WEIGHT TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR PITCH PLOWS

• US 20150023736A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jason Gierman, Joseph Gierman
• Original Assignee: Jason Gierman, Joseph Gierman
• Inventors: Gierman, Jason, Gierman, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/943,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20150023736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/154.1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/101 forming during digging, e.g. underground canalisations or conduits, by bending or twisting a strip of pliable material; by extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/102 operatively associated with mole-ploughs, coulters rippers E02F5/32
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/14 Component parts for trench excavators, e.g. indicating devices travelling gear chassis, supports, skids

Abstract

A weight transfer system for pitch plows that allows the pitch plows to draw underground at an accurate depth without inadvertent depth changes in the operation of the plow. The dynamic weight transfer system exerts upward or downward force on the plow to optimize plow operation. The reaction force of the dynamic weight transfer system is applied to the towing mechanism. The amount of force and direction can be adjusted to optimize the plowing operation as plowing conditions change.

Claims

1. A weight transfer system for pitch plows, said weight transfer system comprising:

i. a mounting system for said weight transfer system;

ii. at least one lifting/lowering mechanism attached to said pitch plow;

iii. a hydraulic valve packet that controls oil flow and pressure to each said lifting/lowering mechanism;

iv. at least two hydraulic hoses connected by one end to a hydraulic oil system and connected at the opposite ends to each said lifting/lowering mechanism to deliver the oil to and from said lifting/lowering mechanism, and,

v. a means of controlling hydraulic valves in said hydraulic valve packet.

2. In combination, a weight transfer system for pitch plows, said combination comprising:

a mounting frame connected to a towing vehicle;

said mounting frame having mounted thereon, a shank assembly, said shank assembly having connected thereto,

two, parallel upper link arms and two, parallel lower link arms, wherein said lower link arms have a predetermined length, a distal end and near end, wherein said lower link arms are rotationally attached at said near end to a vertical frame strut and rotationally attached at said distal end to said shank assembly;

said upper link arms having a predetermined adjustable length, provided by length adjusting hydraulic cylinders, a distal end and a near end, wherein said upper link arms are rigidly attached at said near end to respective said length adjusting hydraulic cylinders and rotationally attached at said distal end to said vertical frame strut;

a lifting/lowering mechanism having a distal end and a near end, said lifting/lowering mechanism being rotationally attached at said near end to a cross member extending between said parallel lower link arms, said distal end of said lifting/lowering mechanism being rotationally attached at said distal end to a mid-point of said shank assembly;

said vertical support strut being attached to said towing vehicle;

said shank assembly comprising;

a vertical shaft having a lower end;

a riser plate attached to said vertical shaft at said lower end;

a cutting edge on a leading edge of said riser plate;

a wear shoe attached to said lower end and beneath said riser plate and said cutting edge;

a boot for delivering cable or flexible pipe.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said combination has, in addition, hydraulic valves, hydraulic hoses, and controls for said hydraulic valves.

4. In combination, a weight transfer system for pitch plows, said weight transfer system comprising:

a mounting frame comprising;

a horizontal support beam having a near end and a distal end;

said mounting frame being rotatably attached at said near end to a vertical shank assembly having a top end and a bottom end and, near said distal end, rotatably attached to a vertical shaft having a top end;

a pitch adjusting device comprising a predetermined adjustable length and having a distal end and a near end;

said predetermined adjustable device being rotatably attached at said near end to said shank assembly near said top end of said shank assembly, said distal end of said predetermined adjustable device being rotatably attached to said horizontal support beam near said near end;

a lifting/lowering mechanism having a distal end and a near end, said lifting/lowering mechanism being rotationally attached by said near end near said distal end of said horizontal beam, said distal end of said lifting/lowering mechanism being rotationally attached at said distal end to said vertical shaft, said vertical shaft being attached to said distal end of said horizontal beam;

said distal end of said horizontal support beam and said top end of said vertical shaft being connectable to a conventional three-point hitch;

said shank assembly comprised of;

a vertical support shaft having a lower end;

a riser plate attached to said vertical support shaft;

a cutting edge on a leading edge of said riser plate;

a wear shoe attached to said lower end and beneath said riser plate and said cutting edge;

a boot for delivering cable or flexible pipe.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said combination has, in addition, hydraulic valves, hydraulic hoses, and controls for said hydraulic valves.

6. In combination weight transfer system for pitch plows, said weight transfer system comprising:

a mounting frame, said mounting frame comprising;

two parallel, spaced-apart upper link arms, each said upper link arm having a distal end and a near end;

two parallel, spaced-apart lower link arms, each said lower link arm having a distal end and a near end;

a pitch adjusting system;

a pivoting frame having a bottom end;

a shank assembly, said shank assembly comprising;

a vertical support shank, said vertical support shank having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end having fixedly attached thereto, a riser plate, said riser plate having a cutting edge on a leading edge of said riser plate;

a wear shoe attached to said vertical support shank bottom end and beneath said riser plate and said cutting edge, and attached to said vertical support shank, at said back thereof, a boot for delivering cable or flexible pipe;

said distal ends of said upper link arms being rotatably attached near said top of said vertical support shank, and said near ends of said upper link arms being rotatably attached, respectively, to a vertical post of said pivoting frame near a top thereof;

said distal ends of said lower link arms being rotatably attached near said mid-section of said vertical support shank and said near ends of said lower link arms being rotatably attached to said vertical post of said pivoting frame near said bottom thereof;

a hydraulic lift cylinder being rotatably attached to a first bar, said first bar being supported between said upper link arms near said distal ends thereof;

said opposite ends of said hydraulic lift cylinder being rotatably attached to a second bar, said second bar being supported between said lower link arms, near said near ends thereof;

said pivot frame being rotatably attached near said bottom thereof, to a conventional pivoting frame arm plow;

two parallel, spaced-apart pivoting hydraulic cylinders being rotatably attached by one end near said top of said, respective, vertical posts of said pivoting frame;

said opposite ends of said pivoting hydraulic cylinders being rotatably attached near distal ends to a rigid frame having near ends;

each said near end of said rigid frame being rotatably attached near said bottom of each said pivoting frame vertical post, said opposite ends of said rigid frame being connectable to a towing vehicle.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said combination has, in addition, hydraulic valves, hydraulic hoses, and controls for said hydraulic valves.

8. In combination, weight transfer system for pitch plows, said weight transfer system comprising:

a mounting frame said mounting frame comprising;

a forward rigid frame assembly having a top end and a bottom end;

two, parallel, spaced-apart upper link arms each having distal ends and near ends;

two, parallel, spaced-apart lower link arms each having distal ends and near ends;

two, parallel, spaced-apart double upper link arms, each having distal ends and near ends;

two, parallel, spaced-apart double lower link arms, each having distal ends and near ends;

said distal ends of each respective double upper link arms and said near ends of each respective upper link arms being rotatably commonly connected to each other by a first bar extending between said respective upper link arms and double upper link arms;

said distal ends of each respective double lower link arms and said near ends of said each respective lower link arms are rotatably commonly connected to each other by a second bar extending between said respective lower link arms and lower double link arms;

said upper double link arms being rotatably connected to said near ends to said tops of said vertical support shaft, said lower double link arms being rotatably connected at said near end to said mid-section of said vertical support shaft;

said pitch adjusting system having a near end and a distal end, said near end being rotatably connected to said vertical support shaft near said mid-section of said vertical support shaft, each said distal end of said pitch adjusting systems being rotatably attached to a third bar extending between said distal ends respectively, of said double lower link arms;

said distal ends of said respective upper link arms being rotatably connected to rigid frame posts respectively at said top ends, said distal ends of said respective lower link arms being rotatably connected to said rigid frame posts near said bottom ends;

a hydraulic lift cylinder having a distal end and a near end, said near and being rotatably connected to a fourth bar extending between said near ends respectively of said upper link arms, said distal end being rotatably connected to a fifth bar extending between said distal ends, respectively, of said lower link arms;

said rigid frame being rotatably attached near said bottom ends, said rigid frame being connectable to a towing vehicle.

9. Said combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said combination has, in addition, hydraulic valves, hydraulic hoses, and controls for said hydraulic valves.