VARIABLY ADJUSTABLE DITCHING IMPLEMENT

• US 3,846,923 A
• Filed: 05/24/1973
• Issued: 11/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clyde Whittier
• Original Assignee: Clyde Whittier
• Inventors: Whittier, Clyde
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Application Number:
  US05/363,594
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 37/98 172/605,439,679,254 280/407,45B,461A,46A,479R
• US Class Current: 37/366
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/027 with coulters, ploughs, scraper plates, or the like E02F5/102, E02F5/103, E02F5/106 take precedence

Abstract

A ditching implement especially adapted for the construction of irrigation ditches having flat bottoms and divergently inclined side walls. The implement includes a plow-like main frame having elongate wings diverging rearwardly from each other in a V-shaped configuration. A hitch frame for coupling the implement to a three-point tractor hitch is slidably mounted for forward and rearward movement to the main frame along the longitudinal center line of the main frame. When a hitch frame is located at its forward limit of movement relative to the main frame, the hydraulic cylinder of the three-point hitch is operable to tilt the implement into a transport position clear of the ground.

Claims

1. A ditch digging implement adapted to be towed by a tractor having a three-point hitch, said implement comprising a main frame having a pair of elongate wings ridigly interconnected, at their forward ends and diverging rearwardly from each other, a hitch frame mounted upon said main frame for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly along the central longitudinal axis of said V-shaped main frame, releasable locking means for locking said hitch frame to said main frame at selected positions of longitudinal adjustment thereon, first coupling means adjacent the forward end of said hitch frame for coupling said hitch frame to two points of the three-point hitch of said tractor for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis normal to said longitudinal axis, an extensible hydraulic motor adapted to be coupled at one end to the third point of said three-point hitch, and second coupling means for coupling the other end of said motor to said hitch frame whereby said other end is movable with the hitch frame relative to the main frame, actuation of said motor means being operable to pivot said implement about said horizontal axis into a forwardly inclined position when said locking means is locked.

2. An implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor is operable in all positions of said hitch frame relative to said main frame to pivot said implement about said horizontal axis between a generally horizontal rest position wherein said wings rest upon the ground and a forwardly inclined position wherein the rearward end of said implement is elevated.

3. An implement as defined in claim 2 wherein said hitch frame is shiftable between a forward and a rearward end limit of movement relative to said main frame, said hydraulic motor being operable when said hitch frame is locked at said forward end limit of movement to swing said implement upwardly about said horizontal axis to a transport position clear of the ground.

4. An implement as defined in claim 3 wherein the forward end of said main frame is projected forwardly between the rear wheels of said tractor coupled to said implement when said hitch frame is located at its rearward end limit of movement relative to said main frame.

5. An implement as defined in claim 2 wherein the forward end portion of the lower edges of said wings diverge rearwardly from each other at a greater angle than the rearward end portion of the lower edges of said wings to form a ditch having a substantially flat bottom and upwardly divergent side walls.

6. An implement as defined in claim 1 wherein said hitch frame comprises plate means, opposed longitudinally extending track means on said main frame slidaBly receiving the opposite edges of said plate means to support and guide said hitch frame in movement relative to said main frame, and said locking means comprising crank means mounted for pivotal movement on said plate means and having an arm projecting into transverse overlying relationship with said track means, and means defining a plurality of arm receiving notches in said track means.