Leveler frame attached to an agricultural tractor

• US 4,386,662 A
• Filed: 05/21/1981
• Issued: 06/07/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aitan Kalif
• Original Assignee: Aitan Kalif
• Inventors: Kalif, Aitan
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/266,106
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 172/445.1, 172/445.2, 172/799.5, 172/779, 172/780, 172/684.5
• US Class Current: 172/445.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F

Abstract

A leveler frame is attached to the three-point linkage of an agricultural tractor and serves to break up earth clods by vibrating action of its inclined blades. The implement comprises two lateral members and three cross members in the shape of one fixed inclined blade at the rear end of the frame and two vibrating blades pivotally fastened to the lateral members, one at the front end and one in the center of the frame. The pivoted blade at the front end is rigidly connected to an upstanding lever member which serves to attach the leveler frame to the parallel upper and lower linkage arms by means of vertically spaced pivots on the lever member. The second vibratory, pivoted blade--which is not obligatory--is connected to the upstanding lever by a link extending parallel to the lateral members. During travel of the tractor across a roughly plowed field the frame is trailed behind by the freely swinging linkage arms; while the tractor wheels rise and drop alternately while passing over the uneven ground, they actuate the pivoted blade or blades by movement of the linkage arms, whereby earth clods are comminuted and the soil surface is smoothed.

Claims

1. A leveler frame adapted to be attached to a conventional three-point-hitch of an agricultural tractor comprising two parallel lateral members extending longitudinally and in the direction of travel, at least two transverse members interconnecting said lateral members and comprising a rear member rigidly connected to said lateral members and a front member pivotally attached to said lateral members by means of two end pivots so that said front member may oscillate about the longitudinal horizontal axis thereof, each of said transverse members having forwardly and upwardly inclined working blade surfaces and the angle of inclination of the working blade surface of said front member being variable according to the pivotal position of said front member, an upstanding lever member rigidly connected to said front member including means for connecting said lever member to the arms of the three-point-hitch at two spaced levels along said lever member, and sliding bar or cable means loosely connecting the distal end of said lever member to the rear of said leveler frame, whereby a front-to-back rocking of a drawing tractor causes oscillation of said front member without exertion of substantial force on said rear member through said sliding bar or cable means.

2. The leveler frame of claim 1, comprising a second oscillating member positioned to the rear of said front member and having a forwardly and upwardly inclined working blade surface, said second member being connected to said front member by hinged bar means adapted to urge said second member to oscillate at the same rate as said front member.

3. The leveler frame of claim 1, wherein said pivoted front member is through-spaced comprising an inclined front blade wall, a reinforcing rear wall and two vertical connecting plates positioned between said rear wall and said front blade wall, at a horizontal distance from each other corresponding substantially to the horizontal spacing of the two lower hitch arms of the tractor.

4. The leveler frame of claim 3, wherein said upstanding lever member comprises two parallel upstanding bars, separated by a gap, two downwardly diverging plates rigidly connected to said two bars, said diverging plates being, at their lower ends, continued in downward direction by two vertical plates connected to said connecting plates of said front member.

5. The leveler frame of claim 4, wherein the rear end of the upper arm of said three-point-hitch is pivotally fastened between said two upstanding bars of said lever member, and wherein the rear ends of the two lower arms of said three-point-hitch are pivotally fastened to said downwardly extending plates of said lever member.

6. The leveler frame of claim 5, wherein the length of said upper arm of said three-point-hitch is adjustable.

7. The leveler frame of claim 5, wherein at least three pairs of holes are provided in said two bars, permitting the fixation of said upper arm in either pair.

8. The leveler frame of claim 1, wherein a bar connecting the rear end of said leveler frame is screw-threaded in its front end and inserted into a rotatable threaded sleeve, said sleeve being axially movable in a bush which is pivotally connected to the top of said lever member, between said parallel bars.