|
PatentVote.com: Vote on your favourite invention!
|
|
 |
Title: Method and apparatus for converting an agriculture machine to a tractor
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for converting an agricultural machine having a substantially wide traction wheel assembly into a tractor having a traction wheel assembly of substantially less width than the traction wheel assembly of the agricultural machine, including in combination a driven part and a traction wheel assembly of substantial width, drive means powering said traction wheel assembly, further means releasably connecting said traction wheel assembly to said driven part said traction wheel assembly formed in two sections releasably connected together for use with the agricultural machine and said sections when released from one another being separable and slideable in said further means, and one of said sections being removed from the driven part, and mechanism connected at one end to said other of said sections and at the other end to said driven part, said mechanism being operable to move said other section and said driven part laterally relative to each other to align them in fore and aft relationship for operation as a tractor. 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a piston operatively positioned therein and a piston rod extending from said piston fluid flow lines in communication with said cylinder and means for powering the fluid in said fluid flow lines for causing operation of the piston, and said piston rod being projectable and retractable upon the operation of said piston, said piston rod at its outer end being connected to said other section. 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said other of said sections includes a plurality of traction wheels and said driven part includes steerable wheels, the number of steerable wheels being less than the number of traction wheels. 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said driven part and said other of said sections each include structure imparting thereto resistance to relative lateral movement imparted thereto upon operation of said mechanism the structure in said driven part and said other of said sections imparting thereto resistance to lateral movement in said other of said sections being greater than in said driven part, whereby under the forces generated by said mechanism said driven part will move laterally relative to said other of said sections into proper fore and aft align position for operation of the machine as a tractor. 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said steerable wheels on said driven part are turned in a direction to reduce the resistance of said driven part against movement. 6. A tractor including a driven part and a traction wheel assembly operable for driving said driven part, means connecting said driven part and said traction wheel assembly together and said means including structure whereby said driven part and traction wheel assembly may move laterally relative to one another, for alignment of the traction wheel assembly and the driven part in a fore and aft direction, and mechanism releasably connected to said driven part and said traction wheel assembly for causing said traction wheel assembly and the driven part to move laterally relative to one another and operable for preventing relative lateral movement therebetween when they are in alignment. 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is removable, locking means releasably connected to said driven part and said traction wheel assembly for preventing relative movement therebetween, and said locking means being releasably connected to said driven part and said traction wheel assembly in the same manner as said hydraulic cylinder when said hydraulic cylinder is in operative position connected at one end to said other of said sections and at the other end to said driven part. 8. A method of converting an agricultural machine into a tractor wherein the machine has a driven part and a traction wheel assembly of substantial width releasably and slidably connected to said driven part and wherein the traction wheel assembly is formed in two separable sections, each being of less width than the width of the full traction wheel assembly, comprising these steps of: separating said two sections of the traction wheel assembly and removing one of them from the driven part, operating means for moving said driven part laterally relative to said traction wheel assembly to align the remaining section and said driven part in proper fore and aft relationship for operation as a tractor. 9. A method of converting an agricultural machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein said driven part has steerable wheels and turning said wheels prior to operating said means to thereby facilitate movement of the driven part relative to the traction wheel assembly. 10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein a hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod connected at one end to said traction wheel assembly and the cylinder is connected at one end to said driven part, turning said wheels: operating said hydraulic cylinder following turning of said steerable wheels to retract said piston rod for moving said driven part laterally relative to said traction wheel assembly. 11. A method of converting an agricultural machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein said hydraulic cylinder has valved inlet and outlet hoses: closing said valves following operation of said hydraulic cylinder, to lock said piston rod in its position following the movement of said driven part relative to said traction wheel assembly into proper fore and aft relationship for operation as a tractor. 12. A method in accordance with claim 10; wherein following lateral movement of said driven part relative to said traction wheel assembly: fastening locking means at one end to said driven part and at its other end to said traction wheel assembly, to thereby lock the driven part and traction wheel assembly in proper fore and aft position. Other info: Inventors: Crow, Jr., Arthur F. (Milford, IL, US) Application Number: 793751 Filing Date: 1977-05-04 Publication_date: 1978-06-13 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 180/22 172/292, 180/24.07, 180/209 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr., Joseph F. Assistant Examiner: McGiehan, Donn Attorney: Peck & Peck |
|