Patent Application
20130269960
The present disclosure relates generally to a mounting assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a mounting assembly for agricultural equipment including an elastomeric bushing.
Large farming and agricultural equipment is desirable when working large fields. Such agricultural equipment may include cultivators, tillage or aerator equipment. Using a cultivator as an example, a modern farm's standard implement for cultivating soil is through the use of a cultivator implement. A conventional cultivator implement is generally supported by a wheeled frame and pulled by a drive system or power source, typically a tractor. The cultivator support frame generally has a number of cross members which are transverse to the direction of travel of the power source. The frame cross-members provide attachment points for the various tools such that the tools can then extend downwardly towards the soil.
Some conventional mounting assemblies used in farm equipment provide for rigidly attaching farm tools to the support frame. When a tool that is rigidly mounted encounters an obstruction on or beneath the land, the tool will typically deflect. If this obstruction is large or hard enough, this deflection can cause damage to the tool, the frame, the tractor, other equipment, or to the obstruction itself.
Other conventional mounting assemblies make use of tensions springs to allow the farm tools to deflect or move in relation to the frame. However, these mounting assemblies can add to the weight of the equipment causing compaction in the field. There can also be issues with replacing the tension springs and providing appropriate loading.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved flexible mounting assembly that overcomes at least some of the problems of conventional mounting assemblies.
In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a mounting assembly for use in agricultural equipment. In some cases, the mounting assembly includes a bushing provided at the head of the tool.
In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a mounting assembly for mounting a tool to a frame. The mounting assembly includes a base for attaching to the frame, a bushing fastener connected to the tool, and an elastomeric bushing between the base and the bushing fastener for allowing dampened movement of the tool with respect to the frame.
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides agricultural equipment. The agricultural equipment includes a tool for working the land, a frame for attaching to a drive system, a base attached to the frame, a bushing fastener connected to the tool, and an elastomeric bushing between the base and the bushing fastener for allowing dampened movement of the tool with respect to the frame.
In a further aspect, a frame attachment attaches the base to the frame and a pivot bolt is provided in the frame attachment. The tool pivots about the pivot bolt to cause the bushing bolt to compress the elastomeric bushing. The elastomeric bushing is able provide dampening of rotational movement of the tool.
In a further aspect, a tool attachment attaches to the tool and has a groove. A shaft is provided in the groove and connects to the bushing fastener.
In an embodiment, the elastomeric bushing is made of natural rubber or a synthetic elastomer. Tightening or loosening of the bushing fastener can adjust the dampened movement of the tool. The elastomeric bushing can be removable and replaceable by unfastening the bushing fastener. The elastomeric bushing can be selected to provide a desirable amount of dampened movement of the tool.
In an aspect, the tool is selected from any one of a cultivator implement, a shank, a C-shank, a S-tine, a tiller, an aerator, a shovel, a chisel plough, a hoe, a mattock, an opener, a knife, and a cultivator.
Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures.
Generally, the present disclosure provides a mounting assembly and system for mounting a tool to a frame, for use in farm equipment, such as a cultivator, tillage, or aerator implement.
A mounting assembly 10, for example as shown in
The mounting assembly 100 is mounted to the latitudinal support bars 108 of the frame 102, via a frame attachment plate 112. The frame attachment plate 112 includes a plurality of apertures 114 by which the frame attachment plate 112 is attached to the latitudinal support bars 108 by at least one fastener (not shown), for example, nut and bolt, screw, or the like. The plurality of apertures 114 may be located at varying heights along the frame attachment plate to allow for the raising or lowering of the mounting assembly 100 with respect to the frame 102. The frame 102 is intended to support a plurality of mounting assemblies and tools 118, spaced on the frame 102 for cultivating, plowing, or otherwise working the land.
In an alternative embodiment, the frame attachment plate 112 is welded onto the frame 102.
The mounting assembly 100 includes a bushing 120. The bushing 120 is made of a compressible elastomeric material. The compressible elastomeric material can be naturally occurring, such as rubber, or synthetic, such as styrene-butadiene rubbers. The elastomeric material is selected such that the bushing 120 deformable and provides dampening. The bushing 120 is mounted on a front side of the frame attachment plate 112 and on a top side of the base 116 of the mounting assembly 100. The bushing 120 provides dampened movement of the tool 118 with respect to the frame 102. The busing 120 is intended to work similar to a shock absorber such that it allows cushioned movement of the tool 118 on a pivot axis 130 (shown in
The bushing bolt 122 may be tightened for more tip pressure on an end 134 of the tool 118 (i.e. the shank tip). The bushing 120 may also be changed to a larger or smaller, in height or diameter, rubber bushing 120 to add more or less tip pressure as desired. As the bushing 120 is located on the front side of the shank mount assembly 100, it is intended to be easier to access and tighten or change the bushing 120 when desired.
The frame attachment plate 112 further includes side plates 124. The side plates 124 may be integrated with the frame attachment plate 112 to form a single piece of material or may be attached to the frame attachment plate through welding, screws, or the like. The side plates 124 may include a base receiving aperture 126. Tool attachment 110 is rotatably attached to the side plates 124 through a fastener such as a pivot bolt 128, a screw or the like. The pivot bolt 128 is concentric about pivot axis 130 (shown in
The side plates 124 and fasteners are intended to limit the sideways movement of the tool 118 while the bushing 120 and the pivot bolt 128 allow for pivot movement of the tool 118 about pivot axis 130.
In some cases, the mounting assembly 100 may weigh approximately 35% less than a conventional steel spring mounting assembly (e.g. shown in
If the bushing bolt 120 shows signs of wear or if a larger or smaller bushing 120 is preferred in the current use of the farm equipment, the bushing bolt 120 may be replaced. The bushing 120 may be easily replaced by unfastening the bushing bolt 122. The bushing 120 may also be replaced with a harder or softer type of rubber bushing 120 in order to allow less or more, respectively, movement of the tool 118.
In this embodiment, the bushing bolt 122 passes through the center of the shaft 132. This configuration is intended to prevent the bushing bolt 122 from wearing or bending during rotation of the tool 118.
The side mounting walls 136 each have a groove 140 for receiving the shaft 132 (shown in
The back mounting wall 138 has apertures 142 for securing to the tool 118. For example, the tool 118 may be secured to the tool attachment plate 110 using a tool attachment nut and bolt 148 and a U shaped bolt 150 (shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the tool attachment plate 110 is welded to the tool 118.
In a further embodiment, the frame attachment plate 112 may be configured such that the apertures 114 are located on the side plates 124 such that the mounting assembly 100 can be attached to one of the longitudinal support bars 106.
In another embodiment, the mounting assembly can be customized and scaled for use with residential or commercial garden cultivators or tillers. In other cases, the mounting assembly can be customized for tools associated with, for example, snow clearing, ground cleaning, soil or sand sifting, or raking.
In a further embodiment, the bushing 120 may be located on an opposite surface (the underside) of the base 116 as compared to embodiments illustrated in the Figures. In this arrangement, the shaft 132 and pivot bolt 128 may also be located on the underside relative to the base 116 or located above the base 116.
In a further embodiment, the mounting assembly 100 may be configured in such a way that the elastomeric bushing 120 is stretched, rather than compressed, when the tool 134 is forced upwards due to coming into contact with an obstacle.
In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details may not be required. In other instances, well-known structures may not be described in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of the embodiments.
The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope herein.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/623326 filed Apr. 12, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61623326 | Apr 2012 | US |
