BACKGROUND

Mobile machinery such as agricultural tractors, bulldozers, track tractors, skip loaders, all-terrain vehicles and earth grading tractors, generally referred to as a “tractor,” typically are provided with a suitable power plant, a source of fluid under pressure and or a source of electric current. The fluid pressure source includes suitable valve control means. The tractors typically include an implement mounting system known as a three-point hitch. The three-point hitch includes a pair of opposed spaced apart lateral bottom-link arms located at the rear of the tractor body or frame rotatably connected to the tractor with ball joints which are affixed to the frame or body of the tractor at a selected distance of typically 12 to 30 inches above the ground and extend on each side of a center draw bar. The free distal ends of the arms typically include a ball rotatable in a socket with an axial hole extending there through.

A third arm, called a top-link arm, is also rotatably connected with a ball joint to the tractor frame at a point about 30 to 60 inches above ground and centered above the bottom-link arms. The free distal end of the top-link arm is fitted with a rotatable ball with an axial hole extending there through for connecting to a center point on an implement in alignment with studs. Free ends of the two bottom-link arms and the top-link arm provide three-points of attachment to implements and therefore is referred to as a three-point hitch. The length of top-link arm is generally adjustable by means of a built in turn-buckle assembly. This provides for manual leveling of the attached implement. The top-link arm turn buckle assembly can be replaced with a hydraulic cylinder for quick controlled manual or automated adjustments of the length of the top-link arm resulting in adjustments of the attached three-point implement.

The bottom-link arms are connected to a lift-link arm to provide a means for lifting such as a suitable power lift mechanism, for example one or more hydraulic cylinders. This provides the capability to raise and lower the two bottom-link arms and thus the implement which is connected to the three-point hitch. Because the free ends of all three arms are connected to the tractor with ball joint type connections, all three arms may freely pivot to the left and the right any time the three-point hitch has the implement raised off the ground. On older tractors, an additional bar called a stabilizer arm is provided, if desired, and is connected to one of the first two bottom-link arms and to a fixed point on the tractor. On newer tractors, two stabilizer arms are provided, one for each bottom-link arm and they are also connected to a fixed point on the tractor. The stabilizer arms allow the bottom-link arms to still be raised and lowered by hydraulic means, but the implement is held stable with reference to the horizontal plane, and cannot swing to and fro as before.

The attached implement can include a transversely extending tool bar or frame member having laterally spaced apart studs extending from the front tractor-facing side of the implement for removable attachment to the sockets held within the distal ends of the bottom-link arms. In addition to the bottom-link arm attachment hardware means is an upper attachment hardware means for the attachment of the top-link arm.

A three-point hitch is standard equipment on most agricultural and earth grading tractors. The use of a three-point hitch provides lifting, lowering and tilting mechanisms to attached agricultural implements, such as agricultural implements. The tractor three-point hitch allows the attached tool or implement to be raised and lowered, tilted horizontally and tilted vertically, all such movements and adjustments provided by hydraulically activated cylinders or manual crank screw devices. Front three-point hitches, while available, are less common than rear three-point hitches on agricultural tractors.

The three-point hitch provides for a quick attachment of various implements needed on a tractor. In addition, when the implement is in the raised or lowered position, lateral movement of the three-point bottom-link arms is freely available. To limit lateral movement of the implement in the raised or lowered position, the user can add a stabilizer arm comprising a longitudinal member having a selected adjustable length attachable to a swing arm attachment point on the tractor body or frame with the opposing end attaching to the same implement stud as the adjacent swing arm to limit lateral movement of the bottom-link arms. Many tractor brands are now factory supplied with three-point hitch bottom-link stabilizer arms. Controlled lateral movement of an attached implement is not provided with a three-point hitch.

Earth-moving equipment in the construction and farming field has rapidly changed for the better in recent years with the introduction of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and laser guidance systems. Current GPS guidance systems for earth-moving and agricultural tractors generally are designed to auto-steer the tractor. Much of the guidance involves steering the tractor in a straight line to form a straight road or straight row of crops. Since most agricultural and earth grading tractors are steered by the front end of the tractor, the rear end mounted three-point hitch attached implement may not align in a straight line with the front steered end of the tractor. This misalignment would normally occur while the tractor is turning 180 degrees around at the end of the crop row and then joining onto the next crop row in the other direction. This misalignment would also occur while the tractor is in the middle of the crop field and the tractor veered slightly off line of the crop straight line forcing the tractor operator to correct the steering of the tractor. This steering correction of the tractor can also shift the rear end of the tractor in the opposite direction of the steering correction causing the rear three-point connected implement to also veer off course of the straight crop row and possibly damage the crops while cultivating the field or misalign the crops while planting. Lasers have come into play in the earth-moving and agricultural field mostly by controlling grade leveling implements on the tractor in an up and down motion for achieving a level or sloped grade.

Conventional laterally moving implement toolbars pivot on four parallel supporting arms extending out from the front of the supporting frame. Short sized supporting arms provide limited lateral movement of the toolbar section of the implement. The short lateral movement is exacerbated by the positioning of the tool mounting bar being too close to the frame structure that mounts to the tractor three-point hitch. Mounting brackets further decrease the tool mounting bar clearance to the frame structure. Pivoting-support-arms pivot in either direction limiting the length of the lateral movement to much less than the length of the pivoting-support-arms. The weight that these pivoting-support-arms can support on the toolbar with heavy implements is dependent on the strength of the pivot arms and their pivot joints. The pivot joints need to sustain a tremendous weight load when handling a heavy implement as they pivot side to side. This weight load is compounded and increased if the pivoting-support-arms are increased in length.

Two-point hitch configurations present a different set of limitations for use of lateral connection devices. The three-point hitch invention differs from a two-point hitch in the mounting ability by utilizing the advantage of the top-link arm attachment to the tractor frame, the improved locations for the sleeves that provide the sliding housings, a more versatile and stable two tier stacked movable implement attachment section compared to the one movable toolbar and a more stable and functional two or more tiered stacked movable implement attachment section compared to the one movable implement attachment section.

Several patents teach methods of steering and controlling tractor mounted implement attachment systems to two-point and three-point hitch systems. U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,535 by Fischer teaches an automatic steering system for implements; U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,405 by Kollath et al. teaches a quick coupler mechanism, U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,753 by Kestel teaches an adjustable three-point tractor hitch; U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,811 by Winter teaches an implement with a laterally movable frame structure with limited lateral movement; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,234 by Trowbridge teaches a retractable three-point hitch mounted, vertically and laterally adjustable toolbar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,581 by Fleischer teaches a guidance control device for agricultural implements using a hydraulic cylinder to pivot the implement frame and implement to the left or to the right to correct lateral position with respect to the tractor and the previously processed rows. U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,535 by Fischer teaches an automatic steering device and a plant stem sensor.

Existing systems for pulling or pushing implements suffer from a significant disadvantage, particularly that the implement can go off course, particularly during turns. This can result in destroyed crops, inadequate application or over application of chemicals used for crops, unplowed soil, and other deleterious effects. These problems can occur even when the mobile machinery, such as a tractor, is on course.

Therefore, there is a need for a system that can allow an implement to be pushed or pulled that helps maintain the implement on track, even when the mobile machinery used for pulling or pushing the implement is off track.

SUMMARY

A system according to the present invention that satisfies this need includes a connecting apparatus suitable for connecting an implement to a three-point hitch of mobile machinery, such as a tractor. The connecting apparatus comprises a first framework disposed in a first plane and comprising at least two parallel, vertically spaced-apart, laterally extending rails. Three attachments are supported by the first framework for attachment to the three-point hitch. The slidable second framework is generally in the plane of the first framework and is mounted on the rails to slide laterally along the rails. At least two connectors, and typically three connectors, are supported by the slidable second framework for connecting the slidable second framework to an implement that can be pulled or pushed by the mobile machinery. At least one driver, and for a robust apparatus, two drivers, are connected to the first framework and connected to the second framework for driving the slidable framework laterally back and forth along the rails.

In use of the apparatus, the position of the implement relative to the mobile machinery is changed by the action of the driver, the driver laterally moving the second framework.

Typically, the first framework comprises an upper cross beam and a lower cross beam, each cross beam substantially parallel to the rails. In a preferred version the first framework comprises at least two rails, at least two vertically extending studs, the upper cross beam, and the lower cross beam. The upper cross beam can support one of the attachments and the lower cross beam can support two of the attachments, typically in a triangular configuration.

The driver can be at least one hydraulic cylinder or at least one electric linear actuator.

When a cylinder is used as part of the driver, the cylinder can be provided with a stop for limiting lateral movement of the second framework. The driver can be manually or automatically controlled. The manual control can be a lever or the like. Also a switch can be provided for switching between manual and automatic control.

Preferably there is a guidance system for automatically controlling the driver to position the slidable second framework in a predetermined pathway. The guidance system can comprise a GPS receiver, an underground (buried) or above ground guidance wire, or a position signal receiver for receiving a laser signal. The guidance system can comprise at least one GPS positioning receiver mounted on the second framework for receiving signals from the satellites or ground mounted base relay station to determine the position of the slidable second framework, and a controller for receiving position signals from the position signal receiver, the controller adapted to control the driver to position the slidable second framework in the predetermined pathway. The GPS guidance system utilizes data input into a data input monitor to set the predetermined coordinates of the mobile machinery and the connecting apparatus. GPS guidance can control the mobile machinery steering in addition to the connecting apparatus position. GPS positioning of the connecting apparatus in conjunction with GPS steering of the mobile machinery is an advantage over GPS steering of the mobile machinery alone while attempting to guide an attached implement along a predetermined pathway. In a guidance wire application, the guidance system can comprise at least one sensor mounted on the second framework for receiving signals from the guidance wire. The apparatus can comprise a position signal receiver supported by the slidable second framework for determining the position of the slidable second framework, and a controller for receiving position signals from the position signal receiver, the controller adapted to control the driver to position the slidable second framework in the predetermined pathway. The guidance system can comprise at least one laser position receiver for receiving a laser signal from a rotating vertical laser transmitter, and a controller for processing position signals from the position signal receiver, the controller adapted to control the driver to position the slidable second framework in the predetermined pathway. In a laser guidance application, generally there is no need for data entry into a data entry monitor. The position of the laser receiver on the connecting apparatus can position the connecting apparatus and steer the tractor if tractor steering is preferred.

The second framework can comprise at least one sleeve for sliding on at least one rail, and typically multiple sleeves for sliding on multiple rails.

To power the driver, the apparatus can include a power receptacle for receiving power from the mobile machinery, which can be electric power or hydraulic fluid power.

For implements that have more than three places for connection, there can be more than three connectors, such as four or more connectors.

To assist an operator of the mobile machinery, the apparatus can include a light fixture and at least one camera.

In a preferred version of the invention, for robustness, the first framework comprises four rails, and the second framework comprises four lateral substantially parallel sleeves connected at their ends by end posts, each sleeve slidable on one of the rails.

It is preferred that there be positioning indicia on the upper cross beam of the first framework for positioning the second framework relative to the first framework. This same type of positioning indicia can be used on the lower cross beam of the first framework. Also, there can be positioning indicia on one or more of the sleeves for adjusting the position of any connector supported by the sleeve.

Preferably the apparatus includes a sensor for sensing the position of the second framework relative to the first framework. This can be combined with an alert generator that generates an alert, such as a sound or flashing light, when the sensor senses that the second framework slides beyond a predetermined position.

Preferably the apparatus includes a plumb gauge and a level gauge for correctly adjusting the attitude and positioning of the implement.

Preferably at least one connector is laterally adjustable on the second framework. Also preferably at least one connector is vertically adjustable on the second framework.

Additionally, the apparatus can include a connection guidance system for connecting the apparatus to the implement, the connection guidance system comprising a sensor on at least one, and preferably at least two, connectors for sensing the position of the implement. With the connection guidance system, the system can include a method for connecting the apparatus to the implement, where the implement has hitches for connector with the connectors. The method comprises placing the implement and apparatus approximate to each other, determine the alignment of the connectors and the hitches, and adjusting the alignment by sliding the second framework relative to the first framework.

The invention also includes a system where the mobile machinery, the apparatus described above, and an implement are connected together, with the apparatus attached to the mobile machinery via the three-point hitch on the mobile machinery, and the implement attached to the slidable second framework with at least two connectors.

The system can also include a pair of support stands for supporting the apparatus when the apparatus is otherwise not well supported, such as not being attached to all three points of a three point hitch, each stand comprising pins for engaging corresponding holes in the vertical studs of the first framework. Clips can be used for holding the pins in their engagement position.

Multiple connection apparatus of the present invention can be daisy chained together such as having a central apparatus attached to the mobile machinery, and having an additional pair of the apparatus, each one of the pair pivotally and removably attached to the sides of the central apparatus. Each of the pair can be modified from the central apparatus such as for the driver location and driver connection between the first and second framework. Each of the outer pair is typically designed to carry lighter duty implements than the central apparatus.

A system according the present invention comprises:a) mobile machinery having a three-point hitch;b) the connection apparatus attached to the mobile machinery with the three attachments; andc) an implement attached to the slidable second framework with at least two connectors.

In a method of using the system there are the following steps:a) placing the implement and apparatus proximate to each other;b) determining the alignment of the connectors and the hitches; andc) adjusting the alignment by sliding the second framework relative to the first framework.

In a method for changing the position of an implement pulled or pushed by with mobile machinery, the mobile machinery having a three-point hitch, there are the steps of:a) attaching the connection apparatus to the three-point hitch of the mobile machinery with the three attachments;b) attaching the implement to the slidable second framework with the connectors; andc) changing the lateral position of the implement relative to the mobile machinery with the driver.

According to the invention, a method of attaching an implement to mobile machinery comprises the steps of:a) attaching the connecting apparatus to the mobile machinery with the attachments;b) aligning the connectors of the slidable second framework with the implement by moving the second framework relative to the first framework; andc) connecting the connectors to the implement.

