Front-folding toolbar

An agricultural implement configured to be propelled by a prime mover, said implement comprising:

• a toolbar configured to support a plurality of agricultural tools, wherein the toolbar is a front-folding toolbar configured to be shifted forward from an operational position to a transport position,
• wherein the toolbar comprises a left wing section, a right wing section, and a center section, wherein each of the left wing section and the right wing section is configured to rotate vertically with respect to the center section about respective rotational axes;
• and
• a draw-bar extending forward from the toolbar and configured to be coupled with the prime mover, wherein the draw-bar is rotatably connected with the toolbar via a connection assembly that includes a generally laterally extending rotational axis, such that the draw-bar is configured to rotate vertically about the rotational axis with respect to the center section of the toolbar,
• wherein the rotational axes of the wing sections of the toolbar and the rotational axis about which the draw-bar rotates vertically with respect to the center section of the toolbar are colinear when the toolbar is in the transport position.

A method of operating an agricultural implement comprising a toolbar supporting a plurality of tools and a draw-bar extending forward from the toolbar, said method comprising:

• (a) connecting the implement with a prime mover by engaging a coupler of the draw-bar with the prime mover;
• (b) pulling the implement through a field using the prime mover, wherein said pulling of step (b) is performed with the toolbar in an operational position such that left and right wing sections of the toolbar extend generally laterally from a center section of the toolbar;
• (c) shifting the toolbar from the operational position to a transport position such that the left and right wing sections extend generally forward from the center section of the toolbar;
• and
• (d) pulling the implement using the prime mover, wherein said pulling of step (d) is performed with the toolbar in the transport position, and wherein during said pulling of step (d), each of the left and right wing sections and the draw-bar are configured to rotate vertically with respect to the center section of the toolbar,
• wherein the left and right wing sections are configured to rotate vertically with respect to the center section about respective rotational axes, wherein the draw-bar is configured to rotate vertically with respect to the center section about a rotational axis,
• wherein during said pulling of step (d), the rotational axes of the left and right wing sections are colinear with the rotational axis about which the draw-bar rotates vertically with respect to the center section of the toolbar.