Plow construction

Claim 2

In a ground-working implement the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plurality of earth-working tools, and a plurality of interconnecting means normally holding said tools in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said tools to an upper rearward displaced position, each of said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, first stop means on an upper portion of said mounting beam for engagement with said frame to limit swinging of the lower portion of said mounting beam in a forward direction, a tool standard, means rigidly securing one of said ground-working tools to the lower end of said tool standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, second stop means on a lower portion of said mounting beam for engagement with said tool standard to limit swinging of the lower end of the standard in a forward direction, a yieldable force-applying structure, third pivot means interconnecting a forward upper portion of said yieldable structure to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis and fourth pivot means interconnecting a lower rear portion of said yieldable structure to the upper end of said tool standard for swinging movement about a transverse axis, said yieldable force-applying structure when extended holding said first and second stop means on said beam against the frame and standard, respectively, whereby the tool will be held in its ground-working position, said yieldable force-applying structure permitting upward and rearward movement of said tool from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, the moment about the second pivot means being greater than the moment about the first pivot means so that when resetting after the tool has moved from its normal working position about both the first and second pivot means, the tool will rotate first about the second pivot means until the second stop means is engaged with the standard and then about the first pivot means.

Claim 3

The implement set forth in claim 1 in which said yieldable force-applYing structure comprises an extensible and retractable hydraulic motor.

Claim 4

The implement set forth in claim 1 in which said yieldable force-applying structure comprises a compressible spring assembly.

Claim 5

The implement set forth in claim 3 in which said compressible spring assembly includes a plurality of Belleville washers.

Claim 6

The implement set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided to reset the bottom at a controlled rate.

Claim 7

The implement set forth in claim 1 in which the second stop means is adjustable.

Claim 8

The combination with a tractor having a fluid reservoir and a variable displacement pump capable of supplying fluid under substantially constant pressure at varying rates upon demand of an earth-working implement having a frame, draft means securing the implement frame to the tractor whereby the implement will be propelled forwardly in response to forward movement of the tractor, a plurality of earth-working tools, and a plurality of means interconnecting said tools with the frame and operable to normally hold said tools in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said tools to an upper rearward displaced position, each of said interconnecting means including a single-acting hydraulic cylinder, a common manifold interconnecting all the single acting cylinders on said implement, a fluid supply line interconnecting the manifold with said pump whereby said single-acting cylinders are normally extended to hold said tools in their normal working position, a relief valve in communication with said manifold and set at a higher pressure than that supplied by said pump, and a fluid line interconnecting said relief valve with said reservoir, the parts being so arranged and constructed that when during use should a tool strike an obstruction, the tool may move rearwardly and upwardly against the fluid pressure within the cylinder, the excess fluid being discharged directly into the reservoir in the tractor through the relief valve and its associated fluid line.

Claim 9

The combination with a tractor having a fluid reservoir and a variable displacement pump capable of supplying fluid under substantially constant pressure at varying rates upon demand of an earth-working implement having a frame, draft means securing the implement frame to the tractor whereby the implement will be propelled forwardly in response to forward movement of the tractor, a plurality of earth-working tools, and a plurality of means interconnecting said tools with the frame and operable to normally hold said tools in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said tools to an upper rearward displaced position, each of said interconnecting means including a single-acting hydraulic cylinder, a common manifold interconnecting all the single acting cylinders on said implement, a fluid supply line interconnecting the manifold with said pump whereby said single-acting cylinders are normally extended to hold said tools in their normal working position, a relief valve in communication with said manifold and set at a higher pressure than that supplied by said pump, and a fluid line interconnecting said relief valve with said reservoir, the parts being so arranged and constructed that when during use should a tool strike an obstruction, the tool may move rearwardly and upwardly against the fluid pressure within the cylinder, the excess fluid being discharged directly into the reservoir in the tractor through the relief valve and its associated fluid line.

Claim 10

The combination with a tractor having a fluid reservoir and a variable displacement pump capable of supplying fluid under substantially constant pressure at varying rates upon demand of an earth-working implement having a frame, draft means securing the implement frame to the tractor whereby the implement will be propelled forwardly in response to forward movement of the tractor, a plurality of earth-working tools, and a plurality of means interconnecting said tools with the frame and operable to normally hold said tools in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said tools to an upper rearward displaced position, each of said interconnecting means including a hydraulic cylinder, a common manifold interconnecting all the cylinders on said implement, a fluid supply line interconnecting the manifold with said pump whereby said cylinders are normally extended to hold said tools in their normal working position, a relief valve in communication with said manifold and set at a higher pressure than that supplied by said pump, and a fluid line interconnecting said relief valve with the reservoir, said interconnecting means including a mounting beam, first pivot means interconnecting a forward portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, first stop means on an upper portion of said mounting beam for engagement with said frame to limit swinging of the lower portion of said mounting beam in a forward direction, a standard, means rigidly securing a tool to the lower end of said standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, second stop means on a lower portion of said mounting beam for engagement with said standard to limit swinging of the lower end of the standard in a forward direction, third pivot means interconnecting a forward upper portion of said hydraulic cylinder to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, and fourth pivot means interconnecting a lower rear portion of said hydraulic cylinder to the upper end of said standard for swinging movement about a transverse axis, the parts being so arranged and constructed that when during use should a tool strike an obstruction, the tool may move rearwardly and upwardly against the fluid pressure within the cylinder, the excess fluid being discharged into the reservoir in the tractor through the relief valve and its associated fluid line.

Claim 11

The combination with a tractor having a fluid reservoir and a variable displacement pump capable of supplying fluid under substantially constant pressure at varying rates upon demand of an earth-working implement having a frame, draft means securing the implement frame to the tractor whereby the implement will be propelled forwardly in response to forward movement of the tractor, a plurality of earth-working tools, and a plurality of means interconnecting said tools with the frame and operable to normally hold said tools in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said tools to an upper rearward displaced position, each of said interconnecting means including a hydraulic cylinder, a common manifold interconnecting all the cylinders on said implement, a fluid supply line interconnecting the manifold with said pump whereby said cylinders are normally extended to hold said tools in their normal working position, a relief valve in communication with said manifold and set at a higher pressure than that supplied by said pump, and a fluid line interconnecting said relief valve with the reservoir, said interconnecting means including a mounting beam, first pivot means interconnecting a forward portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, first stop means on an upper portion of said mounting beam for engagement with said frame to limit swinging of the lower portion of said mounting beam in a forward direction, a standard, means rigidly securing a tool to the lower end of said standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, second stop means on a lower portion of said mounting beam for engagement with said standard to limit swinging of the lower end of the standard in a forward direction, third pivot means interconnecting a forward upper portion of said hydraulic cylinder to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, and fourth pivot means interconnecting a lower rear portion of said hydraulic cylinder to the upper end of said standard for swinging movement about a transverse axis, the parts being so arranged and constructed that when during use should a tool strike an obstruction, the tool may move rearwardly and upwardly against the fluid pressure within the cylinder, the excess fluid being discharged into the reservoir in the tractor through the relief valve and its associated fluid line.

Claim 12

A plow comprising a frame adapted to be propelled forwardly over the ground, link means swingably secured to said frame and movable between a lower forward working position and an upper rearward tripped position, first stop means between said link means and said frame to limit the movement in a lower forward direction, a bottom assembly including a plow bottom swingably secured to said link means and movable in the same manner as the link means between a forward working position and a rear tripped position, second stop means between said bottom assembly and said link means to limit the forward swinging of said bottom means, and extensible and retractable force-applying means pivotally secured at opposite end portions to said frame and said bottom assembly to normally hold said link means and said bottom assembly in their working position, said second stop means being adjustable whereby the attitude of the bottom assembly may be varied to vary the suction of the plow bottom.

Claim 13

A plow comprising a frame adapted to be propelled forwardly over the ground, link means swingably secured to said frame and movable between a lower forward working position and an upper rearward tripped position, first stop means between said link means and said frame to limit the movement in a lower forward direction, a bottom assembly including a plow bottom swingably secured to said link means and movable in the same manner as the link means between a forward working position and a rear tripped position, second stop means between said bottom assembly and said link means to limit the forward swinging of said bottom means, and extensible and retractable force-applying means pivotally secured at opposite end portions to said frame and said bottom assembly to normally hold said link means and said bottom assembly in their working position, said second stop means being adjustable whereby the attitude of the bottom assembly may be varied to vary the suction of the plow bottom.

Claim 14

In a plow the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plow bottom, and interconnecting means normally holding said plow bottom in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said plow bottom to an upper rearward displaced position, said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, a standard, means rigidly securing said plow bottom to the lower end of said standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam to permit rearward swinging movement, means acting between the upper end of the standard and the frame to normally hold the plow bottom in the forward lower ground-working position but yieldable to permit upward and rearward movement of said plow bottom from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, said last mentioned means acting to reset the plow bottom after it has been tripped, and when tripped about both pivots to swing the standard about its point of pivotal connection with the mounting beam until the plow is disposed in an attitude conducive to penetration of the plow unit into the ground and subsequently to swing the mounting beam about its point of pivotal connection with the frame.

Claim 15

In a plow the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plow bottom, and interconnecting means normally holding said plow bottom in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said plow bottom to an upper rearward displaced position, said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, a standard, means rigidly securing said plow bottom to the lower end of said standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam to permit rearward swinging movement, means acting between the upper end of the standard and the frame to normally hold the plow bottom in the forward lower ground-working position but yieldable to permit upward and rearward movement of said plow bottom from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, said last mentioned means acting to reset the plow bottom after it has been tripped, and when tripped about both pivots to swing the standard about its point of pivotal connection with the mounting beam until the plow is disposed in an attitude conducive to penetration of the plow unit into the ground and subsequently to swing the mounting beam about its point of pivotal connection with the frame.

Claim 16

The plow set forth in claim 10 in which said last mentioned means includes collapsible link means pivotally interconnected at its ends with the top end of said standard and a portion of the frame, the link means being in its collapsed position when the standard and mounting beam have been swung upwardly and rearwardly about their points of pivotal interconnection, and being in its uncollapsed position when the plow is in its normal ground-working position.

Claim 17

The plow set forth in claim 11 in which said collapsible link means comprises an extensible and retractable hydraulic motor.

Claim 18

The plow set forth in claim 11 in which said collapsible link means comprises a compressible spring assembly.

Claim 19

A plow comprising a frame adapted to be propelled forwardly over the ground, link means swingably secured to said frame and movable between a lower forward working position and an upper rearward tripped position, first stop means between said link means and said frame to limit the movement in a lower forward direction, a bottom assembly iNcluding a plow bottom swingably secured to said link means and movable in the same manner as the link means between a forward working position and a rear tripped position, second stop means between said bottom assembly and said link means to limit the forward swinging of said bottom means, and force-applying means having relatively extensible and retractable portions pivotally secured to said frame and said bottom assembly to normally hold said link means and said bottom assembly in their working position, said second stop means being adjustable whereby the attitude of the bottom assembly may be varied to vary the suction of the plow bottom.

Claim 20

A plow comprising a frame adapted to be propelled forwardly over the ground, link means swingably secured to said frame and movable between a lower forward working position and an upper rearward tripped position, first stop means between said link means and said frame to limit the movement in a lower forward direction, a bottom assembly iNcluding a plow bottom swingably secured to said link means and movable in the same manner as the link means between a forward working position and a rear tripped position, second stop means between said bottom assembly and said link means to limit the forward swinging of said bottom means, and force-applying means having relatively extensible and retractable portions pivotally secured to said frame and said bottom assembly to normally hold said link means and said bottom assembly in their working position, said second stop means being adjustable whereby the attitude of the bottom assembly may be varied to vary the suction of the plow bottom.

Claim 21

In a plow the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plow bottom, and interconnecting means normally holding said plow bottom in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said plow bottom to an upper rearward displaced position, said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, a standard, means rigidly securing said plow bottom to the lower end of said standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam to permit rearward swinging movement, means acting between the upper end of the standard and the frame to normally hold the plow bottom in the forward lower ground-working position but yieldable to permit upward and rearward movement of said plow bottom from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, said last mentioned means acting to reset the plow bottom after it has been tripped, and when tripped about both pivots to swing the standard about its point of pivotal connection with the mounting beam until the plow is disposed in an attitude conducive to penetration of the plow unit into the ground and subsequently to swing the mounting beam about its point of pivotal connection with the frame, said last mentioned means including collapsible link means pivotally interconnected with the top end of said standard and a portion of the frame, the link means being in its collapsed position when the standard and mounting beam have been swung upwardly and rearwardly about their points of pivotal interconnection, and being in its uncollapsed position when the plow is in its normal ground-working position.

Claim 22

In a plow the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plow bottom, and interconnecting means normally holding said plow bottom in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said plow bottom to an upper rearward displaced position, said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, a standard, means rigidly securing said plow bottom to the lower end of said standard, second pivot means interconnecting an intermediate portion of said standard to the lower portion of said mounting beam to permit rearward swinging movement, means acting between the upper end of the standard and the frame to normally hold the plow bottom in the forward lower ground-working position but yieldable to permit upward and rearward movement of said plow bottom from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, said last mentioned means acting to reset the plow bottom after it has been tripped, and when tripped about both pivots to swing the standard about its point of pivotal connection with the mounting beam until the plow is disposed in an attitude conducive to penetration of the plow unit into the ground and subsequently to swing the mounting beam about its point of pivotal connection with the frame, said last mentioned means including collapsible link means pivotally interconnected with the top end of said standard and a portion of the frame, the link means being in its collapsed position when the standard and mounting beam have been swung upwardly and rearwardly about their points of pivotal interconnection, and being in its uncollapsed position when the plow is in its normal ground-working position.

Claim 23

In a plow the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plow bottom, and interconnecting means normally holding said plow bottom in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said plow bottom to an upper rearward displaced position, said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, a standard having a forward portion with second pivot means thereon interconnecting it to a lower portion of said mounting beam for swinging movement between a forward working position and a rear tripped position, said standard further having a rearwardly projecting portion integral with and extending from the forward portion and having a third pivot means thereon, means rigidly securing said plow bottom to the forward portion of said standard, means acting between the third pivot means and the frame to normally hold the plow bottom in the forward lower ground-working position but yieldable to permit upward and rearward movement of said plow bottom from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, said last-mentioned means acting to reset the plow bottom after it has been tripped, and when tripped about both the first and second pivot means to swing the standard about its point of pivotal connection with the mounting beam until the plow is disposed in an attitude conducive to penetration of the plow unit into the ground and subsequentlY to swing the mounting beam about its point of pivotal connection with the frame.

Claim 24

In a plow the combination of a frame adapted to be moved forwardly over the ground, a plow bottom, and interconnecting means normally holding said plow bottom in a forward lower ground-working position but permitting movement of said plow bottom to an upper rearward displaced position, said interconnecting means comprising a mounting beam, first pivot means connecting a forward upper portion of said mounting beam to said frame for swinging movement about a generally transverse axis, a standard having a forward portion with second pivot means thereon interconnecting it to a lower portion of said mounting beam for swinging movement between a forward working position and a rear tripped position, said standard further having a rearwardly projecting portion integral with and extending from the forward portion and having a third pivot means thereon, means rigidly securing said plow bottom to the forward portion of said standard, means acting between the third pivot means and the frame to normally hold the plow bottom in the forward lower ground-working position but yieldable to permit upward and rearward movement of said plow bottom from its normal working position should an obstacle be encountered, said last-mentioned means acting to reset the plow bottom after it has been tripped, and when tripped about both the first and second pivot means to swing the standard about its point of pivotal connection with the mounting beam until the plow is disposed in an attitude conducive to penetration of the plow unit into the ground and subsequentlY to swing the mounting beam about its point of pivotal connection with the frame.