Side-by-side tractor combination

Claim 2

A unitized multiple tractor assembly comprising; a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially parallel and side-by-side relationship, and bracing structure coupling said tractors to maintain said relationship in the presence of unequal forces acting on said tractors, said bracing structure having a component coupling forward portions of adjacent ones of said tractors with a front brace member extending transversely relative to said tractors at the forward ends thereof and being coupled to each of said tractors through flexible joints, said bracing structure having a component coupling more rearward portions of said tractors with a rear brace member extending transversely relative to said tractors at the back ends thereof and being coupled to each of said tractors through flexible joints, said bracing structure further having a diagonal brace member extending between each adjacent pair of said tractors, said diagonal brace member being coupled to one of said tractors at a point forward from the coupling to the other thereof and being coupled to each of said tractors through flexible joints, said flexible joints enabling each of said tractors to undergo a limited amount of lateral and longitudinal oscillation independently of the others of said tractors, wherein said diagonal brace is selectively extensible and contractible whereby one of said adjacent pair of tractors may be advanced relative to the other to angle a working implement carried by said unitized multiple tractor assembly.

Claim 3

A unitized multiple tractor assembly having three tractors disposed in a substantially parallel and side-by-side relationship including a right tractor, a left tractor, and a center tractor disposed therebetween, and bracing structure coupling said tractors to maintain said relationship in the presence of unequal forces acting on said tractors, said bracing structure being comprised of: a rigid front brace member extending transversely relative to said tractors at the forward ends thereof, said front brace being coupled to said right and left tractors by flexible joints and being coupled to said center tractor by guide means providing for vertical movement of said center tractor relative to said front brace, a pair of rear brace members each extending from said center tractor to a separate one of said right and left tractors and each being coupled to each of said tractors by flexible joints, and a pair of diagonal braces, each extending from a separate side of said center tractor to a longitudinally spaced point on a separate one of said right and left tractors and being coupled to said tractors through flexible joints.

Claim 4

A unitized multiple tractor assembly having three tractors disposed in a substantially parallel and side-by-side relationship including a right tractor, a left tractor, and a center tractor disposed therebetween, and bracing structure coupling said tractors to maintain said relationship in the presence of unequal forces acting on said tractors, said bracing structure being comprised of: a rigid front brace member extending transversely relative to said tractors at the forward ends thereof, said front brace being coupled to said right and left tractors by flexible joints and being coupled to said center tractor by guide means providing for vertical movement of said center tractor relative to said front brace, a pair of rear brace members each extending from said center tractor to a separate one of said right and left tractors and each being coupled to each of said tractors by flexible joints, and a pair of diagonal braces, each extending from a separate side of said center tractor to a longitudinally spaced point on a separate one of said right and left tractors and being coupled to said tractors through flexible joints.

Claim 5

A powered earth working apparatus comprising: a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially side-by-side and parallel relationship, a bulldozer blade disposed forwardly from said tractors and in a substantially transverse relationship thereto, a push arm coupling said blade to each of said tractors whereby said blade is carried thereby and whereby said blade forms a front cross brace between said tractors, a rear cross-brace member extending transversely between each adjacent pair of said tractors at a position spaced rearwardly from said blade, and a diagonal brace member extending between an adjacent pair of said tractors and being coupled to one of said pair of tractors at a point situated forwardly from the coupling to the other of said pair of tractors, said blade being coupled to said push arms through flexible joints and said rear cross braces and said diagonal brace being coupled to said tractors throUgh flexible joints whereby each of said tractors is capable of a limited amount of independent motion, bracing extending between said blade and at least one of said push arms independently of said flexible joint therebetween for holding said blade in a substantially erect position, said bracing comprising a singletree arm having a central portion thereof pivotally coupled to said blade substantially midway between an adjacent pair of said tractors, and a pair of braces each coupling a separate end of said single tree arm with said push arm of a separate one of said tractors, said braces having flexible couplings to said singletree arm and said push arms.

Claim 6

A powered earth working apparatus comprising: a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially side-by-side and parallel relationship, a bulldozer blade disposed forwardly from said tractors and in a substantially transverse relationship thereto, a push arm coupling said blade to each of said tractors whereby said blade is carried thereby and whereby said blade forms a front cross brace between said tractors, a rear cross-brace member extending transversely between each adjacent pair of said tractors at a position spaced rearwardly from said blade, and a diagonal brace member extending between an adjacent pair of said tractors and being coupled to one of said pair of tractors at a point situated forwardly from the coupling to the other of said pair of tractors, said blade being coupled to said push arms through flexible joints and said rear cross braces and said diagonal brace being coupled to said tractors throUgh flexible joints whereby each of said tractors is capable of a limited amount of independent motion, bracing extending between said blade and at least one of said push arms independently of said flexible joint therebetween for holding said blade in a substantially erect position, said bracing comprising a singletree arm having a central portion thereof pivotally coupled to said blade substantially midway between an adjacent pair of said tractors, and a pair of braces each coupling a separate end of said single tree arm with said push arm of a separate one of said tractors, said braces having flexible couplings to said singletree arm and said push arms.

Claim 7

The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said singletree arm and said pair of braces are coplanar with the plane defined thereby being inclined relative to said blade and said push arms.

Claim 8

A powered earth working apparatus comprising: a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially side-by-side and parallel relationship, a bulldozer blade disposed forwardly from said tractors and in a substantially transverse relationship thereto, a push arm coupling said blade to each of said tractors whereby said blade is carried thereby and whereby said blade forms a front cross brace between said tractors, said blade being coupled to said push arms through flexible joints a rear cross-brace member extending transversely between each adjacent pair of said tractors at a position spaced rearwardly from said blade, and a diagonal brace member extending between an adjacent pair of said tractors and being coupled to one of said pair of tractors at a point situated forwardly from the coupling to the other of said pair of tractors, a torsion bar extending parallel to said blade between said adjacent pair of tractors and being attached to said blade by means providing for rotary movement of said torsion bar, first and second levers projecting radially from spaced apart portions of said torsion bar, and a pair of links each coupling a separate one of said levers with said push arm of a separate one of said tractors, said links having a flexible coupling to said levers and to said push arms.

Claim 9

A powered earth working apparatus comprising: a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially side-by-side and parallel relationship, a bulldozer blade disposed forwardly from said tractors and in a substantially transverse relationship thereto, a push arm coupling said blade to each of said tractors whereby said blade is carried thereby and whereby said blade forms a front cross brace between said tractors, said blade being coupled to said push arms through flexible joints a rear cross-brace member extending transversely between each adjacent pair of said tractors at a position spaced rearwardly from said blade, and a diagonal brace member extending between an adjacent pair of said tractors and being coupled to one of said pair of tractors at a point situated forwardly from the coupling to the other of said pair of tractors, a torsion bar extending parallel to said blade between said adjacent pair of tractors and being attached to said blade by means providing for rotary movement of said torsion bar, first and second levers projecting radially from spaced apart portions of said torsion bar, and a pair of links each coupling a separate one of said levers with said push arm of a separate one of said tractors, said links having a flexible coupling to said levers and to said push arms.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said levers project from said torsion bar at substantially differing angles relative to the axis thereof.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 5 wherein a first of said levers and the associated one of said links is situated in the region between a pair of said flexible joints which couple said blade to said push arms and wherein the other of said levers and the other of said links are situated outside said region.

Claim 12

Brace structure for unitizing a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially side-by-side and parallel relationship, and which are capable of traveling in different directions in the absence of said brace structure, said brace structure comprising: a bulldozer blade disposed forwardly from said tractors and in a substantially transverse relationship thereto, at least a pair of push arms coupling said blade to each of said tractors to support said blade thereon, said blade and push arms jointly forming a front cross brace between said tractors, for preventing divergence or convergence of the front ends of said tractors, a rear cross-brace extending transversely and interconnecting each adjacent pair of said tractors at a position spaced rearwardly from said blade, and a single diagonal brace member means extending diagonally and interconnecting an adjacent pair of said tractors for preventing distortion of the frame defined by said pair of tractors and said front and rear cross braces.

Claim 13

Brace structure for unitizing a plurality of tractors disposed in a substantially side-by-side and parallel relationship, and which are capable of traveling in different directions in the absence of said brace structure, said brace structure comprising: a bulldozer blade disposed forwardly from said tractors and in a substantially transverse relationship thereto, at least a pair of push arms coupling said blade to each of said tractors to support said blade thereon, said blade and push arms jointly forming a front cross brace between said tractors, for preventing divergence or convergence of the front ends of said tractors, a rear cross-brace extending transversely and interconnecting each adjacent pair of said tractors at a position spaced rearwardly from said blade, and a single diagonal brace member means extending diagonally and interconnecting an adjacent pair of said tractors for preventing distortion of the frame defined by said pair of tractors and said front and rear cross braces.

Claim 14

The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said blade is coupled to said push arms through flexible joints and wherein said rear cross brace and said diagonal brace member means are coupled to said tractors through flexible joints whereby each of said tractors is capable of a limited amount of independent motIon, and further comprising bracing extending between said blade and at least one of said push arms independently of said flexible joint therebetween for holding said blade in a substantially erect position.