Quick hitch guidance device

• US 5,664,632 A
• Filed: 04/29/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Textron Financial Corporation (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Orthman Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Frasier, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US08/639,692
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 172/6, 172/2, 172/5, 172/26, 172/190, 172/191, 280/455.1, 280/474, 280/412, 280/413, 180/79, 180/131, 364/424.01, 364/424.07, 318/580, 318/587
• US Class Current: 172/6
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/062 the connection comprising a rigid interface frame on the tractor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/102 characterised by the location of the mounting on the tractor, e.g. on the rear part
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/003 Steering or guiding of machines or implements pushed or pulled by or mounted on agricultural vehicles such as tractors, e.g. by lateral shifting of the towing connection

Abstract

The invention relates to a quick hitch guidance system which allows an operator to maintain proper alignment with a farm implement while towing it behind a tractor. The device includes an exterior inverted U-shaped frame with an external quick hitch coupling element. Within the frame there is attached a double rod hydraulic cylinder which operatively moves internal linkage within the frame so that the distance between the device and the tractor is increased on one side and decreased on the other thereby steering the implement into proper alignment. The implement moves independent of the tractor so that as the tractor deviates laterally from alignment with the crop rows, the position of the implement is corrected and aligned with the rows to prevent crop damage.

Claims

1. A guidance device having a combination of linkage means for controllably increasing the distance between a frame and tractor, comprising:

an upper bell crank responsively connected to a horizontal connecting rod and supported for rotational movement with respect to the frame about an upper pivot point,

a lower bell crank supported for rotational movement with respect to the frame about a lower pivot point,

a vertical connecting rod coupled at one end to the upper bell crank and operatively connected at another end to the lower bell crank,

whereby linear movement of the horizontal connecting rod results in rotational movement of the lower bell crank for controllably moving the frame between a right steer position and a left steer position.

2. A guidance device for a crop implement drawn in a general direction of travel by a tractor, comprising:

a frame;

a first coupling means supported for movement with respect to said frame between a retracted position and an extended position;

a second coupling means supported for movement with respect to said frame between a retracted position and an extended position;

said first and second coupling means being oppositely responsive to each other; and

means for moving said first and second coupling means between said retracted and said extended positions, said means for moving including a double acting hydraulic cylinder mounted on said frame and having first and second rod ends extending therefrom, said first and second rod ends being connected to said first and second coupling means respectively whereby said first and second coupling means can be moved between said retracted and extended positions;

wherein said first coupling means includes an aperture adjacently aligned to an aperture in said frame such that a lockout pin placed through the coupling means aperture and the frame aperture prevents movement of said first coupling means.