WO2017060575A1

WO2017060575A1 - Device for hitching an agricultural tool onto a three-point linkage of an agricultural tractor

Info

Publication number: WO2017060575A1
Application number: PCT/FR2016/000157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romain Ribo
Original assignee: Tracto-Lock
Priority date: 2015-10-09
Filing date: 2016-10-07
Publication date: 2017-04-13
Also published as: FR3042094A1; FR3042094B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for hitching an agricultural tool onto a three-point linkage (4, 6) of an agricultural tractor, including a hitching frame (7) and a hitched frame (9), each forming a gantry made up of an upper crossmember and two posts, and comprising means for relative locking of said frames, in the paired position of the latter, arranged at the lower ends of each post, and including at least one male locking member (25) supported by a flange (23) positioned under the base of the post of one of the frames {?}, and for each male locking member (25), a strike plate (81) positioned at the base of the post of the other frame (9). In addition, actuating means are suitable for moving each male locking member (25) between a retracted position relative to the base of the frame posts (7, 9), and an interlocked position in the associated strike plate (81).

Description

Device for coupling an agricultural implement to a three-point leveling system of an agricultural tractor

The invention relates to a coupling device of an agricultural implement on a three-point lifting system of an agricultural tractor.

As highlighted in particular by a report of the French Ministry of Agriculture in a collective work entitled "tractor-linkages agncote-agricultural tool" published in 2006, the operations of coupling and uncoupling agricultural tools on the devices of three-point lifting of agricultural tractors are very delicate operations to perform and are the cause of many accidents.

In order to solve these problems, a solution described in the patent application WO 2014/044932 consisted in producing a coupling device comprising two frames adapted to be secured respectively to the three-point lifting system of the agricultural tractor and to the tool. agricultural, each having two soles disposed at the base of said built and arranged so that each sole of the frame carried by the agricultural tractor comes to be positioned under the sole of the frame carried by the agricultural tool, so as to form; with the latter, a pair of soles consisting of a sole pierced with a hole of predetermined cross section and dimensions, and a sole comprising a centering element of decreasing section from a base section of dimensions and cross-section of this from the orifice of the other sole. Furthermore, this retaining device also comprises tilting means adapted to cause, in a position of partial engagement of the centering members in the orifices opposite, a relative tilting of the two frames in which said centering members constitute the pivot of said failover

Such a coupling device effectively makes it possible to easily carry out, directly from the driving position, the juxtaposition and the relative locking of the two hitching hinges, and thus fulfills the objectives of the invention described.

By cons, it turned out that this coupling device did not allow to hitch a towed tool such as a trailer on an agricultural tractor equipped with a hitch frame. Indeed, this hitch frame has a size such that it encroaches on the area covered by the drawbar of the towed tool, causing in particular risks of deterioration of said frame during some maneuvers of the agricultural tractor. Therefore, the hitch frames must be dismantled for the use of agricultural tractors to pull a towed implement.

In addition, it has also been found that adjusting the stroke of the tilting means of the frames proved very delicate when the tools consist of tools whose locking members on the hitched frame are relatively close to the ground.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and its main purpose is to provide a coupling device having the advantages of the hitching device described above, and overcoming the disadvantages of the latter, in particular allowing to hitch a towed tool on an agricultural tractor equipped with a coupling frame according to the invention.

To this end, the invention relates to a coupling device of an agricultural implement on a three-point reveraging system of an agricultural tractor having a longitudinal axis (x), comprising two frames consisting of a hitch frame with a fasteners for the three-point hitching system of the agricultural tractor, and a hitched housing with agricultural attachments adapted to extend transversely with respect to the agricultural tractor and the agricultural implement respectively, the hitch frame and the hitched frame having coupling members adapted to cooperate for the purpose of pairing these frames, disposed at the upper ends of said frames, and relative locking means of these frames in their paired position.

According to the invention, this coupling device is characterized in that the hitch frame and the hitched frame each form a gantry defining a front end pairing of the two frames, consisting of a top rail and two uprights, and comprising:

relative locking members of the two frames arranged at the lower ends of the uprights, comprising, for each pair of uprights facing said frames:

At least one male locking member extinguishing offset from the front face of a pair of frames, carried by a sole positioned under the base of the amount of the frame dh, so as to extend orthogonally partially protruding from said front face pairing. ● for each male locking member, a striker positioned at the base of the upright of the other frame,

and means for actuating the locking members in the paired position of the two pairing front faces, comprising means for moving each male locking member between an unlocked position where said locking member is retracted relative to there base of the amounts of the frames, and a locked position where said locking member is engaged in the associated strike.

(It should be noted that in the text and claims of the present patent application, the terms such as lower, upper, base ... are used considering the soil on which the agricultural tractor is based as a reference. analogy with the displacement tax of the agricultural tractor, is meant to define by longitudinal axis x, an axis perpendicular to the front pairing faces of the frames, and transverse axis y, a transverse axis parallel to the upper sleepers of said basts).

Against the design of the locking means of all current coupling devices, described for example in the documents CH 701 819, EP 1 103 171, EP 1 932.411, WO 2014/125466 ..., which comprise locks constituted bolts and strikers extend along a transverse axis (y), and locking means of these bolt / striker assemblies, the invention was to achieve original latching means:

designed to completely release the space of the frames located between the uprights of the latter, thus allowing the placing in place and the deflections of power transmission members of the type for example described in the patent WO2015 / 132481, and allowing in particular to hitching a towed or semi-mounted implement, motorized or not, on an agricultural tractor equipped with a coupling frame according to the invention,

- whose design and layout:

● do not generate a significant increase in the external jig of the frames,

● lead to avoid any interference between these locking means and the locking hooks of the lifting system three points of the agricultural tractor during the operation of this lifting system,

● lead, after locking the two frames, a rigid block that ensures the transmission of efforts between the agricultural tractor and the agricultural tool.

In order to perfect this rigidity of the block formed by the two frames, and according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the hitched frame comprises a bottom crossbar connecting the lower ends of the two uprights of said hitched frame.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the male locking members are secured to the flanges, and the displacement means of said locking members are adapted to move each sole relative to the base of the associated amount.

This arrangement makes it possible, in particular, to provide a space between the base of the uprights and the torsion soles of the relative tilting of the frames, thus ensuring the success of pairing and separation maneuvers said amounts.

In addition, the support flanges of the male locking members are advantageously positioned, according to the invention, under the amounts of the coupling frame.

The means of displacement of these. soles are thus mounted on the hitch frame and can therefore be directly powered without requiring a disconnectable connection.

For their displacements, the flanges may be pivotally mounted about a transverse axis (y), the displacement means being adapted to tilt around said transverse axis.

These means of displacement of each soleplate may also advantageously comprise, according to the invention, at least one guiding column secured to said soleplate and slidably mounted in a socket aoOdaire associated amount _* and actiormeur driving in translation of each column guidance.

In the paired and locked position of the two frames, the forces seeking each sole, that is soliciting the part ensuring the rigidity of the lower part of the block that form the said frames, are distributed on a number of corresponding anchor points to the cumulative number of organs males of: locking and guide columns, so that the resistance to the stresses of each sole is optimized.

Furthermore, each amount of the hitch frame advantageously comprises, according to the invention, a lower section defining a housing for a fixing member of said hitch frame to a locking hook of the three-point lifting system of the agricultural tractor.

In this case, the displacement means of each sole advantageously comprise, according to the invention, two guide columns arranged laterally on either side of the aforementioned housing, and an actuator positioned in the upper extension of said housing and connected to the two columns of the housing. guiding by a rod.

According to this principle, the relative locking means of the two frames are fully integrated into the template delimiting the two paired frames, and therefore do not constitute any obstacle likely to interfere with the movements of the drawbar of a towed tool and generate a increase the external jig of the frames.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, elastic means are associated with each guide column and adapted to urge the displacement of said guide columns to their locking position of each locking member.

In the event of a possible failure of the actuator in the locked position of the locking members, the locking is thus maintained by the elastic means which guarantee against any breakage of the coupling.

Furthermore, each sole has, in plan view, the shape of a U of longitudinal axis of symmetry (x1), comprising a core with respect to which each male locking member extends, and two wings defining, of the housing of the upright, a clearance recess of the locking hook positioned in said housing

In addition, especially with a view to optimizing the transmission of forces, each sole plate advantageously according to the invention two guide columns each extend on one of the wings of said sole, and two male locking members extending on the soul of the said sole symmetrically on either side of the axis of symmetry (x1). According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, one of the frames comprises, projecting from its front end of pairing, at least one centering pin of decreasing section, and the other frame comprises, for each centering pin, an orifice formed in its front end of pairing, section adapted to accommodate said centering pin.

These centering pins lead to perfecting the relative positioning of the frames in their paired final position and in particular, thereby preventing relative rotation movements between these frames around a longitudinal axis (x), thus avoiding subjecting said frames to shear forces.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mounted frame comprises at least two consoles spaced from each other and aligned along a transverse axis (y), extending in SaIHie relative to the upper rail of each way to form a square with your frontal face of pairing of said coupled frame:

Said brackets being formed so as to form an abutment for the upper cross member of the hitch frame when the two frames are paired,

said consoles and the upper crossbar of the hitch frame having respectively lower and upper flat faces forming contact faces arranged so that the lower faces of the consoles of the hitched frame rest on the upper face of the upper cross member of the frame; hitch in the paired position of said frames,

Each of said brackets and the upper cross member of the coupling frame comprising coupling members consisting of a centering member arranged projecting from one of the contact faces and having a decreasing section in at least two planes perpendicular to the said contact face and respectively parallel to the axes (x) and (y), to. from a base section and predetermined dimensions, and, for each centering member, into an orifice formed in the other contact face so as to accommodate the base of said centering member, and having a section and dimensions together with those of the said base,

In addition, according to this embodiment, tilting means of the hitch frame are adapted to generate a rotation of the said hitch frame about a transverse axis (y), so as to generate a tilting of (a top cross member of said hitch frame, on the one hand rearward towards the agricultural tool, prior to the beginning of the re-assembly of the three-point lifting system, and secondly forwards towards the agricultural tractor, during the re-assembly of the trofs-potnts lifting system, to cause, in the position of partial engagement of the centering in the orifices vis-à-vis, a relative tilting of the two frames in which said centering members constitute the pivot of said tilting

In addition, these tilting means of the hitch frame advantageously consist according to the invention in a jack arranged to form the central arm of the lifting system.

Furthermore, the hitching device advantageously comprises a multicoupler housing composed of two connection blocks each mounted on one of the frames and adapted to connect in the paired position of said frames, said connection blocks consisting of a male connection block Incorporating male connectors, and a female connector block incorporating female connectors. Advantageously according to the invention, with a view to the arrangement of this multicoupler housing:

one of the connection blocks is positioned on a bracket projecting from the upper cross-bar of the coupled frame, so as to form a square with the front face of the pairing of said pairing frame,

- the other terminal block is housed in the upper crossmember of the coupling frame,

said bracket of the hitched frame and the upper face of the upper crossmember of the hitch frame comprising slots arranged so as to allow the connection of the two terminal blocks,

● the terminal block, said fixed, disposed on the frame equipped with the centering members being held in a fixed position, and the terminal block, said mobile, disposed on the frame equipped with the receiving orifices being kept in the disconnected position by means said frame comprising means for moving said movable junction block to its connected position comprising a lever having an arm bearing against said movable junction block and an arm interfering with the trajectory of one of the centering members, so that said lever tilts and causes you to move the block mobile junction, * meeting the force exerted by the elastic means at the end of the stroke of said centering member.

According to this arrangement, the connection of the two terminal blocks is obtained automatically, at the end of pairing of the two frames, thanks to the tilting of the lever generated by one of the centering members, at the end of the race of the latter. Moreover, the separation of the two terminal blocks is also obtained automatically during the detachment, under the effect of the force exerted on the mobile housing by the elastic means urging the latter.

In addition, these elastic means advantageously consist according to the invention in a plurality of springs distributed under said mobile junction block so as to give the latter six degrees of freedom during its movements, and to facilitate obtaining a adequate relative positioning between the two terminal blocks, for their connection.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the coupling device comprises a movable stop resting on the upper crossmember of the frame coupled by elastic means adapted to retract beyond a predetermined force exerted by the upper crossbar on said movable stop, representative of a blocking movement of the movable terminal block.

This mobile stop prevents any deterioration of the male and female connectors during incorrect relative positioning of the two terminal blocks leading to an impossibility of connection between said male and female connectors.

In order to secure the connected state of the terminal blocks, the multi-coupler housing is moreover advantageously equipped with at least one locking hook of said terminal blocks in their connected position, each of said locking hooks being connected to the connection means. displacement of the male locking members, so as to be actuated at the same time as said locking members.

This securing is thus obtained by activating the displacement means of the male locking members, in the paired position of the two frames, and advantageously according to the invention, for its actuation, each locking hook is connected by a linkage to Faction neur of the locking organs. Other characteristics and aims and advantages of the invention would emerge from the detailed description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent by way of non-limiting example a preferred embodiment. On these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an agricultural tractor equipped with a coupling frame of a coupling device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial view on an enlarged scale of FIG. 1, mainly showing the coupling frame,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with partial cutouts of the end face of the lifting system of this coupling frame,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with partial snatchings from the end face of the hitch to the hitched frame, of this hitch frame,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an agricultural tool represented very schematically, equipped with the hitched frame of a coupling device according to the invention,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view with partial cutouts of the end face of the coupling of the tool, of this coupled frame,

FIGS. 7a to 7e are diagrams in longitudinal view showing the successive stages of the coupling of an agricultural implement and an agricultural tractor equipped with a coupling device according to the invention,

FIGS. 8a to 8c are half-views with partial detachments from the front coupling face to the lifting system of the coupling frame, represent the steps of closing the multicoupler housing,

FIGS. 9a and 9b are longitudinal views of the two paired frames, representing the steps of locking the closure of the multicoupler housing,

FIGS. 10a and 10b are partial views on an enlarged scale respectively of FIGS. 9a and 9b,

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of an agricultural tractor equipped with a coupling frame, and of a motorized trailer coupled to said agricultural tractor, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adapter for coupling the receiver shaft of your trailer to the transmission members of a coupling frame according to the invention;

- and Figure 13 is a partial view of the adapter shown without its cone nesting on the transmission members of a coupling frame according to the invention.

(For the sake of simplicity and clarity of the description, the coupling device according to the invention is described below by considering it attached to an agricultural tractor and an agricultural implement or a trailer resting on a horizontal self, the terms vertical, horizontal, lower, upper:., being used by reference to such a positioning, in addition the terms front, rear are used with reference to the direction of travel in the forward direction of the agricultural tractor).

The hitching device shown in FIG. 4 is a coupling device for an agricultural implement 3 on the three-point lifting system 2 of an agricultural tractor 1 having a longitudinal axis (x). lifting system including, in the usual way:

two lower arms such as 4 having one end consisting of a locking hook 5,

- A central arm (or upper arm) formed in the example of a hydraulic cylinder 5 shown in particular in Figure 11.

Ge coupling device consists, in addition:

- A hitch frame 7 adapted to be mounted on the lifting system 2 of the agricultural tractor 1, comprising a transmission member 8 for coupling said hitch frame to the PTO of said agricultural tractor 1 by means of a cardan shaft 110 shown in particular in FIG. 11.

- And a hitched frame 9 adapted to be mounted on agricultural routine 3 consisting of the example shown in Figure 5 in a rotary working machine known as the "rotovator", said hitch frame having a transmission member 10 for coupling said frame coupled rarbre receiver said agricultural tool.

First (fire, the hitch frame 7 has, seen from the front, a generally trapezoidal shape delimited by an upper cross member 11 having a flat upper face 11a constituting a flat contact face for the support of the hitched frame 9, and two uprights such as 12, said crosspieces and uprights further defining flat front faces, such as the end face 13, of pairing with the hitched frame 9.

This hitch frame 7 further comprises, projecting from its front end of pairing 13, two centering pins 14, 15 conically aligned along a transverse axis (y) and each positioned substantially at half height of 12,

In addition, each upright 12 comprises a lower section shaped so as to form a vertical clevis 16 housing a shaft 17 constituting the hooking member of the locking hook 5 of one of the lower arms 4 of the lifting system 2.

The upper crosspiece 11 has, for its part, a front end face relative to which extends a yoke 18 intended to house a transverse axis constituting the attachment member of the jack 6 of the lifting system 2.

This upper crosspiece 11 has, in addition _* projecting from its upper face 11a, two centering pins 19, 20 having, in the example, a cylindrical base 21 extended by a section 22 of conical shape.

The hitch frame 7 also comprises two soles

Iwrarontales 23, 24 extending partially under the base of each upright 12, in the lower extension of the yoke 16, and partially projecting from the front face pairing 13 of the hitch frame 7, so as to constitute a heel such as 23a on which extend vertically two locking pins 25, 26 aligned along a transverse axis (y).

Each of these flanges 23, 24 has, in plan view, the shape of a U of longitudinal axis of symmetry (xi), comprising;

a core 23a relative to which, symmetrically on either side of the axis of symmetry (x1), the two male locking pins 25, 26,

- Two wings 23b delimiting, directly above the housing 16 of the upright 12, a recess 23c of movement of the locking hook 5 positioned in said housing 16.

Each of these soles 23, 24 is, in addition, adapted to move in translation between: a low position corresponding to a so-called unlocked position in which the sole flange is positioned at a predetermined distance below the base of the upright 12, adapted so that the upper end of the locking pins 2S, 26 also extends at least substantially below the plane of said stud base,

- And a high position corresponding to a locking position in which said sole is flush with the base of the upright 12. and wherein the locking pins 25, 26 extend above the plane of said upright base.

In view of. this translation, each sole 23, 24 is associated with two guide columns 27, 28 secured to said sole, each in the vicinity of the end of one of the wings 23b, so as to extend vertically laterally from both sides other of the yoke 16, and mounted sliding inside sleeves 29, 30 secured to the upright 12.

In addition, this translation is generated by means of a cylinder 31 arranged vertically, whose rod 31a is coupled to a transverse axis 32 connecting the two guide columns 27, 28, relaxing above the yoke 16. In addition, each jack 31 is arranged so that the retracted state of said jack corresponds to the locking position of the sole plate 23, 24 actuated by said jack.

In addition, a spring such as 33 is mounted around each guide column 27, 28. between the bushing 29, 30 and a peripheral shoulder 34 formed on said guide column above this bushing 29, 30, says spring being adapted to be kept compressed between said shoulder and sleeve, in the unlocked lower position of the sole 23, 24 associated, so as to bias said sole to its locking position and to overcome a possible failure of operation of the cylinder 31 in the paired and locked state of the two frames 7, 9.

The hitch frame 7 is furthermore equipped with the female terminal block 35 of a multicoupler housing, comprising, in the example, four female connectors such as 36, between which is furthermore provided a bore of centering 37. This junction block 35 is housed and fixed in the upper cross member 11, in the extension of one of the uprights 12, facing a slot in the upper face 11a of said upper cross member. The coupling frame 7 also comprises, associated with the terminal block 35, two hooks 38, 38 intended to ensure the locking of the closure of the multicoupier housing, arranged transversely on either side of the terminal block 35 and connected by a hinge axis 40 (shown in FIG. 10b) extends, along a transverse axis (y), above said junction block.

In view of the rationing of these two locking hooks 38, 39, the hitch frame further comprises a linkage 41 connecting the hinge pin 40 to the connecting axis 32 of the two guide columns 27, 28 , adapted so that said hooks switch between an unlocked state obtained in the deployed position of the cylinder 31, and a locking state obtained in the retracted position of said cylinder.

The hitch frame 7 comprises, lastly, support members of a transmission member 8 for coupling said hitch frame to the PTO of said agricultural tractor 1, said member of. transmission consisting, for example, in a transmission member as described in the patent application WO 2015/132481 whose description is. considered an integral part of this application, and to which reference will be made for further information.

These support members are similar in design to those described in patent application WO 2015/132481, and comprise a cage 42, in the example of generally rectangular shape, inside which the coupling member: Θ is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis (z), in pivots such as 43 slidably mounted, each; along a transverse rod 44 fixed inside said cage.

In addition, springs 44a are mounted "around each rod 44, on either side of the pivot 43, so as to bias the latter towards a centered position in the middle of said rod.

The cage 42 is, moreover, mounted free to rotate about a transverse axis (y), in pivots such as 45 integral, each, with a sleeve such as 46 slidably mounted along a guide column 47 conferring a translational freedom of movement along the vertical axis (z) to the cage 42. Moreover, means for pre-positioning the position along the vertical axis (z) are adapted to allow the initial position of the cage 42 to be adjusted along the guide columns 47.

These prepositioning means comprise, for each bushing 46, a spring 48 mounted around a vertical guide column 49 positioned near the column 47 for guiding said sleeve, said spring fulfilling the function of a worm rotating inside cf a collar 50 mounted around the guide column 49 equipped with the spring 40, and threaded to include a thread having a pitch identical to that of said spring.

In addition, the collar 50 is extended by a radial plate 51 adjacent the socket 46, surmounted by a horizontal plate 52 adapted to rest on the upper face of said socket, and to be removably connected to said socket at means of a removable fastening system by pin 53.

This device is used to index the initial vertical position of the cage 42 along the guide columns 47 by means of the worm system consisting of the spring assembly 487 collar 50.

It also makes it possible to arrange the cage 42 in its pass position intended to make it possible to couple the coupling frame 7 to the receiving shaft of a powered towing tool by a simple withdrawal of the pin 53.

As the hitch frame 7, the hitched frame Q has, seen from the front, a generally trapezoidal shape delimited by two uprights such as 61, defining flat end faces, such that the end face 62 of pairing with the frame of hitch 7, an upper rail 63, and a lower rail 65 connecting the two uprights 61.

In addition, the upper cross member 63 of this hitched frame 9 has, along the longitudinal axis (x), a width greater than that of the uprights 61, so that it forms a bracket 64 having a flat lower face 64a. extending perpendicularly projecting from the end face of pairing 62, and constituting a planar contact contact face on the planar contact face 11a of the coupling frame 7.

This hitched frame 9 comprises, for each centering pin 14, 15 of the hitch frame 7, an orifice 66, 67 formed in its front end pairing 62, of section adapted to accommodate said centering pin. This arrangement leads to avoid relative rotational movements between the two frames 7, 9, about a longitudinal axis (x), and thus avoids subjecting said frames to shear forces.

In addition, each upright 61 comprises a lower section shaped to form a vertical yoke 68 housing two transverse axes 69, 70 superimposed forming the guide rods of a network 71 arranged to move along said axes on a corresponding stroke to the width of the coping 68.

Each of these baffles 71 constitutes a part of the house of the hitched structure 9 with the agricultural tool 3, and for this connection, 8 is pierced with an orifice 72 intended to house a connecting pin 73 carried by the agricultural tool. 3.

The upper cross member 63 has, meanwhile, a front lace back 63a relative to which extends a yoke 74 for housing a transverse axis 75 constituting the fastening member of the agricultural tool 3;

This upper crosspiece 63 furthermore accommodates, for each centering pin 18, 20 of the coupling frame 7, a hollow cylindrical bushing 76, 77 of internal diameter conjugated with the external diameter of the cylindrical base 21 of said centering pins, arranged to open at the two upper faces 64b and lower 64a of the console 64.

The hitched frame 9 also comprises two horizontal flanges 78, 79 forming the base of each upright 61 in the lower extension of the yoke 68, each of said flanges being pierced with two orifices 80, 81 aligned along a transverse axis (y). , adapted to each constitute a keeper for the locking system comprising the locking pins 25, 26 of the frame d ^! hitch 7,

The hitched frame 9 is, moreover, equipped with the male terminal block 82, mobile in translation along a vertical axis (z), of the multicoupler housing, comprising, in the example, four male connectors such as 83, between which extends, in addition, a centering pin 84, shown in FIG. 8a, adapted to coincide with the centering bore 37 of the female coupling block 35. This male terminal block 82 is housed in the console 64, in the extension of one of the uprights 61, facing a light formed in the lower face 64a of said console. This junction block 82 is, in addition, positioned on springs 85, 86 distributed under said mobile junction block so as to allow the latter to be displaced in vertical translation by compression of said springs, displacement during which this junction block 82 has six degrees of freedom.

The hitched frame 9 also comprises means for moving the terminal block 82 to its position connected to the terminal block 35, comprising a bent lever 87 pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis articulated in a yoke 88 positioned on the bracket 64. and shaped to present:

an arm 87a bears on the terminal block 82,

and an articulated arm 87b, at its free end, on a cylindrical slide 89 of conjugated external diameter of the internal diameter of the slats 76, 77, said slider being housed in one of said sleeves, so as to be displaced vertically by the associated centering pin 19, at the end of its travel, and causing the lever 87 to tilt, capable of causing the junction biocircuit 82 to move, against the force exerted by the springs 85, 86.

The terminal block 82 is also equipped with two fingers, such as 90, for hooking the locking hooks 38, 39, extending along a transverse axis (y) on either side of said terminal block.

The hitched frame 9 furthermore comprises a plate 91 forming a movable abutment held in abutment on the upper face 64b of the bracket 64 by two springs such as 92 each mounted around a rod such as 93, abutting between a head 94 formed at the end of said rod, and the movable plate 91, adapted to retract and allow a displacement of the plate 91 beyond a predetermined force exerted by the console 64 on said platen, representative of blocking the movement of the terminal block 82.

In addition, a sensor is positioned near the plate 91 to detect a possible displacement of the latter, and to generate a closing fault signal of the multicoupler housing.

The hitched frame 9 comprises, lastly, support members of a transmission member 10 for coupling said hitched frame to the receiving shaft of the agricultural implement 3, said said transmission member consisting of for example, in a transmission member as described in your patent application WO 2015/132481 to which reference will be made for more information.

These support members comprise a cage Θ5 and are identical to the support members of the coupling frame 7, and are therefore not described further in the present description.

The hitch frame 7 and the hitched frame 9 further comprise means adapted to allow the hitching of tools having a lateral offset such as for example a banqueteuse or a tool deployed transversely.

These members consist of a cylinder 55 mounted laterally on the left upright 12 of the hitch frame 7 _t so as to extend in a plane <x, z), free to rotate about an axis inclined upwards. an angle of the order of 30 ^* with respect to the transverse axis y.

These bodies consist, in addition, in line plate 96 whose upper edge forms a support track of the cylinder 55, said plate having the shape of a dihedron consisting of a wing pressed against the outer lateral face of the left post 61 of the mounted frame 9, and a wing 97 forming a centering ramp of the hitch frame 7 relative to said hitched frame 9

As shown in FIGS. 7a to 7e, with a view to coupling, the upper cylinder 6 of the lifting system 2 is at least partially deployed so as to tilt the hitch frame 7 towards the rear towards the tool agricultural 3, and your cylinders 31 are also deployed to position the flanges 23, 24 actuated by said cylinders in their unlocked low position. In this configuration, the agricultural tractor 1 is moved back (FIG. 7a) until prepositioning the centering pins 19, 20 of said coupling frame directly above the bushes 76, 77 positioned in the upper cross member 63 of the hitched frame 9. (Figure 7b).

Once this prepositioning has been obtained, the lifting system 2 is actuated so as to cause the hitching frame 7 to be raised, until a partial contact is obtained with the respective contact faces 11a, 64a of the upper cross-member 11 of the support frame. hitch 7 and the console 64 of the hitched frame 9, in which position (centering pins 19, 2Q are partially engaged in the sleeves 76, 77 vis-à-vis (Figure 7c).

The next step is to generate the relative tilting of the two frames 7, 9 by combining the retightening action of the system of retevage 2 and a rotation of the hitch frame 7 forward towards the agricultural tractor, resulting from a retraction of the upper cylinder 6 (Figure 7d) so as to cause a relative tilting of the two frames 7, $ in which the centering pegs 19, 20 constitute the pivots of said tilting, until the front landing faces 13, 62 of the two frames 7, 9 come into contact with each other, in which position your centering pegs 14, 15 are introduced into the orifices 66 _* 67 (FIG. 7e).

In addition, as shown in Figures _8a-8b> these coupling operations cause an automatic closing action of multicoupteur housing, e from an initial position of the male terminal block 82 in which the latter is supported by the springs 85 , 86 deployed (Figure 8a).

This closure occurs at the end of the recovery Te described above, tilting, relative to the two frames 7, 9, end of the centering pins 19, 20 inside the sleeves 76, 77.

At this end of the race, in fact, and as shown in FIG. 8b, the centering peg 19 associated with the bushing 76 housing a slider 89 causes said slider to move inside said bush, and causes the tilting of the lever 87, and the displacement of the terminal block 82, to meet the force exerted by the springs 65, 86, until the multi-coupler housing (FIG. 8c) is closed.

The following operations consist in locking the two frames 7, 9 in their paired position and in controlling the locking of the closure of the multicoupler housing 35, 82.

According to the invention, these two operations result from a single action consisting in the retraction of the jacks 31 between their deployed state and their retracted state.

In the first place, this retraction leads, indeed, to cause the displacement of the flanges 23, 24 until you obtain your locked position of the two frames 7, 9 in which the locking pins 25, 26 are housed in the strikes. 80, 81.

In addition, as represented in FIGS. 9a, 9b, 10a _and 10b, this retraction causes, via the linkage 41, pivoting of the two locking hooks 38, 39 connected by the hinge axis 40. between an unlocked position shown in Figures 9a and 10a and a position locked hooking fingers 90, shown in Figures 9b and 10b.

As shown in FIG. 11, the coupling device according to the invention is, furthermore, designed to allow, without dismantling the hitch frame 7 carried by the lifting system, three points 2, on the one hand , to harness a towed tool such as, that exempts a trailer 100, to an agricultural tractor 1, and secondly, to connect the receiving shaft 111 of this towed tool to the PTO of the agricultural tractor 3.

For this purpose, and firstly, the coupling member 8 of the coupling frame 7 is equipped with an adapter 103 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, comprising a clutch coupling member 104 adapted to cooperate with the jaw coupling member mounted on the hitch frame 7, of the typa described in the patent application WO 2015/132461, in the extension of which extends a splined shaft 105 for connecting said adapter with the receiving shaft 111 of the trailer 100.

This adapter 103 further comprises a male cone 106 interlocking on the coupling member 8 of the coupling frame 7, comprising in the example a fastening system comprising three longitudinal hooks such as 107 distributed on the periphery of said male cone, adapted to come hook each in a circumferential groove 108 formed on the transmission member 8, thus constituting a bayonet type assembly system.

In addition, this male cone 106 is secured to the transmission member 8 by means of butterfly screws such as 109 arranged to be screwed into longitudinal threaded holes such as 110 drilled in said transmission member.

Te) that shown in Figure 11, for the coupling of the drawbar 100a of the trailer 100 on the agricultural tractor 1, the reievage system 2 is positioned in its upper position to release the space under the frame coupling 7.

Moreover, in view of the connection of the receiving shaft 111 of the trailer 100 to the PTO of the agricultural tractor 1, and firstly, on the one hand, the transmission member 8 of the coupling frame 7 is connected to to the PTO of the agricultural tractor, and on the other hand the receiver shaft 111 of the trailer 100 is connected to this transmission member 8 with the interposition of the adapter 103.

In addition, in view of this connection, the cage 42 of the hitch frame 7 is arranged in its lower position by removing the pin 53, so as to minimize the angle formed between the PTO of the agricultural tractor 1 and the transmission member 8, and in particular to reduce the risk of premature wear of cardan joints.

Claims

1 / A coupling device of an agricultural implement (3) on a three-point retaining system (2) of an agricultural tractor (1) of longitudinal axis (x), comprising two frames (7, 9) consisting of a hitch frame (7) provided with members (17, 18) for fixing to the three-point retaining system (2) of the agricultural tractor (1), and in a hitched housing (9) with parts ( 71, 74) adapted to extend transversely with respect to the agricultural tractor and the agricultural implement, respectively, the coupling frame (7) and the hitched frame (9) having coupling members (19, 20, 76, 77) adapted to cooperate for the purpose of pairing these frames, arranged at the upper ends of said frames, and relative locking means (23-32, 78-80 ) of these frames (7, 9) in their paired position, said hitch being characterized in that the hitch frame (7) and the hitched frame (Θ) each form a gantry d defining a front face (13, 62) for pairing the two frames, consisting of an upper rail (11, 63) and two posts (12, 61), and comprising:

- Relative locking members (23-26, 78-81) of the two frames arranged at the lower ends of the uprights (12, 61), comprising, for each pair of uprights (12, 61) opposite said , built:

at least one male locking member (26, 26) extend offset from the front face of pairing (13) of one of the frames (7), carried by a sole (23, 24) positioned under the base of the amount (12) of said frame, so as to extend orthogonally partially projecting from said front lace pairing,

For each male locking member (25, 26), a striker (80, 81) positioned at the base of the upright (61) of the other frame (9),

and means for splitting (27-32) the locking members (23-26, 76-81) in the paired position of the two pairing end faces (13, 62), comprising displacement means (27-32), 32) of each male locking member (25, 26) between an unlocked position where said locking member is retracted relative to the base of the uprights (12, 61) of the frames (7, 9) * and a locked position where said locking member is engaged in the keeper (80, 81) associated. 2 / coupling device according to claim 1 characterized in that the coupled frame (9) comprises a bottom rail (65) connecting the lower ends of the two uprights (61) of said coupled frame.

3 / coupling device according to one of claims i or 2 characterized in that the male locking members (25, 26) are secured to the flanges (23, 24), the displacement means (27-32) of the said locking members being adapted to move each sole (23, 24) relative to the base of the associated upright (12).

4 / coupling device according to claim 3 characterized in that the flanges (23, 24) of the male locking members (25, 26) are positioned under the uprights (12) of the coupling frame (7).

5 / coupling device according to one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that the displacement means of each sole (23, 24) comprise at least one guide column (27, 28) integral with said sole and mounted sliding in a bushing (29, 30) integral with the associated upright (12), and an actuator (31) for translational driving of each guide column (27, 28).

6 / coupling device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that each upright (12) of the coupling frame (7) comprises a lower section defining a housing (16) for a fixing member (17) of said coupling frame on a locking hook (5) of the three-point lifting system (2) of the agricultural tractor (1),

7 / A coupling device according to claims 5 and 6 taken together characterized in that the means for moving each sole (23, 24) comprise two guide columns (27, 28) arranged laterally on either side of the housing (16), and an actuator (31) positioned in the upper extension of said housing and connected to the two guide columns (27, 28) by a rod (32).

8 / coupling device according to one of claims 5 or 7 characterized in that it comprises elastic means (33) associated with each guide column (27, 28) and adapted to sofficitar the displacement of said guide columns to their locking position of each locking member (25, 26).

9 / coupling device according to claim 6 characterized in that each sole (23, 24) has, in plan view, the first shape of a U axis of longitudinal symmetry (x1), comprising a core (23a) relative to which extends each mole locking member (25, 26), and two wings (23b) delimiting, in line with the housing (16) of upright (12), a recess (23c) for disengaging the locking hook (5) positioned in said housing

10 / A coupling device according to claims 7 and 9 taken together characterized in that each sole (23, 24) carries two guide columns (27, 28) each extending on one of the wings (23b) of said sole and two locking members (25, 26) extending on the web (23a) of said sole symmetrically on either side of the axis of symmetry (x1).

11 / coupling device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that:

- One of the frames (7) comprises, in sailSe relative to its front face pairing (13), at least one centering pin (14, 15) of decreasing section,

- Another frame (9) comprises, for each centering pin (14, 15), an orifice (66, 67) formed in its front end pairing (62), of section adapted to accommodate said centering pin.

12 / coupling device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that:

- Mounted hitch (9) comprises at least two brackets (64) spaced apart from each other and aligned along a transverse axis (y), projecting from the top rail (63). so as to form each a bracket with the front face of pairing (62) of said coupled frame:

The so-called consoles being formed so as to form a stop for the upper cross member (11) of the hitch frame (7) when pairing the two frames (7, 9),

said brackets and the upper cross-member (11) of the coupling frame (7) comprising plane faces (64a, 11a) respectively lower and upper forming contact faces arranged so that the lower faces (64a) of the brackets ( 64) of the mounted frame (9) rest on the upper face (11a) of the upper cross member (11) of the coupling frame (7) in the paired position of said frames,

● each of said brackets and the upper cross member (11) of the hitch frame (7) having coupling members consisting of a centering member (19, 20) arranged projecting from one of the contact faces (11a) and having a decreasing section in at least two planes perpendicular to said contact face and respectively parallel to the axes (x) and (y), from a base (21) of predetermined cross section and dimensions, and, for each centering member (19, 20), into an orifice (76, 77) formed in the other contact face ( 64a) so as to accommodate the base (21) of said centering member, and having a cross section and dimensions conjugate to those of said base,

- tilting means (6) of the hitch frame (7) are adapted to cause a rotation of said hitch frame about a transverse axis (y), so that. generating a tilting of the upper cross member of said hitch frame, on the one hand towards the rear in the direction of the agricultural implement (3), prior to the beginning of the reteving of the three-point lifting system (2), and on the other hand, in the direction of the agricultural tractor (1), when raising the three-point lifting system (2), to cause the centering elements (18, 20) to engage in the partial engagement position in the orifices (76, 77) facing each other, a relative tilting of the two frames (7, 9) during which the said centering members constitute the pivot of the said tilting.

13 / A coupling device according to claim 12 characterized in that the tilting means of the coupling frame (9) consist of a jack (6) arranged to form the central arm of the lifting system (2).

14 / coupling device according to one of claims 12 or 13 comprising a multi-component housing consisting of two terminal blocks (35, 62) each mounted on one of the bails "(7, 9) and adapted to connect in the position pair of said frames, said terminal blocks consisting of a male terminal block (82) incorporating male connectors (63), and a female terminal block (35) incorporating female connectors (36), said device coupling being characterized in that:

one of the terminal blocks (82) is positioned on a bracket (64) protruding from the upper cross member (63) of the hitched frame (9) so as to form a bracket with the front face of the pair ( 62) of said attached frame,

- the other terminal block (35) is housed in the upper crossmember (11) of the coupling frame (7), - The said bracket of the mounted frame (9) and the upper face (11a) of the upper cross member (11) of the coupling frame (7) having slots arranged to allow the connection of the two terminal blocks.

- The terminal block <35), said fixed, disposed on the frame (7) equipped with centering members (18, 20) being held in a fixed position, and the terminal block (82), said mobile, arranged on the frame (9) equipped with receiving orifices (76, 77) being held in the disconnected position by elastic means (85, 86), said frame comprising means for moving said movable junction block (82) to its connected position comprising a lever (87) having an arm (87a) bearing against said movable junction block and an arm (87b) interfering with the path of one of the centering members (19, 2Q) so as to that said rocker lever and causes movement of the mobile terminal block (82) to ^{against the force exerted by the resilient means (85, 86) in the end of said centering member race.

15 / coupling device according to claim 14 characterized in that the elastic means for holding the movable terminal block (82) consist of a plurality of springs (85, 86) distributed under said mobile terminal block so as to confer at this last six degrees of freedom during his travels,

16 / coupling device according to one of claims 14 or 15 characterized in that it comprises a movable stop (91) held in abutment on the upper cross member (63) of the coupled frame (Θ) by elastic means (92). ) adapted to retract beyond a predetermined force exerted by said upper cross member (63) of the coupled frame (9) on said movable stop, representative of a blocking movement of the movable junction bioc (82).

17 / coupling device according to one of claims 14 to 16 characterized in that it comprises at least one hook (38, 39) for locking the two terminal blocks (35. 82) in their connected position, each of said locking hooks being connected to the moving means (27-32) of the male locking members (25, 26) so as to be actuated together with said locking members.

18 / Coupling device according to one of claims 5, 7 or 8 and 17 claim together characterized in that each locking hook (38, 38) is connected by a linkage (41) to the actuator (31) of the male locking members (25, 26).