US3789928A

US3789928A - Plough beam with spring mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3789928A
Application number: US00254964A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Nja
Original assignee: Kverneland AS
Current assignee: Kverneland AS
Priority date: 1972-02-01
Filing date: 1972-05-19
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05
Also published as: DE2226449A1; BE784214A; FI56296B; CA958582A; DE2226449B2; FI56296C; AT322250B; NO134354C; SE387817B; SU414765A3; NL7207257A; NO134354B; GB1352644A; ES403407A1

Abstract

A plough beam having a spring mechanism which permits, lateral sidewise motions in addition to motions up and down when encountering an obstacle.

Description

United States Patent [191 Nj Feb. 5, 1974 PLOUGH BEAM WITH SPRING MECHANISM [56] Referenees Cited [75] Inventor: Olav Njfi, Kvemaland, Norway UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assignee: Kvernelands Fabrikk A/S, 2,828,678 4/1958 Sokolik 172/709 X Kvemeland Norway GOdbCI$l1 3,517,748 6/1970 Fischer 172/705 X [22] Filed: May 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 254,964 Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pierce, Scheffler & Parker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 1, 1972 Norway 250/72 [57] ABSTRACT A plough beam having a spring mechanism which per- Cl 72/7l1 mits, lateral sidewise motions in addition to motions [51] Int. Cl AOlb 35/24 up d down when enccuntering an obstacle. [58] Field of Search... 172/705, 261, 264, 706, 707,

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEB FEB 5 i974 SHEET 2 [1F 4 PLOUGII BEAM WITH SPRING MECHANISM The present invention relates to a plough beam with spring mechanism which permits the plough to swing upwardly when striking an obstacle in its path.

Ploughs having spring mechanisms which give way when the plough strikes an obstacle in its path are to be found in many different embodiments which must be considered satisfactory when the instruments and tractors used are relatively light-weight.

However, a number of problems arise when the implements are above a certain size since it is not then sufficient that a plough springs upwardly when striking an obstacle. If the said obstacle is of such a type that the plough naturally attempts to pass the side in order to avoid the obstacle, a heavy tractor and rigid construction will yield very little in lateral direction, and the plough will be subjected to great strain in that direction if, in fact, it is capable of passing the obstacle by moving to one side. These strains increase further when the implement is provided with a plurality of ploughs arranged side by side,'since a plough striking an obstacle, which it were able to pass by a movement to one side, is not capable of guiding the other ploughs but, on the contrary, is guided by these during their passage through the soil. It has proved in many cases that inherent resiliency which is always present in a plough and plough beam is not sufficient for the necessary movements, and the result has been an unreasonably great water and tear on the ploughs and great strain on the plough beams, possibly with expensive damage.

The object of the present invention is thus primarily to provide a construction of a plough and plough beam such that the plough unhindered by adjacent ploughs and unhindered by a rigid construction can follow the proper path through the soil by being able to avoid obstacles in any direction whatsoever without incurring strains for which the plough construction is not adapted, and the suspension of the plough beam shall, moreover, be such that the plough after passing the obstacle reverts to working position and does not remain in raised inactive position as is the case with several known plough embodiments.

ln accordance with the invention, this is achieved in that the plough beam is provided with a linkage which permits movement of the plough in lateral direction and the plough can also be raised and lowered in known manner, whereby the plough can avoid obstacles in any direction.

The linkage is comprised of two members where one member is disposed, for example, on the three point suspension of a tractor or in an implement frame where this supports several ploughs, and the two members are maintained in contact by a spring mechanism which is sufficiently tight that the members are in complete contact when the plough works normally in good soil. When the plough strikes an obstacle, it will attempt to swing upwardly or to one side or in an oblique direction, and this movement causes the members of the linkage to swing away from each other with a corresponding increase of the tightness in the spring mechanismQAfter passing the obstacle, the spring mechanism will pull the two members of the linkage together, whereby the plough beam and plough are returned to correct working position.

In accordance with the invention, the linkage is further effected so that it has two predetermined pivotal axes so that the plough beam pivots about a horizontal axis when the plough must be raised in order to pass an obstacle, and pivots about a vertical axis when it is to swing to the side of an obstacle. Combinations of movements about these two axes permit movements of the plough in any direction whatsoever in order to avoid obstacles. By the phrase any direction whatsoever is meant any lifting of the plough in the vertical plane combined with any swinging of the plough to one side in the horizontal plane with resulting movements in direction more or less upwardly inclined to one or other side.

With tubular plough beams, there is the further advantage that the same spring mechanism may be used either on one-way ploughs or two'way ploughs, that is to say a plough with two plough shares and mould boards which are adapted to turn to the right or left respectively. The plough bodies are then disposed diametrically above one another about an axis of rotation for the plough beam. On a two-way plough, the righthand and left-hand plough will then be released by the same resistance, the spring mechanism and distance from the point of the plough to the pivotal axes being equal.

The invention thus relates to a plough beam which permits the plough to swing upwardly when striking an obstacle in its path, and it is substantially characterized in that the plough beam has a linkage which permits movement of the plough also in lateral direction and other directions which lie between movement in horizontal and vertical plane.

A further feature of the invention is that the linkage comprises two members which are maintained in contact by means of the spring mechanism, the said links being adapted to tip relatively, and it is also to advantage that one member of the linkage is provided with four balls which are disposed in each corner of an imaginary square, the second member of the linkage having recesses adapted to the balls, the said balls and recesses forming bearings for relative pivoting of the members.

A suitable embodiment is characterized in that the plough beam which projects from one part of the linkage is in the form of a tube having a rod for connection with the spring mechanism disposed therewithin.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the rod is connected to one member of the linkage and extends through the tube and, at its free end, is connected to a side piece which forms securement for one end of a pair of leaf springs, the other ends of which are rigidly connected to the tube.

A second embodiment of the spring mechanism is characterized in that a rigid rod which is connected to one member of the linkage extends through the tube and is connected to a lever between the ends thereof, the said lever being connected at its ends with the tube and the end of a spring respectively, and adjustment is possible in a simple manner in that an intermediate piece is provided between the lever and the end of the spring, the said intermediate piece being pivotally connected to the lever and spring for contact wtih an adjustable abutment on the lever. If, for some reason, a rigid plough is required, the spring mechanism can be left out, and the linkage is put out of action by means of a rigid rod which forms the connection between one member of the linkage and the free ends of the tube.

Even with a substantially rigid embodiment, it may be advantageous to provide a shock-absorbing body between the rod and the free ends of the tube, for example, resilient discs disposed between the end of the tube and a nut on the rod.

When the two members of the linkage can move as freely relatively as the case is when one member rests on four balls on the second member and, on movements upwardly inclined to one or the other side, it rests and pivots on only one ball, it is important to be able to guide the movements of the plough beam so that, on return movement, bearing is achieved on all the balls and, in accordance with the invention, this is achieved in that a member of the linkage mounted on the tube is connected to a guide adapted to prevent substantial rotation of the plough beam with the plough about the axis of the tube.

A suitable embodiment example of this guide is characterized in that the member of the linkage which is mounted to the tube has a straight end surface and the second member of the linkage has a rigid surface which is so closely adjacent the said end surface that this is guided and prevented from rotating to a substantial degree about the axis of the tube.

Other features and details of the invention will be clear from the following description with reference to the drawing where:

FIG. 1 is a two-way plough or alternating plough viewed from the side and effected in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is the same plough seen from above,

FIG. 3 illustrates, in greater dimension, how the linkage which permits the desired pivotal movement is constructed,

FIG. 4 shows the linkage viewed in perspective during a movement of the plough obliquely upwards to the right when regarding the implement from behind,

FIG. 5 is a second embodiment example of the plough beam viewed from above and,

FIG. 6 is a single rigid plough viewed from the side.

On FIG. 1, two ploughs 1 and 2 are shown mounted on a common plough beam 3. The plough beam is, with a linkage generally signified by 4, connected to a rotating mechanism for alternating ploughs or two-way ploughs, (not shown but known per se) and this turning mechanism is mounted on the hydraulic lifting means of the tractor. This mechanism ensures that one or other of the ploughs l and 2 is in activity so that the plough furrow is turned to the same side whether the plough drives in one or other direction over the soil. The plough beam 3 is provided with a spring mechanism comprising a first set of spring mountings 5, 5 (see FIG. 2) which are rigidly connected to the tube 3, a slide piece 6 to a

further spring mountings

7, 7, and between the

spring mountings

5, 5 and 7, 7, a pair of leaf springs 8, 8. Before the function of the spring mechanism is described in more detail, it is necessary to look further at the'linkage 4 which is illustrated in detail on FIG. 3. The linkage has two

main members

9 and 10 where member 9 in the shown embodiment example has four balls 11 which are placed in the corners of a rectangle. The second member 10 has correspondingly placed recesses or hollows 12 which fit the balls 1 1 and, in resting position normal working position, there is full contact between the balls 11 and the recesses 12 by reason of the spring mechanism which is now further explained. From one member 9 of the linkage, a rigid rod 13 extends rearwardly through the tubular plough beam 3, and the rod 13 is connected to the slide piece 6 (FIG. 2). The force exerted by the springs 8 maintains the two

members

9 and 10 of the linkage in firm contact with each other and thereby, also the plough in correct working position insofar as the resistance against the movement of the plough through the soil is below a predetermined magnitude dependent on the mechanical strength and shape of the plough. The spring force is, however, intended to allow movement of the plough 2 when this strikes an obstacle 14. When the said resistance value is exceeded, the leaf springs 8 will break out as illustrated in broken lines on FIG. 2, and in that the slide piece 6 and the rod 13 can then move in the tubular plough beam 3, the

members

9 and 10 of the linkage 4 can move away from each other as illustrated in broken lines on FIG. 1, whereby the plough 2 is raised in order to pass the obstacle 14 and pivots to one side as shown on FIG. 2, in order to pass the same obstacle 14. The movements up and down and to one side have been selected here as the outer limits of the movements and normally the movements will be results of greater or lesser components both in vertical direction and horizontal direction, and all such movements are permitted by the linkage in accordance with the invention. In order to illustrate this further, a situation is illustrated in perspective on FIG. 4, which has led to the plough having pivoted obliquely upward to the right on passing an obstacle. The spring 8 has yielded here, and the plough pivots on the ball 11 which is positioned at the top to the right-hand side on the member 9, the member 10 being free from the remaining three balls 11.

In order to ensure that the

members

9 and 10 of the spring 8 are brought correctly together after pivoting of the plough upwardly and to the side, that is to say that the balls 11 and recesses 12 are again brought together, it may be necessary to provide a guide which ensures this and, on FIG. 5, such a guide is illustrated in the form of a stationary bracket 15 along which the edge 16 (FIG. 4) of the member 10 is adapted to slide so that balls and recesses are brought correctly together when the plough, after passing the obstacle, pivots back to working position.

On FIGS. 1 and 2, a spring mechanism having two springs 8 is described, however, an embodiment having one spring 17 can well be envisaged as illustrated on FIG. 5. The rod 13 is connected here to a lever 18 which, at one end, is pivotally mounted to the tube 3 in the point 19. The lever 18 is further, at a point 20, pivotally connected to an intermediate piece 21 which, at its free end 22, forms a mounting for one end of the spring 17 the other end of which is mounted in a bracket 23. The intermediate piece 21 bears against an abutment 24, which is adjustable in that a bolt 25 can be screwed out of or into a threaded bushing 26. On adjustment' of the bolt 25 and thereby the abutment 24 for the intermediate piece 21, the spring 17 can be tightened to a greater or lesser degree and, in this manner, is regulated to a predetermined force which is to be exceeded when the plough must pivot over an obstacle in one or other direction.

The fact that the plough beam 3 is tubular and that the linkage 4 is held together by a rod 13 makes it possible in a simple manner to convert the plough to a rigid plough as illustrated on FIG. 6, when there is no need for the plough to pivot or move. A certain shockabsorbing effect can be achieved however, by inserting a resilient element, for example, in the form of spring discs as indicated at 27 on H6. 6. With a nut 28, the spring discs 27 are tightened to a sufficient degree that, for all practical purposes, the linkage 4 can be regarded as a rigid, non-resilient linkage and only on very great strain do the spring discs 27 yield.

The embodiment examples illustrated serve merely to explain the invention and form no limitation of the scope of protection of this patent since other embodiment examples may well be envisaged which will be within the scope of the invention; for example, in place of balls or semi-spherical balls, other bearing means are used between the two members of the linkage and, furthermore, a different number of balls than four may be used. Further, the spring mechanisms which seek to guide the plough back to working position after passing an obstacle, can be effected in suitable ways other than that illustrated herein, without being outside the scope of the invention thereby.

On the grounds of symmetrical construction of the linkage, the invention is particularly suitable for alternating ploughs or two-way ploughs where, on the same plough beam, two diametrically opposing ploughs are provided, and furthermore the movement possibilities of the plough make possible the use of the plough in multi-share ploughs, since movement of one plough in one or other direction entailing increased strain on adjacent ploughs or the suspension of the plough or the tractor is avoided.

I claim:

1. A ploughing implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor have a three-point suspension lifting mechanism on which is supported a rotating means for a ploughing implement, which ploughing implement comprises a ploughing beam;

at least one plough suspended from said ploughing beam;

a two-member linkage one member of which is operatively connected with the aforesaid suspension mechanism and the other member of which is operatively connected with said ploughing beam;

one member of said linkage having mounted thereon four balls arranged in a square, and said other member having four recesses adapted to fit said four balls, said balls and recesses forming four bearing members for the relative pivoting of said linkage members; and

a spring means operatively connected with said linkage to urge said two members into contact with each other;

said linkage being pivotable about a horizontal axis when the plough must be raised to pass an obstacle and also pivotable about a vertical axis for lateral movements of the plough.

2. The ploughing implement according to claim 1, characterized in that the plough beam projects from one member of the linkage and is in the form of a tube housing a rod for connection to the spring means lying therewithin.

3. The ploughing implement according to claim 2, characterized in that said rod is connected to one member of the linkage and extends through the tube and, at its free end, is connected to a slide piece which forms attachment for one end of said spring means the other end of said spring means being rigidly connected to the tube, said spring means comprising a pair of leaf springs.

4. The ploughing implement according to claim 2, characterized in that said rigid rod is connected to one member of the linkage extending through the tube and is connected to a lever between the ends thereof, the said lever, at its ends, being connected to the tube and an end of said spring means respectively.

5. The ploughing implement according to claim 4, characterized in that between the lever and the end of the spring is provided an intermediate piece which is pivotally connected to the lever and spring, for bearing against an adjustable abutment on the lever.

6. The ploughing implement according to claim 2, characterized by said rod is disposed in the tube as a rigid connection between one member of the linkage and the end of the tube.

7. The ploughing implement according to claim 6, characterized in that between the rod and the free end of the tube a shock-absorbing body is provided, for example, in the form of spring discs, disposed between the free end of the tube and a nut which is screwed onto the rod.

8. The ploughing implement according to claim 2, characterized in that the member of the linkage which is mounted on the tube is connected to a guide means preventing substantial rotation of the plough beam with plough about the axis of the tube.

9. The ploughing implement according to claim 8, characterized in that the member of the linkage which is mounted to the tube has a straight edge surface and a second member of the linkage has a rigid surface which is so closely adjacent the said edge surface that it limits the said rotation.

Claims

1. A ploughing implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor have a three-pOint suspension lifting mechanism on which is supported a rotating means for a ploughing implement, which ploughing implement comprises a ploughing beam; at least one plough suspended from said ploughing beam; a two-member linkage one member of which is operatively connected with the aforesaid suspension mechanism and the other member of which is operatively connected with said ploughing beam; one member of said linkage having mounted thereon four balls arranged in a square, and said other member having four recesses adapted to fit said four balls, said balls and recesses forming four bearing members for the relative pivoting of said linkage members; and a spring means operatively connected with said linkage to urge said two members into contact with each other; said linkage being pivotable about a horizontal axis when the plough must be raised to pass an obstacle and also pivotable about a vertical axis for lateral movements of the plough.