Articulated apparatus for towing a rotary driven implement from a towing vehicle

An articulated towing apparatus for pulling a rotary driven implement in a forward working direction across a ground surface behind a towing vehicle having a power take-off member, the apparatus comprising:

• a longitudinal frame which is elongate in a longitudinal direction between a leading end and a trailing end;
• a wheeled frame supported on wheels for rolling movement along the ground surface in which the wheels are fixed in orientation relative to the wheeled frame, the wheeled frame being pivotally coupled to the longitudinal frame in proximity to the trailing end such that the wheeled frame is pivotal relative to the longitudinal frame about a first upright axis, and the wheeled frame including a hitch coupling being adapted to releasably connect the rotary driven implement thereto in trailing relationship with the wheeled frame while allowing some movement of the rotary driven implement relative to the wheeled frame;
• a coupling frame adapted to be connected to the towing vehicle, the coupling frame being pivotally coupled to the longitudinal frame in proximity to the leading end such that the coupling frame is pivotal relative to the longitudinal frame about a second upright axis;
• a driveline including a longitudinal drive shaft supported on the longitudinal frame, the longitudinal drive shaft being operatively connected to an input member at a leading end of the driveline and being operatively connected to an output member at a trailing end of the driveline, the input member being adapted to connect to the power take-off member of the towing vehicle and the output member being adapted to connect to the rotary driven implement;
• the driveline further comprising:
• a lower gearbox supported on the coupling frame, the lower gearbox having an input connected to the input member and an output;
• an upright shaft connected to the output of the lower gearbox;
• an upper gearbox supported on the longitudinal frame above the lower gearbox in proximity to the leading end of the longitudinal frame, the upper gearbox having an input connected to the upright shaft and an output operatively connected to the longitudinal drive shaft;
• and
• a universal connection at the trailing end of the longitudinal frame, the universal connection operatively connecting the longitudinal drive shaft to the output member of the driveline;
• and
• the longitudinal drive shaft being arranged to extend at a downward slope from the leading end to the trailing end of the driveline when the rotary driven implement and the towing vehicle are at a common elevation.