Row Marker

Abstract

A track is clamped to a tool bar parallel thereto. A carriage in the track is reciprocated from one side to the other by a rack and pinion formed by a chain welded to the carriage and a sprocket operated by a hydraulic motor mounted on the track. A cam plate on the end of the carriage permits markers to be folded down in the marking position and folded up in the carry position. Knee action permits the marker to flop backwards when an obstruction is struck.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to earth-working implements, generally of the lister type with multiple interconnected earth markers, the markers on the laterally shiftable member.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When furrowing or listing ground it is desirable to have the furrows exact spacing one from the other. To accomplish this, it is desirable or necessary to mark the path of the tractor from each traverse of the field.

Agricultural equipment is being made larger with more plows. This makes the distance from one traverse to the next greater. This requires longer and heavier beams upon the marker. The problem is illustrated and outlined in the Graham et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,941.

It has been suggested that the width of the entire piece of equipment could be reduced by causing the markers to telescope within the tool bar itself, Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,990.

It had previously been known that the marker beam could be carried in a track, Zimmerman U.S. Pat. No. 189,008.

Other U.S. Pats. considered in preparing this application include Taylor, No. 514,518, Bullard, No. 2,847,923, and Hudson, No. 2,483,011.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. new and Different Function

This invention utilizes a reciprocating carriage which reciprocates within a track which, itself, is clamped to an existing tool bar. The track may be clamped either behind the tool bar or above the tool bar depending upon the availability of space which, itself, will depend on the other equipment attached to the tool bar. The reciprocation is accomplished by a rack and pinion mechanism with the limits of reciprocation governed by a stop adjustably mounted on the carriage. The pinion is driven by a hydraulic motor and no damage is done to the motor to stop its movement.

2. Objects of this Invention

An object of this invention is to mark rows for agricultural implements.

Other objects are to mark rows with a structure which is compact and does not greatly increase the width of the plow equipment.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, adjust, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a row marker according to this invention shown attached to a tool bar with listers thereon.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of a portion of the marker attached to the tool bar in a different manner than FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 2 with the exception that FIG. 3 shows the row marker attached as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail of one end of the row marker.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of the marker with a portion of the cam surface broken away for clarity.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an end of the marker in the elevated or carry position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 7--7 of FIG. 2 showing the motor and sprocket with parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the motor and sprocket taken substantially on line 8--8 of FIG. 7, with parts broken away for clarity.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9--9 of FIG. 7 showing the construction of the motor mount plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Tool bar 10 is that tool bar which is normally used to support the shanks of the listers 11 or planters in normal use. Mounting shanks 12 are clamped to the tool bar by U-bolts 14. One U-bolt extending above the tool bar 10 and the other U-bolt extending below the tool bar 10 as seen in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, one U-bolt 14 is in front and the other is behind the tool bar 10. Backing plate 16 on the front of the tool bar 10 forms the other element of the clamp. (FIG. 2). The backing plate 16 is shown on the bottom in FIG. 3. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the mounting shanks 12 could be mounted to extend horizontally behind the tool bar rather than vertically above it. Furthermore, the distance of head 17 on the shank 12 may be adjusted so as to clear any other equipment which is mounted upon the tool bar 10.

Track 18 is attached by ears 20 to the head 17 of the shank 12. The track 18 is parallel to the tool bar 10 and of about equal length. The track, as stated before, may be above the tool bar 10 or behind it, but in either position it is parallel thereto. Each ear 20 has two holes therein. Also, the head 17 on the shank 12 has three holes 24 therein. Therefore, if the track 18 is mounted to the rear, two of the holes 24 are used and, if the track 18 is mounted above, a different pair of holes 24 are used.

The track 18 is basically a tube with a longitudinal slot 26 therein. Carriage 28 ("h-shaped" in cross section) is carried therein. One leg of the h-shaped carriage 28 extends through the slot 26. Beam 30 is welded to the top of the h-shape 28 and, therefore, is part of the carriage. Therefore, the beam 30 is also parallel to the tool bar 10.

Leg assembly or marker 32 is pivoted by pivot pin 34 to each end of the beam 30.

Top leg 36 is the particular structural element pivoted by the pin 34. The top leg 36 includes square tube 38, having two ears or scabs 40 welded thereto. Also, cam 42 (shape described later) is attached thereto. Therefore, when the leg assembly 32 is in the lower or operating or plowing position, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper portion of the cam 42 (called the first cam surface 56) holds the leg assembly 32 in a vertical position against the side draft of angled marker disc 52. Inasmuch as the tool bar 10 and the parallel beam 30 are horizontal, the leg assembly 32 will be at right angles to the beam 30.

Lower leg 44 is also constructed of tubular material. The lower leg 44 is connected to the upper leg 36 by knee pin 46. The knee pin 46 extends through ears or scabs 48 which are welded to the tube 38 at the lower position thereof and 90.degree. rotated from the attachment or welding of the scabs 40. Spring 50 normally holds the knee in the forward position so the lower leg 44 is aligned and an extension of the top leg 36. However, if disc marker 52, attached to the bottom of the lower leg 44, strikes an obstruction such as a rock or a stump, the lower leg 44 may pivot backward about the knee pin 46. However, the spring 50 will urge the lower leg forward again so it is in an extended position. The spring 50 extends on the forward side of the leg assembly 32. The disc marker or ground engaging plan 52 is pivoted to foot 54 which, itself, telescopes within lower leg 44 so it is adjustable therein.

The cam 42 has a first surface 56 which has previously been described as maintaining the leg vertically downward. As the carriage 28 is moved inwardly, second surface 58 upon the cam will strike the edge of the track 18 so as to elevate the leg 32 to the elevated or carry position. Third surface 60 upon the cam will prevent the leg 32 from flopping on over because it is in the position when the leg is in the carry position to ride against the top of beam 30 should the leg tend to attempt to flop over. The drawings are referred to for the shape and attachment of the cam to the tube 38 of the top leg 36. As may be seen, a portion of the cam is welded to one of the scabs 48.

Chain 62 in the form of a roller chain is attached as by welding between the lower and depending plates of the h-shaped carriage member 28. Opening slot 64 is cut into the bottom of the track 18. Power unit 68 is attached as by bolting to the side of stop plate 70, which is, itself, welded to the back side of the track 18. The power unit includes hydraulic motor 72. Shaft 73 of the hydraulic motor extends through opening 74 in the stop plate. Sprocket or pinion 76 is mounted upon the shaft. An arc of the sprocket extends through the slot 64 and engages the chain 62 in driving relationship. The hydraulic motor 72 is a reversible motor and the hoses and valve controls therefor have not been shown for simplicity of drawing. If the motor 72 is rotated in one direction, it drives sprocket 76 and the chain 62 and, therefore, the carriage 28 in one direction. Reversal, obviously, drives the carriage 28 carrying the beam 30 and the legs 32 in the opposite direction.

Inverted U-shaped stop clamps 78 are attached by set screws 80 to the top of the beam 30. They set like a saddle over the beam 30. As particularly seen in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the stop clamps 78 contact the upper portion of the stop plate 70, they limit travel in that direction. Therefore, the farmer may measure the desired position of the disc marker 52 and set the stop clamp 78 in contact with the stop plate 70 when the marker 52 is in the desired position. Then, each time the motor 72 is operated, when the stop clamp 78 contacts the stop plate 70, it will stop the motion of the carriage 28. The characteristic of the hydraulic motor 72 is that being stalled does not damage it and, therefore, the equipment will be in proper operation at that time.

Therefore, it may be seen that I have provided a simple, effective marker system for agricultural implements.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific examples above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.

______________________________________ CATALOG OF ELEMENTS ______________________________________ 10 tool bar 62 chain 11 listers 64 slot, opening 12 shanks, mounting 68 power unit 14 U-bolts 70 stop plate 16 Plate, backing 72 motor, hydraulic 17 head 73 shaft 18 track 74 opening 20 ears 76 sprocket 22 holes, 2 78 U-shaped stop clamps 24 holes, 3 80 set screws 26 slot 28 carriage, h-shaped 30 beam 32 leg assembly 34 pin 36 leg, top 38 tube, square 40 ears or scabs 42 cam 44 leg, lower 46 pin, knee joing 48 ears or scabs 50 spring 52 disc marker 54 foot 56 surface, 1st 58 surface, 2nd 60 surface, 3rd ______________________________________

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. A row marker adapted to be attached to an agricultural implement having

a. an elongated tool bar,

b. hitch means on said tool bar for drawing in a direction of draft the tool bar transversely across a field to be plowed, and

c. a plurality of plows on said tool bar,

d. COMPRISING:

e. an elongated track,

f. mounting means interconnecting said track and tool bar for attaching said track to said tool bar parallel thereto,

g. an elongated carriage, means for mounting said carriage for reciprocation upon said track,

h. an elongated rack attached to said carriage extending the length thereof,

j. a pinion journaled to said track and engaged with said rack,

k. motor means attached to said track attached to said pinion for rotating same and thus reciprocating said carriage,

m. marker means for marking the earth attached to each end of the carriage,

n. U-shaped stops adjustably attached to the carriage, and

o. a stop plate attached to the track near the center thereof

p. so that the U-shaped stops on the carriage contact the stop plate to limit the travel of the carriage.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of

n. said track being about the length of the tool bar.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of

n. said mounting means also being means for attaching the track in one of at least two positions,

i. the first position being above the tool bar,

ii. the second position being behind the tool bar.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 with an additional limitation of

n. said carriage being about the length of said track.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said rack is in the form of

n. a roller chain attached to the bottom of said carriage and said pinion is in the form of a sprocket.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 with additional limitations of

o. said carriage including a square beam extending the length thereof,

p. said marker means attached to said square beam,

q. at least two parallel plates extending downward from said beam,

qq. said plates engaging said track, and

r. said roller chain connected between said plates.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 with an additional limitation of

s. said carriage being about the length of said track.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 with an additional limitation of

w. said mounting means also being means for attaching the track in one of at least two positions,

i. the first position being above the tool bar,

ii. the second position being behind the tool bar.

9. A row marker adapted to be attached to an agricultural implement having

a. an elongated tool bar,

b. hitch means on said tool bar for drawing in a direction of draft the tool bar transversely across a field to be plowed, and

c. a plurality of plows on said tool bar,

d. COMPRISING:

e. an elongated track,

f. mounting means interconnecting the track and the tool bar for attaching said track parallel to said tool bar,

g. an elongated carriage, means for mounting said carriage for reciprocation above said track,

h. reciprocating means attached to said track for reciprocating the carriage from side to side,

j. two markers, each of said markers having a top leg pivoted by

k. a pivot pin to each end of said carriage,

i. each pivot pin being above the top of the track and

ii. having its axis aligned with the direction of draft,

m. a cam plate on said top leg of the marker,

i. a first surface of said cam plate contacting the carriage when the marker is in the operating position to prevent the top leg from folding inward past a vertical position,

ii. a second surface on said cam plate contacting said track when the marker is moving from an operating position to rotate the top leg outward to a carry position, and

iii. a third surface on said cam plate to contact the top of the carriage to prevent the top leg from reaching a vertical upward position, and

n. a ground engaging plow attached to the end of each marker.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said reciprocating means includes

o. an elongated rack attached to said carriage extending the length thereof,

p. a pinion journaled to said track and engaged with said rack, and

q. motor means on said track attached to said pinion for rotating same and thus reciprocating said carriage.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9 with additional limitations of

o. a lower leg pivoted to the upper leg by

p. a knee pin,

q. said knee pin parallel to the elongated carriage and track, and

r. a tension spring extending along the front of the top leg and lower leg.

12. The invention as defined in claim 9 with an additional limitation of

o. said ground engaging plow in the form of a disc angled to move the marker inward against the first cam surface.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 with additional limitations of

p. a lower leg pivoted to the upper leg by

q. a knee pin,

r. said knee pin parallel to the elongated carriage and track,

s. a tension spring extending along the front of the top leg and lower leg.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said reciprocating means includes

t. an elongated rack attached to said carriage extending the length thereof,

u. a pinion journaled to said track and engaged with rack, and

v. motor means attached to said track attached to said pinion for rotating same and thus reciprocating said carriage.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14 wherein said rack is in the form of

w. a roller chain attached to the bottom of said carriage, and

x. said pinion is in the form of a sprocket.

16. The invention as defined in claim 15 with additional limitations of

y. said carriage including a square beam extending the length thereof,

z. said marker means attached to said square beam,

aa. at least two parallel plates extending downward from said beam,

bb. said plates engaging said track, and

cc. said roller chain connected between said plates.