Hydraulic stabilizer for limiting movement

• US 3,905,425 A
• Filed: 12/26/1972
• Issued: 09/16/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl D. Jackson
• Original Assignee: Carl D. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Carl D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US05/318,384
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 172/321,446,449 280/489 188/300,313,318 254/24,93,105 52/126
• US Class Current: 172/321
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/004 Length-adjustable links
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/023 Lateral adjustment of their tools
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/322 using fluid dampers fluid dampers per se F16F9/00

Abstract

A hydraulic stabilizer mounted to and between a tractor and a lawn finisher for limiting movement therebetween. A piston is slidably mounted within a hydraulic cylinder. A piston rod attached to the piston extends outwardly from the cylinder with the cylinder and piston rod being attached to the tractor and lawn finisher. In one embodiment, a container of liquid is connected by conduits to a liquid outlet positioned at each end of the cylinder with the piston positioned at all times between the liquid outlets. A pair of valves are mounted to the conduits to limit liquid flow within the conduits. To prevent movement between the tractor and lawn finisher, the valves are closed thereby preventing liquid flow through the cylinder and relative movement between the piston and cylinder. To allow relative motion between the tractor and lawn finisher, the valves are opened thereby allowing liquid flow through the cylinder and relative motion between the piston and cylinder. In one variation, liquid pressure is applied to the piston by the force of gravity whereas in an alternate variation, the liquid pressure is applied by a spring biased piston. In another embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder is provided with a pair of outlets positioned at the opposite ends of the cylinder which are connected together by conduits with a valve disposed therebetween. Liquid flow is allowed through the conduits only when the valve is opened thereby allowing relative motion between the piston and cylinder.

Claims

1. A hydraulic stabilizer for limiting movement between a first vehicle and a second vehicle attached thereto comprising:

a cylinder mounted to said first vehicle having an inner surface defining a piston receiving cavity with liquid therein, opposite ends and a first outlet at one of said ends and a second outlet at the other of said ends;

a piston slidably mounted in said cavity between said first outlet and said second outlet and in sealing engagement with said inner surface preventing liquid flow past said piston;

a piston rod fixedly attached to said piston, said rod extends through said cavity and has a distal end extending outwardly from said cylinder and connected to said second vehicle;

a first conduit and a second conduit connected respectively to said first outlet and said second outlet;

valve means connected to said first conduit and said second conduit and having an open position allowing liquid flow through said first conduit and into said cylinder via said first outlet and allowing said piston to move toward said second outlet causing said liquid flow from said cylinder via said second outlet through said valve means, and with said piston moving toward said first outlet allowing liquid flOw through said second conduit and into said cylinder via said second outlet with liquid flow from said cylinder via said first outlet and through said first conduit, said valve means having a closed position preventing liquid flow through said first conduit and said second conduit and preventing motion between said piston and cylinder;

a container holding liquid and being connected to said first conduit and said second conduit and wherein;

said valve means includes a first valve and a second valve connected respectively to said first conduit and said second conduit, each having an open position allowing liquid flow from said container through said first conduit and into said cylinder via said first outlet and allowing said piston to move toward said second outlet causing said liquid flow from said cylinder via said second outlet through said second valve to said container, and with said piston moving toward said first outlet allowing liquid flow from said container through said second conduit and into said cylinder via said second outlet with liquid flow from said cylinder via said first outlet and through said first conduit to said container, said first valve and said second valve having a closed position preventing liquid flow through said first conduit and said second conduit and preventing motion between said piston and cylinder;

said container includes an inner cylindrical side wall defining a chamber with liquid therein, said container further includes a movable plate extending across said chamber and in sealing engagement with said cylindrical side wall of said container, said container further includes a spring mounted therein which is in abutting relationship with said movable plate biasing said movable plate to force liquid from said container and through said first conduit and said second conduit;

said first vehicle is a tractor and said second vehicle is an earth working device which includes a frame with a ground engaging tool mounted thereon, said tractor includes hydraulic means mounted thereon operable to raise and lower said earth working device when said first valve and said second valve are in said open position and with said earth working device locked in position with respect to said tractor when said first valve and said second valve are in said closed position.

2. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein:

said cylinder includes a cylindrical inner wall with a first cap fixedly mounted to said cylindrical inner wall at one of said opposite ends sealing said cavity and a removable cap mounted to said cylindrical inner wall at the other of said opposite ends sealing said cavity;

said rod is slidably and sealingly movable through said removable cap, said first cap has a bracket mounted thereto which has a socket ball pivotally connected to said first vehicle, said distal end of said piston rod has a bracket secured thereto which has another socket ball pivotally connected to a second vehicle allowing relative vertical movement between said first vehicle and said second vehicle when said first valve and said second valve are in said open position.