Patent ID: 6625964
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: A01B,Y10S

Abstract:
A hydraulic drive apparatus comprising an elongated hitching arm for pivotal attachment at one end to a powered vehicle provided with a power take-off shaft and for attachment at an opposite end thereof to a pull-type agricultural implement having driven mechanical components, a hydraulic pump attached to said hitching arm adjacent to said one end, a rotatable drive shaft for actuation of said hydraulic pump upon attachment of said drive shaft to said power take-off shaft of said powered vehicle, hydraulic fluid lines for delivery and return of hydraulic fluid from and to said hydraulic pump for operation of said mechanical elements, and an articulated hitching assembly provided at said one end of said hitching arm for connection of said hitching arm to said powered vehicle, said assembly substantially isolating said rotatable drive shaft from movements of said hitching arm relative to said powered vehicle, wherein the articulated hitching assembly comprises a reel-shaped element for attachment to a draw bar of a powered vehicle, a saddle-shaped element surrounding said reel-shaped element and rotatable thereon, said saddle-shaped element having upstanding flanges provided with aligned bores, a pin extending through said bores of said saddle-shaped element, a hollow elongated housing having forwardly projecting lower side pieces pivotally connected to said saddle-shaped element via said pin, a cylindrical downwardly projecting element forming an end part of said hitching arm, and a bearing for rotatably attaching said housing to said cylindrical downwardly projecting element for rotation of said housing about said end part.