FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
and Patent Rules 2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
1. Title - MULTIPURPOSE INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR
TRACTOR JACKING
2. Applicant - MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD
1, GATEWAY BUILDING, APOLLO BUNDER, MUMBAI 400001, AN INDIAN COMPANY.
The following specification describes the invention ,

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system integrated with off-road vehicle in particular tractor to raise front and/or rear wheel/s off the ground / supporting surface(s).
Background of the Invention
In most of the agricultural applications, it is essential to raise / elevate front / rear wheels of the tractor to facilitate changing of tyres for various reasons. The commonly available jacks are required to be inserted beneath the tractor / off-road vehicle and one has to raise the same using external force, in most of the cases manual. This is a cumbersome process and results in loss of valuable time in the fields. Further, separate provision to mount / carry a jack in the field poses problems in handling. In the field it is extremely difficult, tedious and laborious process to lift / jack the tractor wheels, especially the rear larger wheel(s). Further, there is also a safety concern of risking slippage of the jack accidentally, especially, in field when terrain is uneven.
US Patent 2744724 discloses tractor jack comprising two separate pieces that use the power lifted movements of the trailing hitch links for selectively elevating front or rear wheels of the tractor.
US Patent 2222116 discloses tractor jack. It comprises a jack frame arrangement that is fitted with hydraulic cylinder of the tractor that is used for lifting implements. The jack frame structure consists of three members, one of which is capable of extension, a second member takes the form of a lever fulcrumed at an intermediate point along its length, and a third member provides support wherein all the members are pivoted with respect to each other.


GB Patent 1275552 discloses improvements related to jacking members for tractor. The jacking member comprises a rigid, one piece, generally U shaped frame wherein the U comprises a pair of legs connected at one end by a transverse member, serving as a ground contacting portion in use of the jacking member .
US Patent 2250964 discloses tractor jack. It comprises plurality of stands, tie-rods interconnecting the stands, and means for joining at least one of the stands to the hydraulic mechanism of the tractor.
US Patent 3730482 discloses a device for jacking the rear wheel assemblies of a tractor, in the form of an attachment to be operated by the conventional three point hitch assembly mounted on the tractor. The jack comprises interconnected uprights to raise the tractor from the ground surface with the upper end of the uprights supporting the rear axle assembly of the tractor.
US Patent 2348743 discloses self-confirming tractor jack. It comprises front and rear stands arranged at an angel to the vertical on the supporting surface beneath the tractor, a chain interconnecting the lower most portions of the said stands, the other end of the chain detachably connected to operating links so as to shift the stand towards a vertical position to lift the tractor.
GB Patent 592175 discloses an improvement relating to jack devices of tractors. It comprises a beam having an abutment between its ends and on its upper face. The abutment is adapted to be engaged under the rear axle casing of the tractor and has rear end adapted for connection to the lower end of one of the lift rods. The other end of the beam is pivotally attached to a ground engaging member so that when the power unit is operated to raise the lift rod the beam is


caused to pivot about its front end and thus to raise the rear axle of the vehicle.
US Patent 2712431 discloses improved tractor jack mechanism comprising a stand, an extensible arm having one end pivotally connected to said stand, means on the other end of the said arm for selectively pivotally securing said arm to the hitch link in either its extended or retracted condition, for respectively selectively positioning said stand in engagement with the underside of the tractor.
The study of the related aforementioned prior art reveals shortcomings
such as:
 Lack of flexibility of using available links such as lower link of
the tractor / off-road vehicle effectively.
 Lack of provision of mounting and carrying the jacking
arrangement / means or components thereof, on the tractor. Incapability of jacking both the rear wheels simultaneously using
single support.
 In particular, in case of GB patent 592175 lack of provision to
align and orient the support link with the lower link, thereby
creating lateral thrust resulting in instability of the tractor.
 Modification(s) in lower links which may weaken them.
Necessity has constantly been felt to develop a simple, easy to use system
integrated with an off-road vehicle, in particular tractor, to raise / elevate front and/or rear wheel(s) selectively off the ground / supporting surface(s) utilizing auxiliary power sources available on the tractor, in particular three point linkage system, effectively in substantially reduced time, obviating the problem of modifying links of the tractor, and problems associated with mounting / carrying the same with the tractor.


Object of the Invention
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, foldable, easy to use
system
integrated with off-road vehicle, in particular tractor, to raise / elevate
front and/or rear wheel(s) selectively off the ground / supporting
surface(s) using available auxiliary power to lift hitch links and further
using the lower links of the tractor itself.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pivot means to couple the hitch point and lower links irrespective / independent of the tractor / off-road vehicle size.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a self aligning means on the lower link, facilitating effective positioning of the lower links to elevate the tractor / off-road vehicle.
Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate simultaneous and / or separate raise of the rear wheels of the tractor / off-road vehicle.
Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate simultaneous / separate raising of the front wheels of the tractor / off-road vehicle. .
Yet another object of the invention is to obviate problems of modifications of the lower links / other parts of the three point hitch system of the tractor / off-road vehicle.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multifunctional ground engaging member for raising the tractor/ off-road vehicle.


Yet another object of the invention is to provide a ground engaging member that can be easily mounted on the tractor / off-road vehicle.
Thus in accordance with the invention, the system comprises of
a pair of coupling means to couple hitch point and lower link of the
tractor / off-road vehicle
wherein the said means comprises
a hitch point mounting member with a provision for pivotally receiving
the hitch point of the tractor / off-road vehicle, lower link mounting
member with a provision for receiving the lower link of the tractor /
off-road vehicle
wherein
the said hitch point mounting member is adapted to rotatably fit in the
said lower link mounting member
wherein
the vertical axis of the said provision of the said hitch point mounting
member and the vertical axis of the said provision of the said lower
link mounting member are spaced laterally;
optional pair of links adapted to pivotally engage with the lower links of the tractor / off-road vehicle;
optional support comprising provision to receive the said lower links, pins to removably fit the said lower links in the said provisions of the support wherein the said support is optionally foldable and mountable on the tractor / earth working equipment.
Description of the Invention
Features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description and the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.


Figure 1 Schematic of the tractor configuration (Sheet 1)
Figure 2 Schematic of lower link (Sheet 2)
Figure 3 Schematic of the coupling means (Sheet 3)
Figure 4 Schematic of operation of the present invention (Sheet 4)
Figure 5 Schematic of the ground engaging member (Sheet 5)
Figure 6 Schematic of operation of the present invention (Sheet 6)
The schematic of conventional tractor / off-road vehicle is depicted in Figure 1. It comprises a pair of rear wheels, (one of which 1 is seen in the Figure) rotatably mounted on the ends of rear axle assembly 6, a pair of power lifted laterally spaced trailing hitch links 4 (one of which is seen in the Figure) that are pivotally connected at the respective laterally spaced lower link hitch points 7 (one of which is seen in the Figure). Further, a pair of lift rods, one of which indicated by 2 is seen in the Figure, one of the ends of lift rod is connected to the pair of laterally spaced rocker arms / crank arms 3 (one of which is seen in the Figure) secured at the laterally spaced hydraulically rotatable shaft(s) 5 (one of which is seen in the Figure) wherein the other end of lift rod is pivotally connected to respective lower link 4 approximately at mid way along the length of the lower link. A pair of check-chains (not shown) is provided connecting lower links and the axle assembly. The check-chains are provided to take the lateral thrust of the implement during operation. The front view of the said lower link is shown in Figure 2. One of the ends 10 of the said lower link is adapted to pivotally connect to the hitch point 7 as seen in Figure 1, and the other is the free end 20 adapted to fit the implement. Further, a provision 12 in the form of a drilled hole is provided to pivotally receive one of the ends of the lift rods as shown in Figure 1. One more provision 13 in the form of a drilled hole is provided to receive check-chains. The coupling means 40 is mounted / fitted at this provision 13 on the link 4 as shown in the Figure 1 wherein the said means comprises of a hitch point mounting member


with a provision for pivotally receiving the hitch point of the tractor / off-road vehicle; lower link mounting member with a provision for receiving the lower link of the tractor / off-road vehicle wherein the said hitch point mounting member is adapted to rotatably fit the said lower link mounting member wherein the vertical axis of the said provision of the said hitch point mounting member and the vertical axis of the said provision of the said lower link mounting member are laterally spaced.
One of the embodiments of the coupling means is depicted in Figure 3. A pair of such coupling device is adapted to fit in the said provision 13 of the lower links. The said coupling device can be mounted in the said provision 13. It comprises a hitch point mounting and lower link mounting provision that includes a preferably rectangular member 20 having top and bottom substantially flat surfaces 23 and 24 wherein two laterally spaced preferably rectangular members 21 and 22 are fixed vertically to lower surface 24 of the said member as illustrated in the Figure. The said two vertical members are to receive the said lower link between the gap formed between the said vertical members. Further, the said vertical members are provided with drilled holes on the flat surface, one of which 25 is seen in the figure. The size of the said hole is adapted according to the said provision 13 of the lower link so that when the said lower link is placed / positioned between the said two vertical surfaces, the said provision 13 and the hole 25 on the said vertical members coincide with each other. The lower link and the said vertical members and in turn the said coupling devices are connected. The top surface 23 of the member 20 is adapted to rotatably fit the said hitch point mounting arrangement 26. It comprises a vertical, preferably cylindrical member 27, one end of which is adapted to rotatably fit in the said member 20 and other end is fixed at the outer surface of the horizontal annular cylindrical member 28 as shown in the Figure. In one of the embodiments the


said member 28 is a rectangular block with a hole drilled inside it. The said member 28 is provided with a provision in the form of a drilled hole 29 that is dimensioned to rotatably receive the said hitch point 7 of the tractor / off-road vehicle. The vertical movement of the said cylindrical member 27 is limited by an arrangement such as grub screw 30 that is provided on the member 20. The said member 27 can rotate in about vertical axis, yet the linear vertical movement of the same is restricted (by the grub screw), this facilitates the coupling device of the said invention to align itself with the said lower links. The disposition of the said cylindrical member 27 is such that the offset is maintained between the vertical axis of the said member 27 and the centre of the said provision 25 this helps in counteracting and cancelling the moment couples at the coupling device during the process of raising the tractor / wheel(s). Thus this coupling device effects a pivotal connection between the said lower link hitch point and the said the lower links by providing degree of rotatable freedom at the same time self aligning with the lower links.
Figure 4 indicates the configuration of the links during jacking operation wherein the end of the said lower link 4 that is engaged with the hitch point 7 is removed and the lower links are disposed such that the hitch point mounting arrangement 26 of the coupling device 40 pivotally fits in the said hitch point 7 and the end that was engaged with the hitch point (7) now engages with end of lift rod (2). When the lift rod 2 is raised by the operation of the hydraulic mechanism of the tractor, there is upward movement of the links 4 on the rear side resulting in the pivoting of the lower link at the said hitch point 7 wherein the said coupling device 40 of the present invention acts as to provide a self aligning joint like coupling between the said hitch point 7 and the said lower links 4 that is establishing pivotal connection between one of the ends of the lower links and the other one that is


pivotally in connection with the multi-functional ground engaging member 41 resulting in raising the tractor rear wheel(s).
One of the embodiments of the said multi-functional ground engaging member 41 is depicted in the Figure 5. It may be noted that the schematic represented in the Figure 5 is a representation of the configuration and it is not to scale. The said multi-functional ground engaging member comprises three surfaces 50, 51 and 52 wherein the surfaces 50 and 51 are hinged at 53 wherein the surface 50 is inclined to the other surface 51 which is substantially perpendicular to the support / ground. Further the surface 50 is hinged to the surface 52 at 54 wherein the surface 52 rests on the support / ground. The said three surfaces are arranged in such a manner so as to form a triangular cross section between them. The surface 51 is further provided with provisions 55 and 56 adapted to receive the said end 10 of the said lower link at the time of raising / lifting the tractor / off-road vehicle wherein a pin is removably inserted through each of the said provisions 55, 56 and the hole provided at 10 in the said link to pivotally engage each of the said lower link and the said ground engaging member 41. In operation the said ground engaging member is disposed such that the said inclined surface 50 faces the rear wheels of the tractor / off-road vehicle and the said lower links are pivotally engaged as described above. In one of the variant of this embodiment the said surfaces are in the form of substantially rectangular structure fabricated by joining individual members such as rod, "C" type, “L" type cross section member, square pipe, stripe but not limited to this wherein horizontal members are attached in between to strengthen the structure.
The said ground engaging member can be used as a platform when not used as a support for raising / lifting the tractor / off-road vehicle wherein the hinges 53 and 54 facilitate unfolding of the said


surfaces as shown in the figure wherein the said surface 52 can be rotated around the hinge 54 in the direction 60 (to take the vertical position 62 indicated by dashed lines) and the said surface 50 is rotated in the direction 61 so as to form a platform with supports as surfaces 51 and 52 and horizontal surface 50 for working. Further folding of the said surfaces 50, 51 and 52 around the said hinges 53 and 54 over each other so as to form substantially compact planer structure wherein the said three surfaces are stacked over each other facilitates compact, easy to carry support that can be mounted on the said tractor/ off-road vehicle.
Figure 6 depicts the operation of raising front wheel/s of the tractor / off-road vehicle. A pair of support members (one of which is seen in the front view) 70 is used while raising front wheels. The said member comprises of ends 71, 72 and a substantially flat portion in between wherein a provision 73 in the form of a hole in the said flat portion is provided that is adapted to match the said provisions 55 and 56 of the said ground engaging members. The end 72 is adapted to pivotally engage with the said lower link 4 and the other end is adapted to receive the support point beneath the tractor / off-road vehicle in particular front axle. In operation raising of the said lift rod 2 results in providing downward force at the end 72 of the support member 73 that results in raising the end 71 by virtue of pivotally fixed portion 73 effecting raising of the tractor / off-road vehicle front wheel (s).
In another embodiment, the said link mounting provision is integrated and is machined from a single row block / material wherein the said distance between the said two vertical members is machined and the said vertical members and the said substantially rectangular member 20 are not fixed but are integral part of the block / material.


In yet another embodiment the tie-rod of the lift road is adjusted to facilitate increased length of the lift rod so that any one of the rear wheels can be raised / lifted off the support / ground.
Thus it is evident that the judicious combination of the novel coupling device that is disposed on the lower link and couples lower link hitch point with the lower links and a multipurpose ground engaging member adapted to be coupled with the said lower links and working in tandem with the auxiliary power unit of the tractor to effect lifting of the front and or rear wheel(s) independently and / or simultaneously, provides a simple, scalable, easy to operate integrated raising system mounted on the tractor obviating the problems of modifying / machining lower links or other parts of the tractor.