Abstract: A protective device for telescopic driveshafts used in driving agricultural implements has two protective tubes (8, 9) which are axially inserted into, and overlap, one another. The tubes (8, 9) are adjustable relative to one another along their longitudinal axis (5) and are made of plastics. The outer protective tube (8) includes three circumferentially distributed pairs of ribs ( 13, 14). The ribs (13, 14) are arranged at a distance from one another and a groove (11) is formed between the ribs (13, 14). Guiding webs (15) are provided between pairs of ribs ( 13, 14). The webs (15) project inwardly towards the longitudinal axis (5) from the inner face (12) of the outer protective tube (8). The webs (15) also project inwardly towards the longitudinal axis (5) and serve to center and radially support the tube (9). The outer face of the outer protective tube has a smooth finish. Thus, there are no projections which may possibly injure the operative when unintentionally rotating the protective device.

Abstract: A length adjusting mechanism for a driveshaft has two tubular profiles, an outer profile (6) and an inner profile (7). The outer profile (6) includes two circumferentially offset drawn in wedges (8) which project inwardly beyond the inner face of the otherwise circular cross-section of the outer profile (6). The wedges (8) engage grooves (11) of an inner profile (7). The grooves (11) are also drawn in. In this way it is possible to produce a pair of profiles which are suitable to transmit high torques and which, furthermore, do not include any parts which project in a radially outward direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a side strut (6) for the lower steering arm of a three-point hitch of a tractor. Locking catches (24, 25) are provided to cancel the floating position which the two telescopic members (14, 15) of the side strut 6 may assume relative to each other. The catches (24, 25) lock the members via locking contours (29, 30) of a locking recess 28, which surround and secure to a locking journal (31). The two locking catches (24, 25) are arranged at the sides of the telescopic members (14, 15). The locking catches have their pivot axis of the articulated journal (27) the points of contact between the locking contours (29, 30) and the locking journals (31), in a locked position, positioned on a connecting line. The line extends parallel to the sliding axis (16) and through the pivot axis of the ball eye (13). In this way, it is ensured that the locking catches (24, 25) and also the side strut (6), together, are not subject to any bending moments resulting from any tensile or compressive forces.

Abstract: A length-adjustable upper steering arm for a three-point coupling device, including a connecting eye having a threaded shank, and a coupling hook having a threaded shank, both of which are received in threaded bores of a sleeve, and which threads extend in opposite directions. To achieve a locked position or disengaged position of the coupling hook relative to the sleeve, there are provided an actuating lever and a locking ratchet which is partially pivotable independently thereof. Because the spring-loaded locking ratchet may be pivoted from the disengaged position into the engaged position independently of the actuating lever, the thread is not subject to jamming forces.

Abstract: A lifting strut having an adjusting sleeve with an externally threaded portion and an internally threaded portion. A connecting end with a threaded journal is screwed into the internally threaded portion, with a connecting end with a threaded sleeve being screwed on to the externally threaded portion. In addition, there is provided a movable holding sleeve having grooves and stops. The holding sleeve may be moved into any position relative to a rotary cross member of the adjusting sleeve provided with teeth for the purpose of changing the length of the lifting strut. Furthermore, the holding sleeve, with its grooves, may be moved across the teeth of the rotary cross member and across the teeth provided at the threaded sleeve in a corresponding position in order to arrest the change in length.

Abstract: The invention relates to a length-adjustable holding device (5) for supporting the lower steering arms of a three-point coupling device of an agricultural tractor. The holding device (5) comprises a helical spring (6) and an adjusting member (9). The spring and adjusting member are connectable to each other by means of through-bores (10) in the adjusting member (9) and a pin (11) insertable between two coils (6a, 6b) of the helical spring (6). The axes (12) of the through-bores (10) extend at an angle and the distance between the bores (10) differs from the pitch of the two coils (6a, 6b) in order to achieve a fine length adjustment. The adjusting member (9) is guided via a guiding projection (15) in a bore (16) of a guiding sleeve (14) which is received in the cavity of the helical spring (6) so as to be non-rotatable and axially unmovable.

Abstract: An adjustable length strut 24 for laterally supporting each lower steering arm 12, 14 of a three point linkage on an agricultural tractor comprises a sleeve 26 within which a shaft is telescopically slidable, the two parts being biased inwardly towards one another by a tension spring 40. The shaft 28 is provided with axially spaced through bores 52, 54, 56 each alignable with a corresponding through bore 58, 60 or 62 in the sleeve 26. The longitudinal axes of each alignable set of bores extends at different angles of inclination to one another whereby a locking pin 64 may only be insertable through one specific set of aligned bores.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a drive shaft in a farm implement wherein a support arm is pivotally mounted at both ends thereof with the drive shaft in order to support the drive shaft in a manner which facilitates coupling thereof with a drive source. The support arm is telescopically extendable and includes a first spring connected to apply a spring force relative to pivotal motion of the support arm and a second spring applying a spring force acting longitudinally of the telescoping support arm. One end of the support arm is mounted at a point of articulation associated with the driven end of the drive shaft and the other end of the support arm is mounted at another point of articulation which is connected through a bearing with the free end of the drive shaft at which a connection is made with a drive source.

Abstract: A drive shaft assembly for providing a drive connection between the power take-off shaft of a tractor and an agricultural implement is formed in two drive shaft parts with one of the parts which is attached to the tractor joint being formed with a coupling sleeve and with the other drive shaft part which is attached to the implement to be driven being formed with a coupling hub engageable and disengageable in the coupling sleeve. The other drive shaft part is also formed with a length adjusting device comprising a pair of spring-loaded telescoping tubes arranged between the coupling hub and the end of the other drive shaft part which is attached to the implement to be driven and, as a result, the disconnecting point of the drive shaft assembly is thus located between the joint which is associated with the tractor and the length adjusting device of the other drive shaft part thereby to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the drive shaft assembly.

Abstract: A drive shaft assembly including a pair of telescoping drive shaft parts one adapted to fit within the other having a tapered member on the one drive shaft part which extends outwardly therefrom and which is retractable against the force of a spring. An introducing funnel is provided on the other drive shaft part to guide insertion of the one drive shaft part and the two drive shaft parts are formed with a profile having a generally lemon-like shape with a pair of opposed radially extending beads. The one drive shaft part is formed within the areas between said beads with an axial cutout and a guide piece is provided on the other drive shaft part for guiding the one drive shaft part into engagement therewith, the guide piece having associated therewith an introducing inclination which is directed to extend opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive shaft assembly.

Abstract: A wide angle joint which permits good lubrication in any of its possible angular positions is formed with joint cross pieces which are each provided on their interior sides with a partially spherical recess connected with at least one of the lubricating channels which extend through the joint cross pieces with spherical trunnions being provided which also have partially spherical shoulders reaching through a bridge which joins the outer yokes of the joint. The midpoints of the partially spherical recesses are the partially spherical shoulders lie at an intersecting point of the two axes of the joint cross piece and the spherical trunnions each have a bore hole extending in the axial direction.

Abstract: Clutch engagement members radially movable to bring a clutch sleeve and a clutch hub into and out of driving engagement are displaced by radially movable spring loaded cam members having inner contact faces which engage cam surfaces on the radially inner ends of the engagement members, the cam surfaces on the engagement members being formed to include a first cam surface extending obliquely relative to the direction of movement of the cam members at a different angle than a second cam surface.

Abstract: A device for locking a shaft in driving engagement within a sleeve including radially movable locking members mounted in the sleeve adapted to be held in a position to effect locked engagement with the shaft by an annular locking member operating to hold the spherical members radially in locking position relative to the sleeve. A helical spring is provided in engagement between the annular locking member and the sleeve and the spring includes first radial portions which engage the sleeve and second radial portions which engage the annular locking member in order to enable a large clearance to be provided between the sleeve and the annular locking member so that operation will not be adversely affected by accumulation of dirt.

Abstract: An actuating device for loading a piezoelectric element including a loading element and a control element each fixed, respectively, upon one of a pair of relatively rotatable parts which may form part of a clutch. Cam projections on the control element intermittently lift the loading element away from the piezoelectric element whenever relative rotation of the two rotatable parts occurs in either direction. Sudden release of the loading element after being raised by the cam projections provides loading on the piezoelectric element to produce an electrical discharge thereby, for example, to indicate the occurrence of clutch slippage.

Abstract: A torque transmitting assembly including three telescopically arranged shafts is formed with an interlocking ball device which releasably axially locks the shaft members together. The ball device may include one or more balls which are movable radially of an intermediate shaft member, with the balls locking the intermediate shaft member with an inner shaft member when the balls are in a radially inward position and releasing said axial interlocking when the balls are permitted to move to a radially outward position by engagement within a recess of the outer of the three shaft members. The inner shaft member is formed with a conically shaped attachment member which operates to tend to urge the ball into the recess to release axial interengagement between the inner and intermediate shaft member and to permit the ball to move along the conical surface thereof back to its radially inward position when said locking engagement is to be re-established.

Abstract: A locking device for coupling an externally splined power take-off shaft with an internally splined coupling hub which may be part of a universal joint shaft of an agricultural implement, including locking elements which are radially movable between an inner locking position and an outer unlocking position, the elements being engaged in the locking position with a circumferential groove in the power take-off shaft. A retaining member is axially slideable on the coupling hub to a position to engage the locking elements to hold them in their radially inward locking position. Insertion of the power take-off shaft into the coupling hub causes an actuator device which includes radially movable members extending into the bore of the coupling hub to be moved radially outwardly by engagement with the power take-off shaft thereby to engage the retainer member to urge the retainer member toward its position holding the locking elements in the radially inward locking position.

Abstract: In a homokinetic double joint for effecting wide angle bending in the drive transmission line between a drive member and a drive member, such as in the combination of an agricultural tractor and driven agricultural device, a pair of outer yokes are each connected to a double inner yoke by two cross-links. A ball trunnion on each outer yoke is held within a guide member in a centering disc secured in the double inner yoke. Each cross-link has two pair of trunnions, one pair connected into the sides of the outer yoke and the other pair connected into the sides of the double inner yoke. The spacing between the sides of the double inner yoke in which the trunnions are positioned is greater than the spacing between the sides of the outer yokes in which the trunnions are held, thereby permitting wider bending angles between the drive member and the driven member.