# US 11,297,756 B2 · Agricultural device having a rotatable frame portion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,756 B2 - Document ID: US11297756B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/415,733 - Filed: 2019-05-17 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-21 - Assignees: Charles H. Martin; Dominic R. Martin - Applicants: Charles H. Martin; Dominic R. Martin - Inventors: Charles H. Martin; Dominic R. Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297756B2 ## CPC - A01B 73/06: foldable about a vertical axis - A01C 7/208: {Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers} - A01C 7/08: Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract An agricultural device including a first frame portion rotatably carrying a second frame portion for carrying at least one agricultural module, the second frame portion being rotatable relative to the first frame portion between a first position generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the device and a second position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the device, the first frame portion having a pair of rolling elements for supporting the first frame along a support surface. The pair of rolling elements is laterally movable relative to the first frame portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the device. The pair of rolling elements continuously laterally surrounds the second frame when viewed from behind a forward direction of travel of the device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An agricultural device comprising: a first frame portion rotatably carrying a second frame portion for carrying at least one agricultural module, the second frame portion being rotatable relative to the first frame portion between a first position generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the device and a second position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the device, the first frame portion having a pair of rolling elements for supporting the first frame along a support surface; wherein the pair of rolling elements being laterally movable relative to the first frame portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the device; wherein the pair of rolling elements continuously laterally surround the second frame when viewed from behind a forward direction of travel of the device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first frame portion includes a telescoping member operably connected to each rolling element of the pair of rolling elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein a ram is at least partially positioned within each of the telescoping members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first frame portion is adapted to vertically raise and lower the second frame portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second frame portion engages the first frame portion in both the first position and the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the first frame portion includes a pair of guides for engaging the first frame portion in the first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each rolling element of the pair of rolling elements is operatively connected to the first frame portion by a crank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device maintains a positive hitch weight in all operating positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one agricultural module is infinitely positionable along a length of the second frame portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method for converting an agricultural device between a working position and a travel position, comprising: providing the agricultural device of claim 1 having the first frame portion and the second frame arranged in a working position; vertically raising the second frame portion relative to the support surface with the first frame portion; laterally moving the pair of rolling elements and associated structure of the first frame portion away from one another in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the device until the associated structure of the first frame portion and corresponding structure of the second frame are disengaged; rotating the second frame portion from the first position to the second position; laterally moving the pair of rolling elements and the associated structure of the first frame portion toward one another in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the device until the pair of rolling elements are separated by a predetermined spacing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 further comprises subsequent to laterally moving the pair of rolling elements and associated structure of the first frame portion toward one another, vertically lowering the second frame portion relative to the support surface to a travel position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the second frame portion from the first position to the second position includes bringing the first frame portion and the second frame portion into engagement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein each of laterally moving the pair of rolling elements and associated structure of the first frame portion away from one another, and laterally moving the pair of rolling elements and associated structure of the first frame portion toward one another further includes simultaneously moving the device in the travel direction. ### Claim 14 An agricultural device comprising: a first frame portion rotatably carrying a second frame portion for carrying at least one agricultural module, the second frame portion being rotatable relative to the first frame portion between a first position generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the device and a second position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the device, the first frame portion having a pair of rolling elements for supporting the first frame along a support surface; wherein the pair of rolling elements being laterally movable relative to the first frame portion in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the device; wherein the pair of rolling elements continuously laterally surround the second frame when viewed from behind a forward direction of the device; wherein the at least one agricultural module is infinitely positionable along a length of the second frame portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the first frame portion includes a telescoping member operably connected to each rolling element of the pair of rolling elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein a ram is at least partially positioned within each of the telescoping members. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the first frame portion is adapted to vertically raise and lower the second frame portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the second frame portion engages the first frame portion in both the first position and the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein each rolling element of the pair of rolling elements is operatively connected to the first frame portion by a crank. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the device maintains a positive hitch weight in all operating positions.