Overview
ISO 12140-1:2020 - "Agricultural trailers and trailed equipment - Drawbar jacks - Part 1: Design safety, test methods and acceptance criteria" defines design safety criteria, performance test methods and acceptance criteria for telescopic mechanical (screw-and-nut) and hydraulic drawbar jacks used on implement tongues of interchangeable towed agricultural machinery. The standard also specifies minimum markings and information for use that jack manufacturers must provide.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applies to mechanical screw-and-nut jacks and hydraulic drawbar jacks used for supporting hitch points in storage, lifting/lowering implement tongues for coupling, and levelling implements when stationary.
- Design requirements
- Base sizing such that average ground pressure does not exceed 760 kPa at rated dynamic compressive load capacity.
- Jack overtravel protection to withstand forces beyond intended travel.
- Hydraulic controls must protect users and be clearly marked for direction (e.g., up/down).
- Consideration of features like drop leg, outer/inner tube construction and jack mount arrangements.
- Performance metrics and definitions:
- Crank effort, rated static/dynamic compressive and tensile load capacities, rated static side load, and rated static side torque class.
- Basic rated life (L10) as a reliability measure.
- Test methods
- Functional tests include crank-effort, overtravel, ground-pressure calculation, corrosion (reference to ISO 9227 salt spray), water ingress, and load capacity tests (static and dynamic, compressive/tensile/side).
- Fatigue and life tests to establish rated dynamic capabilities and basic rated life.
- Acceptance criteria
- Defines functional failure vs catastrophic failure, maintenance of load during tests, and pass/fail thresholds.
- Information for use & markings
- Required markings: load capacities, torque class, identification and other manufacturer details; also instructions for safe operation and maintenance.
Applications and users
Who benefits from ISO 12140-1:2020:
- Drawbar jack and implement manufacturers - for product design, validation and compliance.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform standardized performance and safety tests.
- Farm equipment OEMs and aftermarket suppliers - when selecting or replacing jacks as original equipment or spare parts.
- Procurement, safety managers and inspectors - to verify manufacturer claims, safety labelling and operational instructions.
- Design engineers - to optimize bases, overtravel protection and hydraulic controls for real-world use and longevity.
Related standards
- ISO 12140-2 - application requirements (complements Part 1)
- ISO 9227 - corrosion tests in artificial atmospheres (salt spray tests) referenced for corrosion protection testing
Keywords: ISO 12140-1:2020, drawbar jacks, agricultural trailers, design safety, test methods, acceptance criteria, telescopic jacks, screw-and-nut, hydraulic jacks, crank effort, rated load capacity.