Vehicle for carrying agricultural or construction tools and the like

Claim 2

In combination with a group of tools, a vehicle for carrying one of said group comprising powered ground engaging traction units, horizontally extending legs having inner and outer ends, the outer end of each leg having a cylindrical bearing support, an extensible, vertical post carried by each traction unit, each post being turnable in the bearing support of a corresponding leg, a rigid rectangular frame having paired upper and lower plates at each corner and a vertical pin carried by each pair of said plates, the inner end of each leg being disposed between a pair of said plates at a corner of the frame and turnable on the corresponding pin, and means associated with said plates and operable to secure the respective legs in a given selected position relative to the frame whereby the traction units may be variously positioned respecting the tool being carried by the frame.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein one of each pairs of plates and each corresponding leg includes selectively interengageable locking means for securing each leg in a selected position.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein said group of tools includes a tool of a given width and which is attachable to the underside of said frame parallel to the shorter side thereof and a tool of considerably greater width and which is attachable to the underside of said frame parallel to the longer side thereof.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 which further includes quick release means which removably secures each pair of plates to the frame whereby each pair of plates and the associated leg and traction unit may be detached from the frame.

Claim 6

In combination with several tools for operation over the ground and including a first tool which is about twice the width of a second tool, a vehicle comprising a rigid rectangular frame having a width and length respectively about equal to the widths of said first and second tools, said tools being attachable selectively to the underside of said frame, the first tool when so attached being operable with the forward travel of the vehicle and the second tool when so attached being operable with the sideward travel of the vehicle, said frame having a vertical journal bearing at each corner thereof and four horizontally extending legs each having inner and outer ends provided with vertical bearing means, A powered ground engaging traction unit associated with each leg, an extensible vertical post carried by each traction unit and turnable in the outer bearing means of the respective leg, the inner vertical bearing means of each leg being turnable on one of the journal bearings of the frame for the support of the respective corner by the leg, said traction units being individually dirigible by turning of the corresponding post in the associated outer vertical bearing means and the entire number of bearings allowing the traction units to be variously positioned respecting the frame and either tool so attached and allowing the vehicle and said tool to be variously positioned respecting their direction of travel as determined by the positioning of the traction units.

Claim 7

In combination with several tools for operation over the ground and including a first tool which is about twice the width of a second tool, a vehicle comprising a rigid rectangular frame having a width and length respectively about equal to the widths of said first and second tools, said tools being attachable selectively to the underside of said frame, the first tool when so attached being operable with the forward travel of the vehicle and the second tool when so attached being operable with the sideward travel of the vehicle, said frame having a vertical journal bearing at each corner thereof and four horizontally extending legs each having inner and outer ends provided with vertical bearing means, A powered ground engaging traction unit associated with each leg, an extensible vertical post carried by each traction unit and turnable in the outer bearing means of the respective leg, the inner vertical bearing means of each leg being turnable on one of the journal bearings of the frame for the support of the respective corner by the leg, said traction units being individually dirigible by turning of the corresponding post in the associated outer vertical bearing means and the entire number of bearings allowing the traction units to be variously positioned respecting the frame and either tool so attached and allowing the vehicle and said tool to be variously positioned respecting their direction of travel as determined by the positioning of the traction units.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 5 wherein the underside of said frame and legs are clear of obstructions such that when the frame is elevated the vehicle may selectively traverse forwardly over the first tool and sidewardly over the second tool and with whichever tool is attached thereto, the frame may be lowered to place said tool on the ground and after its detachment from the frame, the frame may be elevated and the vehicle may similarly traverse in a forward or a sideward direction.