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 . A vehicle comprising:
 a pair of spaced apart frame portions extending in substantially the same direction;   a pair of hitch receiving points, each hitch receiving point connectable with a respective one of the pair of frame portions; and   a removable implement having a support beam having a length; a pair of hitch pins operably connected to the support beam and spaced apart thereon, with each hitch pin for operative attachment to a respective one of the hitch receiving points; and a single structural member attached to the support beam at a distance offset from a central portion of the length of the support beam and wherein the support beam is free of additional structural members for attachment to the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the structural member of the implement is attached to the implement at a location offset in a direction along the length of the implement from the midpoint of the length of the implement. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein an upper portion of the structural member of the implement is adjacent to and exterior of one of the pair of spaced apart frame portions when the pair of hitch pins are attached to the pair of receiving points. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 3  wherein the structural member of the implement further includes a lift bar extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom and above the vehicle frame when the implement is attached to the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the implement is free of any rigid structure extending vertically from a midpoint of the support beam. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pair of front wheels; and 
 a pair of rear wheels, wherein the implement is disposed intermediate to the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels when the pair of hitch pins are attached to the pair of receiving points. 
 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 6  wherein a midpoint of the length of the implement is aligned with a midpoint between the spaced apart frame portions when the pair of hitch pins are attached to the pair of receiving points. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion of the structural member of the implement is adjacent to and exterior of one of the pair of spaced apart frame portions when the pair of hitch pins are attached to the pair of receiving points. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the implement further comprises:
 a lift bar connected to the upper portion of the structural member. 
 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9  wherein the lift bar of the implement further comprises:
 a first portion extending upwards from the upper portion of the structural member; and 
 a second portion extending inwards towards and above the central portion of the support beam such that the second portion of the lift bar terminates directly above a midpoint of the support beam. 
 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10  wherein the implement is evenly distributed to either side of the midpoint thereof and the lift bar is operational to support the implement for installation and removal from the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . An implement for removably attaching to a vehicle comprising:
 a support structure having a length;   a single structural member having a lower portion attached to the support structure at a distance offset from a central portion of the length of the support structure and an upper portion for attachment to the vehicle, the upper portion being offset from the central portion of the length of the support structure at the same distance as the lower portion; and wherein the support structure is free of additional structural members for attachment to the vehicle; and   a lift bar extending from the upper portion of the structural member and terminating directly above a midpoint of the support structure.   
     
     
         13 . The implement of  claim 12  wherein the lift bar further comprises:
 a first portion extending upwards from the upper portion of the structural member; and 
 a second portion extending inwards towards the midpoint of the support structure such that the second portion of the lift bar terminates directly above the midpoint of the support structure. 
 
     
     
         14 . The implement of  claim 13  wherein the lift bar is operable to connect to an implement lift on the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The implement of  claim 14  wherein the lift bar connects to the implement lift via a hoisting line in operable communication with the implement lift; wherein the implement lift, hoisting line, and lift bar are configured to support the weight of the implement. 
     
     
         16 . The implement of  claim 15  wherein the implement lift is removably connected to the frame of the vehicle outside of a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The implement of  claim 15  wherein the implement lift is further operable to raise the implement from a ground surface and rotate the implement between a first position wherein the implement is supported outside of a frame of the vehicle and a second position wherein the implement is supported beneath the frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The implement of  claim 17  wherein the midpoint of the support structure and the end of the lift bar are aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle when the implement is in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The implement of  claim 14  wherein the lift bar is the only connection point between the implement and the implement lift. 
     
     
         20 . The implement of  claim 19  wherein the implement is longitudinally balanced by the lift bar and the implement lift when the lift bar is engaged with the implement lift.