Patent GB-341888-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to plows
IPC: A01B3/28
Filed: 1929-10-21
Abstract: 341,888. Implements for working land. MINNEAPOLIS-MOLINE POWERIMPLEMENT CO., 1410, 3rd Avenue, Moline, Illinois, U.S.A. Oct. 21, 1929, No. 31957. Convention date, June 13. [Class 6 (i).] A reversible tractor plough having two sets of oppositely directed plough bodies and independently movable wheels is provided with automatic means for adjusting the wheels to run in the furrow or on the unploughed land, draught connections and wheel mountings arranged to allow the plough to turn sharply and to be backed, automatic means for adjusting the line of draught to coincide with the line of resistance, and an automatic release device which operates when an obstruction is met. The main or draught frame comprises side bars 10, 11 connected together by a bolt 12 and sleeve 13, a shaft 21, and a bar 18. A draught bar 14 is pivoted on the sleeve 13 and connected to the tractor 17. Two plough beams 30, 31 are adjustably connected to a channel-shaped cross-bar 34 and two other beams 32, 33 to a similar cross-bar 35.. The beam 30 is pivoted on the transverse shaft 21 and curved downwardly, and the beam 32 is connected to the beam 30 and curved upwardly, a V-shaped brace 40 and other braces being provided. The beams 31, 33 are similarly but reversely mounted. The beams 30, 31 carry removable right-hand plough bodies and the beams 32, 33 removable left-hand plough bodies, and all carry rolling coulters. Two of the plough bodies may be dispensed with. The wheels 70, 71 are mounted on inclined axles 72, 73 having vertical parts passing through sleeves 75 on the draught frame. Springs 76 tend to lift the frame. The wheels may be adjusted vertically by handlevers 80 provided with locking-quadrants 89 and co-operating with pivoted U-shaped members 84 connected to links 86 pivoted on sleeves 77 on the axles. The beam structure is automatically reversed by engagement with the ground when the latch 90 holding the cross-bar 34 or 35 is released. The beam structure and frame are raised on reversal. The latch 90 is pivoted on a bracket 92 on the cross-bar 18. It is connected by a link 95 to a tripping-rod 98 pivoted in a U-shaped member 99 pivotally connected to the bracket 92 and controlled by a spring 103. The upper bent end of the tripping-rod 98 operates in a slot 108 in a trip lever 109 actuated by a rope 110. The frame is held in the raised position by spring-controlled latches 121 engaging the bent ends 85 of the links 86. When the beam structure has rotated into its reversed position the cross-bar 35 pushes aside a spring- controlled catch 106 and is secured in position by that catch and the latch 90. After turning the plough the frame is lowered to working position by jerking the rope 110 and thus pulling forward the lever 109 sufficiently to cause a cranked shaft 124 connected with it to trip the latches 121. The downward movement is limited by engagement of the bent ends 85 of the links 86 with the hand-levers 80. In order to adjust each wheel 70, 71 for alternately running in the furrow and on the unploughed land, the relative upward movement of the wheels is limited by spring-controlled stop hooks 130 engaging the bent ends 85 of the links, alternately on each side of the plough. Rings 132 on diagonally opposite corners of the beam structure automatically put the hooks 130 out of operation alternately by engagement with a cranked shaft 134. They may be put out of operation by hand by depressing the levers 80, which carry angle plates adapted to strike the hooks 130. When the plough meets an obstruction the pressure on the latch 90 increases until it is sufficient to break the toggle formed by the members 99 and link 95 and thus cause the latch 90 to move and allow the beam structure to turn about the shaft 21 and raise the ploughs to transport position. The strength of the spring 103 may be varied to regulate the resistance of the latch 90. In order to allow of sharp turning of the plough at the end of the furrows the vertical parts of the axles 72, 73 are provided with keys 140 which leave slots in the sleeves 75 when the plough is raised, so as to allow the wheels to swivel. To prevent swivelling as the plough is raised the short sleeves 77 are notched to engage pins 112 in the position shown in Fig. 5. A slight fall of the frame as the beam structure turns out of that position frees the axles. To facilitate sharp turning and backing chains 150, 151 connect the frame bars 10, 11 to rings 154, 155 on the tractor. To change the line of draught, the draught bar 14 is pivoted intermediate of its length and carries a spring latch 160 which engages with one or other of two hook-shaped plates 163, 164 carried by a curved cross-bar 165 connecting the frame bars 10, 11. At the end of the furrow the latch is released by a pull on a rope 166, and automatically engages the other hook-shaped plate as the tractor turns.