Tractor system and method

Abstract

An attachment system for removably attaching an implement under a vehicle. The mounting system includes a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame has a pair of spaced apart frame portions. Each of a pair of hitch receiving points is connectable with a respective one of the frame portions. An implement includes support structure extending for a length. A pair of hitch pins is associated with the support structure. The hitch pins are spaced apart in a direction along the length of the support structure. Each hitch pin is for attachment to a respective one of the hitch receiving points. A structural member is associated with the support structure and has a portion adapted to attach to structure outboard of a frame portion. A lift mechanism is connectable with a portion of the vehicle frame. The lift mechanism is attachable with the structural member to move the hitch pins relative to the hitch receiving points.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An implement mounting hitch comprising:
 a first hitch receiving point connectable with a first frame portion of a vehicle behind a front wheel of the vehicle and ahead of a rear wheel of the vehicle;   a second hitch receiving point transversely spaced from the first hitch receiving point and connectable with a second frame portion of the vehicle and behind the front wheel of the vehicle and ahead of the rear wheel of the vehicle; and   an implement having a support structure, a first hitch pin for operable connection to the first hitch receiving point, and a second hitch pin for operable connection to the second hitch receiving point; wherein the first and second hitch receiving points are operable to support the weight of the implement beneath the vehicle via the first and second hitch pins.   
     
     
         2 . The implement mounting hitch of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first chain in operable communication with the first hitch receiving point; and 
 a second chain in operable communication with the second hitch receiving point. 
 
     
     
         3 . The implement mounting hitch of  claim 2  wherein the first chain is operable to support the first hitch receiving point and the second chain is operable to support the second hitch receiving point. 
     
     
         4 . The implement mounting hitch of  claim 3  wherein the first and second chains are further operable to support the weight of the implement when the first and second hitch pins are engaged with the first and second hitch receiving points. 
     
     
         5 . The implement mounting hitch of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an inner frame unit in operable communication with the first and second chains opposite the first and second hitch receiving points; 
 a depth control linkage in operable communication with the inner frame unit on a first end; and 
 a depth control lever in operable communication with a second end of the depth control linkage. 
 
     
     
         6 . The implement mounting hitch of  claim 5  wherein the inner frame unit is rotatably mounted between the first and second frame portions of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The implement mounting hitch of  claim 6  wherein the depth control lever is operable to raise and lower a height of the first and second hitch receiving points via the interaction of the depth control lever with the depth control linkage and the inner frame unit. 
     
     
         8 . An implement lift for a vehicle comprising:
 a vertical support beam removably connected to a frame of the vehicle;   a crane arm in operable communication with the vertical support beam;   a winch connected to the vertical support beam at a first end of the crane arm; and   a pulley connected to a second end of the crane arm opposite the winch;   wherein the vertical support beam, winch, crane arm, and pulley are rotatable about an axis defined by the vertical support beam.   
     
     
         9 . The implement lift of  claim 8  wherein the vertical support beam is removably connected to a front end of the frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The implement lift of  claim 8  wherein the vertical support beam is pivotable relative to the vehicle frame between a first position wherein the crane arm extends over the vehicle and a second position wherein the crane arm extends away from the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The implement lift of  claim 8  wherein the vertical support beam is movable to a plurality of positions on the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         12 . The implement lift of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a hoisting line in operable communication with the winch, crane arm, and pulley for hoisting an implement for connection to the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         13 . The implement lift of  claim 12  wherein the hoisting line further comprises:
 a belt having an implement attachment clip at an end thereof for operable attachment to the implement. 
 
     
     
         14 . The implement lift of  claim 8  wherein the vertical support beam is removably connected to the frame of the vehicle outside of a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The implement lift of  claim 14  wherein the implement lift is movable between a first position wherein an implement attached to the implement lift is supported outside of the frame of the vehicle and a second position wherein the implement attached to the implement lift is supported under the frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of installing an implement on a vehicle comprising:
 attaching an implement to a hoisting line of an implement lift;   raising the implement with the implement lift;   supporting the implement via the implement lift at a first position outside the frame of a vehicle;   rotating the implement lift to move the implement from the first position to a second position wherein the implement is supported beneath the frame of the vehicle and between a front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle;   lowering the implement with the implement lift to engage a pair of hitch pins carried by the implement with a pair of hitch receiving points operable connected to the vehicle;   disconnecting the implement from the hoisting line; and   rotating the implement lift away from the implement.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein supporting the implement via the implement lift is accomplished with a single connection point between the implement and the implement lift. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein attaching the implement to the hoisting line of the implement lift further comprises:
 connecting an implement attachment clip of the hoisting line to an eyehook of a lift bar extending upwards from an offset support structure of the implement and towards a midpoint of the implement. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein raising the implement with the implement lift further comprises:
 transferring the weight of the implement to the implement lift via a winch in operable communication with the implement lift. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 removing the implement from the vehicle; and 
 installing a second implement on the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein removing the implement from the vehicle further comprises:
 reattaching the implement to the implement lift; 
 raising the implement via the implement lift; 
 rotating the implement lift to move the implement from the second position to the first position; 
 lowering the implement; and 
 disconnecting the implement from the implement lift. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein installing the second implement further comprises:
 moving the vehicle to a second position to engage the second implement; and 
 installing the second implement on the vehicle.