Three Point Suspension Device for Tractors

This invention relates to an adjustable upper link in a three-point suspension device for a tractor, the said link having a locking device consisting of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and a line, provided with a shut-off device, which connects the two end-faces of the said hydraulic cylinder.

This adjustable upper link was disclosed in German Utility Model No. 78 37 172.9. The length of the upper link may be adjusted by opening the locking device, whereby different agricultural implements may be adapted to the tractor, or one implement may be set in various operating positions. After the shut-off device has been locked, the set length of the upper link no longer varies, even under considerable shocks.

It is the purpose of this invention to simplify the operation of this adjustable link, in such a manner that adjustment may be carried out effortlessly from the tractor-seat.

The invention consists in that the shut-off device is a ball-cock, the shaft of which, carrying the ball, is connected to a fork, and in that springs engage with the prongs of the said fork, urging the fork into the shut-off position.

If a ball-cock is used as the shut off device, accurate sealing of the line between the end-faces of the hydraulic cylinder is obtainable and, once the upper link has been adjusted, the length thereof never alters. The use of a ball-cock also simplifies the operation, in that the shut-off device can be actuated merely by rotating the ball in the cock. This rotation is effected by means of a fork which the tractor-driver can grasp from his seat, if the handle is made long enough. The fork is urged towards the shut-off position by means of a spring, so that even under rugged conditions, the fork, and therefore the ball, remain in the closed position without manual interventioin.

Operation of the device is still further simplified by attaching to the fork a cable, which runs to the tractor cabin and is in immediate reach of the driver.

Operation is even further simplified if extension of the link takes place more slowly than retraction since, if an implement supported by the three-point suspension is to be lowered by extending the link, it is desirable for the link to be extended slowly, so that the implement is not dropped heavily onto the ground. The difference in the speed of adjustment may be achieved by fitting a restriction into an expansion in the line to the ball-cock, the said restriction comprising a fine bore at its centre and extensions on one end-face, a sealing-seat being formed in the said expansion and being arranged on the side of the restriction remote from the said extensions, the said restriction being located in the direction of flow of the pressure-medium as it flows when the upper link is extended.

Adjustment of the upper link may also be facilitated in that a scale is displaceable in a guide secured to the hydraulic cylinder, the end of the said scale being secured axially and displaceably to the piston-rod, or to a device carried thereby. This scale makes it a simple matter to determine how far the piston-rod has been extended and to adjust it to the same position each time the same implement is hitched to the tractor.

It is particularly desirable for the scale to be in the form of a roll tape-measure having a reading slot directed radially outwardly and upwardly. In order to be able to use a conventional mass-produced tape-measure, and to install and remove it easily-since in rugged tractor operation the tape is sometimes damaged, it is desirable for the tape-measure housing to be secured to a box fitted to the hydraulic cylinder, the said box being large enough to accomodate the length of the tape-housing and the projecting end of the rolled-up tape-measure. The said box has an opening through which the tape-measure emerges, and a screw by means of which the tape-housing can be secured in the said box.

However, the said scale may also be in the form of a flat, elongated piece of metal which is displaceable in a guide and comprises, at its end, an elongated hole running at right angles to the direction of displacement, in which a pin or bolt secured to the piston-rod engages. A scale of this kind may be displaceable in a guide which is cross-sectionally U-shaped or circular, or consists of two eyes. In this case, the elongated hole provides a flexible attachment of the end of the scale to the piston-rod, since the latter may twist through plus or minus 15 degrees during operation.

Another possibility is to secure a scale to the hydraulic cylinder, to arrange for a pointer to move along the scale, and to fit to the piston-rod a spring which moves the pointer along the scale. This spring may be helical or flat.

During the time when implements are being coupled to the tractor, the ball-cock must be kept open to allow the upper link to be adjusted to the correct length. The said ball-cock is kept open by means of an actuating lever, or by pulling on a cable attached to the said lever. Now, while the work of coupling up the implements proceeds, it is desirable not to have to apply continuous tension to the cable; instead it should be possible to set the said actuating lever so that the ball-cock remains open. This may be achieved by providing a locking means for the actuating lever, to lock it in the position in which the ball-cock remains open.

It is desirable for the locking means to be in the form of a bracket fitted to the actuating lever and a hook adapted to pivot under the force of a spring, the said hook engaging with the bracket in the locking position and being fitted to the hydraulic cylinder or to the ball-cock housing, the surface of the hook adjoining the mouth thereof being curved. A locking device of this kind is easily produced and very effective. Thus a mere pull on the cable pivots and actuating lever into a position in which its bracket is engaged and held by the hook.

Now, in order that another pull on the cable, or further pivoting of the actuating lever, may suffice to release the lock, it is desirable to design the locking means in such a manner that the pivotable hook carries a rocker adapted to pivot between two settings, the said rocker being provided with a recess which also forms a mouth engaging the bracket in one position and which has an edge which closes the mouth of the hook in the other position and provides a sliding surface for the said bracket.

For reasons of design simplicity and operating reliability, however, it is desirable for one lateral surface of the mouth of the rocker, and the edge of the mouth of the hook against which the spring-loaded bracket bears, to cover each other in the locking position.

It is also desirable to provide a locking means to secure the coupled-on or suspended implement. According to the invention, this is accomplished by providing the attachment hook with a hole in which a springloaded locking pin, pushed in front of the mouth of the attachment hook, is displaceably mounted.

According to one particularly advantageous design of this arrangement, the locking pin carries, on the side remote from the mouth of the attachment hook, a handle fitted to one end of a link or bracket which is mounted pivotably at the end of the locking pin, the length thereof, on the side remote from the handle, being such that it is in a position parallel with the locking pin, the free end of which it holds in a position such that the mouth of the locking pin is open.

In this way, the said locking means is kept unlocked, without human intervention, merely by setting a link or bracket.

In the design comprising a bracket, it is desirable for the ends thereof to be bridged over by a laterally fitted connecting piece. This provides considerable stability.

This design is quite simple if the bores in the attachment hook and locking pin are stepped and a compression spring is fitted between the shoulders.

In one particularly advantageous example of embodiment, the link or bracket carries, at the end remote from the grip, a roller, the axis of which is arranged in parallel with the axis of the bearing, the bearing of the link or bracket being accommodated, with a block secured to the locking pin, externally of the axis thereof, the distance between the axis of the bearing and the axis of the locking pin being greater than, or equal to, the distance between the axis of the roller and the axis of the said locking pin when the roller bears thereon. This is a simple way of ensuring that the locking pin is automatically held in the unlocked position.

This design may be still further improved by providing the attachment hook with a notch adjacent the locking pin, into which the roller drops.

For the purpose of facilitating assembly and simplifying adjustment, it is desirable for the locking pin to be threaded, and for the block to be secured to the locking pin by means of this thread. This may be achieved, for example, by providing the block with an internal thread corresponding to the external thread of the locking pin. The block is then screwed to the thread on the locking pin and is secured with a lock-nut.

In order to facilitate handling of the upper link, it is desirable for the piston-rod to pass through both end-faces of the hydraulic cylinder and to carry at one end a means of attachment, preferably a hook and, at the other end, a closed piece of pipe which is attached air-tightly to one end-face of the hydraulic cylinder, the other end-face carrying another means of attachment, preferably a hinge or hook, and for this piece of pipe to be filled with compressed air and to comprise a filler-valve. The compressed air thus pushes the piston-rod in one direction, thus making it easy to adapt the length of the upper link to the distance required between the tractor and the implement coupled thereto.

The essence of the present invention is described in greater detail hereinafter, in conjunction with the examples of embodiment illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings attached hereto, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a design comprising a roll tape-measure

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a design comprising a roll tape-measure;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a design comprising a scale displaceable in a guide;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a design comprising a scale displaceable in a guide;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a design comprising a scale displaced in eyes;

FIG. 6 is a plan view;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a design comprising a pointer displaced by a spring;

FIG. 8 is a plan view;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section through the restriction in the line to the ball-cock;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the restriction;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of another design;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the design according to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a design of the upper link with a device for locking the actuating lever in the closed position. In this figure the locking device is inoperative;

FIG. 14 shows the upper link in FIG. 13 with the actuating lever locked in the open position;

FIG. 15 shows the upper link in FIG. 13 with the actuating lever in a position for unlocking;

FIG. 16 is a view of the locking-device hook;

FIG. 17 is a view of the locking-device rocker;

FIG. 18 shows the assembled locking device in an inoperative position;

FIG. 19 shows the locking device with the actuating-lever bracket locked;

FIG. 20 shows the locking device in the unlocked position;

FIG. 21 shows the locking device in the position when the rocker is moved back;

FIG. 22 is a section through the attachment hook with the locking pin in the locked position;

FIG. 23 is a section through the attachment hook with the locking pin in the unlocked position;

FIG. 24 is a view of another attachment hook with the locking pin in the locked position; and,

FIG. 25 is a section through the object in FIG. 24 in the unlocked position.

The upper link in a three-point-suspension device for a tractor consists of double-acting cylinder 1 to which is flanged a sleeve 2 at the end of which is located an eye or fork 3 for attachment to a bearing point on the tractor. Cylinder 1 contains a moving piston-rod 4 which generally also extends into sleeve 2. The end of the said piston-rod carries a hook 5 for attachment of the implement to be suspended. The two end-faces of the hydraulic cylinder are connected to each other by a line 6 adapted to be shut off by a ball-cock 7 comprising a shaft 8 to which the ball is attached. Secured to shaft 8, for the purpose of rotating the ball, is a fork 9 to the end of which is secured a cable 10 running to the tractor cabin. Fitted to fork 9 are two extensions 11 engaging two helical springs 12 which urge fork 9 into its locking position.

In the design illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, hydraulic cylinder 1 carries a box 13 accommodating a roll tape-measure 14. In order to allow the tape-measure to emerge, the said box comprises an aperture 16. In order to ensure that tape-measure housing 14 is securely seated in box 13, a clamping screw 17 is provided. Roll tape-measure 15 is secured to hook 5 by means of screw 18. Since a reading slot is provided in the top of housing 14, the tape is easy to read.

Since hook 5 may twist by about plus or minus 15 degress in operation, the use of a roll tape-measure is highly appropriate since it can absorb this twisting without damage. Accommodating tape-measure housing 14 in box 13 makes it easily replaceable, merely by loosening screws 17,18 and tightening them up again.

In the design according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the end of the stem of fork 9 carries a spherical grip 20 which the tractor-driver grasps and raises in order to shift ball-cock 7 from the locked to the open position for the purpose of altering the length of the upper link.

This design uses a displaceable scale 21 in the form of a flat bar running in a guide 22 and carrying at its end an elongated hole 23 through which a pin 24 is passed and secured to hook 5. The scale is read through a cylindrical lens 25 arranged thereabove.

In the design according to FIGS. 5 and 6, scale 26 is in the form of a cross-sectionally square or rectangular bar, the end of which carries an extension 27 engaging in a groove 28 in hook 5. This groove also provides a flexible attachment, since the end of the scale is firmly secured to piston-rod 4 by the extension 27 engaging in groove 28 on the hook 5, but this permits some twisting of piston-rod 4 and hook 5. In this case, the said scale runs in two eyes 29 secured to hydraulic cylinder 1. As in the other designs, lenses 25 are provided to assist in reading the scale.

In the design according to FIGS. 7 and 8, scale 30 is secured to hydraulic cylinder 1. A pointer 31 runs in a guide 32 along the scale and is connected to the piston-rod by means of a spring 33, the other end of which is secured to hook 5 carried by the piston-rod. A tubular guide 34 is provided for the said spring, the said guide being flared at the end adjacent hook 5, so that pointer 31 is correctly displaced even if the spring is bent.

The flow of oil is restricted in one direction by means of a disc 35, the central area of which has at least one fine bore while the end-face carries extensions 37 (FIGS. 9 and 10). A seat 39 is provided for this disc in an expansion 38 in the line running to ball-cock 7. This sealing seat is located in the direction of flow of the pressure-medium as it flows when the upper link is being extended, at which time the said pressure-medium is forced to flow through fine bore 36, since disc 35 is resting upon its seat 39, and the pressure-medium cannot therefore flow over the edge of the disc. However, disc 35 does not restrict the flow in the other direction, since extensions 37 allow the pressure-medium to flow around the edge of the disc and through them into the line.

Still another design of the object of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this case, the scale is in the form of an elongated metal part 40 adapted to be inserted into a guide 41 which also serves as a cover for the hydraulic lines and carries the housing containing ball-cock 7. The other end of the scale is secured, through a helical spring 42, to an extension 43 on hook 5. The use of a helical spring allows bearing eye 3 to rotate axially in relation to hook 5 without damaging scale 40. Helical spring 42 may also be replaced by a piece of rubber as a compensating element.

A spring insert 45 may be used to lock lever 9 which actuates the ball-cock in its housing. The straight part of the said insert is passed through a hole 44 in the stem of fork 9 and engages with hooks 46 secured to hydraulic cylinder 1. The section of the curved part of the insert adjacent the said straight part engages in the space between the two hooks 46 and is thus held and positioned.

Secured to hydraulic cylinder 1 is the housing for ball-cock 7 with its axis 8 about which actuating lever 9 pivots. As shown in FIG. 13, the said actuating lever carries a bracket 47 used to lock it. This locking device consists of a hook 49 adapted to pivot about a pin 62 and forced towards the ball-cock housing by a spring 48. Pin 62 is mounted upon hydraulic cylinder 1, or in the housing of ball-cock 7, and passes through hole 63 in pivotable hook 49. The structural configuration is such that the locking device consists of a bracket 47 fitted to actuating lever 9 and of a hook 49 adapted to pivot under the force of a spring 48; the mouth 50 of the said hook engaging, in the locked position, over bracket 47 and being fitted to hydraulic cylinder 1 or to the housing of ball-cock 7, and surface 51 of the hook adjoining mouth 50 being curved. This curved surface 51 allows bracket 47, when actuating lever 9 is pivoted, to pivot hook 49 against the force of spring 48, whereupon mouth 50 can engage over bracket 47 and soon as the latter reaches the level of the said mouth. Lever 9 is preferably actuated by means of a cable. The locking device then snaps hook 49 over bracket 47.

In order to unlock the device, hook 49 must be pivoted back. This is easily accomplished by fitting to the said hook a rocker 52 adapted to pivot about a pin 61. Further pivoting of actuating lever 9 causes this rocker to drop into a position which allows bracket 47 to slide out of mouth 50 of hook 49, as soon as the pull on the cable which actuates lever 9 ceases. Pin 61 is secured to the pivotable hook. The structural configuration is preferably such that pivotable hook 49 carries a rocker 52 adapted to pivot between two positions, the said rocker having a recess 53 which also constitutes a mouth accommodating bracket 47 in the one position, and also having an edge 54 which, in the other position, closes off mouth 50 of hook 49 and constitutes a sliding surface for bracket 47. Rocker 52 has two stops 64,65 which limit its ability to pivot. A pin 66, inserted firmly into pivotable hook 49, serves as a counterstop. The one terminal position of the said rocker is characterized in that projection 67 has moved back behind edge 68 of the hook, whereas the other terminal position is characterized in that edge 54 closes mouth 50 of the hook and tip 69 projects when mouth 50 strikes the curved surface 51. FIG. 19 shows the position in which bracket 47 is held in the mouth 50 of the hook. In FIG. 20, actuating lever 19 has been pivoted still further, so that the rocker is no longer in contact with the bracket. FIG. 21 shows the position of the rocker in which mouth 50 of the hook is closed. This position is achieved when the pull on the cable which has pivoted actuating lever 9 ceases, and the said lever is pulled back by the action of spring 12. At this time, bracket 47 strikes lower edge 54 of the rocker, namely the edge which, when the actuating lever is moved back, causes the said rocker to rotate and thus to close off mouth 50 of the hook.

It is desirable for one lateral surface of the mouth of the rocker, and the edge of the mouth of the hook upon which the bracket bears under the action of spring 12, to cover each other in the locking position.

In order to ensure reliable attachment of the implements it is desirable for the attachment hooks to be provided with locking pins 56 (FIGS. 22 and 23. Such pins should secure a ball, or the like means of attachment, inserted into attachment hook 5, as far as possible without further aids. To this end a spring 60 holds the locking pin in the closed position. Since the locking pin is in the way when an implement is being coupled up or uncoupled, the locking pin is adapted to be held in the open position at these times. This is accomplished by fitting the locking pin with a grip 57 on the end remote from the mouth of attachment hook 5. This grip is mounted at one end of a link 58 mounted pivotably upon the end of the locking pin, the length of the end remote from the grip being such that it assumes a position parallel with the locking pin and holds the free end in a position in which the mouth of the attachment hook is open. In this connection it is desirable for the ends of link 58 to be bridged by a laterally fitted connecting piece.

A structurally simple design of this kind is obtained by stepping bore 55 of attachment hook and locking pin 56 and fitting a compression spring 60 between the shoulders. The end of locking pin 56 is threaded to accept a block having a bore and internal thread which carries the bearing for link or bracket 58.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show another design of locking means for pin 56. In this case, bearing 163 for link or bracket 58 is accommodated in a block 161 secured to locking pin 56 externally of the axis thereof, the distance between the axis of bearing 163 and the axis of locking pin 56 being greater than, or equal to, the distance between the axis of roller 162 and the axis of the locking pin when the said roller is bearing thereon. The distances of bearing 163 and roller 162 from the axis of locking pin 56 already guarantees that pin 56 will be effectively held in the unlocked position, but this may be still further improved by providing a depression 164 in attachment hook 5, close to the locking pin, into which roller 162 drops.

According to a particularly favourable example of embodiment, which is easy both to produce and assemble, locking pin 56 carries a thread 165 to receive a nut by means of which block 161 is secured to the said locking pin.

FIG. 13 shows, partly in section, the position of piston-rod 166 and of piston 167. The length of tube, into which piston-rod 166 projects, contains a compressed-air filler-valve 168 allowing the interior of the length of tube to be filled with compressed air or nitrogen, preferably at a pressure of between 6 and 12 atmospheres. This provides a design in which both ends of the piston-rod pass through the end-faces of the hydraulic cylinder, one end carrying an attachment means, preferably a hook 5 and the other end projecting into a closed length of tube, one end of which is sealed to the end-face of the hydraulic cylinder, while the other end carries a further means of attachment, preferably a hinge or a hook, the said tube being filled with compressed air and comprising a filler-value 168. As a result of this, the piston-rod, and thus hook 5, are automatically displaceable without springs, which makes it extremely simple to adjust the upper link to the desired length.