Multi-function hydraulic control of tool carrier assembly

An implement apparatus comprising:

• a tool bar frame mounted on tool bar wheels for travel along a ground surface in an operating travel direction;
• a tool carrier assembly comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of ground engaging tools mounted thereon, the carrier frame connected at a front end thereof to the tool bar frame by a carrier control assembly;
• wherein the carrier control assembly comprises a crank arm pivotally attached to a rear portion of the tool bar frame about a crank axis oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and an extendable hydraulic cylinder attached between the crank arm and the tool bar frame and operative to pivot the crank arm about the crank axis;
• wherein the carrier frame is pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the crank arm about a carrier axis oriented substantially parallel to the crank axis;
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured to move the tool carrier assembly from a transport orientation extending upward from the tool bar frame to an operating orientation extending substantially horizontally rearward from the tool bar frame;
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured to maintain the tool carrier assembly in the operating orientation while moving the tool carrier assembly from a headland position, where the ground engaging tools are above the ground, down to a working position where the ground engaging tools penetrate the ground surface;
• and
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured such that when the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, the hydraulic cylinder is operative to exert a downward bias force on the tool carrier assembly, and
• comprising a carrier wheel assembly pivotally attached to a rear end of the tool carrier assembly and configured such that a carrier wheel of the carrier wheel assembly supports a rear end of the tool carrier assembly when the tool carrier assembly is in the operating orientation, and the carrier control assembly comprises a wheel link arm pivotally connected at a front end thereof to the crank arm about a link axis oriented parallel to the carrier axis and below the carrier axis when the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, and pivotally connected at a rear end thereof to the carrier wheel assembly, wherein the wheel link arm is configured to move the carrier wheel downward as the tool carrier assembly moves upward from the working position to the headland position.

An implement apparatus comprising:

• a tool bar frame mounted on tool bar wheels for travel along a ground surface in an operating travel direction;
• a tool carrier assembly comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of ground engaging tools mounted thereon, the carrier frame connected at a front end thereof to the tool bar frame by a carrier control assembly;
• wherein the carrier control assembly comprises a crank arm pivotally attached to a rear portion of the tool bar frame about a crank axis oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and an extendable hydraulic cylinder attached between the crank arm and the tool bar frame and operative to pivot the crank arm about the crank axis;
• wherein the carrier frame is pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the crank arm about a carrier axis oriented substantially parallel to the crank axis;
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured to move the tool carrier assembly from a transport orientation extending upward from the tool bar frame to an operating orientation extending substantially horizontally rearward from the tool bar frame;
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured to maintain the tool carrier assembly in the operating orientation while moving the tool carrier assembly from a headland position, where the ground engaging tools are above the ground, down to a working position where the ground engaging tools penetrate the ground surface;
• and
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured such that when the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, the hydraulic cylinder is operative to exert a downward bias force on the tool carrier assembly, and
• comprising a hanger assembly laterally spaced from the carrier control assembly, the hanger assembly comprising a hanger arm pivotally attached to the tool bar frame about a front hanger axis aligned with the crank axis, and wherein the tool carrier assembly is pivotally attached to the hanger arm about a rear hanger axis aligned with the carrier axis, and the hanger assembly comprises a torque tube fixed at a first end thereof to the crank arm and a fixed at a second end thereof to the hanger arm.

An implement apparatus comprising:

• a tool bar frame mounted on tool bar wheels for travel along a ground surface in an operating travel direction;
• a tool carrier assembly comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of ground engaging tools mounted thereon;
• a carrier control assembly comprising a crank arm pivotally attached to a rear portion of the tool bar frame about a crank axis oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and an extendable hydraulic cylinder attached between the crank arm and the tool bar frame and operative to pivot the crank arm about the crank axis;
• wherein the carrier frame is pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the crank arm about a carrier axis oriented substantially parallel to the crank axis;
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured such that when the hydraulic cylinder is in an extended position the tool carrier assembly is in a transport orientation extending upward from the tool bar frame, and such that retracting the hydraulic cylinder to a first retracted position moves the tool carrier assembly to an operating orientation extending substantially horizontally rearward from the tool bar frame;
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured such that the tool carrier assembly is maintained in the operating orientation when the hydraulic cylinder is further retracted from the first retracted position to move the tool carrier assembly from a headland position, where the ground engaging tools are above the ground, down to a working position where the ground engaging tools penetrate the ground surface;
• and
• wherein the carrier control assembly is configured such that when the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, pressurized hydraulic fluid is directed into the hydraulic cylinder such that the hydraulic cylinder exerts a downward bias force on the tool carrier assembly and such that hydraulic fluid moves in and out of the hydraulic cylinder as the tool carrier assembly moves up and down and the hydraulic cylinder extends and retracts in response to elevation changes in the ground surface, and
• comprising a carrier wheel assembly pivotally attached to a rear end of the tool carrier assembly and configured such that a carrier wheel of the carrier wheel assembly supports a rear end of the tool carrier assembly when the tool carrier assembly is in the operating orientation, and the carrier control assembly comprises a wheel link arm pivotally connected at a front end thereof to the crank arm about a link axis oriented parallel to the carrier axis and below the carrier axis when the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, and pivotally connected at a rear end thereof to the carrier wheel assembly, wherein the wheel link arm is configured to move the carrier wheel downward as the tool carrier assembly moves upward from the working position to the headland position.