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Self steering tandem hitch

  • US 5,725,230 A
  • Filed: 06/17/1996
  • Issued: 03/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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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