Agricultural implement hitch assembly

Claim 2

A hitch assembly for use in connecting a primary wheeled unit to an intermediate wheeled unit in a train of units, said intermediate unit including a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a first transverse axis, and said primary unit including a frame mounting at least one ground-engaging element and a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a second transverse axis, said assembly comprising: first link means extending below said frame; second link means extending above said frame; drawbar means pivotally connected at one end to said first link means and having connection means at the other end thereof for pivotable connection to said intermediate unit at a point which is both on or closely adjacent to said first axis and is located on or closely adjacent to a reaction line drawn from a connection point for said intermediate unit in the train to the ground-engagement area of said element; and third link means pivotally connected to said drawbar means and to said second link means for fixing the angular relation between said frame and said drawbar means.

Claim 3

A hitch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the distance from said second axis to the connection point of said primary unit with said intermediate unit is substantially less than the distance from said first axis to said connection point of said intermediate unit in the train.

Claim 4

A hitch assembly according to claim 2 wherein said first link means comprises a pair of transversely spaced apart arms and said drawbar means comprises a transverse generally triangular section having a base and a pair of sides converging from the base to an apex, a pair of spaced apart lugs extending outwardly normal to said base and each pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said arms, and a connection lug extending outwardly from said apex and carrying said connection means at the free end thereof.

Claim 5

A hitch assembly according to claim 3 wherein said second link means includes a pair of closely spaced apart adjustment lugs straddling the draft line of said primary unit, and said third link means includes an adjustment arm pivotally connected at one end to said base, extending to between said pair of adjustment lugs and carrying adjacent the other end thereof means for adjustable connection to said pair of adjustment lugs such that the length of said adjustment arm and hence the angular relation between said drawbar means and said frame can be altered.

Claim 6

A hitch assembly according to claim 3 wherein said second link means includes a pair of adjustment lugs, each being generally vertically aligned with a corresponding one of said arms, and said third link means includes a pair of adjustment arms each being pivotally connected at one end to a corresponding one of said adjustment lugs and at the other end to said base.

Claim 7

A hitch assembly according to claim 5 wherein each of said adjustment arms is a longitudinally adjustable ratchet jack.

Claim 8

A hitch assembly according to claim 4 or 5 including a stop bar extending outwardly from each side of said triangular section adjacent said base for limiting transverse angular rotation of said primary unit relative to said intermediate unit through engagement with a corresponding portion of said intermediate unit.

Claim 9

A hitch assembly according to claim 4 and including damping cylinder means connectable between said drawbar means and said intermediate unit for damping vertical and transverse motions of said primary unit relative to said intermediate unit.

Claim 10

A hitch assembly according to claim 5 and including damping cylinder means connectable between said drawbar means and said intermediate unit for damping vertical and transverse motions of said primary unit relative to said intermediate unit.

Claim 11

A hitch assembly for use in connecting a primary wheeled implement to an intermediate wheeled implement in an implement train, said intermediate implement having a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a first transverse axis, and said primary implement including a frame carrying at least one ground-engaging element and mounting a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a second axis, said assembly comprising: first link means extending vertically below said frame; a drawbar pivotally connected at one end to said link means and extending away therefrom, said drawbar having connection means at the other end thereof for pivotable connection to said intermediate element at a point on or closely adjacent to said first axis, the distance from said second axis to said connection point being substantially less than the distance from said first axis to a connection point for said intermediate implement in the train such that the connection point for said primary implement is on or closely adjacent to a line drawn from the connection point for said intermediate element to the ground engagement area of said element; second link means extending vertically above said frame; third link means pivotally connected at one end to said drawbar and adjustably connected adjacent the other end thereof to said second link means for adjustment of the angular relation between said frame and said drawbar; and stop means on said drawbar for limiting the transverse angular rotation of said primary implement relative to said intermediate implement.

Claim 12

A hitch assembly for use in connecting a primary wheeled implement to an intermediate wheeled implement in an implement train, said intermediate implement having a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a first transverse axis, and said primary implement including a frame carrying at least one ground-engaging element and mounting a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a second axis, said assembly comprising: first link means extending vertically below said frame; a drawbar pivotally connected at one end to said link means and extending away therefrom, said drawbar having connection means at the other end thereof for pivotable connection to said intermediate element at a point on or closely adjacent to said first axis, the distance from said second axis to said connection point being substantially less than the distance from said first axis to a connection point for said intermediate implement in the train such that the connection point for said primary implement is on or closely adjacent to a line drawn from the connection point for said intermediate element to the ground engagement area of said element; second link means extending vertically above said frame; third link means pivotally connected at one end to said drawbar and adjustably connected adjacent the other end thereof to said second link means for adjustment of the angular relation between said frame and said drawbar; and stop means on said drawbar for limiting the transverse angular rotation of said primary implement relative to said intermediate implement.

Claim 13

A hitch assembly according to claim 10 wherein said first link means comprises a pair of transversely spaced apart arms, and said drawbar includes a transverse generally triangular section having a base and a pair of sides converging from the base to an apex, a pair of spaced apart lugs extending outwardly normal to the base and each pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said arms, and a connection lug extending outwardly from said apex and carrying said connection means at the free end thereof.

Claim 14

A hitch assembly according to claim 11 wherein said second link means includes a pair of closely spaced apart adjustment lugs straddling the draft line of said primary implement, the pivotal connection of said third link means being with said base and said adjustable connection of said third link means being with the free end of said adjustment lugs, said other end of said third link means being receivable between said adjustment lugs.

Claim 15

A hitch assembly according to claim 12 wherein said second link means includes a pair of adjustment lugs, each being generally vertically aligned with a corresponding one of said arms, and said third link means includes a pair of adjustment arms each being pivotally connected at one end to a corresponding one of said adjustment lugs and at the other end to said base.

Claim 16

A hitch assembly according to claim 13 wherein each of said adjustment arms is a longitudinally adjustable ratchet jack.

Claim 17

A hitch assembly according to claim 12 wherein said stop means includes a stop bar extending outwardly from each side of said triangular section adjacent said base and engagable with corresponding portions of said intermediate implement for limiting said angular rotation.

Claim 18

A hitch assembly according to claim 13 wherein said stop means includes a stop bar extending outwardly from each side of said triangular section adjacent said base and engagable with corresponding portions of said intermediate implement for limiting said angular rotation.

Claim 19

A hitch assembly according to claim 12 and including damping cylinder means connectable between said base of said drawbar and said intermediate implement for damping vertical and transverse motions of said primary implement relative to said intermediate implement.

Claim 20

A hitch assembly according to claim 13 and including damping cylinder means connectable between said base of said drawbar and said intermediate implement for damping vertical and transverse motions of said primary implement relative to said intermediate implement.

Claim 21

A hitch assembly for use in connecting a primary wheeled unit to an intermediate wheeled unit in a train of units, said intermediate unit including a pair of ground engaging wheels rotatable about a first transverse axis, and said primary unit including a frame mounting at least one ground-engaging element and a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a second transverse axis, said assembly comprising: drawbar means pivotally connected at one end to said frame and having connection means at the other end thereof for pivotable connection to said intermediate unit at a point which is both on or closely adjacent to said first axis and is located on or closely adjacent to a reaction line drawn from a connection point for said intermediate unit in the train to the ground-engagement area of said element; fixed link means extending vertically from said frame; and adjustable link means pivotally connected to said drawbar means and to said fixed link means for fixing the angular relation between said frame and said drawbar means.

Claim 22

A hitch assembly for use in connecting a primary wheeled unit to an intermediate wheeled unit in a train of units, said intermediate unit including a pair of ground engaging wheels rotatable about a first transverse axis, and said primary unit including a frame mounting at least one ground-engaging element and a pair of ground-engaging wheels rotatable about a second transverse axis, said assembly comprising: drawbar means pivotally connected at one end to said frame and having connection means at the other end thereof for pivotable connection to said intermediate unit at a point which is both on or closely adjacent to said first axis and is located on or closely adjacent to a reaction line drawn from a connection point for said intermediate unit in the train to the ground-engagement area of said element; fixed link means extending vertically from said frame; and adjustable link means pivotally connected to said drawbar means and to said fixed link means for fixing the angular relation between said frame and said drawbar means.