Earth working implement

An earth working implement for moving earth when towed across ground in a forward working direction by a towing vehicle, the earth working implement comprising:

• a main frame defining a longitudinal axis extending in the forward working direction from a rear end to a front end of the frame;
• a main blade supported on the main frame, the main blade having a leading face that is upright in orientation and that terminates at a bottom cutting edge oriented in a lateral direction transversely to the forward working direction;
• the main blade being pivotal relative to the main frame about a tilt axis oriented in the lateral direction, the tilt axis being located rearwardly of the leading face of the main blade;
• a tilt actuator operatively connected between the main blade and the main frame so as to controllably vary angular orientation of the main blade relative to the main frame about the tilt axis;
• two rear wheels operatively connected to the main frame at a location spaced rearwardly from the main blade so as to be arranged to support the main frame for rolling movement along the ground in the forward working direction;
• a hitch arm connected to the main frame extending in the forward working direction to a hitch connector at a forward end of the hitch arm that is arranged for connection to the towing vehicle;
• a pair of wing blades supported at laterally opposing ends of the main blade respectively, each wing blade having a leading face extending upwardly from a bottom cutting edge of the wing blade, each wing blade being pivotal relative to the main blade about a respective upright wing axis so as to vary an angular orientation of the bottom cutting edge of the wing blade relative to the bottom cutting edge of the main blade, and each wing blade being carried on the main blade so as to be pivotal relative to the main frame about the tilt axis together with the main blade under control of the tilt actuator;
• wherein each wing blade includes a wing linkage pivotally coupled between the main blade and the wing blade, the wing linkage including (i) at least one pivotal link member and (ii) a wing actuator operatively connected with the at least one pivotal link member between the wing blade and the main blade so as to controllably vary angular orientation of the wing blade relative to the main blade about the upright axis;
• the wing actuators and the wing linkage being operable to displace the wing blades between a forward position extending forwardly of the main blade and a rearward position extending laterally outward from the main blade at a rearward slope.

An earth working implement for moving earth when towed across ground in a forward working direction by a towing vehicle, the earth working implement comprising:

• a main frame defining a longitudinal axis extending in the forward working direction from a rear end to a front end of the frame;
• a main blade supported on the main frame, the main blade having a leading face that is upright in orientation and that terminates at a bottom cutting edge oriented in a lateral direction transversely to the forward working direction;
• the main blade being pivotal relative to the main frame about a tilt axis oriented in the lateral direction, the tilt axis being located rearwardly of the leading face of the main blade;
• a tilt actuator operatively connected between the main blade and the main frame so as to controllably vary angular orientation of the main blade relative to the main frame about the tilt axis;
• two rear wheels operatively connected to the main frame at a location spaced rearwardly from the main blade so as to be arranged to support the main frame for rolling movement along the ground in the forward working direction;
• a hitch arm connected to the main frame and extending in the forward working direction from the main frame to a hitch connector at a forward end of the hitch arm that is arranged for connection to the towing vehicle;
• and
• a pair of wing blades supported at laterally opposing ends of the main blade respectively, each wing blade having a leading face extending upwardly from a bottom cutting edge of the wing blade, each wing blade being pivotal relative to the main blade about a respective upright wing axis so as to vary an angular orientation of the bottom cutting edge of the wing blade relative to the bottom cutting edge of the main blade, and each wing blade being carried on the main blade so as to be pivotal relative to the main frame about the tilt axis together with the main blade under control of the tilt actuator;
• the implement being operable in a forward ditch forming configuration wherein the wing blades are positioned to extend rearwardly from the main blade and the main blade is tilted forwardly from the bottom cutting edge of the main blade such that the bottom cutting edges of the wing blades extend laterally outwardly from the main blade at an upward slope from the bottom cutting edge of the main blade;
• and
• the implement being operable in a rearward ditch forming configuration wherein the wing blades are positioned to extend forwardly from the main blade and the main blade is tilted rearwardly from the bottom cutting edge of the main blade such that the bottom cutting edges of the wing blades extend laterally outwardly from the main blade at an upward slope from the bottom cutting edge of the main blade.

An earth working implement for moving earth when towed across ground in a forward working direction by a towing vehicle, the earth working implement comprising:

• a main frame defining a longitudinal axis extending in the forward working direction from a rear end to a front end of the frame;
• a main blade supported on the main frame, the main blade having a leading face that is upright in orientation and that terminates at a bottom cutting edge oriented in a lateral direction transversely to the forward working direction;
• the main blade being pivotal relative to the main frame about a tilt axis oriented in the lateral direction, the tilt axis being located rearwardly of the leading face of the main blade;
• a tilt actuator operatively connected between the main blade and the main frame so as to controllably vary angular orientation of the main blade relative to the main frame about the tilt axis;
• two rear wheels operatively connected to the main frame at a location spaced rearwardly from the main blade so as to be arranged to support the main frame for rolling movement along the ground in the forward working direction;
• a hitch arm connected to the main frame and extending in the forward working direction from the main frame to a hitch connector at a forward end of the hitch arm that is arranged for connection to the towing vehicle;
• and
• a plurality of furrow openers supported on the main frame at spaced apart positions relative to one another in the lateral direction;
• the furrow openers being movable between a working position and a stored position;
• the furrow openers in the working position protruding below the bottom cutting edge of the main blade so as to be arranged to form respective furrows in the ground as the implement is displaced across the ground in the forward working direction;
• and
• the furrow openers in the storage position being spaced above the bottom cutting edge of the main blade such that the furrow openers do not engage the ground as the implement is displaced across the ground in the forward working direction;
• wherein the furrow openers are supported on the main frame at a location spaced rearwardly from the main blade.