Implement load transfer

Claim 3

An earth moving apparatus having a cutting element engageable with the ground adapted to be drawn by a tractor comprising a tongue pivotally connected thereto in front of said element, a portion of said tongue trailingly engageable with said tractor and being of hollow construction and containing therein a first linear fluid device having a first piston slidably disposed within a first cylinder, one being connected to said tongue and said other connected to receive a portion of the drawing force exerted upon said portion of the tongue, said first piston defining with said first cylinder, a first fluid chamber, a second linear fluid device having a second piston slidably disposed within a second cylinder, one connected to the apparatus above said portion of the tongue and the other connected to said tongue portion, said second piston defining with said second cylinder a second fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber connected for fluid communication with said first fluid chamber, a connecting bar, one end of said connecting bar being connected to said first fluid device and the other end of said connecting bar extending slidably through a bushing in the outer end of said tongue portion, said bushing fitting loosely around said bar to prevent excessive transverse movement of said bar within said tongue portion, a sleeve of selected length connected to said one end of said connecting bar and having a flange thereon, said sleeve abutting said bushing when said connecting bar translates forward a predetermined amount relative to said tongue portion, a spring connected to said flange and to said tongue portion, said spring transferring a portion of said drawing force to said tongue portion and also urging said first fluid device toward a selected position, and, a valve system for the selected fluid connection of said first and second fluid chambers with a fluid reservoir, said valve system comprising a manual valve for selecting the volume of said first and second chambers, a one way check valve allowing flow only from said reservoir to said chambers, and a pressure relief valve allowing flow from said chambers to said reservoir only when the fluid pressure in said chambers exceeds a selected value.

Claim 4

An earth moving apparatus having a cutting element engageable with the ground adapted to be drawn by a tractor comprising a tongue pivotally connected thereto in front of said element, a portion of said tongue trailingly engageable with said tractor and being of hollow construction and containing therein a first linear fluid device having a first piston slidably disposed within a first cylinder, one being connected to said tongue and said other connected to receive a portion of the drawing force exerted upon said portion of the tongue, said first piston defining with said first cylinder, a first fluid chamber, a second linear fluid device having a second piston slidably disposed within a second cylinder, one connected to the apparatus above said portion of the tongue and the other connected to said tongue portion, said second piston defining with said second cylinder a second fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber connected for fluid communication with said first fluid chamber, a connecting bar, one end of said connecting bar being connected to said first fluid device and the other end of said connecting bar extending slidably through a bushing in the outer end of said tongue portion, said bushing fitting loosely around said bar to prevent excessive transverse movement of said bar within said tongue portion, a sleeve of selected length connected to said one end of said connecting bar and having a flange thereon, said sleeve abutting said bushing when said connecting bar translates forward a predetermined amount relative to said tongue portion, a spring connected to said flange and to said tongue portion, said spring transferring a portion of said drawing force to said tongue portion and also urging said first fluid device toward a selected position, and, a valve system for the selected fluid connection of said first and second fluid chambers with a fluid reservoir, said valve system comprising a manual valve for selecting the volume of said first and second chambers, a one way check valve allowing flow only from said reservoir to said chambers, and a pressure relief valve allowing flow from said chambers to said reservoir only when the fluid pressure in said chambers exceeds a selected value.

Claim 5

In an earth moving apparatus having a tongue connected to a cutting element engageable with the ground adapted to be drawn by a tractor, the improvement comprising a first relatively reciprocal piston and cylinder unit housed within said tongue, a drawbar connected to one element of said unit reciprocally mounted coaxially of said tongue and said other element being secured within said tongue to permit relative axial movement of said piston and cylinder elements upon application of drawing force to said drawbar, a supporting axle for said apparatus extending transversely to said tongue and carrying ground engaging wheels at each end thereof, means fixedly connecting said axle and tongue, a post member rockably mounted centrally of said axle and extending upwardly therefrom, means on said post member pivotally supporting said apparatus, a second relatively reciprocal piston and cylinder unit, one element of said second unit being connected to said tongue and the other being connected to said rockable post member adjacent its upper end, hydraulic fluid conduit means connecting the first and second piston and cylinder units wherein the second is in slave relationship to the first such that the application of a drawing force tends to cause a proportionate extension of the drawbar and first unit producing a corresponding extension of the second unit thereby tending to rotate said post member and tongue oppositely about said axle.

Claim 6

In an earth moving apparatus having a tongue connected to a cutting element engageable with the ground adapted to be drawn by a tractor, the improvement comprising a first relatively reciprocal piston and cylinder unit housed within said tongue, a drawbar connected to one element of said unit reciprocally mounted coaxially of said tongue and said other element being secured within said tongue to permit relative axial movement of said piston and cylinder elements upon application of drawing force to said drawbar, a supporting axle for said apparatus extending transversely to said tongue and carrying ground engaging wheels at each end thereof, means fixedly connecting said axle and tongue, a post member rockably mounted centrally of said axle and extending upwardly therefrom, means on said post member pivotally supporting said apparatus, a second relatively reciprocal piston and cylinder unit, one element of said second unit being connected to said tongue and the other being connected to said rockable post member adjacent its upper end, hydraulic fluid conduit means connecting the first and second piston and cylinder units wherein the second is in slave relationship to the first such that the application of a drawing force tends to cause a proportionate extension of the drawbar and first unit producing a corresponding extension of the second unit thereby tending to rotate said post member and tongue oppositely about said axle.

Claim 7

The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said means connecting the axle and tongue comprises a yoke secured to the tongue having laterally spaced arms secured to the axle on opposite sides of the centerline of the apparatus and said post member being rockably mounted intermediate said arms.