Patent Application
20130319703
The present invention relates to a tool mounting assembly for the mounting of a ground or earth working tool to a shank or tyne of earth working or agricultural equipment. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a tool holder for use in the tool mounting assembly.
It is common practice to mount the shanks or tynes of earth working tools to tool bars of agricultural equipment associated with or towed by a tractor or other prime mover. It is also known to attach various different working tools to such shanks or tynes for working of the soil or for weeding rearwardly of the shank or tyne. Such tools may for example comprise cutting knifes or blades or other subsoiling tools. It is desirable that the tools which are attached to the shanks or tynes be capable of simple vertical adjustment along the shank or tyne to allow for the attached tools to be adjusted for different depths of operation. It is also desirable however to have a mounting system for such tools which firmly attaches the tool to the shank or type to hold the tool firmly in place in a desired position when using the shank and coupled tool in the ground.
Various types of tools can be attached to shanks or tynes and in many cases the attached tools for example cutting tools can have considerable lateral span to either side of the shank. Tools of this type tend to apply twisting loads to the tool mounting system and thus to the shank. To avoid failure of the mounting system between the tool and the shank or tyne, it is important that the mounting system is secure and does not become loose under load. It is preferred also that the mounting system enables easy adjustment of the attached tool along the shank or tyne.
A common arrangement for attaching various tools to a shank or tyne is to form in the shank itself, a series of holes to which tools can be attached by bolts. The vertical adjustment of such tools however is time consuming. Further, the formation of such holes generally reduces the strength of the shank. In another arrangement serrated tracks are formed in the rear of the shank or tyne to which tools are mounted by damping two cheek plates to the track. These cheek plates are difficult to keep tight when subject to inevitable asymmetrical side loads.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,566, I disclose a system for mounting an earth working tool to a shank or tyne which comprises a substantially vertical track on the rear of the shank and a tool holder which is adapted to fit over the track. A wedge member which is adapted for wedging between the track and the tool holder is provided to enable the holder to be secured to the shank at a selected position along the shank to enable adjustment of the vertical height of the tool holder and the tool mounted to the tool holder. This system allows for rapid adjustment of the height of the earth working tool however because there must be sufficient clearance between the holder and shank to allow the holder to move longitudinally relative to the shank when being adjusted, there still tends to be a wobbling or lateral twisting movement between the shank and holder when the tool is subject to loads which can cause excessive wear and possible failure of the mounting system.
It would be desirable if a tool mounting assembly and a tool holder was available which addressed one or more of the above disadvantages or at which provided an alternative to the presently known tool mounting assemblies or systems.
According to one preferred aspect, the present invention provides a tool holder for mounting a ground or earth working tool to a shank or tyne, said shank or tyne having opposite side surfaces, said tool holder having an opening therethrough adapted to receive the shank or tyne, and wherein said holder includes means adapted to cooperate with at least one said side surface of said shank to prevent or minimize lateral twisting movement of said holder relative to said shank or tyne.
Preferably, the holder includes at least one surface which defines in use with a side surface of the shank a tapering space adapted to receive a material or member which in use is or becomes wedged between the holder and at least one side surface of the shank or tyne to prevent or minimize lateral twisting movement of the holder relative to the shank.
In one embodiment, the holder includes a surface which is angled outwardly in a longitudinal direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the opening (and to a central longitudinal plane of the holder which contains the opening axis) to define in use with a side surface of the shank, the tapering space. Preferably the holder includes angled surfaces on opposite sides to define respective tapering spaces with the respective side surfaces of the shank on opposite sides thereof. The or each angled surface is suitably defined in a recess or rebate in an inner surface or surfaces of the holder which is/are adjacent a side surface or surfaces of the shank or tyne in use.
Preferably the holder has at least one upper recess or rebate which opens to and communicates with a normally upper side of the holder so as to enable the material or member to enter the tapering space defined by the angled surface of the recess. Preferably the holder has a pair of recesses or rebates on opposite sides thereof having the respective angled surfaces. The at least one recess or rebate also suitably tapers in width from a maximum at its lower end to a minimum at its upper end.
The holder may also have at least one lower angled surface which is angled in a similar manner to the upper surface or surfaces, that is angled outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the opening and central longitudinal plane of the holder to define in use with a side surface/s of the shank or tyne, a further tapering space or spaces. Preferably the at least one lower surface is provided in at least one lower recess or rebate which is below the upper recess or recesses. An opening may be provided adjacent an upper end of the lower angled surface to provide communication between the upper end of that tapering space and the outside of the holder to permit the material/member to enter the tapering space/s defined between the lower recess or recesses and side surface/s of the shank or tyne. The at least one lower recess or rebate also tapers in width from a maximum at its upper end to a minimum at its lower end.
Typically the material or member which locates within the tapering space comprises soil, dirt or other particulate material from the earth or ground in which the tool is working which will enter the space's because the holder will normally be located below the upper level of the earth or ground. Any movement between the holder and shank will cause soil, dirt or other particulate material to move downwardly in the tapering space's to increase the wedging effect between the holder and shank.
In another embodiment, the holder includes at least one surface which is angled to the central longitudinal plane of the holder through the passage opening in a fore and aft direction, the angled surface defining in use with a side surface of the shank a space which tapers in cross-section in the fore and aft direction. Preferably the surface is angled such that the space tapers in cross section from a minimum to a maximum towards the leading end of the holder relative to the normal direction of movement of the holder. The tapering space in this embodiment is adapted to receive a wedging member for wedging between the holder and shank
Preferably the tapering space in this embodiment is adapted to receive a wedging member which in use is interposed between the angled surface and the adjacent side surface of the shank or tyne. Preferably the wedging member is an elongated member, suitably a resilient member. Preferably the wedging member is a wire or rod. Preferably the member is arranged such that its inherent resilience urges the member towards a wedging position within the tapering space.
Preferably the holder includes upper and lower tapering spaces of the above described type and the wedging members extends from one tapering space to the other tapering space. Preferably the wedging member is resiliently stressed when in position extending from the one tapering space to the other tapering space and has opposite end portions which define respective legs located in the respective tapering spaces. The legs of the wedging member when in the respective upper and lower space are usually arranged at an obtuse angle to each other. Preferably the resilience of the wedging member resiliently urges the respective legs towards a wedging position. Thus should the tapering space/s increase in size due to relative movement between the holder and shank, the resilience of the wedging member will cause the legs of the wedging member to move further towards a wedging position in the tapering space/s to maintain the wedging action. Typically pairs of upper and lower tapering spaces are located on opposite sides of the holder to receive respective resilient wedging members which are located in use between the holder and shank on opposite sides thereof to prevent or minimize lateral movement between the holder and shank.
In another embodiment, the holder includes or carries at least one clamping screw adapted to be advanced into engagement with the adjacent side surface of the shank. Preferably the holder captures a nut with which the clamping screw is threadably engaged. Preferably the nut is captured against rotation in a recess in the holder. Preferably respective clamping screws are provided on opposite sides of the holder for engagement with opposite side surfaces of the shank or tyne.
A tool holder may include one or more of the above described arrangements for preventing or minimizing lateral movement between a holder and tyne. Preferably the holder includes a pair of side arms or flanges which are parallel to the central longitudinal plane and which include or carry the respective angled surfaces and/or captured nuts. The opening for receiving the shank or tyne is provided between the side arms and the side arms in use are located on respective opposite sides of the shank or tyne.
Preferably, means are provided for securing the holder to the shank or tyne at a selected position along the shank or tyne. The tool shank or tyne may include a track extending along a rear side thereof and the opening in the holder is adapted to receive and capture the shank or tyne track. Preferably the means for securing the holder to the shank or tyne at a selected position along the shank comprises a wedging member adapted to be located in the opening to be wedged between the holder and shank or tyne. Preferably the tool holder is adapted to support a pivot pin for pivotally connecting a tool via the tool holder to the shank or tyne. Preferably the tool holder includes upper and lower rearwardly extending flanges and the pivot pin extends between the flanges. Suitably, the axis of the pivot pin lies in the central longitudinal plane through the holder.
The present invention in a further aspect provides a tool mounting assembly for mounting a ground or earth working tool to a shank or tyne, said tool mounting assembly comprising a tool holder having an opening therethrough adapted to received the said shank or tyne, and means adapted to be located between said holder and at least one said side surface of said shank to prevent or minimize lateral twisting movement of said holder relative to said shank or tyne. The means for preventing or minimizing the lateral twisting movement of the holder may include one or more of the above described arrangements and comprise a material or member which in use is or becomes wedged between the holder and at least one side surface of the shank or tyne to prevent or minimize lateral twisting movement of the holder relative to the shank.
The tool holder may include at least one surface which defines in use with a side surface of the shank a tapering space adapted to receive the wedging material or member. The tool holder may includes at least two such surfaces which define in use with a side surface of the shank, at least two tapering spaces, a first said tapering space tapering in the direction from an upper end of the holder towards a lower end thereof and a second tapering space tapering in a fore and aft direction relative to a front and rear of the holder. The first tapering space is suitably adapted to receive a particulate material such as dirt or soil and the second tapering space is suitably adapted to receive the wedging member.
The present invention in yet a further aspect provides in combination a tool shank or tyne and a tool holder, said tool holder being adapted to cooperate with at least one side surface of said shank or tyne to prevent or minimize lateral twisting movement of said holder relative to said shank or tyne. The means for preventing or minimizing the lateral twisting movement of the holder may include one or more of the above described arrangements. Preferably, means are provided for releasably securing the holder to the shank or tyne at a selected position along the shank or tyne.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:
Referring to the drawings and firstly to
The holder body 11 also includes an inwardly extending elongated slot or opening 17 which extends the full length of the body 11 to open at the top and bottom thereof for receipt of a tyne or shank of an earth working tool as described further below. The slot or opening 17 has a longitudinal axis X-X (see
The shank 24, which may be suitably secured at its upper end to, for example, a tool bar of an earthworking or agricultural device, is shown in
The track 26 is narrower than the distance between the side surfaces or walls 21 of the trailing portion 19 of the holder slot or opening 17 to permit full longitudinal movement of the holder 10 relative to the track 26. A substantial clearance is provided between the rear surfaces 29 of the track 26 and the rear surfaces 20 of the trailing portion 19 of the opening 17 so that when the slot portion 19 is positioned over the track 26, a gap is provided to permit the insertion of a wedge member 30. The wedge member 30 as also shown in
As referred to above, the side arms 18 of the holder body 11 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the side surfaces 25 of the shank 24 which the arms 18 overlie when the holder 10 is mounted to the shank 24 as is apparent in Fig, 5. Central transversely extending openings 34 (see
The arms or flanges 18 additionally include on their inner faces sets of opposing upper and lower recesses or rebates 40 and 41 which are located above and below the openings 34 as shown in
The lower recesses 41 also have planar surfaces 44 which are angled inwardly relative to the central longitudinal plane towards the inner sides of the arms 18 from the upper ends of the recesses adjacent the openings 34 to the lower ends of the recesses 41 however in this case the recesses 41 also taper in width so as to be at a maximum width at their upper ends and at a minimum width at their lower ends. The surfaces 44 of the opposing recesses thus converge inwardly towards each other and in a direction towards the lower side of the holder 10. in addition, transverse openings 45 extend through the arms or flanges 18 to intersect the surfaces 44 to communicate the upper ends of the recesses 41 with the outer side of the arms 18. When the holder 10 is mounted to a shank 24 as in
The arms 18 also include on their inner faces further recesses 46 and 47 which are positioned between the recesses 40 and 41 and the outer ends of the arms 18 and which are located above and below the openings 34 (see FIGS. 1,2 and 6). The recesses 46 and 47 have inner faces 48 and 49 which are angled at an acute angle to the central longitudinal plane (along line A-A) through the opening 17 and converge towards each other towards the outer free ends of the arms 18 (see
In use, the C-shaped opening 19 of the holder 10 is positioned in alignment with the shank track 29 so that the track 29 can be captured in the trailing portion 19 of the slot or opening 17 and the holder 10 is then slid along the shank 24 until the holder 10 is at a desired height as for example shown in
The earth working shank or tyne 24 may then be lowered into the ground and the tyne 24 with attached tool may then be put to use. Soil, dirt or other particulate material in the region of the openings 43 and 45 will naturally enter those openings and start to fill the tapering spaces defined between the surfaces 42 and 44 and side faces 25 of the shank 24 as shown at 56 in
As an alternative or in addition to the use of the tapering spaces, an elongated member such as a wire or rod 57 of resilient material may be inserted into the upper end of the recess 46 and knocked or hammered downwardly in the direction C as indicated in
The resilient of the wire or rod 57 will cause the legs 59 and 60 thereof to be urged resiliently outwardly in the direction E of
Additional or alternative resistance to “wobbling” movement of the holder 10 relative to the shank 24 may be achieved by tightening the bolts 37. This will cause the shanks 39 to be urged inwardly into engagement with the opposite side surface 25 of the shank 24 to thereby lock the holder 10 against wobbling movement relative to the shank 24.
Removal of the holder 10 from the shank 24 may be achieved by releasing the bolts 37 (if tightened) and removal of the wires or rods 57 (where used). For this purpose, the bolt 31″ holding the wedge member 30 in position is loosened and an impact force such as a hammer blow may be applied to the plate 31 which will free the wedge member 18 which can then be removed. The tool holder 10 can then be moved forward slightly to permit the disengagement of the protrusions 23 from the depressions 28 which will also free the legs 59 and 60 of the wires of rods 57 so that the wires or rods 57 can be pulled out from the upper end of the holder 10, This will thus free the holder 10 from the shank 24 to allow either complete removal or vertical adjustment of the holder 10, Displacement of the holder 10 from the shank 24 will also allow the soil or dirt 56 to drop from the recesses 40 and 41.
It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a tool holder which can be firmly and easily connected to a shank or tyne at a desired position and which can be rapidly and easily disconnected from the shank. Further the holder can be positioned at any height along a shank or tyne and a range of ground or earth working tools can be connected to the holder.
The anti-wobble arrangements described above may be used singly or in combination. For example, the holder 10 may only incorporate the recesses 40 and 41 for receiving dirt, soil or other particulate material which cooperates in a wedging manner with the shank 24 to prevent lateral twisting or wobbling movement of the holder 10 relative to the shank 24. In this case, the holder does not need to include the recesses 46 and 47 nor the clamping bolts 37. Further the holder 10 may include only one recess 40 or 41.
Alternatively, the recesses 40 and 41 may be eliminated and the holder 10 may only include the recesses 46 and 47 to receive a wedging member 57 for wedging between the holder 10 and shank 24. The holder 10 may also only include one recess 46 or 47 to receive the wedging member 57. In addition, the anti-wobbling arrangements, namely the recesses 40 and 41, 46 and 47 and/or clamp bolts 37 may be provided on only one side of the holder 10 or on both sides thereof. Were the recesses 46 and 47 are used, the wire or rod 57 may be replaced by any elongated member which will perform a wedging action, Such members may be resilient or non-resilient.
Other means may also be provided for setting the height of the holder 10 relative to the shank 24 and locking the holder 10 in that position other than using the wedge connection arrangement using the wedging member 30 as described. In other forms of connection, the shank 24 may not require the grooves 23 and the holder may not require the protrusions 28 to locate the holder 10.
The reference to prior art herein including reference to prior patents is not to be taken as an admission that such prior art constitutes common general knowledge in the art.
The terms “comprising” or “comprises” as used throughout the specification are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.
Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012902331 | Jun 2012 | AU | national |
