Steering for Plow With Adjustable Plow Bottoms

It is known to provide a plow with a diagonal main beam and to support the plow bottoms on the diagonal frame on vertical pivots so that the plow bottoms may be adjusted. A power source is provided for turning all the plow bottoms in unison. Such a plow is shown in Canadian Patent No. 481,234. It is also known to provide such a frame with a hitch having a tractor vertical connection adjacent the tractor so that the plow may shift relative to the tractor when turning. Conventionally, linkages have extended between the tractor and the rear furrow wheel which cause the rear furrow wheel to steer as the tractor makes its turns. Such linkages are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,503,453, and 3,817,333. It is also known to provide a rear furrow wheel frame supported on the plow's main frame for swinging movement about a vertical axis so that the wheel frame may swing laterally relative to the main frame. On such plows, the more conventional types of wheel steering mechanism, as above referred to and shown in the above mentioned patents, are incorporated for steering the rear furrow wheel. Also, both of the latter patents provide for adjustable plow bottoms. In each of the latter patents the furrow wheel frame is supported on the vertical pivot on which the rearwardmost plow is mounted and does extend in a fore-and-aft direction. Also, the furrow or rear wheel is positioned in a fore-and-aft disposition and the steering linkages of both patents are composed of four bar linkages that maintain the wheels in such disposition. There are manual turn buckle adjustments for varying the lead of the furrow wheel, but the steering linkage maintains the wheel at the set lead regardless of the width of cut of the plows.

The problems that exist in the aforementioned types of plows is that the linkages for steering the rear wheel are not selfadjusting and consequently do not adjust the lead of the rear furrow wheel in a complimentary relation to various cuts of the plow bottoms. For example, when the plow bottoms are moved to an extremely wide cut it is normally desirable to turn the furrow wheel farther toward plowed ground. This is required for the reason that the wider the cut, the more tendency there is for the plow to move or shift laterally toward the unplowed ground. It would therefore follow that it is desirable in plowing wider cuts to turn the furrow wheel farther toward the plowed ground so as to absorb the greater landside forces. Similarly, as the plow cuts are narrowed, it is desirable to swing the furrow wheel left and in some instances to straighten the rear furrow wheel so that it is in general fore-and-aft disposition. This is one example of the desirability of having a different type of furrow wheel control than the conventional type of linkage extending between the tractor and the rear furrow wheel.

Further, the furrow wheel frame is carried on the main plow frame about a horizontal axis and hydraulic power means are provided to vertically adjust the rear wheel relative to the frame. Since the steering linkage is generally mounted on the main frame, each vertical adjustment of the main frame relative to the wheel frame has the effect of steering the furrow wheel. Such is not desirable and should be compensated for in some manner.

With the above in mind, it is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a plow in which the plow bottoms are mounted on the main diagonal beam on vertical axes so that they may have their effective cutting widths adjusted. Provided on the rear of the plow is a furrow wheel frame, also supported on a vertical axis for swinging laterally. The plow bottoms and the furrow beam or frame are connected together and a hydraulic cylinder is utilized to swing the plow bottoms and the furrow wheel frame in unison but not in equal angular amounts.

The furrow wheel is supported on a spindle carried by the wheel frame so that the wheel may be guided. The plow frame has a hitch composed of a first part that is adapted to be mounted on and moved with the tractor and a second part that is directly connected to the main frame and is movable with it. The two parts are connected by a vertical pivot. A master cylinder extends between the first and second parts of the hitch and its slave cylinder is mounted between the furrow wheel and the furrow wheel frame. Therefore, any relative lateral movement between the two hitch parts is translated to a steering action on the rear wheel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the spindle on the wheel frame so that the axis of the spindle is at an angle to the general plane of the wheel so that an extension of the axis would engage the ground in the area in which the furrow wheel engages the ground. When viewed from the side the axis of the spindle is also inclined downwardly and rearwardly when the plow is in a working position and is substantially vertical when the plow is in transport position.

A further object is to so arrange the master cylinder and its connections to the respective parts as to minimize steering of the rear furrow wheel when the plow is adjusted vertically. Also, it is an object to locate the connections between the respective parts and with respect to the vertical pivot connecting the parts so that turning or steering of the rear furrow wheel occurs at a faster rate in turning to the right than when turning to the left.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tractor-trailer plow utilizing the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view, with portions broken away, showing a plow bottom and the manner in which it is mounted on the main frame of the plow.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the rear portion of the plow.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the hitch connection.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the furrow wheel shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 when the plow is in working condition.

The plow includes a main beam or frame 10 that extends diagonally with respect to the direction of travel and, as is conventional, has its front end 11 extending adjacent to the right rear side of a tractor 12. The frame 10 has a rear end 13 which carries a furrow wheel frame 14. The structure for mounting the frame or support 14 is shown generally in FIGS. 4 and 5 and is composed of vertical side plates 16, 17 that carries a horizontal pin 18 extending through the beam 14 and permits the beam 14 to swing vertically. The beam 14 is provided with an ear 19 and a hydraulic cylinder 20 has its rod end connected to the ear 19 and its base end pivotally connected at 21 to an ear that is fixed to the side plate 17. Welded between side plates 16 and 17 is a U-shaped strap 22 having upper and lower horizontal plates that receive a pivot pin 23. Extending out of the rear end 13 of the diagonal beam 10 is a rigid channel member 24 that also receives the pin 23. Consequently, the entire subframe 14 may shift laterally about the vertical pivot pin 23.

As can best be seen from viewing FIG. 1, identical plow bottoms 30 are arranged, beginning close to the forward end 11 and ending adjacent to the rear end 13 of the main frame. Each plow 30 is composed of a conventional plow-share and moldboard indicated at 31, the latter being fixed to a standard 32 which in turn is attached to a support structure 33. The structure 33 is pivoted at 34 to vertically bifurcated bracket structure 35. A safety trip mechanism 36, not of any importance relative to the present invention, extends between the bifurcated bracket 35 and the structure 33 and is pivotally connected at 38 to the bracket. The bracket 35 has upper and lower horizontal ears 39, 40 that extend forwardly. A U-shaped bracket 41, rigid on the beam 10, has upper and lower plate portions 42, 43 that respectively mate with the ears 39, 40. A vertical pin 44 extends through the plates 42, 43 and the ears 39, 40. An arm 45, which is attached to bracket 35, extends under the diagonal beam 10 and is connected by pivot pin 46 to an elongated link 47, composed of two link portions connected at adjoining ends, that is parallel to the beam 10 and extends substantially the full length of the beam. Each of the plow bottoms 30 is connected to the link 47 in identical manner. Consequently, as the link 47 is shifted all of the plow bottoms are adjusted. Welded to the upper and lower surfaces of the beam 10 are a pair of triangular shaped plates 50. The plates extend to the left side of the beam 10 and are interjoined by a vertical plate 51. Welded to the surface of the lower triangular plate 50 is an ear 52 which has pivotally anchored thereto at 53 a cylinder 54 that is utilized to adjust the width of cut of the plow bottoms 30. An ear 55 is fixed to the link 47 and receives the piston rod of the cylinder 54. As may be seen from viewing FIG. 1, extension and retraction of the cylinder 54 shifts all the arms 45 in unison and, consequently, adjusts the width of cut of all of the plow bottoms substantially equally.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower horizontal portion of the U-shaped strap or plate 22 has fixed thereto an arm 60 which also underlies the beam 10 and extends to the left side of the beam. The rear end of the link 47 has a turn buckle type adjustable link section 61 that extends from the rear end of the link 47 to a pin 62 that connects it to the arm 60. The turn buckle 61 is for the purpose of adjusting the wheel relative to the furrow wall. It is clearly evident that each time the plow bottoms 30 are adjusted to a different width, the link 47 and its extension 61 causes the arm 60 and consequently the furrow wheel frame 14 to adjust about the pivot pin 23. Since the pivot pin 23 is rearwardly offset from the plow bottom pivot pin 44 of the rear plow bottom, it becomes clear that the rear wheel frame 14 is controlled by a non-parallel four bar linkage composed of a section of frame 10 between the pivot pins 23, 44, the arm 45 of the rearmost plow bottom, the arm 60 and the adjustable link 61. The arm 60 is shorter than the arm 45. Consequently, changes in angular position of the wheel frame relative to the main frame, while occurring simultaneously with adjustment of the plow bottoms, are not equal to changes in the angular positions of the plow bottoms relative to the main frame. Reviewing FIG. 1, it becomes clearly apparent that as the cylinder 54 is extended the rear frame 14 will swing counterclockwise to widen the cuts of the plow bottoms and at the same time to place the furrow wheel 104 carried thereon further from the furrow wall formed by the rear plow bottom. This is important for the reason that it is desirable to have the furrow wheel travel in the center of the furrow left by the rear plow bottom and the wider the cut the further the wheel should be from the furrow wall.

The main frame or diagonal beam 10 is connected to the tractor 12 by means of a hitch structure including a first or front portion 65 and a rear or second portion 66. The rear portion 66 is a fore-and-aft extending beam that has its rear end pivotally connected by pin 67 to the vertically spaced plates 50. The front portion of the beam 66 inclines downwardly at 68 and carries at its forward end connecting bracket structure 69.

Fixed to the inclined portion 68 is an upright bracket structure 70. The bracket structure 70 has a transverse horizontal opening 71 that receives a horizontal landing bar 72. The landing bar 72 is fixed to the forward end 11 of the main frame beam 10. The transverse bar 72 may shift laterally but not vertically in the bracket structure 70. Consequently, the bar 72 serves to stabilize the forward end of the main frame 10. A landing cylinder 73 extends between the bracket structure 70 and the main frame 10 and serves to adjust the angle between the rear hitch portion 66 and the main frame.

The front hitch portion 65 is composed of a vertical mast 75 that is attachable to the upper link of a conventional three-point hitch connection on a tractor. The mast 75 is carried in the central portion of a transverse beam 76 that has its opposite outermost ends provided with connecting elements 77, 78 for connection to the lower links on a tractor. It becomes apparent that the front hitch portion 65 is adapted for mounting on a tractor and to shift with the tractor as it turns.

The bracket structure 69 is composed of a pair of transversely spaced vertical plates 80, 81 that receives between them a knuckle member 82, the latter being pivotally connected to the plates by a transverse horizontal pin 83. The knuckle 82 has a pair of vertically spaced forwardly projecting ear portions 84, 85 respectively. Fixed to the cross bar 76 of the front hitch portion 65 is a pair of vertically spaced horizontal plates 86, 87 that project rearwardly and fit between the ears 84, 85. A vertical pin 88 extends through the ears 84, 85 and the plates 86, 87. Thus, the knuckle connection permits the hitch portion or part 66 to swing horizontally or laterally with respect to the front hitch portion 65 about the pin 88. Also, it is clearly apparent that the plow frame 10 is permitted relative vertical movement about the horizontal pin 83.

The plates 86, 87 have outwardly projecting plate portions 86a and 87a that have vertically aligned openings for receiving a stem portion 90 of a cylinder-carrying unit. This unit has an integral yoke 92 that opens upwardly to receive a cylinder 93 which, as will later become apparent, serves as a master cylinder of a master-slave cylinder combination. The cylinder 93 has an annular collar 94 fixed to its surface and the collar receives a pair of bolts 95 that extend through the legs of the yoke 92 and into the collar. The entire yoke and its master cylinder 93 may therefore swivel about the axis of the stem portion 90. The cylinder 93 is provided with a piston rod 96 which in turn is pivotally connected to the knuckle 82 by vertical pivot pin 97. Reviewing FIG. 7, it should be noted that the pin 97 is generally directly rearwardly of the pin 88 when the hitch member 66 is in a fore-and-aft disposition and the hitch member 65 is in a transverse portion. This situation occurs during the normal working or transport positions of the two hitch parts 65, 66. However, any relative turning between the hitch part 65 and the hitch part 66 creates movement of the rod 96 which, will later become apparent, creates an immediate movement of a slave cylinder 99 at the rear of the implement.

Referring now to the spindle and furrow wheel structure shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 8 there is provided on the rear end of the furrow wheel beam or frame 14 a spindle tube 100 which receives the upper end of a spindle 101. The lower end of the spindle 101 extends into a second tube 102 which has its lower end fixed to a wheel shaft 103 that carries a furrow wheel 104. A pin 105 fixes the spindle 101 to the tube 102. Referring specifically to FIG. 8, it will be noted that the spindle extends at an angle to the plane of the wheel 104. An extension of the axis, as indicated at 106 would engage the ground in the area in which the wheel 104 engages the ground. The upper end of the spindle 101 has fixed thereto an arm 107 and the slave cylinder 99 has its piston rod connected to the outer end of the arm 107. The opposite or base end of the slave cylinder 99 is connected to the wheel support or frame 14 by means of an ear bracket 108. The importance of having the spindle 101 at an angle to the wheel 104 so that the axis 106 of the spindle engages the ground in the area of wheel contact with the ground is readily apparent. Should the wheel 104 when it is operating either in working or transport position, contact a stone or other foreign object there will be substantially no moment arm imparted into the spindle by the wheel since the axis of the spindle should be substantially on the stone or foreign object contacted by the wheel. Further, very little load is required in the slave cylinder 99 for angling the wheel 104 since it would generally be a swivel action between the wheel and ground. The rod of slave cylinder 99 is adjustable in length by a turn buckle connection to its connecting end for manually adjusting the lead of wheel 104.

It should also be noted that the wheel 104 is normally inclined or cambered toward the plowed side of the ground so that the underside tends to bite into the ground to resist landside forces created against the plow bottoms. Also, it should be noted that as the hydraulic cylinder 20 shifts the main frame 10 on the rear furrow wheel 104 so that the plow moves from its transport to its working position, the rear frame or beam 14 will tend to level out, thereby swinging the rear wheel rearwardly. Due to the shape of the beam 14 and inclination of the spindle 101 such movement of the frame 14 to the working position will cause the wheel to turn slightly or toe in with respect to the direction of travel so as to lead into the plowed ground. This feature is important because such leading or repositioning of the wheel absorbs the landside forces operating against the plow bottoms when they are in working position.

A gauge wheel 112 is provided adjacent the rear end 13 of the main beam and fixed to the side of the member 16 which is fixed to member 22 which is mounted on the vertical swivel pin 23. The gauge wheel 112 may be adjusted vertically on bracket structure 113 in a conventional manner. However, it should be recognized that the gauge wheel 112 will be adjusted along with the entire frame 14 as the plow bottoms 30 have their effective cutting widths adjusted.

The plow operates in the following manner. When the plow is in a transport position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the hydraulic cylinder 20 is extended so that the rear wheel frame 14 raises the rear end of the main frame 10. The rear frame 14 causes the spindle 101 to approach the vertical as viewed from the side (as in FIG. 4). This causes all the plow bottoms 30 to shift upwardly and out of contact with the ground. The tractor is then able to pull the plow bottoms in the transport position. When it is desired to move the plow into a plowing position, the lower links on the tractor are lowered and the hydraulic cylinder 20 is retracted which causes the main frame 10 to lower and the plow bottoms 30 to engage or cut into the ground. The right rear tractor wheel will normally move in the furrow left in the previous pass of the plow around the field. This causes the tractor to tilt approximately 6.degree. to the right and such tilting action is imparted into the plow. Retraction of the cylinder 20, of course, causes the wheel frame 14 to move towards the horizontal position. The wheel will tend to tilt or camber to the left which will partially offset the tractor's 6.degree. tilt when the tractor's rear wheel is in the furrow. It is desired to have the wheel cambered with respect to the ground and consequently the complete 6.degree. tilting action will not be overcome due to the action of the rear frame portion 14. As mentioned previously, as the main frame 10 is shifted downwardly and as the rear frame 14 moves towards the horizontal, it will cause the rear furrow wheel 104 to swing slightly to the right and toe in or give a lead angle into the plowed ground. This is desirable and important because as the plow moves into the working position there are landside forces applied to the plow bottoms to shift the plow transversely to the left and the lead angle of the wheel will absorb some of these landside forces.

It is necessary that the front plow bottom 30 is positioned properly with respect to the previously plowed ground and consequently with respect to the tractor wheel. Should the front plow bottom 30 not be properly positioned the landing cylinder 73 may be adjusted from the tractor seat to properly position the front bottom.

In normal plowing the width of cut of the bottoms will stay the same. However, in some instances, due to low moisture soil or on dry hard soil, it may be desirable to adjust the cut in order to prevent the tractor from lugging down. This may be done from the tractor seat by adjusting the hydraulic cylinder 54. For example, if it is desired to increase the cut of the plow bottoms, the cylinder 54 is extended so as to swing the plow bottoms in a counterclockwise direction about their respective pivots and also swing the furrow wheel frame 14 about the pivot 23. Due to the additional cut of the plow bottoms, the rear end 13 of the main frame 10 will tend to swing clockwise to increase the overall width of the plow. This, of course, causes the rear hitch portion 66 to swing clockwise on the pivot 88 to thereby extend the rod 96 in the master cylinder 93. The rod end of the cylinder 93 is connected to the rod end of the slave cylinder 99 by a hose 110. Similarly, the base end of the master cylinder 93 is connected by a hose 111 to the base end of the slave cylinder 99. Consequently, as the master cylinder extends there is a resulting or complimentary retraction of the slave cylinder 99 which will cause the wheel 104 to turn in a clockwise direction on the spindle. Therefore, as the operator increases the cut of the plow bottoms there is a complimentary increased lead of the steering wheel to the right or toward the plowed ground. This increased lead is sufficient not only to overcome the normal angling of the wheel due to the swinging of its frame 14 but also sufficient to add additional lead to offset the additional landside forces caused by the increased cut of the plow bottoms. When the cut is decreased the opposite, of course, occurs. It should also be understood that once the cutting width is established and the tractor continues to move only forwardly, because the slave cylinder is mounted between the frame 14 and wheel 104, there is nothing that may occur on or to the plow, except turning between the tractor and plow, which will effect turning or steering of the wheel 104 on its spindle 101.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7 it will be noted that in normal operation in which the tractor is moving directly ahead, the pin 97 is rearwardly of pin 88 and the axis of cylinder 93 and rod 96 is angled forwardly. The stem portion 90 of yoke 92 is rearwardly of the pin 88 although offset to the right. Therefore, turning of the tractor to the right will cause the cylinder 93 to move angularly clockwise about the axis of pin 88, to swivel about the axis of yoke stem 90, and to retract on the rod 96. Likewise, turning of the tractor to the left causes the cylinder 93 to move angularly counter-clockwise about the axis of pin 88, to swivel about the axis of yoke stem 90, and to extend on the rod 96. However, due to the relative positions of stem 90, pin 97, right-hand turning by the tractor form the position shown in FIG. 7 will cause greater axial displacement between the rod 96 and cylinder 93 than a similar degree of left-hand turning. This action will, of course, be translated to adjustment of slave cylinder 99. Therefore, when making a right-hand turn the furrow wheel 104 will lead left or toward the furrow wall a greater amount than the wheel will lead to the right or toward the plowed ground when making a left-hand turn. This feature is important because it causes the forward end 11 of the frame 10 to shift quicker to its new position to thereby delay or even avoid interference between the right rear tractor wheel and the front portion of the plow. Thus, the cylinder 93 and the rod 96 and the vertical pivots of pins 88, 97 and stem 90 ae so constructed and arranged to provide fast steering of wheel 104 when turning to the right in comparison to that of turning to the left.

Further, when turning either to the left or right, it is clear from viewing FIG. 7, which shows the tractor and plow in non-turning relation, that small or initial turning of the tractor will have the greatest adjustment in the master cylinder. This is because the axis of yoke stem 90 is offset substantially equal distance from both pins 97, 88 which are in a substantial fore-and-aft plane. Turning movement of the tractor causes the yoke stem 90 to shift along an arc struck from the axis of pin 88. Greatest adjustment of the rod 96 in the cylinder 93 occurs when the yoke stem moves in the portion of the arc directly to the right of pins 97, 88 or as shown in FIG. 7. Conversely the smallest adjustment of the rod 96 occurs when the yoke stem moves in the portion of the arc directly forwardly or rearwardly of the pins 97, 88. This feature has some importance for the reason that upon turning the tractor and plow, it is desirable that the steering wheel 104 be adjusted to swing the rear portion of the plow relatively fast as the tractor begins its turn so as to reduce the turn radius of the plow.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is provided a coulter structure 120 composed of an overhead coulter frame 121 comprising upper and lower horizontal frame parts 122, 123. The part 122 is bolted at 124 to the bracket 35 so that the entire coulter swings with the plow. The part 123 is vertically pivotally connected at 125 so that the coulter can also swing independently of the plow 30. A bracket 126 interconnects the parts 122, 123. Carried on the frame member 123 is a downwardly and rearwardly extending coulter shank 127 that has a coulter blade 128 mounted on its lower end. The shank 127 is pivotally connected to the part 123 by a horizontal pivot pin 130 so that the blade 128 may swing upwardly and rearwardly. An upwardly inclined spring 131 has a lower end connected to the shank 127 and an upper end connected to the rear end of frame part 123. It should here be noted that as the blade 128 moves rearwardly and upwardly the spring will compress and exert a greater force. However, due to its inclination the effective moment arm will be reduced to thereby maintain substantially equal effective forces on the coulter as it shifts in a direction upwardly and rearwardly.