CA1269878A - Implement hitch linkage for front mount mowers - Google Patents

Implement hitch linkage for front mount mowers

Info

Publication number
CA1269878A
CA1269878A CA000518125A CA518125A CA1269878A CA 1269878 A CA1269878 A CA 1269878A CA 000518125 A CA000518125 A CA 000518125A CA 518125 A CA518125 A CA 518125A CA 1269878 A CA1269878 A CA 1269878A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
implement
link
cross
hitch
support wheel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000518125A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lloyd Arnold Wykhuis
Michael Jerome O'neill
Ronald Keith Leonard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Deere and Co
Original Assignee
Deere and Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Deere and Co filed Critical Deere and Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1269878A publication Critical patent/CA1269878A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D49/00Tractors
    • B62D49/02Tractors modified to take lifting devices
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01BSOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL
    • A01B63/00Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements
    • A01B63/02Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors
    • A01B63/10Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements for implements mounted on tractors operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01HSTREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H5/00Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice
    • E01H5/04Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material
    • E01H5/08Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by driven elements
    • E01H5/09Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by driven elements the elements being rotary or moving along a closed circular path, e.g. rotary cutter, digging wheels
    • E01H5/098Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by driven elements the elements being rotary or moving along a closed circular path, e.g. rotary cutter, digging wheels about horizontal or substantially horizontal axises perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of clearing

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Harvester Elements (AREA)
  • Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
  • Automobile Manufacture Line, Endless Track Vehicle, Trailer (AREA)
  • Agricultural Machines (AREA)

Abstract

IMPLEMENT HITCH LINKAGE FOR FRONT MOUNT MOWERS
Abstract of the Disclosure A hitch linkage for hitching an implement to a front mount riding mower including a plurality of hitch arms detachably mounted to the lift arms of the riding mower. A cross-link is pivotally mounted between the hitch arms. The support struts of a support wheel are fixably mounted to the cross-link. A
cylinder selectively pivots the cross-link to raise or lower the support wheel. When the support wheel is lowered into ground engaging position, the support wheel is leading to the drive wheels of the riding mower during implement transport.

Description

l IMPLEMENT ~lITCH LINKAGE FO~ FRONT MOUNT MOW~RS
Bac~round of the Invention The invention relates to implements hitchable to a tractor, more particularly, to means of hitching an implement to a front mount riding mower.
The front mount riding mower is a low center oE gravity vehicle having front wheel drive and rear wheel steering.
Because of the riding mower's low center of gravity, short wheelbase and compact turning radius, the riding mower ofEers the user superior maneuverability during ground care operations. To facilitate the attachment of ground care implementst hitch arms are pivotally mounted forwardly on the riding mower for the attachment of implements, such as, a mower deck or snow thrower. In order to increase the work capability of the riding mower, it would be advantageous if larger implements could be attached to the mower. However, because of the increased weight associated with the larger implement and the cantilevered manner in which the implement is supported during transport, the riding mower becomes unstable having a propensity to pivot about the front drive wheels during implement transport. In order to stabilize the riding mower, it is known to attach weights to the rear of the vehicle. However, weights decrease the power output available to the implement during ground care operation.
5ummary of the _ vention It is an objective of the present invention -to present an implement hitch linkage for attachin~ an implement to a ront mount riding mower which linkage includes means of stabilizing the vehicle during implement transport.
The hitch linkage includes first and second hitch plates detachably mounted to an implement, such as a snow thrower. A
hitch tube is ~ixably mounted to each hitch plate. A cross-link is pivotally mounted at its ends to the hitch tubes. An implement support wheel is mounted approximately midway along the cross-link. In order to raise and lower the implement support wheel relative to the implement, a hydraulic cylinder is pivotally mounted to one of the hitch plates and to the cross~
link. The other ends of the hitch tubes are mounted to respective vehicle lift arms.

7~3 1 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying dra~ings and the appended claims.
_rief Description of t ~
FIG. 1 is a side elevated view of a hitch linkage in accordance with the present invention hitching a snow thrower to a front mount riding mower.
FIG. 2 is a side eleva-ted view of the hitch linkage.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the hitch linka~e.
FIG. 4 is a schematic of hydraulic circuit for activating the hitch linkage cylinder and ridin~ mower lift cylinders.
Deta led Descrlption of the Present Invention Referring to FIG 1, a front mount riding mower, generally indicated as 11, includes a frame 13 supported rearwardly by steering wheel 15 and forwardly by drive wheel 17 in a conventional manner. The vehicle's engine (not shown) and en~ine enclosure 19 are mounted on a rear portion of the frame 13 by any conventional means. An operator's station 21 is mounted to the frame forward of the engine enclosure 19. A
snowblower 22 is hitched to the riding mower 11 in a manner described subsequently.
Referring to FIG.'s 1, 2 and 3, to Eacilitate the a-ttachment of an implement, such as a snow thrower or mower deck, to the riding mower 11, it is known to equip the riding mower with lift arms 23 and 25 pivotally mounted in a transverse spaced apart relationship to riding mower frame 13 or other suitab]e riding mower component in a conventional manner. Lift cylinders 27 and 29 are pivotally mounted by any conventional means at one end to a respective lift arms 23 and 25. The other end of each of cylinders 27 and 29 is pivotally mounted by any conventional means to the frame 13 or other suitable riding mower component.
The cylinders 27 and 29 are oriented relative to the respective lift arms 23 and 25 so as to raise or lower the lift arms 23 and 25 upon selective actuation. Hitch tubes 31 or 33 are fixably mounted at one end of the respective lift arm 23 or 25 by any conventional means such as welding.
A conventional snow thrower 22 includes a rear mounting plate 39. The hitch linkage 40 includes hitch plates 42 fixably mounted by any conventional means, such as by nut and bolt arrangements 44, to the mounting plate 39. A first hitch , ~ - 2 -~2~
1 ~rm 46 is fixably mounted at one end b~ any conventional means to one of the hitch plates 42 b~ any conventional means such as by nut and bolt arrangements 48. The other end oE hitch arm 46 is slidably received and detachably mounted in the mounting tube 31 by any conventional means such as by conventional nut and bolt arrangements 50. In like manner, a second hitch arm 52 is fixably mounted at one end to the other hitch plate 42 and at its other end is slidably received and detachably mounted in mounting tube 33 by any conventional means such as by conventional nut and bolt arrangements 54. A cross~link 56 is pivotally mounted at its ends to the hitch arms by any conventional means such as by a conventional hinge pin and boss arrangement 58.
One of the hitch plates 42 has fixably mounted thereto by any conventional means such as by welding, a respective end of elongated tabs 60. F:ixably mounted by any conventional means such as welding to the free ends of elongated tabs 60 is a boss 62. A hydraulic cylinder 64 is pivotally mounted at one end to the boss 62 by any conventional means such as by pin 66. The rod 63 of the cylinder 64 is pivotally mounted to cross-link 56 at a point in space relationship to the pivot axis o:E the cross-link hinge pin and boss arrangements 5~. The spaced relationship between the hinge pin and boss arranyements 5~ and the cylinder arm 63 mounting location to cross-link 56 is such to cause the ceoss-link to pivot i.n response to displacement of cylinder arm 63. Fi~ably mounted to the cross-link 56 approximately midway therealong by any conventional means are the struts 68 of a conventional support wheel 70.
Referring more particularly to FIG.'s 2, 3 and 4, placing control valve 72 in a first position causes the cylinders 27 and 29 to lower the lift arms 23 and 25 thereby lowering the snow blower via hitch linkage 40. In addition, rod 63 of cylinder 64 is displaced causing cross-link 56 to pivot the support wheel 70 to assume a raised position (shown in Phantom in FIG. 2). In a second position, the control valve 72 causes the cylinder 27 and 29 to raise the lift arms 23 and 25 thereby raising the snow blower 22 via hitch linkage ~0. Also, when the control valve 72 occupies the second position, the rod 63 d.isplaces to pivot the cross-link 56 lowering the support wheel in a ground engaging position. It should be noted that in the ground engaging 1 osition of the support wheel, the weight of the snow blower 22 is carried by the support wheel, which has a positive effect on vehicle stability and steering traction. It should be further noted that the point of ground engagement of support wheel 68 is slightly leading to the point oE yround engagement of the drive wheels 14. The relationship between the points of ground engagement between the drive wheels 14 and suppoet wheel 70 permits the use of a noncastering support wheel 70 which has a cost benefit and which eliminates binding consideration associated with caster wheels.
While the forms of apparatus herein described consti-tute a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without 1~ department from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

~ 4 -~.i

Claims (11)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A hitch linkage for hitching a ground engaging implement to a vehicle having front drive wheels and rear steering wheels, said vehicle having a plurality of lift arms each pivotally mounted at one end to said vehicle and means for raising and lowering said lift arms, the hitch linkage comprising:
a plurality of hitch arms each operatively connected at one end to said implement and at the other end to a respective one of said lift arms;
a cross-link rotatably mounted between said hitch arms at a position forward of said vehicle between the vehicle and implement;
a pair of support struts operatively connected to said cross-link and having a single support wheel for transferring weight from said front drive wheels to said rear steering wheels rotatably mounted therebetween;
a cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said cross-link at a point remote from the axis of rotation of said cross-link;
and means for pivotally mounting the other end of said cylinder in fixed location relative to said hitch arms whereby said cylinder selectively pivots said cross-link to a first position raising said support wheel or to a second implement carrying position lowering said support wheel to a ground engaging position at a point slightly forward of and in close proximity to said drive wheels point of ground engagement for stabilizing said vehicle about the axis of said drive wheels.
2. A hitch linkage for hitching an implement to a front mount mower having front drive wheels and rear steering wheels, said front mount mower having a plurality of lift arms pivotally mounted to and extending forwardly therefrom, and means for selectively raising and lowering said lift arms, said hitch linkage comprising:
a plurality of hitch arms each operatively connected at one of its ends to a respective one of said lift arms;
a plurality of hitch plates operatively connected to said implement, the other end of each of said hitch arms being operatively connected to a respective one of said hitch plates;

a cross-link rotatably mounted between said hitch arms at a position forward of said mower between the implement and the mower;
a pair of support struts operatively connected to said cross-link and having a single support wheel rotatably mounted therebetween; and a cylinder means having opposite ends pivotally mounted at one end to said cross-link and pivotally mounted at its other end to one of said hitch plates, for selectively pivoting said cross-link to lower said support wheel into ground engagement whereby said support wheel engages a support surface at a point slightly forward of and in close proximity to a point where said drive wheels engage said support surface such that said support wheel does not substantially interfere with the turning ability of said mower when said support wheel is engaging said support surface.
3. A mechanism for attaching an implement to the front end of a vehicle having front powering wheels and rear steering wheels normally contacting a support surface, at least two pivotably mounted lift arms and means for raising and lowering said lift arms; said mechanism comprising:
means for operatively connecting said implement to said lift arms; and means, including a single support wheel and a cylinder means operatively connected to said implement connection means, for selectively supporting the weight of said implement when said implement is in a raised position such that said rear steering wheels operatively maintain contact with the support surface and said weight support means contacts said support surface slightly forward of the point said powering wheels contact said support surface such that a portion of said implement's weight is transferred to said powering wheels and said support wheel does not materially affect said vehicle's ability to turn.
4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said securing means further comprises:
at least two hitch arms each operatively, rigidly secured to said lift arms.
5. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said selectively supporting means further comprises:

a cross-link rotatably mounted at a position between said hitch arms parallel to said front powering wheels and between said implement and said powering wheels;
at least two support struts rigidly connected to said cross-link; and a support wheel operatively assembled between said support struts and being oriented such that said support wheel contacts said support surface slightly forward of said powering wheels and rotates parallel to said powering wheels thereby providing three-point contact with said support surface.
6. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said selectively supporting means further comprises:
means, operatively connected to said cross-link and said implement, for raising said support wheel out of contact with said support surface as said implement is lowered by said lift arms into contact with said support surface.
7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said support wheel raising means further comprises:
a control valve having at least two positions;
means, connecting said vehicle to said support wheel raising means, for displacing a cylinder rod such that said cross-link pivots said support wheel into a raised position and for displacing said cylinder rod such that said cross-link pivots said support wheel into a position engaging said support surface.
8. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said selectively supporting means further comprises:
means, operatively connected to said cross-link and said implement, for lowering said support wheel into contact with said support surface as said implement is being raised by said lift arms out of contact with said support surface.
9. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said selectively supporting means further comprises:
a hydraulic system having a control valve and at least three hydraulic cylinders.
10. The mechanism of claim 9 wherein said hydraulic system further comprises:
means, operatively connected to said cross-link and said implement, for selectively raising said support wheel out of contact with said support surface as said implement is lowered by said lift arms into contact with said support surface, and for lowering said support wheel into contact with said support surface as said implement is being raised out of contact with said support surface.
11. A mechanism for attaching an implement to the front end of a vehicle, having front powering wheels, rear steering wheels, at least two pivotally mounted lift arms and means for raising and lowering said lift arms, said mechanism comprising:
at least two hitch arms each operatively connected to said lift arms;
a cross-link rotatably mounted at a position between said hitch arms parallel to said front powering wheels and between said implement and said powering wheels;
at least two support struts operatively connected to said cross-link;
a single support wheel operatively assembled between said support struts and in a first position contacting a support surface slightly forward and in close proximity to said powering wheels such that the effect of said support wheel upon the turning ability of said vehicle is minimized; and means, operatively connected to said cross link and said implement, for allowing said support wheel to move from said first position as said implement is lowered by said lift arms into contact with said support surface.
CA000518125A 1985-09-16 1986-09-12 Implement hitch linkage for front mount mowers Expired - Lifetime CA1269878A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US76794785A 1985-09-16 1985-09-16
US767,947 1985-09-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1269878A true CA1269878A (en) 1990-06-05

Family

ID=25081057

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000518125A Expired - Lifetime CA1269878A (en) 1985-09-16 1986-09-12 Implement hitch linkage for front mount mowers

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0215349A3 (en)
JP (1) JPS6269906A (en)
CA (1) CA1269878A (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1228264B (en) * 1987-07-10 1991-06-05 Bcs Spa VEHICLE FOR GARDENING AND AGRICULTURAL WORK
FR2652103A1 (en) * 1989-09-18 1991-03-22 Grzeszczak Wactaw Multipurpose device for clearing snow from surfaces and roadways, intended to equip a mobile vehicle base
DE29507859U1 (en) * 1995-05-12 1995-08-10 ISEKI - Maschinen GmbH, 40670 Meerbusch Front linkage
DE19918551B4 (en) 1999-04-23 2015-04-02 Deere & Company harvester

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2740297A1 (en) * 1977-09-07 1979-03-15 Gassner Jun Johann Plough with intermediate support - consisting of wheeled frame which can be raised and lowered by tractor lift system
US4193458A (en) * 1978-06-05 1980-03-18 Deere & Company Tractor and implement and hydraulic system therefor
GB2086202B (en) * 1980-10-07 1984-09-12 Alfreton Eng Ltd Implement supporting arrangement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0215349A3 (en) 1988-01-27
EP0215349A2 (en) 1987-03-25
JPS6269906A (en) 1987-03-31

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Effective date: 20121205