Quick hitch guidance device
First Claim
1. A guidance device for a tractor-drawn crop implement, comprising:
- a generally inverted, U-shaped frame having means for attachment to a forward end of said implement;
a linkage means for controllably increasing the distance between one end of said frame and a tractor and decreasing the distance between the other end of said frame and said tractor, including a horizontal connecting rod supported for linear movement with respect to said frame between a right steer position and a left steer position;
an upper bell crank responsively connected to said horizontal connecting rod and supported for rotational movement with respect to said frame about an upper pivot point;
a vertical connecting rod coupled at one end to said upper bell crank;
a lower bell crank responsively coupled to said vertical connecting rod and supported for rotational movement with respect to said frame about a lower pivot point, whereby linear movement of said horizontal connecting rod between said right steer position and said left steer position results in rotational movement of said lower bell crank; and
hydraulic means activated by a specified stimulus for controllably moving said horizontal connecting rod between said right steer position and said left steer position.
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Accused Products
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.
90 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A guidance device for a tractor-drawn crop implement, comprising:
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a generally inverted, U-shaped frame having means for attachment to a forward end of said implement; a linkage means for controllably increasing the distance between one end of said frame and a tractor and decreasing the distance between the other end of said frame and said tractor, including a horizontal connecting rod supported for linear movement with respect to said frame between a right steer position and a left steer position;
an upper bell crank responsively connected to said horizontal connecting rod and supported for rotational movement with respect to said frame about an upper pivot point;
a vertical connecting rod coupled at one end to said upper bell crank;
a lower bell crank responsively coupled to said vertical connecting rod and supported for rotational movement with respect to said frame about a lower pivot point, whereby linear movement of said horizontal connecting rod between said right steer position and said left steer position results in rotational movement of said lower bell crank; and
hydraulic means activated by a specified stimulus for controllably moving said horizontal connecting rod between said right steer position and said left steer position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A guidance device comprising the combination of linkage means for controllably increasing the distance between a frame and tractor, said linkage means having an upper bell crank responsively connected to a horizontal connecting rod and supported for rotational movement with respect to said frame about an upper pivot point, with a vertical connecting rod coupled at one end to said upper bell crank, and a lower bell crank supported for rotational movement about a lower pivot point whereby linear movement of said horizontal connecting rod results in rotational movement of said lower bell crank for controllably moving said horizontal connecting rod between a right steer position and a left steer position.
Specification