GB2448307A

GB2448307A - Implement attachment

Info

Publication number: GB2448307A
Application number: GB0705265A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrien Pradeau; Gauthier Sebastien
Original assignee: AGCO SA
Current assignee: AGCO SA
Priority date: 2007-03-20
Filing date: 2007-03-20
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Also published as: WO2008114150A2; GB0705265D0; WO2008114150A3

Abstract

An attachment system for attaching an implement to a tractor using two different size category attachment links/pins is provided. The system comprises two spaced attachment plates 18, 19. One attachment plate has a pair of spaced holes 23 of a smaller category size and the other has a pair of spaced holes 22 of a larger category size. The centre lines 22a, 23a of the two pairs of holes are aligned. A pair of spaced pins are included, the pins being interconnected at one end with their centre lines spaced apart by the same distance as the pairs of holes in the attachment plates. The interconnected ends of the pins have a diameter for use in the pair of holes of the larger size category and the free ends of the pins have a diameter for use in the smaller size category holes. Furthermore, one pin has an intermediate portion (29, fig. 3) between the connected end and the free end which is of the larger size category. The other pin has an intermediate portion which is of the smaller size category. The pin means are alternatively insertable through the larger size category holes in the attachment plates with the larger or smaller size category intermediate portion in either position between the attachment plates so that the connecting links of both size categories can be secured between the attachment plates in either position. The system allows implements to be attached to a tractor using an upper link of at least two different size categories.

Description

Implement Attachment This invention relates to a system for attaching

an implement or other component to a tractor using an attachment link and associated attachment pins of more than one size category.

Implements and other components are conventionally attached to the rear or the front of a tractor using a so-caned three-point linkage which has a top link and two lower links. These links have attachment pins of different sizes or categories depending on the size of implement or component to be attached. For example, smaller implements/components are attached by category one pins, medium size implements/components by category two pins and larger size implements/components by category three size pins.

These pins conventionally extend through corresponding category I, 2 and 3 sized bores in the links, the bores extending through ball mounts which can pivot relative to the links to allow for pin mis-alignment and movement during use of the implement/component.

In order to be able to attach a given implement/component to tractors provided with links/attachment pins of different categories it is necessary for the tractors to carry different size links/mounting pins which is inconvenient and often leads to these components being lost or mislaid.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment system on which a given implement/component can be coupled to a tractor using links/pins of two different size categories.

Thus according to the present invention an implement or component for attachment to tractors using two different size category attachment links/pins is provided with an attachment system comprising two spaced attachment plates designed to alternatively receive therebetween an end of an attachment link of each of the two size categories, one attachment plate having a pair of spaced holes of a smaller size category and the other attachment plate having a pair of spaced holes of a larger size category, the centre lines of the two pairs of holes being aligned, and pin means being provided comprising a pair of spaced pins, the pins being interconnected at one end with their centre lines spaced apart by the same distance as the pairs of holes in the attachment plates, the interconnected ends of the pins having a diameter for use in the pair of holes of the larger size category and the free ends of the pins having a diameter for use in the smaller size category holes, one pin having an intermediate portion between the connected end and the free end which is of the larger size category and the other pin having an intermediate portion which is of the smaller size category, the pin means be alternatively insertable through the larger size category holes in the attachment plates with the larger or smaller size category intermediate portion in either position between the attachment plates so that the connecting links of both size categories sizes can be secured between the attachment plates in either position.

Conveniently the link received between the attachment plates will be the top link of a three-point hitch and the implementJcomponent is also secured to the tractor by two lower links using attachment pins of the same size as selected by the pin means in use on the top link.

This form of implement/component attachment system is suitable for the attachment of any implement/component and is particularly convenient for the attachment of a weight frame to a tractor.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure I shows a perspective view of a weight frame for attachment to the front or rear of a tractor which has an attachment system in accordatice with the present invention; Figure 2 shows the details of part of the attachment system of the frame of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the twin pin arrangement used with the attachment system of the present invention; Figure 4 shows the twin pin arrangement in position in the weight frame of Figure 1, and Figure 5 shows a removeable lower link mounting pin used in the attachment system of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a weight frame 10 is designed to be mounted on the front or rear of a tractor via an upper link shown diagrammatically at 11 and two lower links shown diagrammatically at 12 and 13. The weight frame includes a lower section 14 which has an upper lip 15 on which weights 16 are mounted via hook portion 17 which hooks over the lip in a conventional manner.

The weight frame is provided with an attachment system in accordance with the present invention which enables it to be secured to a tractor using an upper link I I and a lower links 12 and 13 of at least two different size categories.

The attachment system includes two spaced attachment plates 18 and 19 which are designed to receive therebetween the upper link 11. The upper link 11 is provided with a cross bore 20 formed in the conventional pivoting ball mount 21. The cross bore 20 will be of the appropriate diameter corresponding to the category of upper link in use.

In the example chosen the upper link may be of a category two or category three size with the appropriate cross bore 20.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the attachment plate 18 contains a pair of vertically spaced holes 22 of size category three whilst the attachment plate 19 contains a pair of vertically spaced holes 23 of size category 2. The centre lines 22a and 23a respectively of the two pairs of holes are aligned and vertically spaced a distance X apart as shown in Figure 2.

A twin pin arrangement 24 is provided with two pins 25 and 26 which are joined together at one end by a plate 27. The longitudinal axis 25a and 26a of the two pins are again spaced apart by the same distance X as the axes of the holes 22 and 23.

Pin 26 has an end portion 28 connected to plate 27 which has a diameter of size category three, an intermediate portion 29 of the size category two and a free end portion 30 of size category two. Pin 25 has a end portion 31 connected to plate 27 which is of size category three, an intermediate portion 32 of size category three and a free end portion 33 of size category two. The free end portion 33 extends outside the plates 18 and 19 and contains a transverse bore 34 for receiving a linch pin 35 to secure the twin pin arrangement on the attachment plates 18 and 19 as will be described below.

As will be appreciated, the twin pin arrangement 24 can be introduced to the category three holes 22 in attachment plate 18 so that the end portions 28 and 31 extend through the holes 22 and the intermediate portions 29 and 32 extend between the attachment plates 18 and 19 with the free end portions 30 and 33 in the smaller diameter category two holes 23 of attachment plate 19. When the twin pin arrangement is installed in the side plates 18 and 19 as described above it can held captive by the use of a linch pin 35 in bore 34 as shown in Figure 4.

With the twin pin arrangement mounted in the position shown in Figure 4 the larger diameter intermediate portion 32 of pin 25 is mounted below the smaller diameter intermediate portion 29 of pin 26. It will be appreciated that this arrangement could be reversed so that the larger diameter intermediate portion 32 of pin 25 is above the smaller diameter intermediate portion 29 of pin 26. By changing the position of these two pins the angle of the weight frame relative to the tractor can be adjusted.

The weight frame is provided with removeable lower mounting pins 40 which are shown in more detail in Figure 5. These mounting pins have a screw threaded end portion 41 which is screwed into the lower part 14 of the weight frame and held in place by a locking washer and nut 42. A linch pin 43 extending through a bore 44 is used to hold the associated lower link 12 or 13 in position on the removeable pin 40.

The diameter of the removeable 40 is arranged to correspond with the diameter of the pin 25 or 26 which is currently in use to secure the top link between the attachment plates 18 and 19.

As will be appreciated, the attachment system consisting of the attachment plates 18 and 19 and the associated twin pin arrangement 24 provides a simple but efficient method of being able to secure the weight frame to the associated tractor using either a category two or a category three upper link.

Also, because the pins 25 and 26 are connected to the plate 27 rotation of the pins relative to the plates 18 and 19 is prevented during use of the attachment system thus reducing wear between the pins 25 and 26 and the plates 18 and 19 Although the invention has been described above in relation to a weight frame it will be appreciate that the attachment system can be used in connection with any implement or other component which is to be mounted on the front or rear of the tractor. For example, the parallel attachment plates 18 and 19 described above can easily be incorporated in to the top end of a mounting post of a plough.

Claims

Claims An implement or component for attachment to tractors using two

different size category attachment links/pins provided with an attachment system comprising two spaced attachment plates designed to alternatively receive therebetween art end of an attachment link of each of the two size categories, one attachment plate having a pair of spaced holes of a smaller category size and the other attachment plate having a pair of spaced holes of a larger category size, the centre lines of the two pairs of holes being aligned, and pin means being provided comprising a pair of spaced pins, the pins being interconnected at one end with their centre lines spaced apart by the same distance as the pairs of holes in the attachment plates, the interconnected ends of the pins having a diameter for use in the pair of holes of the larger size category and the free ends of the pins having a diameter for use in the smaller size category holes, one pin having an intermediate portion between the connected end and the free end which is of the larger size category and the other pin having an intermediate portion which is of the smaller size category, the pin means be alternatively insertable through the larger size category holes in the attachment plates with the larger or smaller size category intermediate portion in either position between the attachment plates so that the connecting links of both size categories sizes can be secured between the attachment plates in either position.
2. An implement or component according to claim 1 in which the link received between the attachment plates is the top link of a three-point hitch and the implement/component is also secured to the tractor by two lower links using attachments pins of the same size as selected by the pin means in use on the top link.
3. An implement or component according to claim I or 2 in which at least one of the free ends of the pins extends outside the attachment plates and has a transverse bore through which a locating member extends to hold the pin means in the two pairs of holes.
4. An implement or component according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a weight frame.

An implement or component for attachment to a tractor having an attachment system constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.