WO2007039704A1 - Tractor mounted generator tool bench - Google Patents

Abstract

Tractor mounted generator tool bench is a steel bench mounted on the three point linkage of a tractor containing a power take off shaft driven generator (17) for powering a welder (18) and electric hand tools (16). Also contained in the bench are full size propane and oxygen bottles (19, 14) and hoses (27) for gas torch work. Smaller tools are contained in the bench in plastic crates and long handled tools on a long bottom shelf. All the contents of the bench can be securely locked away by strong steel doors (12, 13) and a large padlock. The sides and top of the bench are completely rainproof and have vices (22) mounted on top. The tractor mounted generator tool bench will facilitate repair work wherever a tractor can go, speed up set up and pack up times for repairs and provide a secure lock up facility for valuable hand tools.

Description

TRACTOR MOUNTED GENERATORTOOL BENCH

This invention relates to a tractor power take off generator. This sort of generator has four mounting holes in its base and a built on acceleration gear box to which the power take off shaft is fastened. The tractor mounted generator tool bench (a Gen Bench) is a three point linkage mounted bench with a mount point with four holes for a tractor power take off driven generator.

Tractor power take off generators are very little used pieces of equipment on dairy and intensive livestock farms for back up electricity generation in the event of a power cut.

Mounting a power take off generator in a tractor mounted generator tool bench would enable it to be used to power a welder, also contained in the bench . This can then be used in a field for repairs and on sites without an electrical supply.

According to the present invention there is provided a generator tool bench (Gen bench) comprising of a steel bench structure with a tractor hydraulic three point linkage or "A" frame attachment point. Electrical provisions within the bench are for a fuse box and trip switches and electrical sockets to be wired into the tractor powered generator.

A high kilowatt fuse box and trip (between 15 and 60 kilowatt) would enable as much kilowatts as the generator can produce to be fed to a full load socket for heavy electrical use such as a welder and can also be used for emergency power supply to buildings (dairy and pig units) in the event of a power cut. Lighter amp load sockets and trips are also contained within the Gen bench ( tractor generator mounted tool bench hereafter called a Gen bench for short ) for use with electrical hand tools.

Securely contained within the Gen bench in slots with retaining straps are gas and oxygen bottles for gas cutting and heating work, with room in front of them for the coils of gas hoses and torch.

Shelving within the bench would be provided for a large welder and other large objects such as five gallon drums. Smaller shelving would take Euro crates 400mm wide x 600mm long and between 100 and 250mm deep into which could be put smaller hand tools and parts. A long bottom shelf 1500mm minimum long and 300mm wide and 250mm deep would provide space for long handled tools, iron bars and a trolley jack.

The Gen bench has strong securely lockable doors for all tools and power tools to prevent theft.

A waterproof top, between 750mm and 1000mm high when the bench is dropped to the ground to provide a convenient height working surface would prevent the tools contained within from getting wet. This top surface would overhang all doors to prevent rain from getting inside (to keep tools dry) in the event that the bench is left outside when it rains. Mounting points on top of Gen bench are for vices. Slots or bolting holes on the front (tractor side) of Gen bench are for mounting upright tubes and a headboard. This enables objects to be carried on top of the Gen bench, stopping them from falling towards the tractors wheels.

Many modern farm enterprises are on multiple sites, often several miles apart, often with only one good workshop facility on the home farm. The off farms often have little repair facilities. The containing of all major repair facilities in a Gen bench would enable repairs to be made at any farm site or in the field. It also reduces the set up time needed for a repair (often needed immediately) rather than having to round up all the necessary tools, often very heavy to load and then go to do the job.

The Gen bench (tractor mounted generator tool bench) is specifically invented for a tractor power take off shaft driven generator, (the type with a built in acceleration gear box, there are around 10,000 such units in the United Kingdom alone.)

Other tractor mounted saw benches such as patents G. B 1483898 only relate to a power take off driven circular saw and have no provision for mounting and running a power take off driven generator, nor have a waterproof top and have no provision for shelves for storing tools, or for operating electrical tools, nor fitted shelves for gas bottles and have no loekable doors.

U.S. patent no. 4516308 is a portable work shop but does not utilize a tractor power take off shaft driven generator, has no provision for a large 1000mm x 2000mm work top surface, is not waterproof to all tools and has no gas facilities nor any provision for locking away all of the tools.

Also these are a trailer based unit, the price of the axle, wheels and draw bar greatly increase the unit price of such a machine and its mass production viability.

U.S. Patent no. 4055206 composite shop trailer does not have facilities for a tractor power take off shaft driven generator, is mainly woodwork based machinery ,has no gas or welding facilities and also is a trailer involving extra costs of axle, wheels, brakes and draw bars.

U₁S, patent no. 4759560 compact portable repair car is a battery workshop base unit and does not have any provision for a tractor power take off driven generator, no large work top facility( 1000mm x 2000mm on a Gen bench ) and does not have a waterproof top or facility to secure all tools and lock them away securely. It also has added costs of axle and wheels.

U.S. patent no. 4133572 utility trailer needs axles, wheels, and draw bar, all greatly increasing unit costs, its walk through design also greatly increases unit cost and dramatically reduces work top space and material and steel carrying space. The belt driven generator contained within is not commonly available on farms, requires a lot more expensive fabrication of drive lines and shafts with bearing blocks and pulleys and belts, all expensive and adding to unit costs , need far more guards, belts and pulleys, take up valuable spa^e which could be better utilized for storage of tools.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1.

Shows a perspective of the improved tractor mounted generator tool bench (Gen bench) from the rear before it has been loaded and fitted with contents with doors open 12. Also shown are generator mounting holes 1 Top link hole 11.

Figure 2.

Shows in perspective the Gen bench with back doors 12 closed by latches 15 and side door 13 open, this door opens into a long bottom shelf for long bottles of gas, oxygen 14 or carbon dioxides, long handled tools, shovels, forks, crow bars and trolley jacks. Also shown vice holes 22.

Figure 3.

Shows a plan view of the rear of the Gen bench with the doors 12 open and loaded with contents, oxygen bottle 14, propane bottle 19, four Euro trays 60Ox 400 x 200mm for hand tools16, welder 18 and power take off driven generator 17 fitted. Top latch 15 removed to aid illustration.60mm bottom runners 20 of bottom of Gen bench to allow space under the majority of the Gen bench to prevent damp entering the bench from the ground and also facilitating palletised transport, allowing pallet forks to be slid under the narrow length of the bench in the middle, keeping it securely balanced while on pallet forks.Vice 21.

Figure 4.

Shows a plan view of front of the Gen bench with tractor lower linkage points 23, top link point 11 and power input shaft 24 to acceleration gear box on front end of generator, protruding through front of bench.

Figure 5.

Shows a plan view from above the Gen bench with it cross sectioned at point A to B. showing an overview of loaded shelves, propane bottle 19, arc welder cables 25, welder 18, generator 17, power input shaft 24, lower linkage point 23 and tool tray 16.

Figure 6.

Shows a plan view from above the Gen bench with it cross sectioned at point C to D showing an overview of bottom shelving, propane bottle 19, gas hoses 27, trolley jack 28 and oxygen bottle 14. The improved tractor mounted generator tool bench ( Gen bench ) Figure is used as follows: the supplied Gen bench Figure 1 is fitted with a power take off generator 17 bolted down to mounting holes 10 and wired up to a fuse and socket panl 36 on the underside of the flat top panel. Oxygen bottle 14 is placed in long bottom shelf 13, propane bottle placed in upright slot 19 and their respective hoses coupled up. Welder 18 is placed in deeper shelf 37 ( 600mm deep minimum ) and wired to sockets 36 and welder leads 25 connected to welder and placed in shelf 37.

Shallow shelves 38 ( 300mm ) are filled with trays of tools 16, the advantage of trays over drawers being that they can be placed on top of the Gen bench to look through them to find a specific tool and are less expensive.

The Gen bench doors 12 and 13 can now be shut and securely locked, thus preventing theft of hand tools.

The bench is now ready for repair work. When needed it can be hitched up to the tractor's three point linkage, a power drive shaft fastened to the generator and the tractor. The tractor can be despatched within 1 to 2 minutes with all the necessary tools.

This greatly speeds up repair work and facilitates repairs anywhere a tractor can go.

Claims

1. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench comprises of a steel bench structure with tractor three point linkage mounting point and contains within a mounting base for a tractor power shaft driven electricity generator to be mounted and operated.

2. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in claim 1. has a rainproof top and sides. The top of the bench to overhang the opening doors by a minimum of 50mm and use the downward facing edge of angle iron to facilitate the rain to drip away from the doors.

3. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim

2 to have secure steel lockable doors.

4. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claimi to have steel runners on its base of a minimum height of 50mm to raise the bottom of the bench structure off the ground to prevent damp from seeping into the bench. Also these runners are across the short length of the bench so as to allow pallet tines to travel under the bench to facilitate palletised distribution, these benches being able to be stacked, three to four high on top of one another before their vices are attached on top.

5. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. has a 550mm high x 6oomm wide x 800mm deep shelf space within to carry an electric welder which can be safely operated in said shelf.

6. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. has an adjoining shelf of 250mm high x 250mm wide x 1800 mm long to carry a full size oxygen cylinder next to a shelf of 400mm high x 400mm wide x 1250mm long to carry a 46kg propane gas cylinder. In front of these cylinders is enough space for their coils of hose and gauges so they can operate a propane and oxygen steel cutting and heating torch.

7. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. wherein is a provision for electric trip switches and sockets.

8. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. wherein is a provision for a long bottom shelf of 250mm high x 350mm wide x 1500mm long for carrying long handled hand tools, crow bars and a trolley jack.

9. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. has smaller shelves to carry at least four plastic Euro crates of 400mm wide x 600mm long x 250mm deep. Carried in these crates are smaller hand tools and electrical tools.

10. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. has facilities to bolt a front headboard to its front top edge to prevent objects that are being carried on top of the bench from falling onto the tractor wheels.

11. An improved tractor mounted generator tool bench as claimed in Claim 1. Has mounting points on its top surface for vices.