A COUPLING MEANS

Abstract: A coupling means for alternatively coupling carried, towed or drawn appliances to a motor-driven vehicle, for example a tractor provided with a so-called three-point lift. The coupling means comprises a coupling frame (6) connected to the driven vehicle, and an appliance-coupling frame (7) connected to respective appliances. The vehicle-coupling frame is connected to the tractor through an upper attachment means and through two lower attachment means for the draw bars (2) of the tractor. Hydraulic devices are provided for angular adjustment of the tractor-coupling frame (6). A locking hook means (16) is connected to each of the lower attachment means, and hydraulic devices are provided for operating the hook means. An upper coupling device (17) is arranged on the tractor-coupling frame (6), the appliance-coupling frame being provided with means (14, 15) arranged to co-act with the upper coupling device and the hook means in a manner to couple the appliance to the tractor in a reliable manner. A hydraulic system which includes valve means is provided for actuating the hydraulic devices. In accordance with the invention, the tractor-coupling frame (6) is connected to the tractor by means of a top cylinder (5) which replaces the push rod of the tractor and which is connected between an upper attachment point (25) on the frame and the tractor body (1). The top cylinder (5) forms part of the aforementioned adjusting hydraulic device, and a stay means (10) which can be locked in desired angular positions in the horizontal and vertical plane is connected between the upper part (26) of the tractor-coupling frame (6) and respective draw bars (2).

Description: A coupling means The present invention relates to a coupling means for alternatively coupling carried, towed or drawn applian¬ ces or implements to a tractor or some other driven vehio- le provided with a so-called three-point lift, the coup¬ ling means comprising a vehicle-coupling frame connected to the driven vehicle, and an appliance-coupling frame connected to respective appliances, the vehicle-coupling frame being connected to the tractor through an upper attachment means and through two lower attachment means for the draw bars of the tractor; hydraulic devices for angular adjustment of 'the tractor-coupling frame; a lock¬ ing hook-means connected to each of said lower attachment means; hydraulic devices for operating said hook means; an upper coupling device arranged on the tractor-coupling frame, said appliance-coupling frame being provided with means arranged to co-act with said upper coupling device and said hook means in a manner to couple said appliance and said tractor reliably together; and a hydraulic system which includes valve means for actuating said hydraulic devices. Such a coupling means is known substantially from the Swedish Lay-Out Print No. 390 516. Tractors which are used, inter alia, for forestry and agri¬ cultural work are now often provided with so-called three- -point lifts, i.e. a hydraulic lifting device operative to detachably connect carried and partially carried applian¬ ces or implements to the tractor. Thus, the appliances are connected at three locations, namely one upper location and two lower locations. In addition to such coupling means there is also found other coupling possibilities and arrange¬ ments, for example draw beams, hitching hooks, transverse coupling bars, coupling yokes etc. Thus, a plurality of coupling devices are known which are intended for coup¬ ling wagons, carts, implements and machines all with dif- fering functions within the fields of agriculture, forestr and industry. There is a need for a single coupling means capable of being used for coupling all types of applian¬ ces and machines. Such a coupling means shall eliminate all manual coupling work, not least in view of the majori- ty of accidents which occur when connecting and disconnect¬ ing implements and amchines to and from tractors. There is also needed an effective docking system between tractor, and appliance, with which the transfer of hydraulic oil and power from tractor to appliance will be effective at the same time as the appliance is coupled to the tractor. Such a docking system presumes that there is provided a unitary coupling for all kinds of equipments, machines and wagons. These requirements are satisfied by means of the coupling means according to the invention, which is mainly charac- ■ terized in that the tractor-coupling frame is connected to the tractor by means of a top cylinder which replaces the push rod of the tractor and which is connected between an upper connecting point on the frame and the tractor body, said top cylinder forming part of said adjusting hydraulic device; and in that a stay means capable of being locked in a desired angular position in the horizon¬ tal and vertical planes is connected between the upper part of the tractor-coupling frame and respective draw bars. This construction is intended to function as a switchable locking means enabling the alternative coupling of carried, partially carried and towed or drawn appliances or imple¬ ments to the aforementioned three-point lift. The object of the constructions is to provide a functional unitary coupling between tractor and appliance or wagon, in combina¬ tion with the coupling frame desrcibed in Swedish Lay-Out Print 390 516 and standardized appliance frames for all appliances and wagons. The novelty of the new coupling means resides mainly in the stay arrangement together with the function of said stay arrangement in combination with the conventional three-point lift of the tractor, and a coupling means according to Swedish Lay-Out Prints 390 516 and 409 806. The arrangement enables the use of the three-point lift of a tractor to be expanded to include the coupling of towed carriages, wagons and appliances having their own wheel-carrying .axles, in addition to the coupling of carried and drawn appliances. The stay arrangement also makes it possible, in conjuction with a coupled carried appliance to steer the appliance laterally and to fix said appliance in a desired position. The arrangement can also be used in combination with the top cylinder to transfer the load from a coupled vehicle to the tractor. In summary, the stay construction according to the inven¬ tion enables the use of a three-point lift to be widened to include the coupling of a plurality of machines, " appli¬ ances, carriages and wagons present on the market to one and the same coupling means, which in turn forms in this way a truly unitary coupling between tractor and the appli¬ ance, machine or wagon coupled thereto. The coupling means according to the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to acconpanying drawings, which illustrate the function of a stay arrange¬ ment mounted between a coupling frame of the kind descri¬ bed in the Swedish Lay-Out Print 390 516 and two draw bars forming part of the three-point lift of the tractor. Figure 1 is a side view of the element of the coupling means associated with the tractor; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same elements; Figure 3 illustrates said elements together with an appli¬ ance or implement provided with coupling means; Figure 4 is analogous with Figure 3, but illustrates a dif- ferent appliance or implement. F-igure 5 illustrates another embodiment of coupling means on an appliance or implement; Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of appliance coupling means; Figure 7 illustrates parts of the hydraulic system. . In Figures 1 and 2 there is shown the rear part of a driven vehicle, hereinafter called tractor, on each side of which there is pivotally mounted a lifting arώ 3 whose free end is pivotally connected at 23 to a stay 4. The other end of the stay 4 is pivotally connected to a draw bar 2, one end of which is connected to the tractor body 1 by means of a pin 11, and the other end of which is pivotally connec¬ ted * to the coupling frame via a pi 18. The draw bar 2 can be raised via the arm 3, which in turn is operated by the conventional hydraulic system of the tractor. A hydraulic piston-cylinder device 5 replaces the mechanically adjust¬ able top bar incorporated in a conventional three-point lift, and can be hydraulically regulated from the driving seat. The valve of the top cylinder 5 is shown at 21, and the cylinder is pivotally connected to the tractor at 24 and to the upper part of the frame 6 at 25. The coupling frame 6 is provided in the upper region thereof with a cat¬ cher hook 17, and in the lower region thereof with a pair of locking hooks 16," which are operated by cylinders 27 •and associated valve 22. The coupling frame 6 is intended for coupling carried implements 8 (Fig.6) and partially carried implements and towed trucks and implements 9 (Fig.4) .all provided with similar appliance-frames 7 (Figs.5,6) . Preferably, double-acting stay cylinders 10 are arranged diagonally between the coupling frame 6 and the draw bars 2, more specifically in the upper region of the frame at 26 and in the lower region thereof adjacent the draw bars 2, via an attachment 19. The cylinders 10 are moveably means for relieving the load on the conventional lift of the tractor, the coupling frame 6, when pulling trucks, wagons and towed implements or appliances, and is inten¬ ded to fix the vertical position of the coupling frame 6 in a desired position, and to alternately guide the frame from right to left or visa versa. They are, on the other hand, neutralized when carried implements or appliances, i.e. the top cylinder is then activated in a known manner. The stay cylinders 10 can be replaced with mechanically functioning stays arranged to be locked in desired posi¬ tions. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate respective appliances 8 and 9 coupled to a tractor. The appliance-frame 7 is normally fixedly connected to the appliance 8, as illustrated in Figure 6, while the appliance frame associated with towed wagons and implements or appliances having their own carry¬ ing wheel axles is oveably connected to the appliance, as illustrated in Figure 5, which means that the frame is connected to the wagon or appliance shown in Figure 4 so as to be moveable in both a radial and a horizontal direc¬ tion. In Figures 3 and 4 the locking hooks 16 are shown to be coupled to a locking means 15 on the appliance frame, while the hook 17 -is shown to be coupled to a locking means 14 on the same frame. In the Figure 4 embodiment, the referen¬ ce 13 identifies a stay for supporting an fixing an appli¬ ance or a wagon 9 having its own carrying wheel axle. When driving a carried appliance 8, which is coupled to the tractor via the coupling frames 6, 7 and the three- -point lift of the tractor, the direction valve 20 of the cylinders 10 is switched to a flow position (position 4), the valve 20 being illustrated schematically in Figure 7. The top cylinder 5 is locked in a fixed position via the direction valve 21 in position 1. The three-point lift can then function normally, without being affected by the stay cylinders 10. Under certain conditions, the stay cylinders 10 can be used to steer the lateral movement of the appliance frame 7 and the appliance, or to lock the appliance in this position towards the centre, with the aid of the direction valve 20 of the stay cylinders, positions 2-3. When coupling and uncoupling appliance 8 and wagon 9 to the tractor with the aid of the coupling frame 6, the direc tion valve 20 of the stay cylinders 10 is set to the flow position, position 4. The coupling frame and its function when coupling and un¬ coupling, for example, an appliance to the tractor is de- scribed in more detail in lay-out prints 390 516 and 409806. When the appliance soupled to the tractor is changed from a carried appliance to a towed appliance, the stay cylin¬ ders 10 act as supports between the upper part of the coup¬ ling frame 6 and the inner attachment 11 of the draw bar 2. Subsequent to coupling the appliance to the coupling frame and ' after the locking hooks 16 have locked the two frames 6 and 7 together, and subsequent to then placing the pull bar 2 horizontally with the appliance frame 7 , via the lift means of the tractor, the stay cylinders 10 are locked in the position obtained, via the direction valve 20, position 1. The top cylinder 5 and the hydraulic functions of the three-point lift are then placed in flow position via asso¬ ciated direction valves. The vertical loading point and pivot point of the towed or pulled vehicle (appliance) 9 is transferred to the pin 11 via the pull rod 2, resulting in a favourable load transfer from the towed or pulled vehicle to the tractor 1. Horizontal and radial movement of the appliance frame 8 is effected via the bearing point 12 and When the top cylinder 5 is activated to operate in a pull¬ ing mode, the pull or draw combination of three-point lift-stay-cylinders functions as a loading coupling, which means that load from the coupled towed or pulled vehicle, the appliance, can be transferred to the drive wheel of the tractor, thereby increasing the traction of the trac¬ tor. As will be seen from the coupling diagram illustra¬ ted in Figure 7, the piston-rod side of the cylinders 10 is connected to the piston side of a corresponding cylin- der via a hydraulic line.

Claims: S C l a i m s 1. A coupling means for alternatively coupling carried, towed or drawn appliances or implements to a tractor or some other driven vehicle provided with a so-called three- -point lift, the coupling means comprising a v hicle-co p¬ ling frame (6) connected to the driven vehicle, and an appliance-coupling frame (7) connected to respective appli¬ ances, the vehicle-coupling frame being connected to the tractor through an upper attachment means and through two lower attachment means for the draw bars (2) of the trac- tor; hydraulic devices for angular adjustment of the trac¬ tor-coupling frame (6 ; a locking hook-means- (16) connec¬ ted to each of said lower attachment means; hydraulic devi¬ ces for operating said hook means; an upper coupling devi-- ce (17) arranged on the tractor-coupling frame (6), said appliance-coupling frame being provided with means (14,15) arranged to co-act with said upper coupling device and said hook means in a manner to couple said appliance and said tractor reliably together, and a hydraulic system which in¬ cludes valve means for actuating said hydraulic devices, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tractor-coupling frame (6) is connected to the tractor by means of a top cylinder (5) which is connected between an upper attach¬ ment point (25) on the frame and the tractor body (1) and which replaces the tractor push rod, said top cylinder forming part of said adjusting hydraulic means; and in that a stay means (10) which can be locked in any desired angular position in the horizontal and vertical plane is connected between the upper part (26) of the tractor-coup¬ ling frame (6) and respective draw rods (2) . 2. A coupling means according to Claim 1, c h a r a c - * t e r i z e d in that the stay means comprises a hydrau¬ lic stay cylinder (10) which is operative between said upper attachment point and respective draw bars (2) and which forms a further part of said adjusting hydraulic means 3. A coupling means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the appliance frame 5 (7) is fixedly connected to a carried appliance (8) . 4. A coupling means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the appliance is a wagon or an appliance (9) having its own carrying wheel axle, c h a r a c t e r i¬ z d in that the appliance frame (7) is connected to o said appliance in a manner such as to be moveable both radially and horizontally.

Inventors: LIDGREN JAN HENRIK
Applicants: LIDGREN JAN HENRIK
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01B59
IPC codes: A01B59, B60D1, B62D49