U.S. patent application number 10/327244 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-24 for drawbar clevis assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Deere & Company, a Delaware Corporation.. Invention is credited to Kollath, Michael Dean.
Application Number | 20040119263 10/327244 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32594203 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040119263 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kollath, Michael Dean |
June 24, 2004 |
DRAWBAR CLEVIS ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A drawbar clevis assembly is attached to a drawbar having a
first bore in an end thereof. The clevis assembly includes a clevis
member which has a second bore spaced apart from and aligned with
the first bore. The clevis member also has a pair of cross bore
aligned with each other and extending generally perpendicularly
with respect to the first and second bores. A drawbar pin is
insertable through the second bore and into the first bore. The
drawbar pin includes a shaft and a plate attached to one end of the
shaft. A cross pin movably mounted in the cross bores and engagable
with the plate to releasably retain the drawbar pin in the first
and second bores. In a first embodiment, the cross pin is removable
from the cross bores to permit withdrawal of the drawbar pin from
the clevis member and drawbar. In an alternate embodiment, the
cross pin is rotatable within the cross bores from a latched
position wherein the cross pin engages the plate and retains the
drawbar pin in the first and second bores, to an unlatched position
wherein the cross pin is spaced apart from the plate to permit
withdrawal of the drawbar pin from the first and second bores.
Inventors: |
Kollath, Michael Dean; (La
Porte City, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joel S. Carter
Patent Department
DEERE & COMPANY
One John Deere Place
Moline
IL
61265-8098
US
|
Assignee: |
Deere & Company, a Delaware
Corporation.
|
Family ID: |
32594203 |
Appl. No.: |
10/327244 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/515 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60D 1/025 20130101;
B60D 1/28 20130101; B60D 1/60 20130101; B60D 1/02 20130101; Y10T
403/598 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/515 |
International
Class: |
B60D 001/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A drawbar clevis assembly comprising: a drawbar having a first
bore in an end thereof; a clevis member attached to the drawbar and
having a second bore spaced apart from and aligned with the first
bore, and having a pair of cross bore aligned with each other and
extending generally perpendicularly with respect to the first and
second bores; a drawbar pin which is insertable through the second
bore and into the first bore, the drawbar pin having a shaft and a
plate attached to one end of the shaft; and a cross pin movably
mounted in the cross bores and engagable with the plate to
releasably retain the drawbar pin in the first and second
bores.
2. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 1, wherein: the cross pin
is removable from the cross bores to permit withdrawal of the
drawbar pin from the clevis member and drawbar.
3. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 1, wherein: the cross pin
is rotatable within the cross bores from a latched position wherein
the cross pin engages the plate and retains the drawbar pin in the
first and second bores, to an unlatched position wherein the cross
pin is spaced apart from the plate to permit withdrawal of the
drawbar pin from the first and second bores.
4. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 3, wherein: the cross pin
is bent to form a first arm and a second arm extending
substantially at a right angle with respect to the first arm.
5. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 4, wherein: the second arm
may be grasped by an operator and manipulated in order to rotate
the first arm within the cross bores.
6. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 3, wherein: the cross pin
is bent to form a first arm and a second arm extending at an angle
with respect to the first arm, the first arm being rotatably
received by the cross bores.
7. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 6, wherein: the second arm
may be grasped by an operator and manipulated in order to rotate
the first arm within the cross bores.
8. The drawbar clevis assembly of claim 6, wherein: the first arm
has a portion with a non-circular shape adjacent to the drawbar
pin.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a drawbar clevis for
coupling a towed implement to a tractor drawbar.
[0002] Typically, a clevis assembly is attached to a tractor
drawbar. A towed implement can be coupled to the clevis with a
drawbar pin which passes through the clevis and the drawbar. The
coupling part of the towed implement will normally engage the
drawbar pin at a location between the drawbar and a part of the
clevis. A tractor normally has a PTO shaft which is located at the
rear of the tractor and above the drawbar. A clevis design used on
a number of current production tractors includes a "drop pin". In a
known design, the drawbar pin is retained by a handle which is
pivotally coupled to the drawbar pin. In another design, the
drawbar pin is held in place by a quick-lock pin which is inserted
through the end of the drawbar pin below the drawbar. In another
known production design, the drawbar pin is held in place by a
"flipper plate" which is rotated upwardly to allow removal of the
drawbar pin. In another known production design, used on 7010
series John Deere tractors, there is a plate which is on top of the
clevis and mounted underneath a spring. The plate includes a hole
which sits over a drawbar pin which has a smaller pin pressed
through it at the top. The plate bears down against the ends of
this smaller pin to retain the drawbar pin. This design has a tall
profile due to the spring. Also, the drawbar pin is subject to
frictional wear since it is allowed to rotate.
[0003] There must be sufficient clearance between the drawbar and
the PTO shaft, and this clearance is governed by formal industry
standards. Because drawbars and related components are normally
some of the lowest components of a tractor, they can be exposed to
crop material such as hay windrows or corn stalks, which can catch
on to and be dragged with the tractor and even knock small parts
off of a tractor. It would be desirable to have a drawbar clevis
design which has sufficient PTO clearance, which has a low profile
and which has minimal exposure to crop material.
SUMMARY
[0004] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a
drawbar clevis design which has a low profile and sufficient PTO
clearance.
[0005] A further object of the invention is to provide such a
drawbar clevis design which has minimal exposure to crop
material.
[0006] These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention, wherein a drawbar clevis assembly is attached to a
drawbar having a first bore in an end thereof. The clevis assembly
includes a clevis member which has a second bore spaced apart from
and aligned with the first bore. The clevis member also has a pair
of cross bore aligned with each other and extending generally
perpendicularly with respect to the first and second bores. A
drawbar pin is insertable through the second bore and into the
first bore. The drawbar pin includes a shaft and a plate attached
to one end of the shaft. A cross pin extends through the cross
bores and is engagable with the plate to releasably retain the
drawbar pin in the first and second bores. In a first embodiment,
the cross pin is removable from the cross bores to permit
withdrawal of the drawbar pin from the clevis member and drawbar.
In an alternate embodiment, the cross pin is rotatable within the
cross bores from a latched position wherein the cross pin engages
the plate and retains the drawbar pin in the first and second
bores, to an unlatched position wherein the cross pin is spaced
apart from the plate to permit withdrawal of the drawbar pin from
the first and second bores.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of drawbar clevis assembly
according to the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate drawbar clevis
assembly in a latched condition;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drawbar clevis assembly
of FIG. 2 in an unlatched condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a drawbar 10 has a bore 12 extending
vertically therethrough. A clevis 14 is attached to the drawbar 10
near its aft end. The clevis 14 includes a lower part 16 and an
upper part 18. The drawbar 10 is clamped between parts 16 and 18 by
bolts (not shown) in a known conventional manner. The upper part 18
includes a clamping member 20 and a flange 22 which projects
rearwardly from an upper end of member 20. Flange 22 is spaced
apart from and above the end of drawbar 10. Flange 22 includes a
vertically extending bore 24 which is aligned with bore 12. Upper
part 18 forms a cross pin retainer member 30 which projects above
the flange 22 and is located near a forward end of flange 22 and an
aft end of member 20. Member 30 includes a pair of spaced apart
tabs 32 and 34. A pair of laterally extending bores 36 and 38 are
formed in the tabs 32 and 34, respectively.
[0011] A drawbar pin 40 has a cylindrical shaft 42 which may be
inserted downwardly through bore 24 in flange 22 and into bore 12
of drawbar 10. Drawbar pin 40 also has a plate 44 attached to an
upper end of shaft 42. Although not required, the handle 46 may be
coupled to the plate 44 by a curved plate 48. Plate 44 has a
forward portion which projects into the space between tabs 32 and
34.
[0012] A cross pin 50 is removably inserted between tabs 32 and 34
and extends through bores 36 and 38. An end of pin 50 extends
outwardly of tab 34 and has a cross bore 52 formed therein.
Preferably, pin 50 is releasably retained in place in the bores 36
and 38 by a retaining device such as a quick-lock pin 54 with
grasping ring 56. With pin 50 in place as shown in FIG. 1, pin 50
will engage plate 44 and prevent drawbar pin 40 from being removed
from bores 12 and 24. With pin 50 removed, plate 44 and drawbar pin
40 can be withdrawn upwardly from bores 12 and 24.
[0013] Referring now to FIG. 2, the plate 44 of the drawbar pin 40
is retained by a pivoting pin 60 which is bent and forms a first
arm 62 and a second arm 64 at generally right angles with respect
to each other. First arm 62 has an inner end received by bore 36
and an outer end received by bore 38. Second arm 64 may be grasped
by an operator and manipulated in order to rotate first arm 62
within bores 36 and 38. Preferably, arm 62 is retained in place in
the bores 36 and 38 by a retaining device (not shown), such as a
quick-lock pin, a roll pin or a spring pin.
[0014] Arm 62 includes a portion 63 from which material is removed
from one side so that arm portion 63 has a non-circular profile or
shape. As a result, when arm 64 is oriented generally horizontally,
arm 62 overlaps plate 44 and prevents plate 44 and drawbar pin 40
from being withdrawn upwardly. As best seen in FIG. 3, when arm 64
is oriented vertically, arm 62 is spaced rearwardly apart from
plate 44 so that plate 44 and drawbar pin 40 can be withdrawn
upwardly.
[0015] Such cross-pin designs result in a low profile assembly
which can provide increased clearance with respect to a PTO
driveline. There is no "flipper plate" which must be rotate around
and above the top of the drawbar pin. There is also no quick-lock
pin at the lower end of the drawbar pin. As a result, the lower end
of the drawbar pin can be made flush with the bottom of the
drawbar. This eliminates a part that could engage and drag crop
material.
[0016] It is unlikely that crop material will knock the quick-lock
pin off because the quick-lock pin is located in a protected
position near the top of the assembly. It is also more convenient
to operate a quick-lock pin so positioned and remove the drawbar
pin from the clevis.
[0017] While the present invention has been described in
conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *