Drawbar assembly with pin ejector mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10179488-B2
Application number	US-201615767931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2016
Priority date	Nov 4, 2015
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

A drawbar assembly for coupling a drawbar to a tongue of a towed implement includes a drawbar pin and a drawbar clevis having a bore configured to receive the drawbar pin. A locking plate is coupled to the drawbar clevis and movable between a pin-locked position in which the locking plate is configured to obstruct at least a portion of the bore, and a pin-unlock condition. An ejector mechanism is configured to dislodge the drawbar pin from the bore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drawbar assembly for coupling a drawbar to a tongue of a towed implement, the drawbar assembly comprising:
a drawbar having a drawbar bore;
a drawbar clevis having a clevis bore;
a drawbar pin, the drawbar pin configured to be received in the drawbar bore and clevis bore so as to couple a towed implement to the drawbar;
a locking plate movably coupled to the drawbar clevis, the locking plate being movable between a pin-locked position where the locking plate is configured to obstruct at least a portion of the drawbar bore, and a pin-unlocked position, wherein the locking plate contains at least one locking plate groove formed therein;
an upper retaining plate mounted above the locking plate and coupling the locking plate to the clevis, wherein the upper retaining plate contains at least one retaining plate groove formed therein;
a latching device mounted on the retaining plate with a pivot mechanism, the latching device being pivotably moveable between a locking position and a release position, the latching device comprising at least one catch aligned to be received in the retaining plate groove when the latching device is in the locking position, wherein when the locking plate is moved from the pin-locked position to the pin-unlocked position, the locking plate groove aligns with the retaining plate groove so that the at least one catch is received in the locking plate groove as well as the retaining plate groove; and
an ejector mechanism configured to dislodge the drawbar pin from the drawbar and clevis bores, the ejector mechanism comprising a handle coupled to the drawbar pin and utilized to operate the ejector mechanism, the handle having an operating condition comprising first and second stages defined by a rotational position of the drawbar pin within the clevis bore, wherein the handle has an angled lever arm with a first arm segment and a second arm segment joined to the first arm segment with an elbow, wherein with the handle in the first stage, the lever arm is pivoted so that the first arm segment contacts a first support such that the first support acts as a fulcrum for the lever arm and as the drawbar pin is urged out of the bores, a contact point between the lever arm and the first support shifts from the first arm segment, through the elbow and then to the second arm segment, and with the handle in the second stage the lever arm is pivoted so that the lever arm contacts a second support, the second support acting as a fulcrum for the lever arm, the second support having an elevation height relative the drawbar that is different than the elevation height of the first support such that the drawbar pin is urged further out of the bores.

2. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a handle shaft that is received in a bore through a head of the drawbar pin such that the handle is pivotably mounted on the drawbar pin.

3. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein when the handle is pivoted to a stowage condition where the handle folds adjacent the retaining plate such that when the latching device is in the locked position, the latching device covers the handle and locks the handle in its stowage condition adjacent the upper retaining plate, and when the latching device is moved to a release position, the handle may be moved from the stowage condition to an operating condition in which the handle is not locked by the latching device.

4. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein the first support is a first ledge on the clevis partially surrounding the clevis bore.

5. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein the drawbar pin in the second stage is rotated in the clevis bore about 180 degrees relative the clevis from its position within the clevis bore in the first stage.

6. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein the second support is a portion of the retaining plate.

7. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein as the drawbar pin is urged out of the bores in the second stage, the contact between the lever arm and the second support shifts from the first arm segment, through the elbow and to the second arm segment.

8. The drawbar assembly of claim 1 wherein when the lever arm is pivoted until the drawbar pin is ejected the maximum amount provided by the configuration of the lever arm and the second support, the drawbar pin is clear of the drawbar bore.

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Hruska Derek
• Shaw Matthew Benjamin

Classifications

• B60D1/28

  for preventing unwanted disengagement, e.g. safety appliances · CPC title

• B60D1/025 Primary

  comprising release or locking lever pins · CPC title

• B60D1/48

  characterised by the mounting · CPC title

• B60D1/02

  Bolt or shackle-type couplings · CPC title