Self steering tandem hitch
First Claim
1. A self steering tandem hitch comprising:
- a first upright support shaft having a top end and a bottom end, said first upright support having an attachment device attachable to a tractor;
a pivot joint attached to said top end of said first upright support shaft;
a front bottom twist plate having a top surface and bottom surface, said bottom surface attached to said pivot joint;
a front shaft having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end attached to a center area of said top surface of said front bottom twist plate, said front shaft extending upward in an inline parallel alignment with said first upright support;
a front top twist plate having a center opening, top surface and a bottom surface that rests and rotates upon said top surface of said front bottom twist plate, said front shaft extending through said center opening on said front top twist plate;
a front tube having a top end, bottom end and side wall, said front tube installed over said front shaft with said bottom end rigidly attached to said top surface of said front top twist plate, said top end of said front shaft extending through said top end of said front tube, said front tube rotatable about said front shaft;
a main beam having a front end, rear end and center portion, said front end attached to said side wall of said front tube, said main beam extending perpendicular from said front tube;
a rear upright tube having a top end, bottom end and side wall, said side wall of said rear upright tube attached to said rear end of said main beam in a perpendicular relationship;
an upper rear twist plate rigidly attached to said bottom end of said rear upright tube, said upper rear twist plate having a center opening and a bottom surface;
a rear shaft insertable into and rotatable within said rear upright tube, said rear shaft having a top end and bottom end, said top end of said rear shaft extending through said top end of said rear upright tube and said bottom end of said rear shaft extending through said bottom end of said rear upright tube;
a bottom rear twist plate rigidly attached to said bottom end of said rear shaft, said bottom rear twist plate having a top surface and bottom surface, said top surface contacts and rotates upon said bottom surface of said upper rear twist plate;
an axle having wheels rigidly attached to said bottom surface of said bottom rear twist plate, said axle being rotatable in respect to said main beam by said rear shaft rotating within said rear upright tube;
an attachment means on said axle for attachment of a second farm implement;
a steering device attached to said axle to pivot said wheels on said axle in respect to said axle to cause a rear end of said self steering tandem hitch to maintain a left or right offset position, amount of said offset being determined by amount of pivot of said wheel in respect to said axle;
a front sprocket rigidly fixed to said top end of said front shaft, said front sprocket being rotated in respect to said main beam as the tractor on which said self steering tandem hitch is being used negotiates turns, said front sprocket being non-rotatable in respect to the tractor;
a rear sprocket rigidly fixed to said top end of said rear shaft, said rear sprocket having a predetermined gear ratio to said front sprocket, said rear shaft and said axle rotate as said rear sprocket rotates; and
a steering apparatus around and joining said front sprocket and said rear sprocket, said steering apparatus configured to rotate said rear sprocket in an opposite direction of said front sprocket as said front sprocket rotates thereby maintaining alignment of said second farm implement to a first farm implement attached to the tractor as the tractor negotiates turns and corners.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tandem hitch that automatically steers a second implement so it will properly trail a first implement around corners. The hitch attaches to a tractor'"'"'s three point hookup, so it is held stationary on the tractor. The first implement or attachment attaches to the back of the tractor. The second implement or implement attaches to the back of the self steering tandem hitch.
A first steering apparatus maintains the implement in a proper following position during cornering by rotating the rear wheel assembly. The whole wheel assembly is rotated by the steering apparatus for proper following positioning. Without the automatic steering the second implement would underswing or overswing leaving an area untouched. The steering action accomplished by this device steers the second implement to give a true and correct trailing of the second implement.
The self steering tandem hitch is generally described as having a front upright support, a main beam, a rear upright support, an axle assembly, a first steering apparatus and a second steering apparatus. The bottom end of the front upright support is attachable to a three point hitch on a tractor. The main beam is pivotally and rotatably attached to the top end of the front upright support. The rear upright support is attached to the rear end of the main beam. The axle assembly is rotatably attached to the lower end of rear upright support. The first steering apparatus rotates the wheel assembly in respect to the main beam to automatically steer the rear end of the self steering tandem hitch during turning and cornering. The rotation of the wheel assembly during turning and cornering maintains alignment of a second farm implement attached to the rear end of the self steering tandem hitch. A first farm implement being attached directly to the tractor. The second steering apparatus pivots the wheels to hold and maintain the second or rear farm implement in a left or right offset position.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A self steering tandem hitch comprising:
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a first upright support shaft having a top end and a bottom end, said first upright support having an attachment device attachable to a tractor; a pivot joint attached to said top end of said first upright support shaft; a front bottom twist plate having a top surface and bottom surface, said bottom surface attached to said pivot joint; a front shaft having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end attached to a center area of said top surface of said front bottom twist plate, said front shaft extending upward in an inline parallel alignment with said first upright support; a front top twist plate having a center opening, top surface and a bottom surface that rests and rotates upon said top surface of said front bottom twist plate, said front shaft extending through said center opening on said front top twist plate; a front tube having a top end, bottom end and side wall, said front tube installed over said front shaft with said bottom end rigidly attached to said top surface of said front top twist plate, said top end of said front shaft extending through said top end of said front tube, said front tube rotatable about said front shaft; a main beam having a front end, rear end and center portion, said front end attached to said side wall of said front tube, said main beam extending perpendicular from said front tube; a rear upright tube having a top end, bottom end and side wall, said side wall of said rear upright tube attached to said rear end of said main beam in a perpendicular relationship; an upper rear twist plate rigidly attached to said bottom end of said rear upright tube, said upper rear twist plate having a center opening and a bottom surface; a rear shaft insertable into and rotatable within said rear upright tube, said rear shaft having a top end and bottom end, said top end of said rear shaft extending through said top end of said rear upright tube and said bottom end of said rear shaft extending through said bottom end of said rear upright tube; a bottom rear twist plate rigidly attached to said bottom end of said rear shaft, said bottom rear twist plate having a top surface and bottom surface, said top surface contacts and rotates upon said bottom surface of said upper rear twist plate; an axle having wheels rigidly attached to said bottom surface of said bottom rear twist plate, said axle being rotatable in respect to said main beam by said rear shaft rotating within said rear upright tube; an attachment means on said axle for attachment of a second farm implement; a steering device attached to said axle to pivot said wheels on said axle in respect to said axle to cause a rear end of said self steering tandem hitch to maintain a left or right offset position, amount of said offset being determined by amount of pivot of said wheel in respect to said axle; a front sprocket rigidly fixed to said top end of said front shaft, said front sprocket being rotated in respect to said main beam as the tractor on which said self steering tandem hitch is being used negotiates turns, said front sprocket being non-rotatable in respect to the tractor; a rear sprocket rigidly fixed to said top end of said rear shaft, said rear sprocket having a predetermined gear ratio to said front sprocket, said rear shaft and said axle rotate as said rear sprocket rotates; and a steering apparatus around and joining said front sprocket and said rear sprocket, said steering apparatus configured to rotate said rear sprocket in an opposite direction of said front sprocket as said front sprocket rotates thereby maintaining alignment of said second farm implement to a first farm implement attached to the tractor as the tractor negotiates turns and corners. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A self steering tandem hitch comprising:
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a front upright support having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end being attachable to a tractor; a main beam having a front end and rear end, said front end pivotally and rotatably attached to said top end of said front upright support; a rear upright support having an upper end and a lower end attached to said rear end of said main beam; an axle assembly rotatably attached to said lower end of said rear upright support, said axle assemble having wheels pivotally attached to said axle assembly; a first steering apparatus rotating said axle assembly in respect to said main beam as the tractor negotiates corners and turns to maintain alignment of a second farm implement attached to a rear end of said self steering with a first farm implement attached to the tractor; a second steering apparatus for pivoting said wheels in respect to said axle assembly to provide and maintain said rear end of said self steering tandem hitch in a left or right offset position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A self steering tandem hitch comprising:
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a front upright support having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end being attachable to a tractor; a main beam having a front end and rear end, said front end pivotally and rotatably attached to said top end of said front upright support; a rear upright support having an upper end and a lower end attached to said rear end of said main beam; an axle assembly rotatably attached to said lower end of said rear upright support, said axle assemble having wheels pivotally attached to said axle assembly; a first steering apparatus comprising a front sprocket fixed in respect to said front upright support so that said main beam rotates in respect to said front sprocket, a rear sprocket fixed to said axle assembly so that as said rear sprocket rotates in respect to said main beam said axle assembly also rotates in respect to said main beam, and a steering line connecting said front sprocket and said rear sprocket so that as said main beam rotates about said front upright support said rear sprocket rotates to rotate said axle assembly to maintain alignment of a second farm implement attached to a rear end of said self steering with a first farm implement attached to the tractor; a second steering apparatus comprising a hydraulic cylinder, tie rods and cross link attached to the axle assembly to pivot and hold said wheels in a fixed position and to provide and maintain said rear end of said self steering tandem hitch in a left or right offset position.
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Specification