Agricultural vehicle with bidirectional force exerting electric three-point hitch assemblies

Abstract

An electric tractor including one or more all-electric bidirectional force exerting three-point hitch assemblies for lifting and lowering farm tool implements in level relationship to the ground regardless of the elevation of lift applied to the implement. The front, middle and rear three-point hitch assemblies are each operated using linear actuators. The hitches may be coupled with battery boxes to provide power and to counterbalance attached farm implements. Each of the described three-point hitch assemblies (including embodiments for front, middle and rear positions) may be operated through manipulation of electric controls. Electronic components include controller, displays, panels, wiring harnesses, linear actuators, joy sticks, lighting, switches, gauges, electric battery management system for managing one or more power sources, and processing modules and memory for controlling hitch movement and implements. The three-point hitch assemblies enable work in the front, middle and rear areas of the tractor.

1 . An electric powered tractor, comprising:
 a tractor frame having a front end and a rear end; supporting a cab enabling a driver to control the tractor;   at least one electric control panel accessible to the driver within the cab;   at least one drive wheel or track for propelling the electric powered tractor and at least one electric motor for powering the at least one drive wheel or track;   at least one electric powered three point hitch assembly attached proximate the tractor frame; and   at least one battery for powering the at least one electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , one of the at least one electric powered three point hitch assembly being a front hitch assembly attached proximate the front end of the tractor frame. 
     
     
         3 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , one of the at least one electric powered three point hitch assembly being a middle hitch assembly attached proximate the tractor frame between the cab and the front end of the tractor frame. 
     
     
         4 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , one of the at least one electric powered three point hitch assembly being a rear hitch assembly attached proximate the rear end of the tractor frame. 
     
     
         5 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 3 , wherein the driver has a line of site to the middle hitch assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery is positioned as a counter balance to the at least one three point hitch assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , having one or more battery boxes for holding the at least one battery. 
     
     
         8 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 7 , the one or more battery boxes located proximate to any one of a front, middle and rear hitch assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one three point hitch assembly is powered by at least one electric powered linear actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric powered three point hitch assembly comprises:
 at least a pair of right and left actuator brackets having a set width between each actuator bracket;   at least a pair of right and left modular brackets, one each rotatably attached orthogonally at the top end of one each of the actuator brackets;   at least a pair of hitch links each one rotatably attached to a bottom end of one of the left actuators, respectively, the bracket and the right hitch link being rotatably attached to the bottom end of the right actuator bracket;   a left linear actuator connected at a top end to the left modular bracket at a distal end from the left actuator bracket and connected at a bottom end to a center point on the left hitch link;   a right linear actuator connected at a top end to the right modular bracket at a distal end from the right actuator bracket and also connected at a bottom end to a center point on the right hitch link; and   wherein as the left and right linear actuators extend and retract either the left and right hitch links rotate about their respective actuator brackets or the left and right modular brackets rotate about their respective actuator brackets.   
     
     
         11 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 9  wherein the at least one linear actuator is capable of exerting bidirectional travel defined by extension and retraction capability, connected at one end to at least one elongate lower link bars and connected at the opposite end to a modular bracket connected with the frame such that extension and retraction of the linear actuator causes an end point of the at least one lower link bars to move up and down. 
     
     
         12 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 11  wherein the at least one linear actuator is connected to the modular bracket by a removable pin connection such that the removal of the pin will allow the end point of the at least one lower link bars to move up and down in a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
         13 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1 , the at least one electric powered three point hitch assembly comprising:
 a pair of lower link bars pivotally connected at a same end to a first pair of fixed actuator brackets, the brackets oriented in the same direction and spaced apart and fixed to a frame element;   a top link bar disposed centrally between the lower link bars, a top link bar being pivotally connected at one end to a single fixed top link receiving bracket, the top link receiving bracket fixed to the frame element at an elevated position on the frame element above and substantially in between a first pair of fixed actuator brackets; and   at least one modular actuator bracket having a pin connection interface provided on at least one of the first pair of fixed actuator brackets, the at least one modular actuator bracket pinned at the opposite end from at least one of the fixed actuator brackets to an electrically operated linear actuator capable of exerting bidirectional travel defined by extension and retraction capability along a linear track, the at least one linear actuator pivotally connected at the opposite end from a modular actuator bracket to one of the lower link bars, or to a cross bar connecting the pair of lower link bars, the linear actuator having a gear set to drive a screw and an electric motor connected by wiring to the at least one rechargeable power source and to an electric control box or panel having one or more controls operable by a user seated in a cab section of the host vehicle to raise and lower the three-point hitch assembly having mechanical coupling at the end points of the lower link bars to a farm tool implement.   
     
     
         14 . The three pint hitch assembly in  claim 13  wherein a pin located at the pin connection interface may be uncoupled to allow the lower link bars to maintain a parallel relationship with the ground they are being raised and lowered. 
     
     
         15 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1  having one or more hitch assemblies capable of lifting one or more ends of the tractor off the ground by extending the actuators of the one or more hitch assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . The electric powered tractor of  claim 1  assembled from a kit to tractor components including a rear frame section and front frame section. 
     
     
         17 . A modular actuator bracket for use with a three point hitch assembly of  claim 1 , the modular actuator bracket including a first actuator bracket plate and a second actuator bracket plate, the first and second actuator bracket plates spaced apart by a formed spacer bar and three pin holes for receiving pins extending through both first and second actuator brackets connecting the actuator bracket to a fixed actuator support bracket. 
     
     
         18 . A kit for assembly of the electric powered tractor of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The electric powered electric tractor of  claim 1  having front, middle, and rear three point hitch assemblies allowing multiple operations on a single pass.