U.S. patent application number 11/012649 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for adjustable link assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation. Invention is credited to Brian Mark Huenink, Michael Dean Kollath, Robert Lee JR. Wood.
Application Number | 20060127166 11/012649 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35911333 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060127166 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huenink; Brian Mark ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
ADJUSTABLE LINK ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An adjustable link assembly includes a pair of coupling yokes,
each having a threaded rod projecting therefrom. First and second
lock members projecting from the corresponding first and second
yokes. The first and second yokes are threadably coupled to
opposite ends of a threaded central body. The body has a central
non-cylindrical adjusting portion located between first and second
indexing portions. A bracket is slidable over the body. The bracket
is rotatable with respect to the body when the bracket is
positioned over the indexing portions and being non-rotatably
coupled to the body when the bracket is positioned over the central
adjusting portion. A lever is pivotally coupled to the bracket so
that an end of the lever may be coupled to either of the lock
members to prevent rotation of the central body relative to the
yokes.
Inventors: |
Huenink; Brian Mark;
(Hudson, IA) ; Wood; Robert Lee JR.; (Waterloo,
IA) ; Kollath; Michael Dean; (Dunkerton, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEERE & COMPANY
ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE
MOLINE
IL
61265
US
|
Assignee: |
Deere & Company, a Delaware
corporation
|
Family ID: |
35911333 |
Appl. No.: |
11/012649 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01B 59/004 20130101;
Y10T 403/29 20150115; Y10T 403/295 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/043 |
International
Class: |
F16G 11/12 20060101
F16G011/12 |
Claims
1. An adjustable link assembly comprising: first and second
coupling members; a first lock member projecting from the first
coupling member; and a second lock member projecting from the
second coupling member; a central body, the first and second
coupling members being threadably coupled to opposite ends of the
body, the body having a multi-sided central adjusting portion, a
first indexing portion extending from a first end of the central
portion and a second indexing portion extending from a second end
of the central portion, the central adjusting portion being
positioned between the first and second indexing portions; a
bracket slidable over the body, the bracket being rotatable with
respect to the body when the bracket is positioned over the
indexing portions and being non-rotatably coupled to the body when
the bracket is positioned over the central adjusting portion; and a
lever pivotally coupled to the bracket so that an end of the lever
may be coupled to either of the lock members to prevent rotation of
the central body relative to the coupling members.
2. An adjustable link assembly comprising: first and second
threaded rods; a first lock member projecting from the first rod;
and a second lock member projecting from the second rod; a threaded
central body, the first and second rods being threadably coupled to
opposite ends of the body, the body having a multi-sided central
adjusting portion, a first indexing portion extending from a first
end of the central portion and a second indexing portion extending
from a second end of the central portion, the central adjusting
portion being positioned between the first and second indexing
portions; a bracket slidable over the body, the bracket being
rotatable with respect to the body when the bracket is positioned
over the indexing portions and being non-rotatably coupled to the
body when the bracket is positioned over the central adjusting
portion; and a lever pivotally coupled to the bracket so that an
end of the lever may be coupled to either of the lock members to
prevent rotation of the central body relative to the rods.
3. An adjustable link assembly comprising: a first coupling yoke
having a first externally threaded rod projecting therefrom; a
second coupling yoke having a second externally threaded rod
projecting therefrom; a first lock member projecting from the first
yoke; and a second lock member projecting from the second yoke; a
threaded central body, the first and second rods being threadably
coupled to opposite ends of the body, the body having a central
non-cylindrical adjusting portion, a first indexing portion
extending from a first end of the central portion and a second
indexing portion extending from a second end of the central
portion, the central adjusting portion being positioned between the
first and second indexing portions; a bracket slidable over the
body, the bracket being rotatable with respect to the body when the
bracket is positioned over the indexing portions and being
non-rotatably coupled to the body when the bracket is positioned
over the central adjusting portion; and a lever pivotally coupled
to the bracket so that an end of the lever may be coupled to either
of the lock members to prevent rotation of the central body
relative to the yokes.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable link
assembly.
[0002] Agricultural vehicles, such as tractors typically include a
hitch assembly, such as a 3-point hitch, for coupling an implement
to the tractor. Current production 3-point hitch systems normally
include two lower draft links and an adjustable top link or center
link. The length of the adjustable link is adjusted by rotating a
lockable turnbuckle. Turnbuckle rotation is aided by a lever that
creates a mechanical advantage so that no tools are needed to
rotate the turnbuckle, even while under load. The lever can also
perform a locking function to prevent turnbuckle rotation.
[0003] Some known adjustable links have included a lever pivotal at
a fixed location on the link, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No.
2,878,043 issued 17 Mar. 1959 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,757 issued
25 Mar. 1980. But with such designs adjustment may be difficult if
other devices or objects interfere with the travel path of the
lever during link adjusting.
[0004] Other adjustable links have included levers which are
pivotal on a bracket which can slide over the body of the
turnbuckle. As seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,575 issued 26 Aug. 2003
and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,069 issued 2 May 2000, the turnbuckle
can have a hexagonal-shaped or square-shaped body portion and a
bracket with a matching hexagonal or square-shaped opening. A
drawback of these designs is that the locking lever can be locked
only when the lever is pivoted in one direction. Also, in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,056,069 the turnbuckle body has a cylindrical portion at only
one end so that the lever bracket must be moved to this one end
before the lever and bracket can be rotated or indexed with respect
to the turnbuckle. This is a drawback because other
objects/devices, such as hydraulic valve stacks and hoses, may
interfere with moving the bracket to this one end or may interfere
with rotation of the lever when the bracket is at this one end,
such as when the hitch is raised to full height and the center link
is in its shortest position.
[0005] It would be desirable to have an adjustable link wherein the
locking lever can be locked when pivoted in either direction and
which can be rotated with respect to the turnbuckle at either end
thereof.
SUMMARY
[0006] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an
adjustable link wherein the locking lever can be locked when
pivoted in either direction.
[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide such an
adjustable link wherein the locking lever can be rotated with
respect to the turnbuckle at either end thereof.
[0008] These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention, wherein an adjustable link assembly includes a pair of
coupling yokes, each having a threaded rod projecting therefrom.
First and second lock members projecting from the corresponding
first and second yokes. The first and second yokes are threadably
coupled to opposite ends of a threaded central body. The body has a
central non-cylindrical adjusting portion located between first and
second indexing portions. A bracket is slidable over the body. The
bracket is rotatable with respect to the body when the bracket is
positioned over the indexing portions and being non-rotatably
coupled to the body when the bracket is positioned over the central
adjusting portion. A lever is pivotally coupled to the bracket so
that an end of the lever may be coupled to either of the lock
members to prevent rotation of the central body relative to the
yokes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The sole Figure is a perspective view of an adjustable link
assembly according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to the Figure, an adjustable link assembly 10
includes first and second coupling yokes 12 and 14, and a link body
or turnbuckle 16. Each yoke 12, 14 has a rod or post 18, 20 with
external threads formed thereon. Each yoke 12, 14 also has a
locking stub or post 22, 24 projecting radially outwardly
therefrom. Each stub 22, 24 has bore 26, 28 extending through a tip
portion thereof.
[0011] Link body 16 has a central portion 30 which has a
non-cylindrical, multi-sided profile. A first cylindrical reduced
diameter section 34 extends axially from central portion 30 towards
first yoke 12, and includes an internally threaded bore 36 which
threadably receives threaded post 18. A second cylindrical reduced
diameter section 40 extends axially from central portion 30 towards
second yoke 14, and includes an internally threaded bore 42 which
threadably receives threaded post 20. In a known manner the various
threads are formed so that the link assembly increases in length
when link body 16 is rotated in one direction, and so that the link
assembly decreases in length when link body 16 is rotated in the
opposite direction.
[0012] A bracket 50 is mounted on the body 16. Bracket 50 is
slidable over the entire length of the body 16. Bracket 50 includes
a generally U-shaped non-cylindrical multi-sided mounting part 52
which matingly receives the multi-sided central portion 30 of body
16 and which partially surrounds central portion 30. Thus, part 52
can slide axially with respect to central portion 30, but it cannot
rotate with respect to link body 16 as long as part 52 is receiving
central portion 30. Part 52 can rotate with respect to link body 16
when part 52 is moved axially off of central part 30 and onto
either smaller diameter sections 34 or 40.
[0013] A pair of legs 54 and 56 project away from opposite ends of
part 52. A pivot pin 58 extends through a pair of and between legs
54, 56, and is received by a pair of pivot bores (not shown).
Another pair of aligned bores 60, 62 extend through an upper end of
legs 54, 56. If link 10 is used as a center link in a three-point
hitch assembly (not shown), then bores 60, 62 can receive a storage
pin (not shown) which can be-used to hold the link 10 up and out of
the way when it is not in use.
[0014] An elongated handle or lever 70 has one end 72 pivotally
coupled to and receiving the pin 58. The other end 74 forms an
opening 76 for receiving the locking stubs 22, 24. The handle 70
can be pivoted to the position shown in the Figure, wherein the
opening 76 receives stub 24, and the handle can be locked in this
position by a locking ring 78. The handle can also be pivoted about
pin 58 and disconnected from stub 24 so that an operator can use
the leverage provided by handle to rotate the link body 16 in
either direction about its central axis to lengthen or shorten the
link 10, as long as bracket is engaged with the multi-sided central
portion 30. Alternatively, the handle 70 can be pivoted 180 degrees
about pin 58, and bracket 50 can be slid over portion 30 so the
opening 76 receives lug 22.
[0015] When the handle 70 is disengaged from lugs 22 and 24,
bracket 50 can be slid off of central portion 30 onto either
cylindrical portion 34 or 40 so that bracket 50 can be rotated
about the longitudinal axis of link 10 and so that the lever 70 can
be re-oriented or "indexed" with respect to the multi-sided central
portion 30.
[0016] Thus, with this invention, the bracket 50 and handle 70 can
be indexed with respect to the multi-sided portion 30 at either end
of the link body 16 on portions 34 or 40. Also with this invention,
the link body 16 can be prevented from rotating with respect to
yokes 12, 14 by pivoting the lever 70 in opposite directions and
into engagement with either stub 22 or 24.
[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.
Assignment
[0018] The entire right, title and interest in and to this
application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed
therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues,
etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this
application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the
applicant(s) named herein to Deere & Company, a Delaware
corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together
with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection
with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign
countries in the name of Deere & Company or otherwise.
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