TRACTION AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL ROLLER OR SIMILAR DEVICE

Abstract: A traction and control mechanism for work implements such as an agricultural roller intended to be pulled by a tractor or similar means, comprising at least two implement sections (2, 3) attached to swivel arms (4, 5), which can be slewed in the horizontal plane between a transport position in which all sections (1, 2, 3) are one behind the other in the direction of pull and a working position in which the side sections (2, 3) are slewed out at either side of the implement's centre line. The swivel arms consist in a long swivel arm (4) and a short swivel (5), each swivel arm being provided with a fixed implement holder (6). The implement holder (6) of the long swivel arm (4) is behind the implement holder (6) of the short swivel arm (5) when the swivel arms (4, 5) are slewed backward towards the direction of pull, towards one another and parallel to the centre line of the implement. It is advantageous for the long swivel arm (4) to be capable of being slewed about a main spindle (7) linked with a traction device (15) which is connected to the tractor. The short swivel arm (5) can be slewed about a pivot spindle (8) linking the swivel arms (4, 5). The distance between the main spindle (7) and implement holder (6) of the respective swivel arms (4, 5) is the same when the swivel arms (4, 5) are slewed out to the working position.

Description: TRACTION jusro CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL OLLER OR SIMILAR DEVICE The present invention relates to' traction and control mechanism for work implements such as an agricultural roller intended to he pulled by a tractor or similar means and comprising at least two implement sections fitted on swivel arms capable of being slewed in the horizontal plane between a transport position in which all sections are one " behind the other in the direction of pull and a working position in which the sections are slewed out to either side of the implement's centre line. The agricultural roller to which the invention can be applied consists of two or several roller sections each with a frame in which a number of roller rings are located on a common shaft. The frame is provided with a draw-bar by means of which the roller section is linked to the tractor or to the frame of a preceding roller section or to a special traction device so that the working widths of the roller sections overlap one another to some extent. A disadvantage of these rollers consists in the fact that the roller sections must be switched manually from the working position of the roller to its transport position, in which the sections are required to travel one " behind the other and with complete overlap so that the width of the roller will permit e.g. transportation by road. With this method the roller rings run on the ground during transportation. With a view to simplifying the changeover between the working position and the transport position a control and coupling mechanism has been proposed in accordance with the Swedish Patent No.7705404-9* which mechanically enables multiples of roller sections to be changed over between the working and the transport position and vice-versa. The mechanism comprises two link arms supporting at least one roller section and characterised inter alia by the fact that-one link arm is provided with a bracket for a roller section, the said bracket being fixed in relation to the said link arm whereas the other link arm is provided with a bracket capable of being displaced in the longitudinal direction of the said link arm. The known mechanism is not limited to agricultural rollers comprising two or several roller sections but can be adapted to various types of work implement capahle of being pulled by e.g. a tractor. A disadvantage of the known mechanism consists in that owing to the telescopic , movements of the swivel arms maintenance has to be relatively exact for the mechanism to function. The present invention is intended to provide a mechanism which does not exhibit the disadvantages of the known mechanisms. The object has been achieved by the present traction and control mechanism which can be applied both to agricultural rollers and other work implements and which comprises two swivel arms to which implement sections are linked. The swivel arms can be slewed in the horizontal plane between a transport position in which all sections are one behind the other in the direction of pull and a working position in which the side sections are slewed outward to either side of the implement's centre line. The mechanism is characterised in that the swivel arms consist in a long and a short swivel arm, each being provided with a fixed implement holder and in that the implement holder of the long swivel arm is behind the implement holder of the short swivel arm when the swivel arms are slewed back towards the direction of pull, towards one another and parallel to the centre line of the implement. It is advantageous for the long swivel arm to be capable of being slewed about a vertical main spindle which is connected with a traction device linked to the tractor, the short swivel arm being capable of being slewed about a likewise vertical pivot spindle by means of which the swivel arms are linked. The movements of the swivel arms are brought about with the aid of a hydraulic ram acting on the long swivel arm and, by means of a linkage, also acting on the short swivel arm. The movements of the swivel arms and the other components consist in purely rotary movements, as a result of which maintenance of the mechanism is greatly simplified. The invention is described below with regard to an embodiment in the form of an agricultural roller, with reference to the attached igures. Figure 1 shows schematically an agricultural roller with a O Pf central roller section and two side roller sections viewed straight from above in the working position. Figure 2 shows the agricultural roller in accordance with figure 1 in the transport position viewed from above. Figure 3 shows a detail of the swivel arms of a roller in accordance with figures 1 and 2. The agricultural roller in accordance with the example comprises a central roller section 1 consisting of several roller rings 12 which are connected to a frame 13 with the aid of a common shaft 14. Frame 13 is provided with a draw-bar 15 linked to the pulling tractor, which is not shown in the figures. The roller comprises also two side roller sections 2, 3 > the design of which is substantially identical with that of the centre section. Each of the side sections 2, 3 is connected to its swivel arm 4» 5> the. said swivel arms being capable of being slewed in the horizontal plane between a transport position in which all sections 1, 2, 3 are one behind the other in the direction of pull and a working position in which the sections 2, 3 axe slewed out to either side of the roller's centre line. The swivel arms 4 > 5 consist in a long swivel arm 4 and a short swivel arm 5, each of them provided with an implement holder 6. The long swivel arm 4 can be slewed about a main spindle 7 linked with draw-bar 1 on frame 13 of centre section 1. The short swivel arm 5 can be slewed about a pivot spindle 8 linking the swivel arms 4. 5« In the working position the long swivel arm 4 is slewed out so as to form a right angle in respect of the direction of pull, and the short swivel arm 5 is slewed out so that it is in line with the long swivel arm, on the opposite side of the roller. In the working position the distance between the main spindle 7 and implement holder 6 of the respective swivel arm is the same. The long swivel arm 4 is slewedwith the aid of a hydraulic ram 9 o which one end is rotatably joined to the said swivel arm the other end being rotatably connected with the traction device 15 on centre section 1 by means of a link 10 extending rearward from the main spindle 7- The short swivel arm 5 is slewed with the aid of a OMPI tie- od 11 , one end of which is rotatably secured to the said swivel arm while its other end is rotatably connected with link 10. As soon as the long swivel arm 4 begins to turn from the working ' position about main spindle 7 a traction force arises in tie-rod 11 as a result of which the short swivel arm 5 begins to turn about the pivot spindle 8. The swivel arms 4 > 5 are locked to one another in the working position with the aid of a locking device 16, whereby these components form together with link 10 and tie-rod 11 a rigid framework enabling the swivel arms 4 > 5 to retain their extension perpendicular to the direction of pull while the roller is working. The locking device 16 comprises a pawl 17 capable of being turned about a vertical spindle 18 and attached to the long swivel arm 5> whereby this pawl grips, in the working position, a catch 19 attached to the short swivel arm 5 - Pawl 1 is opened with the aid of a tie-rod 20 and maintained in the locked position with the aid of a helical spring 21 supported against a seat 22 and acting on the pawl 17- The tie-rod 20 is linked at one end to a yoke 23 fitted to the long swivel arm 4 and capable of being rotated between two positions about a vertical spindle 24« The other end of yoke 23 is subject to the action of the hydraulic ram 9 so that when subject to pressure it keeps the pawl 17 locked, holding it open when subject to pull. In the course of locking to the working position the pawl 17 is opened by pressure from catch 19« OMPI

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A traction and control mechanism for work implement e.g. an agricultural roller intended to be pulled by a tractor or similar means, .comprising at least two implement sections (2, 3) attached to swivel arms (4, 5) capable of being slewed in the horizontal plane between a transport position in which all sections (1 , 2, 3) are • behind one another in the direction of pull and a working position in which the side sections (2, 3) are slewed outward at either side of the implement's centre line c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the swivel arms (4 > 5) consist in a long swivel arm (4) capable of being slewed about a main spindle (7) connected to a traction device (15) intended to be linked to the tractor and a short swivel arm (5) capable of being slewed about a pivot spindle (8) by means of which the swivel arms (4, 5) are linked. 2. A mechanism in accordance with claim 1 c h a r a c t e r ¬ i s e d in that each swivel arm (4>5) is provided with an implement holder (6) at its respective free end and in that the implement holder (6) of the long swivel arm (4) is behind the implement holder (6) of the short swivel arm (5), when the swivel arms (4> 5) are slewed backward towards the direction of pull and towards one another. 3. A mechanism in accordance with claims 1-2 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the distance between the main spindle (7) and the implement holder (β) of the respective swivel arm is the same when the swivel arms (4, 5) are slewed out into the working position. 4. A mechanism in accordance with claims 1-3 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it comprises a centre section (1 ) provided with a frame (13) which bears the traction device (15) > and in that a main spindle (7) is secured to the frame (13)« 5. A mechanism in accordance with claims 1-4 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the long swivel arm (4) is slewed with the aid of a hydraulic ram (9) one end of which is rotatably arranged on the long swivel arm (4) its other end being rotatably connected with a traction device (15) via a link (10) extending rearward from the main spindle (7), and in that the short swivel arm (5) is slewed with the aid of a tie-rod (n) one end of which is rotatably attached to the short swivel arm (5) while its other end is rotatably connected with link (10). OM

Inventors: EINARSSON ULF, EINARSSON, ULF
Applicants: EINARSSON ULF, EINARSSON, ULF
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A01B73
IPC codes: A01B73