Ripper plow assembly for converting parallel lift to radial lift

Claim 2

A ripper plow assembly comprising: a hitch frame adapted for connection to a prime mover, a tool bar having a forward end structure pivotally connected to said hitch frame and generally converging toward a rear end structure, a single lift cylinder having a rod and housing means, one of said rod and housing means being pivotally secured with said hitch frame and the other to said tool bar operable to raise and lower said tool bar, a ripper shank assembly pivotally connected to the rear end structure of said tool bar, said shank assembly having an upwardly extending yoke member, pivot means carried on said yoke member, linkage means for selectively interconnecting the pivot means of said yoke member to said hitch frame whereby actuation of said lift cylinder operates said plow assembly in a parallel lift configuration, and means on said tool bar to allow said shank assembly to be selectively fixed to said tool bar thereby permitting conversion of said plow assembly to a radial lift configuration.

Claim 3

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said tool bar, yoke member, hitch frame and linkage means form said parallelogram configuration.

Claim 4

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said last named means include flange means associated with said tool bar adapted to receive said linkage means to secure said linkage to said yoke member and tool bar.

Claim 5

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said last named means comprise lug means associated with said tool bar adapted to receive a rigid connection plate attached to said yoke member.

Claim 6

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said ripper shank assembly supports a single ripper shank.

Claim 7

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said ripper shank assembly supports a plurality of ripper shanks arranged in a V-shaped array, one of said ripper shanks centrally and forwardly disposed at the apex of said V-shaped array.

Claim 8

The ripper plow assembly of claim 6 and further comprising: lateral brace bars connected along opposite sides of said tool bar.

Claim 9

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said lift cylinder is tilted upwardly and is inclined forwardly toward the prime mover, the rod of said lift cylinder inclined downwardly for connection to said tool bar.

Claim 10

The ripper plow assembly of claim 1 wherein said tool bar comprises a pair of outwardly diverging arms at the forward end thereof for connection to said hitch frame.

Claim 11

A ripper plow assembly comprising: a hitch frame adapted for connection to a prime mover, a tool bar including a pair of arms outwardly diverging and each having a forward end structure for pivotal connection to said hitch frame, a fluid pressure operated cylinder having a rod and housing member, said housing member pivotally secured to said hitch frame between said arm end structures and said rod having an end pivotally connected to said tool bar intermediate said arms, a ripper shank support pivotally connected to the rear end of said tool bar, said shank including a pair of upwardly extending ears, at least one ripper shank adapted for connection to said shank support, a pair of spaced apart linkage bars connectable between said ears and a forward portion of said plow assembly forming a parallelogram lift configuration, and connection means carried on said tool bar adapted to selectively permit rigid connection of said tool bar and shank in a radial lift configuration.

Claim 12

A ripper plow assembly comprising: a hitch frame adapted for connection to a prime mover, a tool bar including a pair of arms outwardly diverging and each having a forward end structure for pivotal connection to said hitch frame, a fluid pressure operated cylinder having a rod and housing member, said housing member pivotally secured to said hitch frame between said arm end structures and said rod having an end pivotally connected to said tool bar intermediate said arms, a ripper shank support pivotally connected to the rear end of said tool bar, said shank including a pair of upwardly extending ears, at least one ripper shank adapted for connection to said shank support, a pair of spaced apart linkage bars connectable between said ears and a forward portion of said plow assembly forming a parallelogram lift configuration, and connection means carried on said tool bar adapted to selectively permit rigid connection of said tool bar and shank in a radial lift configuration.

Claim 13

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 wherein said tool bar comprises: an elongated body having structure at the rear end thereof for pivotal connection to said ripper shank support, and said pair of arms extending from the forward end of said elongated body in a generally V-shaped configuration.

Claim 14

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 wherein said ripper shank support includes a slot for receiving only a single ripper shank.

Claim 15

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 wherein said ripper shank support includes plural slots for receiving plural ripper shanks in a generally V-shaped array.

Claim 16

The ripper plow assembly of claim 13 and further including lateral brace bars connected between said tool bar and said ripper shank support.

Claim 17

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 wherein said cylinder is pivotally mounted in the center region of said hitch frame and is inclined upwardly, said rod being directed downwardly and connected at the lower end to said tool bar.

Claim 18

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 and further comprising: a shank pin for mounting said ripper shank to said shank support, and hydraulically operable shank pin removing means.

Claim 19

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 and further comprising: a bar rigidly interconnecting said linkage bars.

Claim 20

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 wherein said linkage bars are connected at the forward ends to said hitch frame.

Claim 21

The ripper plow assembly of claim 10 wherein said linkages bars are connected at the forward ends to said tool bar.

Claim 22

A ripper plow assembly comprising: a hitch frame adapted for connection to a prime mover, a tool bar having a pair of arms having forward end structure pivotally connected to said hitch frame and generally converging toward a rear end structure, a single lift cylinder having a housing pivotally connected to said hitch frame between said arms end structures and having a rod end pivotally connected to said tool bar intermediate said arms operable to raise and lower the bar, a ripper shank assembly having a yoke assembly pivotally secured to said rear end structure and a generally triangular plate structure connected at the apex region to said yoke, a plurality of ripper shanks being connected to the forward edge of said triangular plate in a V-shaped array, lateral support bars connected to the forward edges of said triangular plate and being removably connected at the opposite ends thereof to the arms of said tool bar, a pair of spaced apart linkage bars connected between said yoke and a forward portion of said plow assembly forming a parallelogram lift configuration, and means carried on said tool bar adapted to selectively permit rigid connection of said tool bar and shank in a radial lift configuration.

Claim 23

A ripper plow assembly comprising: a hitch frame adapted for connection to a prime mover, a tool bar having a pair of arms having forward end structure pivotally connected to said hitch frame and generally converging toward a rear end structure, a single lift cylinder having a housing pivotally connected to said hitch frame between said arms end structures and having a rod end pivotally connected to said tool bar intermediate said arms operable to raise and lower the bar, a ripper shank assembly having a yoke assembly pivotally secured to said rear end structure and a generally triangular plate structure connected at the apex region to said yoke, a plurality of ripper shanks being connected to the forward edge of said triangular plate in a V-shaped array, lateral support bars connected to the forward edges of said triangular plate and being removably connected at the opposite ends thereof to the arms of said tool bar, a pair of spaced apart linkage bars connected between said yoke and a forward portion of said plow assembly forming a parallelogram lift configuration, and means carried on said tool bar adapted to selectively permit rigid connection of said tool bar and shank in a radial lift configuration.