Angle and tilt implement assembly

Claim 2

In an implement assembly (12) having a frame (14) having a longitudinal axis (30), an implement (16) directly pivotally connected to said frame (14), first means (18) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) about said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14) and second means (20) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) in a plane passing through said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said frame (14) being of a construction sufficient for supporting said implement (16), the improvement comprising: a subframe (50) pivotally connected to said frame (14) and said second means (20) and positioned adjacent and in contactable relationship with said implement (16); and said implement (16) being pivotally movable about said longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50) and pivotally movable in said plane with said subframe (50).

Claim 3

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said subframe (50) is substantially free from forces exerted by gravity on said implement (16).

Claim 4

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said implement (16) is pivotally slidably movable about said longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50).

Claim 5

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivotal connection (23) of the implement (16) with the frame (14) defines a substantially vertical axis (24) and said subframe (50) is pivotally connected to said frame (14) on said vertical axis (24) and pivotally movable about said vertical axis (24).

Claim 6

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first means (18) is pivotally connected to the frame (14) on said vertical axis (24) and pivotally movable about said vertical axis (24).

Claim 7

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second means (18,20) include tilt (28) and first angle (40) hydraulic cylinders, respectively, said cylinders (28,40) each having first and second ends (32,34;44,45) said first and second (32,34) ends of the tilt cylinder (28) being pivotally connected to the frame (14) and implement (16), respectively, said first and second ends (44,45) of the first angle cylinder (40) being pivotally connected to the frame (14) and subframe (50), respectively.

Claim 8

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 1, including third means (64) for maintaining said subframe (50) at a preselected position relative to said implement (16) in response to pivotally moving said implement (16) about the longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50).

Claim 9

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 7, wherein said third means (64) includes a first guiding element (65) connected to the implement (16) and defining an opening (72) and wherein the subframe (50) has a first guide member (68) movably positioned in said opening (72).

Claim 10

The implement assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the subframe (50) has a middle portion (52) and first and second end portions (54,56) and is pivotally connected at the middle portion (52) to said frame (14) and the second means (20) includes first and second angle cylinders (40,42) each having first and second ends (44,45;46,47), said first ends (44,46) each being connected to said frame (14), said second ends (45,47) each being connected to a respective one of the first and second end portions (54,56) of said subframe (50).

Claim 11

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 9, including first and second guiding elements (64,66) connected to said implement (16) and each being of a configuration sufficient for maintaining said first and second end portions (54,56) of said subframe (50), respectively, at respective preselected positions relative to said implement (16) in response to pivotally moving said implement (16) about said longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50).

Claim 12

The implement assembly (16), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said subframe (50) is of a construction sufficient for receiving and transmitting generally horizontal forces exerted on said implement (16).

Claim 13

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 1, wherein said subframe (50) has a bearing pad (58) abutting said implement (16) in response to moving said implement (16) with said subframe (50) and in slidable contact with said implement (16) in response to moving said implement (16) along said subframe (50).

Claim 14

In an implement assembly (12) having a frame (14) having a longitudinal axis (30), a subframe (50) pivotally connected to said frame (14), an implement (16) associated with said subframe (50), first means (18) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) about the longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14) and second means (20) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) in a plane passing through said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said frame (14) being of a construction sufficient for supporting said implement (16), the improvement comprising: said implement (16) being directly pivotally connected to said frame (14); and said subframe (50) being positioned adjacent and in contactable relationship with said implement (16) and connected to said second means.

Claim 15

In an implement assembly (12) having a frame (14) having a longitudinal axis (30), a subframe (50) pivotally connected to said frame (14), an implement (16) associated with said subframe (50), first means (18) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) about the longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14) and second means (20) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) in a plane passing through said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said frame (14) being of a construction sufficient for supporting said implement (16), the improvement comprising: said implement (16) being directly pivotally connected to said frame (14); and said subframe (50) being positioned adjacent and in contactable relationship with said implement (16) and connected to said second means.

Claim 16

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 13, wherein said subframe (50) is substantially free from forces of gravity exerted on said implement (16).

Claim 17

The implement assembly (12), as set forth in claim 13, wherein said subframe (50) is of a construction sufficient for receiving and transmitting generally horizontal forces exerted on said implement (16).

Claim 18

An implement assembly (12), comprising: an implement (16); a frame (14) having a longitudinal axis (30) and being pivotally connected to said implement (16) and of a construction sufficient for supporting said implement (16); first means (18) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) about said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said first means (18) including a hydraulic tilt cylinder (28) having first and second ends (32,34) and being connected at the first end (32) to said frame (14) and at said second end (34) to said implement (16); second means (20) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) in a plane passing through said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said second means (20) including a first hydraulic angle cylinder (40) having first and second ends (44,45) and being pivotally connected at the first end (44) to the frame (14) and at the second end (45) to said subframe (50); a subframe (50) pivotally connected to said frame (14) and positioned adjacent and in contactable relationship with said implement (16) and being substantially free from forces exerted by gravity on said implement (16); a first guiding element (64) connected to the implement (16) and being of a configuration sufficient for maintaining said subframe (50) at a preselected position relative to said implement (16) in response to pivotally moving said implement (16) about the longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50); and said implement (16) being pivotally movable about said longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50) and pivotally movable in said plane with said subframe (50).

Claim 19

An implement assembly (12), comprising: an implement (16); a frame (14) having a longitudinal axis (30) and being pivotally connected to said implement (16) and of a construction sufficient for supporting said implement (16); first means (18) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) about said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said first means (18) including a hydraulic tilt cylinder (28) having first and second ends (32,34) and being connected at the first end (32) to said frame (14) and at said second end (34) to said implement (16); second means (20) for controllably pivotally moving said implement (16) in a plane passing through said longitudinal axis (30) relative to said frame (14), said second means (20) including a first hydraulic angle cylinder (40) having first and second ends (44,45) and being pivotally connected at the first end (44) to the frame (14) and at the second end (45) to said subframe (50); a subframe (50) pivotally connected to said frame (14) and positioned adjacent and in contactable relationship with said implement (16) and being substantially free from forces exerted by gravity on said implement (16); a first guiding element (64) connected to the implement (16) and being of a configuration sufficient for maintaining said subframe (50) at a preselected position relative to said implement (16) in response to pivotally moving said implement (16) about the longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50); and said implement (16) being pivotally movable about said longitudinal axis (30) along said subframe (50) and pivotally movable in said plane with said subframe (50).