Articulated vehicle assembly

Claim 2

An articulated vehicle assembly comprising a tractor having a rear power take-off shaft and a vertically and horizontally fixed drawbar projecting rearwardly beyond said power take-off shaft; a trailing implement having a vertically and horizontally fixed, forwardly projecting draft tongue, hitch means connecting said implement draft tongue to said tractor drawbar on a pivot center at a fixed rearward spacing from the rear end of said power takeoff shaft; a forwardly extending drive shaft on said trailing implement having a forward end spaced rearwardly from said pivot center a greater distance than said rearward spacing of the latter from said power take-off shaft; an extension shaft universally pivoted at one end thereof to said implement drive shaft; a torque transmitting telescopic shaft assembly universally pivoted at one end to said power take-off shaft and at its other end to the other end of said extension shaft; and guide means for said other end of said extension shaft operatively mounted on said draft tongue whereby said extension shaft is sustained on said implement in horizontally back and forth swingable relation thereto about its pivot connection with said implement drive shaft.

Claim 3

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprise a bearing structure rotatably connected with said extension shaft; and vertically adjustable supporting means for said bearing structure.

Claim 4

An articulated vehicle assembly comprising a tractor having a rear power take-off shaft and a vertically and horizontally fixed drawbar projecting rearwardly beyond said power take-off shaft; a trailing implement having a vertically and horizontally fixed, forwardly projecting draft tongue, hitch means connecting said implement draft tongue to said tractor drawbar on a pivot center at a fixed rearward spacing from the rear end of said power take-off shaft; a forwardly extending drive shaft on said trailing implement having a forward end spaced rearwardly from said pivot center a greater distance than said rearward spacing of the latter from said power take-off shaft; an extension shaft universally pivoted at its rear end to said implement drive shaft; guide means for the forward end of said extension shaft operatively mounted on said draft tongue whereby said extension shaft is sustained on said implement in horizontally back and forth swingable relation thereto about its pivot connection with said implement drive shaft; and a torque transmitting telescopic shaft assembly universally pivoted at its opposite ends to said power take-off shaft and to said forward end of said extension shaft, said telescopic shaft assembly including stop means limiting its contraction to a predetermined length which, upon relative horizontal turning movement of said tractor and implement about said pivot center of said hitch means, will maintain the pivot connection between said extension shaft and the adjacent End of said telescopic shaft assembly at the same spacing from said pivot center as the spacing of the latter from the pivot connection between said power take-off shaft and the adjacent end of said telescopic shaft assembly.

Claim 5

An articulated vehicle assembly comprising a tractor having a rear power take-off shaft and a vertically and horizontally fixed drawbar projecting rearwardly beyond said power take-off shaft; a trailing implement having a vertically and horizontally fixed, forwardly projecting draft tongue, hitch means connecting said implement draft tongue to said tractor drawbar on a pivot center at a fixed rearward spacing from the rear end of said power take-off shaft; a forwardly extending drive shaft on said trailing implement having a forward end spaced rearwardly from said pivot center a greater distance than said rearward spacing of the latter from said power take-off shaft; an extension shaft universally pivoted at its rear end to said implement drive shaft; guide means for the forward end of said extension shaft operatively mounted on said draft tongue whereby said extension shaft is sustained on said implement in horizontally back and forth swingable relation thereto about its pivot connection with said implement drive shaft; and a torque transmitting telescopic shaft assembly universally pivoted at its opposite ends to said power take-off shaft and to said forward end of said extension shaft, said telescopic shaft assembly including stop means limiting its contraction to a predetermined length which, upon relative horizontal turning movement of said tractor and implement about said pivot center of said hitch means, will maintain the pivot connection between said extension shaft and the adjacent End of said telescopic shaft assembly at the same spacing from said pivot center as the spacing of the latter from the pivot connection between said power take-off shaft and the adjacent end of said telescopic shaft assembly.

Claim 6

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising detent means operatively associated with said guide means whereby said extension shaft is releasably locked against horizontal swinging movement about its pivot connection with said implement drive shaft from a forward extending position.

Claim 7

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim , wherein said guide means includes a crank member pivoted on said draft tongue for horizontal back and forth movement relative thereto, and bearing means for said extension shaft jointed to said crank member for horizontal back and forth movement therewith relative to said draft tongue.

Claim 8

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said crank member comprises a crank portion and parallel crank pins extending at a fixed radial spacing from each other in opposite directions from said crank portion; one of said crank pins being journalled on said draft tongue so as to position said crank portion for horizontal back and forth swinging movement relative to said draft tongue, and said bearing means for said extension shaft being pivotally supported on the other of said crank pins.

Claim 9

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said bearing means for said extension shaft are rotatably connected with said other crank pin in axially adjustable relation thereto.

Claim 10

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein a collar is secured to said other crank pin in axially adjustable relation thereto; and wherein a support assembly straddling said collar comprises top and bottom plates pivoted on said other crank pin, a hinge pin extending between said top and bottom plates at a radial spacing from said other crank pin, and a bearing structure rotatably connected with said extension shaft and pivotally connected with said hinge pin.

Claim 11

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 5, and further comprising resilient detent means operatively interposed between said draft tongue and said crank member for releasably retaining the latter in a predetermined pivotally adjusted position relative to said draft tongue.

Claim 12

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said detent means and said crank member are operatively interrelated so that said extension shaft will be releasably locked against horizontal swinging movement about its pivot connection with said implement drive shaft from a forwardly extending position.

Claim 13

An articulated vehicle assembly as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising automatic turning means operatively associated with said crank member for biasing the latter toward said predetermined pivotally adjusted position relative to said draft tongue.