Hitch connection for a tractor drawn implement

Claim 2

An implement adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from link points and providing two lower hitch points, an upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said implement comprising a frame, rolling ground contact means mounted in said frame for supporting the rear portion of said implement, said rolling ground contact means providing laterally spaced ground contacting means which causes a twisting of said implement relative to said tractor in traversing certain ground irregularities, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said frame at the front portion thereof, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, and mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point.

Claim 3

An implement as claimed in claim 1 in which said stop means are located with respect to said lower link point to permit a limited amount of free swinging independent movement of each support bar above and below a normal riding orientation to accommodate continuously encountered types of relative twisting movement of said implement and said tractor without contacting said stop means, said stop means when engaged by said support bars also permitting a lifting force to be applied to said implement when said lower links are raised by said power means so that said implement may be elevated above the ground.

Claim 4

An implement as claimed in claim 2 in which the clearance between the normal riding orientation of said support bars and said stop means is substantially 5* .

Claim 5

An implement as claimed in claim 1 in which the orientation of each support bar in its stop engaging position is such that its extended longitudinal axis will pass above said lower link points, so that when said power means are set to provide a low limit position which is lower than a riding orientation in which said lower links and said support bars respectively are aligned with each other, said support bars will be clear of said stop means to permit a limited amount of free swinging independent movement of each support bar above and below a said riding orientation.

Claim 6

An implement as claimed in claim 1 in which each support bracket comprises a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, and in which said stop means comprises a horizontally extending flange at the top edge of said plate located above said support bar.

Claim 7

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link provIding an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, said rolling ground contact means providing laterally spaced ground contacting means which causes a twisting of said mower relative to said tractor in traversing certain ground irregularities, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two hotizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when elevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground.

Claim 8

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link provIding an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, said rolling ground contact means providing laterally spaced ground contacting means which causes a twisting of said mower relative to said tractor in traversing certain ground irregularities, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two hotizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when elevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground.

Claim 9

A mower as claimed in claim 6 in which the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars is substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension.

Claim 10

A mower as claimed in claim 6 in which said stop means are located with respect to said lower link points to permit adjustment of said upper link to provide a limited amount of free swinging independent movement of each support bar above and below its normal riding orientation incident to said mower and said tractor.

Claim 11

A mower as claimed in claim 6 in which each support bracket comprises a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, and in which said stop means comprises a horizontally extending flange at the top edge of said plate located above said support bar.

Claim 12

A mower as claimed in claim 6 in which said rolling ground contact means comprises a pair of wheels.

Claim 13

A mower as claimed in claim 6 in which the length of said support bars between centers is at least one-seventh of the width of the mower.

Claim 14

A mower as claimed in claim 6 which includes keeper means cooperating with said support brackets and said stop means for limiting the lateral movement of said support bars, said keeper means permitting a vertical drop of said mower lower hitch points equal to at least 1/12 of the mower width.

Claim 15

A mower as claimed in claim 6 in which said rolling ground contact means comprises a roller.

Claim 16

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when eLevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground, the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars being substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension, each support bracket comprising a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, said stop means comprising a horizontally extending flange at the top edge of said plate located above said support bar and extending forwardly of said pivot pin for a substantial distance, said pivot pin being so located that when said support bar is in said high limit position, the upper edge of said support bar will engage said flange throughout said forwardly extending portion thereof.

Claim 17

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when eLevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground, the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars being substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension, each support bracket comprising a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, said stop means comprising a horizontally extending flange at the top edge of said plate located above said support bar and extending forwardly of said pivot pin for a substantial distance, said pivot pin being so located that when said support bar is in said high limit position, the upper edge of said support bar will engage said flange throughout said forwardly extending portion thereof.

Claim 18

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when elevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground, the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars being substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension, each support bracket comprising a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, said stop means comprising a horizontally extending flange at the top edge of said plate located above said support bar, an L-shaped keeper having its upright portion secured to the undersurface of said flange, and having its bent portion secured to the surface of said vertical plate, said upright portion cooperating with said vertical plate to form a slot-like enclosure of a width only slightly greater than the thickness of said support bar, said support bar extending through said enclosure and being confined thereby against substantial lateral and twisting movement but being free for substantial vertical pivoted movement.

Claim 19

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when elevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground, the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars being substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension, each support bracket comprising a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, said stop means comprising a horizontally extending flange at the top edge of said plate located above said support bar, an L-shaped keeper having its upright portion secured to the undersurface of said flange, and having its bent portion secured to the surface of said vertical plate, said upright portion cooperating with said vertical plate to form a slot-like enclosure of a width only slightly greater than the thickness of said support bar, said support bar extending through said enclosure and being confined thereby against substantial lateral and twisting movement but being free for substantial vertical pivoted movement.

Claim 20

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when elevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground, the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars being substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension, each support bracket comprising a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, and keeper means cooperating with said vertical plate to form a slot of a width only slightly greater than the thickness of said support bar, said support bar extending through said slot and being confined thereby against substantial lateral movement but being free for substantial vertical pivoted movement, said vertical plate and keeper overlapping the major portion of the length of their associated support bar so that lateral stress of said support bar occasioned by sidewise sliding movement of said mower will be confined to only a minor portion of the length of said support bars.

Claim 21

A mower adapted for connection to the three point hitch of a tractor, the three point hitch having two lower links extending rearwardly from lower link points providing two lower hitch points, an adjustable upper link providing an upper hitch point, and power means for raising said lower links and providing for said lower links an adjustable low limit position, said mower comprising a frame including a transverse front frame member and side plates, rolling ground contact means mounted on said side plates for supporting the rear portion of said mower, a rotor mounted in said side plates and including pivotally mounted blades which normally clear the ground, two horizontally spaced support brackets rigidly mounted on said front frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, a support bar pivotally mounted for vertical movement on each of said support brackets, stop means to limit upward pivoted movement of the front end of each pivoted support bar with respect to said support bracket and providing a high limit position in which said support bars support the front of said mower when elevated, each support bar providing at its front end a lower hitch point for connection to said tractor lower hitch points, mast means providing an upper hitch point for connection to said tractor upper hitch point, said mast and said support bars cooperating with said upper and lower links to maintain said mower in a riding position in which said blades are clear of the ground, the vertical cross sectional dimension of said support bars being substantially greater than the horizontal cross sectional dimension, each support bracket comprising a plate disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane, a pivot pin securing said support bar to said vertical plate, and keeper means cooperating with said vertical plate to form a slot of a width only slightly greater than the thickness of said support bar, said support bar extending through said slot and being confined thereby against substantial lateral movement but being free for substantial vertical pivoted movement, said vertical plate and keeper overlapping the major portion of the length of their associated support bar so that lateral stress of said support bar occasioned by sidewise sliding movement of said mower will be confined to only a minor portion of the length of said support bars.