Implement mounting and lift arrangement

Claim 2

In a mounting arrangement for an implement underneath a tractor having a body and ground-engaging wheels, a draw bar means pivotally secured to said body at one end, the other end of said draw bar means being pivotally secured to said implement at a first pivot point; a first link disposed forwardly of said implement and pivotally connected to said first pivot point; a lift bar having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said first link at a second pivot point and having its other end pivotally connected to one end of a second link at a third pivot point rearwardly of said implement, the other end of said second link being pivotally connected to said implement at the rear thereof and defining a fourth pivot point spaced a distance corresponding to the distance between said first and second pivot point; said pivot points at said first and said second link being in planes parallel to each other; said first and said third pivot point being located in a plane parallel to a plane containing said second and said fourth pivot point; to thereby provide a parallelogram support for said implement to maintain said implement substantially parallel when adjusted for height to the plane of the ground traversed by the vehicle and, means disposed substantially at the center of said lift bar for attachment to a selectively operable lift lever disposed on said tractor to lift said implement above said ground.

Claim 3

In the mounting arrangement as defined in claim 1, said implement being supported on the ground by a pair of gauge wheels having an axle extending transversely above the rear of said implement and forming said fourth pivot point, said second link extending from said axle and said first link forming an extension extending from said draw bar means.

Claim 4

In the mounting arrangement as defined in claim 2, said axle being provided with an arm extending forwardly therefrom, a height adjustment bracket secured to said implement provided with a plurality of apertures, a latch pin adapted to be selectively engaged in one of said apertures to secure said arm to said bracket in a selected adjusted position to thereby raise or lower said implement relative to the ground.

Claim 5

In the mounting arrangement as defined in claim 1, further comprising adjustable connecting means provided between said lift bar and said vehicle body and operable to lift said implement and gauge wheels off the ground.

Claim 6

In the combination with a vehicle having a body and ground-engaging wheels, an implement adapted to be mounted on said vehicle underneath said vehicle body, said implement having a pair of gauGe wheels adjustably supported on said implement rearwardly thereof and pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis extending tranversely of said vehicle body, a draw bar means pivotally connected to said body forwardly of said implement, hitch means pivotably connecting said draw bar means with said implement and a linkage system including four pivotal axes defining a parallelogram support for said implement, said hitch means comprising brackets secured to said implement and extending forwardly therefrom and pivotally connected to said draw bar means, said pivotal connection forming a first pivot axis, said linkage system including a lift bar extending across said implement from the front toward the rear and pivotally connected forwardly of said implement to said draw bar means by a first link means located at a point below said first pivot axis, said pivotal connection forming a second pivot axis, said lift bar also being pivotally connected to said horizontal axis rearwardly of said implement by a second link means located at a point above said horizontal axis defining a third pivot axis and, said horizontal axis defining a fourth pivot axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivot axes defining said parallelogram support and a height adjustment connected to said linkage system adapted to maintain said implement together with said gauge wheels in a level position relative to the ground.

Claim 7

In the combination with a vehicle having a body and ground-engaging wheels, an implement adapted to be mounted on said vehicle underneath said vehicle body, said implement having a pair of gauGe wheels adjustably supported on said implement rearwardly thereof and pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis extending tranversely of said vehicle body, a draw bar means pivotally connected to said body forwardly of said implement, hitch means pivotably connecting said draw bar means with said implement and a linkage system including four pivotal axes defining a parallelogram support for said implement, said hitch means comprising brackets secured to said implement and extending forwardly therefrom and pivotally connected to said draw bar means, said pivotal connection forming a first pivot axis, said linkage system including a lift bar extending across said implement from the front toward the rear and pivotally connected forwardly of said implement to said draw bar means by a first link means located at a point below said first pivot axis, said pivotal connection forming a second pivot axis, said lift bar also being pivotally connected to said horizontal axis rearwardly of said implement by a second link means located at a point above said horizontal axis defining a third pivot axis and, said horizontal axis defining a fourth pivot axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivot axes defining said parallelogram support and a height adjustment connected to said linkage system adapted to maintain said implement together with said gauge wheels in a level position relative to the ground.

Claim 8

In combination as defined in claim 5, said first and second pivot axes being located in a plane parallel to a plane containing said third and fourth pivot axes.

Claim 9

In the combination as defined in claim 5, said lift bar having means for adjustably connecting said lift bar to said vehicle body at a point intermediate its ends and means to raise said implement above the ground.

Claim 10

In the combination as defined in claim 5, the further provision of a height adjustment mechanism providing a bracket attached to the implement and extending upwardly therefrom, said bracket provided with a plurality of apertures, a link connected to said gauge wheels having an aperture at its end thereof adapted to be directly aligned with a selected one of the plurality of apertures in said bracket and, a latch pin securing said link to said bracket at said selected aperture.

Claim 11

In the mounting arrangement as defined in claim 5, said lift bar extending longitudinally of said body substantially along the center of said implement.

Claim 12

A mechanism for disposing an implement below the longitudinally extending body of a motor vehicle, said implement being disposed underneath the body of said vehicle and movable up and down relative to said vehicle body, said mechanism comprising: a combination of a pair of link members extending between said implement and said tractor body at locations forwardly and rearwardly of said implement, a pair of gauge wheels supporting said implement on said ground and being adjustable in height around an axis extending transversely of said vehicle body across the rear of said implement, a draw bar means forwardly of said implement pivotally connecting said implement with said vehicle body, a lift bar extending above said implement in longitudinal direction of said vehicle body, the forward link of said pair of links being pivotally connected between said draw bar means and one end of said lift bar, the rearward link of said pair of links being pivotally connected on said axis of said gauge wheels and to the other end of said lift bar, said pivotal connections of said pair of links forming a parallelogram to maintain said implement level at any adjusted height position.

Claim 13

A mechanism for disposing an implement below the longitudinally extending body of a motor vehicle, said implement being disposed underneath the body of said vehicle and movable up and down relative to said vehicle body, said mechanism comprising: a combination of a pair of link members extending between said implement and said tractor body at locations forwardly and rearwardly of said implement, a pair of gauge wheels supporting said implement on said ground and being adjustable in height around an axis extending transversely of said vehicle body across the rear of said implement, a draw bar means forwardly of said implement pivotally connecting said implement with said vehicle body, a lift bar extending above said implement in longitudinal direction of said vehicle body, the forward link of said pair of links being pivotally connected between said draw bar means and one end of said lift bar, the rearward link of said pair of links being pivotally connected on said axis of said gauge wheels and to the other end of said lift bar, said pivotal connections of said pair of links forming a parallelogram to maintain said implement level at any adjusted height position.