DESC:CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[001] This application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Application 201741011882, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The embodiments herein relate to a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[003] Tow hook and tow hook mounting bracket as a complete assembly together is a structural member that is used to hitch various agricultural implements like trolleys for haulage applications, water tanker, thresher, potato digger and other trailed implements. The tow hook assembly is mounted to a rear-end of an agricultural tractor.
[004] A conventional rear tow hook assembly 10 for an agricultural tractor (as shown in fig. 1). The tow hook assembly 10 comprises a plurality of base plates 12, a plurality of side plates 14, a plurality of tow hook mounting brackets 16 and a plurality of reinforcement plates 18 (only one of which is shown in fig. 1). An entirety of each base plate 12 is disposed external to the side plates 14 which increases a distance between a rear axle carrier and a hitch pin mounting position resulting in more weight being transferred from a front-end of the tractor to a rear-end of the tractor which in turn causes tractor front end lifting, increased rear tyre wear (due to higher load), and operator feels unsafe to drive the tractor. Therefore, ballast is added at the front-end of tractor to avoid front end lifting. However, adding ballast at the front-end of tractor incurs high cost and limits the maneuverability of the tractor in agricultural fields. Further, arrangement of the conventional tow hook assembly 10 provides fixed distance between the rear axle carrier to hitch pin mounting position for all positions of implement hitching (i.e. hitch positions above and below PTO) which results in fouling of hitch pin or in some cases tow hook with propeller shaft of agricultural implements in which hitching and propeller shaft mounting is simultaneous. In addition, the tow hook has to be removed to avoid fouling of top link with tow hook (when mounted on top position above PTO), for operating three-point hitch mounted implements. Furthermore, in the conventional tow hook assembly 10, stopper arrangement is not provided to restrict movement of implement structure while taking turns, which leads to higher tyre wear due to interaction of implement structure with rear tyres.
[005] Other conventional tow hook assemblies are heavier in weight, involve multiple ribs and more manufacturing operations, which leads to higher manufacturing cost, higher weld induced distortions and residual stresses since higher welding involved, higher manufacturing time, and difficulty for a single person to fix the tow hook onto the tow hook bracket due to heavy weight.
[006] Therefore, there exists a need for a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS

[007] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle.
[008] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which provides offset mounting holes in tow hook mounting brackets for mounting a tow hook to the tow hook mounting brackets at a first mounting position and a second mounting position.
[009] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which has high strength and less weight.
[0010] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which improves stability of the vehicle and reduces front end lifting of the vehicle due to a reduction of distance between a rear axle carrier and a hitch pin mounting position.
[0011] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which provides implement specific hitch positions that enables hitching of various agricultural implements without affecting any implement functionality or tractor functionality.
[0012] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which allows operation of a three-point hitch mounted implement even if a tow hook is mounted at a top position with respect to tow hook mounting bracket.
[0013] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which provides hitching positions for various agricultural implements, trailer and agricultural machines at different hitch heights.
[0014] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which incur less manufacturing costs.
[0015] A further object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, which has an optimized design that enables easy fabrication of components in the tow hook assembly.
[0016] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a conventional tow hook assembly; and
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0021] The embodiments herein achieve a tow hook assembly for an agricultural vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 2, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a tow hook assembly 100 for an agricultural vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The tow hook assembly 100 is used to hitch various agricultural implements, trailer and agricultural machines to the vehicle. The tow hook assembly 100 is mounted to a transmission rear housing (not shown). In an embodiment, the tow hook assembly 100 includes a plurality of tow hook mounting brackets 102 and a tow hook 104. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the tow hook assembly 100 is explained herein below with reference to be provided in an agricultural vehicle such as tractor. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to implement/practice the tow hook assembly 100 in an off-road vehicle and any other type of vehicle as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
[0023] In an embodiment, each tow hook mounting bracket 102 is used to mount the tow hook 104 at a first mounting position and a second mounting position. Each tow hook mounting bracket 102 is mounted to the transmission rear housing (not shown). In an embodiment, each tow hook mounting bracket 102 defines a plurality of first mounting holes 102F and a plurality of second mounting holes 102S. The plurality of first mounting holes 102F of each tow hook mounting bracket 102 is adapted to facilitate mounting of the tow hook 104 at the first mounting position. The plurality of second mounting holes 102S of each tow hook mounting bracket 102 is adapted to facilitate mounting of the tow hook 104 at the second mounting position. The plurality of second mounting holes 102S of each tow hook mounting bracket 102 are provided below and to the rear of and spaced away from the plurality of first mounting holes 102F.
[0024] The tow hook 104 is used to hitch at least one of an agricultural implement, a railer and an agricultural machine. The tow hook 104 is mounted to each tow hook mounting bracket 102 at the first mounting position and the second mounting position. In an embodiment, the second mounting position of the tow hook 104 is spaced away from the first mounting position of the tow hook 104 with respect to each tow hook mounting bracket 102 along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle. In an embodiment, a vertical plane of the tow hook 104 at the second mounting position is spaced away from a vertical plane of the tow hook 104 at the first mounting position. The tow hook 104 is mounted to each tow hook mounting bracket 102 at a top position in the first mounting position. The tow hook 104 is mounted to each tow hook mounting bracket 102 below the top position in the second mounting position. The tow hook 104 is adapted to couple (hitch) at least one of a power take-off agricultural implement and a power take-off agricultural machine when the tow hook 104 is mounted at the first mounting position. The tow hook 104 is adapted to couple at least one of a non-power take-off agricultural implement, a water tanker, a non-power take-off agricultural machine and a trailer when the tow hook 104 is mounted at the second mounting position. The tow hook 104 comprises a plurality of side members 104S, a plurality of base members 104B and at least one support member 104M. Each side member 104S of the tow hook 104 is removably connected to corresponding each tow hook mounting bracket 102. Each side member 104S of the tow hook 104 is adapted to restrict a movement of a trailer hitch frame when the vehicle is taking a turn beyond a predefined angle therein to restrict an engagement of the trailer hitch frame with corresponding rear wheel of the vehicle. Each side member 104S is provided at a predetermined distance from the other and is parallel to the other. Each base member 104B is adapted to be connected between each side member 104S in which an entirety of each base member 104B is disposed in between and within the plurality of side members 104S. Each base member 104B is provided at a predetermined distance from the other and is parallel to the other. Each base member 104B extends in between each side member 104S along a widthwise direction of the vehicle. The support member 104M is adapted to support each base member 104B.
[0025] The technical advantages of the tow hook assembly 100 is as follows. The tow hook assembly 100 has high strength and less weight, which are achieved even without adding more ribs, stiffeners and/or without increasing the thickness of components in the tow hook assembly 100. The tow hook assembly 100 provides implement specific hitch positions which enables hitching of various agricultural implements without affecting any implement or tractor functionality. The mounting of the tow hook 104 to each tow hook mounting bracket 102 at the top position is most suitable for implements for which hitching and Propeller shaft connection (to get drive from tractor PTO shaft) is must. The tow hook assembly 100 provides offset mounting holes in tow hook mounting bracket 102 for mounting tow hook 104 at a first mounting position and a second mounting position. The configuration of the tow hook assembly 100 improves stability of the vehicle and reduces the front end lifting of the vehicle due to a reduction of distance between a rear axle carrier and a hitch pin mounting position. The tow hook assembly 100 allows operation of a three-point hitch mounted implement even if the tow hook 104 is mounted at top position with respect to the tow hook mounting brackets 102 at the first mounting position.
[0026] Therefore, a tow hook assembly 100 for an agricultural vehicle is provided.
[0027] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. ,CLAIMS:STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A tow hook assembly 100 for a vehicle, said assembly 100 comprising:
a plurality of tow hook mounting brackets 102; and
a tow hook 104 adapted to be mounted to each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 at a first mounting position and a second mounting position,
wherein
the second mounting position of said tow hook 104 is spaced away from the first mounting position of said tow hook 104 with respect to each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle.

2. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 defines a plurality of first mounting holes 102F adapted to facilitate mounting of said tow hook 104 at the first mounting position, and a plurality of second mounting holes 102S adapted to facilitate mounting of said tow hook 104 at the second mounting position,
wherein
the plurality of second mounting holes 102S are adapted to be spaced away from the plurality of first mounting holes 102F.
3. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 2, wherein a vertical plane of said tow hook 104 at the second mounting position is spaced away from a vertical plane of said tow hook 104 at the first mounting position.

4. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tow hook 104 is mounted to each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 at a top position in the first mounting position,
said tow hook 104 is mounted to each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 below the top position in the second mounting position.

5. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tow hook 104 is adapted to couple at least one of a power take-off agricultural implement and a power take-off agricultural machine when said tow hook 104 is mounted at the first mounting position.

6. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tow hook 104 is adapted to couple at least one of a non-power take-off agricultural implement, a water tanker, a non-power take-off agricultural machine and a trailer when said tow hook 104 is mounted at the second mounting position.

7. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tow hook 104 comprises,
a plurality of side members 104S; and
a plurality of base members 104B,
wherein
each of said base member 104B is adapted to be connected between each of said side member 104S in which an entirety of each of said base member 104B is disposed in between and within said plurality of side members 104S.

8. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said side member 104S is provided at predetermined distance from the other and is parallel to the other,
each of said base member 104B is provided at a predetermined distance from the other and is parallel to the other, where each of said base member 104B extends in between each of said side member 104S along a widthwise direction of the vehicle.

9. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said side member 104S of said tow hook 104 is adapted to restrict a movement of a trailer hitch frame when the vehicle is taking a turn beyond a predefined angle therein to restrict an engagement of the trailer hitch frame with corresponding rear wheel of the vehicle.

10. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tow hook 104 comprises,
at least one support member 104M adapted to support each of said base member 104B.

11. A tow hook assembly 100 for a vehicle, said assembly 100 comprising:
a plurality of tow hook mounting brackets 102; and
a tow hook 104 comprising a plurality of side members 104S and a plurality of base members 104B,
wherein
each of said base member 104B is adapted to be connected between each of said side member 104S in which an entirety of each of said base member 104B is disposed in between and within said plurality of side members 104S;
said tow hook 104 is adapted to be mounted to each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 at a first mounting position and a second mounting position; and
the second mounting position of said tow hook 104 is spaced away from the first mounting position of said tow hook 104 with respect to each of said tow hook mounting bracket 102 along a lengthwise direction of the vehicle.

12. The tow hook assembly 100 as claimed in claim 11, wherein a vertical plane of said tow hook 104 at the second mounting position is spaced away from a vertical plane of said tow hook 104 at the first mounting position.