Translatable Tool Patents (Class 172/483)
  • Patent number: 4991659
    Abstract: Ripper assemblies are normally utilized for ripping hardened ground, rock, and so forth. Due to the type of ground being ripped, it is many times advantageous to selectively change the pitch angle of the ripper tip during the ripping operation. Furthermore, it is advantageous to have a push block associated with the ripper assembly in order to allow the second vehicle to provide an additional pushing force for ripping of the ground. When a ripper assembly incorporates an adjustable pitch control and has a push block, the visibility of the ripper tip by the operator is many times limited or totally lost. In this subject arrangement, a push block is integral with a frame assembly and a ripper carriage assembly is pivotally secured to the frame assembly. By the push block being integral with the frame assembly, the ripper carriage assembly is simple and compact allowing better visibility by the operator to the rear of the ripper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Visvaldis A. Stepe, Chris E. Akins
  • Patent number: 4903780
    Abstract: A mobile, self-propelling crushing machine includes a structure essentially consisting of two beams, on which a central frame is welded. The central frame houses a rotor which is supported on a frame, which, in one form, is lowered by hydraulic cylinders fixed to the frame. In another form, the frame is lowered by four mechanical jacks being driven by a single hydraulic motor. Thus, the penetration of the rotor into the soil to be treated does not depend only on its own weight, but especially on the action of the just-mentioned hydraulic cylinders or mechanic jacks. The rotor is driven by two hydraulic motors which are opposite to one another and which are self-adjusting so that when a pressure transducer signals a pressure increase to the hydraulic motors of the rotor due to an increased effort, the forward movement speed of the machine, which moves on tracks, decreases as a consequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Inventor: Elda Barbieri
  • Patent number: 4883127
    Abstract: A field marker for attachment to a sprayer boom has an outer square tube clamped to the end of the spray boom. An inner square tube slides in the outer tube and is connected to it by a pair of coil springs that bias the inner tube downwardly. An hydraulic cylinder joins the inner and outer tubes as well and, when actuated, raises the inner tube against the biasing force of the springs. A marking disk is mounted on the bottom end of the inner tube, preferably with an adjustable mounting to accommodate booms of different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Inventor: Claude Chevrier
  • Patent number: 4817731
    Abstract: An improved parallelogram type ripper mechanism is provided. The mechanism has identical hydraulic pitch and lift cylinders lying in the same vertical plane. Also copolanar with the hydraulic cylinders are fixed length links. Identical left and right hand mounting brackets are attached to the rear of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Komatsu Dresser Company
    Inventor: Daniel L. Karlak
  • Patent number: 4815545
    Abstract: Apparatus for fracturing below ground hard pans which includes entering a sub-soil tyne beneath the hard pan with upper surface angle in range of orientation which provides improved fracturing width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Darrell C. Symonds
  • Patent number: 4714295
    Abstract: In a scraping roller mounting apparatus for scraping machines for scraping off roads, a motor-driven scraping roller is mounted rotatably by both ends in a frame arranged transversely to the direction of travel and attached to the chassis by two vertically adjustable mounting members. The frame is guided on the chassis by two dovetail-type slide and thrust guide members arranged at a mutual interval and aligned vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Inventor: Reinhard Wirtgen
  • Patent number: 4696349
    Abstract: An implement-mounting linkage mechanism for pivotally connecting a frame to a wheeled implement is disclosed. The mechanism is preferably used for pivotally connecting a wheeled load-bearing frame to the backside of a wheeled farm implement. The frame includes wheels adjustable relative to the frame for raising and lowering the frame relative to the ground. The frame preferably includes a plurality of soil-engaging ground-tool implements mounted thereon. The mounting-linkage mechanism of the present invention incorporates a novel non-parallel four-point design which virtually eliminates negative hitch weight when the frame is raised above the ground, in the static case. On the other hand, the novel design results in a net downward force being imposed upon the ground-tool implements when the frame is lowered for soil engagement, in the dynamic case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventors: J. Richard Harwood, Frank A. Bell
  • Patent number: 4625809
    Abstract: A plow and disc combination machine which utilizes a bridge hitch type frame which is built in the same order as a highway bridge which enables the plow to have clearance so that a disc gang mounted under it and movable by hydraulics can be raised or lowered on the move. The fact that a bridge truss structure is utilized in the frame allows the discs to be movable over a wide vertical range and allows the subsoiler plow shanks to be used in the ground at maximum depth without the usage of the disc blades. The discs can also be lowered to cut material such as corn stalks as the plow is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventor: Gary Moynihan
  • Patent number: 4561504
    Abstract: In a flexible tine harrow for the preparation of seed beds and comprising a plurality of individual harrow sections, each of these sections has an intermediate frame which is supported by earth crumbling drums in front of and behind the harrow section and is towingly connected with the main frame both through a link connection at the front end of the intermediate frame and through a telescopic stay biased to extension and arranged above the harrow section, the directions of the pull and push forces exerted through the link connection and the stay intersecting at a point approximately in the level of the shares of the harrow tines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Kongskilde Koncernselskab A/S
    Inventor: Helge H. Andersen
  • Patent number: 4537261
    Abstract: A generally conventional seeder is provided including a main frame supporting a plurality of laterally spaced rear seeder units and equipped with a forwardly projecting tractor attachable hitch assembly including dependingly supported ground wheel structure. The hitch assembly includes mounting frame structure intermediate the main frame and the forward extremity of the hitch assembly and a pair of elongated, generally aligned and axially spaced transversely extending opposite side tool bars are disposed on opposite sides of the ground wheel structure. A pair of laterally spaced upstanding guide and support members project upwardly from adjacent ends of the tool bars and the mounting frame structure includes guide structure from which the guide and support members are guidingly supported for vertical shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Inventor: Paul H. Hatzell
  • Patent number: 4453600
    Abstract: Ripper apparatus having interchangeable tool bar means whereby a tool bar having a single ripper blade may be used with the apparatus or a tool bar having plural ripper blades may be used with the apparatus, whereby the tool bar supporting elements may be used for the apparatus in either form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Inventor: James L. Thigpen
  • Patent number: 4431061
    Abstract: A farm implement adapted to be coupled to the front of conventional tractors for pre-cutting or scalping old levees. A rigid, box-like frame is secured generally transversely upon the front of the tractor. The frame supports an elongated, rigid channel mount extending generally perpendicularly with respect thereto. An elongated, rigid stanchion may be coupled to the channel mount to elevate a first hydraulic cylinder attachment point at a desired elevation above ground. A plow assembly includes a pair of rotatable, angularly disposed forwardly projecting cutting discs rotatably secured to a central frame, and an elongated rigidly upwardly extending strut terminating at its top in a second point for connection with a hydraulic cylinder. Rigid strut guide means are secured about the channel mount at a desired elevation, sandwiching the stanchion therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Inventor: Garland M. White
  • Patent number: 4422796
    Abstract: A small roller attached to a conventional power-driven paving roller or the like is hydraulically positionable to roll a surface outside of the normal rolling track of the power roller, such as against a building, high curbing, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Inventor: Boyd D. Tavernier
  • Patent number: 4333534
    Abstract: Individual tool bars are mounted between upright guides of a horizontal rectangular frame. Rollers engaging the guides transmit longitudinal forces from the frame to the tool bars and allow the tool bars to move freely up and down. Ground working tools mounted to the bars can therefore "walk" over uneven terrain as controlled by balancing depth wheels and packer wheels. Hydraulic cylinders are mounted between the tool bars and frame for applying upward or downward force against the tool bars without inhibiting their free movement along the guides in response to ground contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventors: Guy J. Swanson, Morton C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 4331206
    Abstract: A ground leveling and tillage implement for attachment to the front of a tractor includes an elongated frame element disposed transversely in front of the front wheels of the tractor and generally parallel with the ground. A generally rectangular tine-supporting frame is provided having spaced opposite sides and ends, and having a plurality of ground-working tines mounted thereon and depending therefrom. The supporting frame is mounted intermediate its ends on the frame element for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with its sides and with the frame element between an operative position extending forwardly of the frame element and generally parallel with the ground and with the tines in engagement therewith, and a generally upright transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Inventor: Kenneth B. Linton
  • Patent number: 4321970
    Abstract: Ripper apparatus of the type wherein a ripper blade is releasably fixed in place through a shank pocket slot of a pivotal tool bar, wherein a replaceable wear plate forms the front side of the shank pocket to reduce wear of the shank pocket. The tool bar may be provided in several forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Inventor: James L. Thigpen
  • Patent number: 4313504
    Abstract: A ripper assembly (10) includes at least two ripper members (16,18) mounted in tandem relationship and adapted for connection to a vehicle (14). A linkage assembly (20) interconnects the ripper members. A hydraulic cylinder (44) is operable to raise and lower the linkage assembly (20) so that the leading ripper member (16) penetrates the ground first and thereafter the trailing ripper member (18) penetrates the ground, vertically below the leading ripper member. The ripper assembly insures efficient ground penetration and a self-cleaning function in comparison with conventional rippers of the multiple-tooth type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert L. Fischer
  • Patent number: 4140186
    Abstract: An earthmoving apparatus has first and second traction units and a connecting device for connecting the second traction unit to the first traction unit in rearwardly spaced relationship. A ripper is carried by the connecting device intermediate the traction units. An adjusting device selectively adjusts the positioning of the ripper on the connecting device and includes a jack having a first portion carried by the connecting device and a second selectively extensible portion connected to the ripper for selectively positioning the ripper relative to and independently of the connecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Robert N. Stedman