the stay cylinders 10 act as supports between the upper part of the coupling frame 6 and the inner attachment 11 of the draw bar 2. Subsequent to coupling the appliance to the coupling frame and after the locking hooks 16 have locked the two frames 6 and 7 together, and subsequent to then placing the pull bar 2 horizontally with the appliance frame 7 , via the lift means of the tractor, the stay cylinders 10 are locked in the position obtained, via the direction valve 20, position 1. The top cylinder 5 and the hydraulic functions of the three-point lift are then placed in flow position via associated direction valves. The vertical loading point and pivot point of the towed or pulled vehicle (appliance) 9 is transferred to the pin 11 via the pull rod 2, resulting in a favourable load transfer from the towed or pulled vehicle to the tractor 1. Horizontal and radial movement of the appliance frame 8 is effected via the bearing point 12 and When the top cylinder 5 is activated to operate in a pulling mode, the pull or draw combination of three-point lift-stay-cylinders functions as a loading coupling, which means that load from the coupled towed or pulled vehicle, the appliance, can be transferred to the drive wheel of the tractor, thereby increasing the traction of the tractor. As will be seen from the coupling diagram illustrated in Figure 7, the piston-rod side of the cylinders 10 is connected to the piston side of a corresponding cylinder via a hydraulic line.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A coupling means for alternatively coupling carried, towed or drawn appliances or implements to a tractor or some other driven vehicle provided with a so-called three- point lift, the coupling means comprising a vehicle-coupling frame (6) connected to the driven vehicle, and an appliance-coupling frame (7) connected to respective appliances, the vehicle-coupling frame being connected to the tractor through an upper attachment means and through two lower attachment means for the draw bars (2) of the tractor; hydraulic devices for angular adjustment of the tractor-coupling frame (6) ; a locking hook-means (16) connected to each of said lower attachment means; hydraulic devices for operating said hook means; an upper coupling device (17) arranged on the tractor-coupling frame (6), said appliance-coupling frame being provided with means (14,15) arranged to co-act with said upper coupling device and said hook means in a manner to couple said appliance and said tractor reliably together, and a hydraulic system which includes valve means for actuating said hydraulic devices, ch a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tractor-coupling frame (6) is connected to the tractor by means of a top cylinder (5) which is connected between an upper attachment point (25) on the frame and the tractor body (1) and which replaces the tractor push rod, said top cylinder forming part of said adjusting hydraulic means; and in that a stay means (10) which can be locked in any desired angular position in the horizontal and vertical plane is connected between the upper part (26) of the tractor-coupling frame (6) and respective draw rods (2).

2. A coupling means according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stay means comprises a hydraulic stay cylinder (10) which is operative between said upper attachment point and respective draw bars (2) and which forms a further part of said adjusting hydraulic means

3. A coupling means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the appliance frame (7) is fixedly connected to a carried appliance (8).

4. A coupling means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the appliance is a wagon or an appliance (9) having its own carrying wheel axle, c h a r a c t e r iz e d in that the appliance frame (7) is connected to said appliance in a manner such as to be moveable both radially and horizontally.