Earth working – Mounting for pushed tool at end of motor vehicle – Transversely mounted blade
Patent
1984-03-28
1986-01-07
Johnson, Richard J.
Earth working
Mounting for pushed tool at end of motor vehicle
Transversely mounted blade
172826, E02F 376
Patent
active
045628912
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hitch for mounting an implement such as a snow plow or the like to the front of a vehicle. More particularly this invention concerns such a hitch which allows the position of the implement relative to the vehicle to be changed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A standard front hitch has a main frame pivotal on the vehicle about a horizontal main axis extending transverse to the vehicle travel direction and having a front end carrying the implement, for instance via a ball joint. Hydraulic cylinders are connected directly between the implement and the main frame to position the implement relative to vertical and the horizontal axes, parallel and transverse to the vehicle transport direction.
Hitches of this type have the disadvantage that any actuation of one of the hydraulic cylinders produces a movement of the entire blade. Only a pure height adjustment does not change the inclination of the blade about a vertical axis without simultaneously changing its height from the ground and its angle with respect to the horizontal.
Other hitches are also known which permit angular movements of the implement about three perpendicular axes. In order to transmit the considerable forces that are required from the vehicle to the implement it is however necessary to provide a heavy-duty frame. Such a frame is expensive and represents a considerable offcenter weight to the vehicle carrying it.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved front hitch for a snow-plow type implement.
Another object is the provision of such a front hitch for a snow-plow type implement which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is relatively light and inexpensive to manufacture, and that allows the implement to be moved about several different axes without such movement causing movement about other axes.
A further object is to provide a snow-plow front hitch which therefore allows the plow to be raised and lowered on the vehicle by means of the main frame, and that can in turn move on the front end of the main frame about a horizontal axis that is parallel to the main axis, about a vertical axis passing through the front end, and about a horizontal axis extending in the travel direction through the main-frame front end, all independently of each other. In addition the system of this at the same time affecting the angular orientation of the plow relative to the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hitch for mounting an implement on the front end of a vehicle relative to the normal travel direction thereof according to the invention has a main frame having a rear end pivoted on the vehicle about a generally horizontal rear main axis and a front end spaced forward therefrom in the travel direction. An actuator, normally a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, is connected between the front end and the vehicle for pivoting the main frame about the main axis. A swivel joint at the front end carries the implement so that it can swivel freely on the front end by means of this joint. A rigid yoke pivoted on the front end about a front axis parallel to the rear axis has an upper end and is movable only about the front axis on the main frame. An inextensible link extends generally in the travel direction and has relative thereto a rear end pivoted on the upper end of the yoke and a front end pivoted on the implement. Thus when the implement pivots about a horizontal implement axis perpendicular to the direction and parallel to the main axis the link pivots the yoke with it about the front axis. A fitting is provided on the implement horizontally offset from the upper end of the yoke. Another actuator extends generally horizontally and transverse to the direction and has an outer end coupled to the fitting and an inner end coupled to the upper yoke end for tipping the implement about a horizontal axis extending in the travel direction through the swivel joint.
According to the invention the swivel joint is a heavy-duty ball jo
REFERENCES:
patent: 3529678 (1970-09-01), Teasdale
patent: 3822751 (1974-07-01), Waterman
patent: 4405019 (1983-09-01), Frisbee
Bomadier-Rotax-Wien Produktions- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Johnson Richard J.
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