Wing flex assemblies for agricultural implements

A frame system of an agricultural implement comprising:

• a center frame coupled to at least a first tool;
• a wing frame coupled to at least a second tool;
• and
• a wing flex assembly comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube being pivotally coupled to the center frame and adapted to be pivotally displaced in at least a downward direction relative to the center frame in response to a downward flex of the wing frame,
• wherein the outer tube is slidingly displaceable along the inner tube at least as the inner tube is pivotally displaced in the downward direction,
• wherein second tool is coupled to the outer tube and is laterally displaced with the sliding displacement of the outer tube,
• wherein the inner tube is at least pivotally displaceable from a neutral position to a downward position in response to the downward flex of the wing frame,
• wherein the outer tube is displaceable from a retracted position to an extended position along the inner tube at least as the inner tube is pivotally displaced in the downward direction,
• wherein the wing flex assembly comprises a wing flex cylinder that is coupled to the outer tube and adapted to be actuated to provide a force against the outer tube to selectively (1) push the outer tube toward the extended position, and (2) pull the outer tube toward the retracted position, and
• wherein the frame system includes a second cylinder, the second cylinder and the wing flex cylinder are arranged in master-slave cylinder configuration.

A frame system of an agricultural implement comprising:

• a center frame coupled to at least a first tool;
• a wing frame coupled to at least a second tool;
• and
• a wing flex assembly comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube being pivotally coupled to the center frame and adapted to be pivotally displaced in at least a downward direction relative to the center frame in response to a downward flex of the wing frame,
• wherein the outer tube is slidingly displaceable along the inner tube at least as the inner tube is pivotally displaced in the downward direction,
• wherein second tool is coupled to the outer tube and is laterally displaced with the sliding displacement of the outer tube,
• wherein the inner tube is at least pivotally displaceable from a neutral position to a downward position in response to the downward flex of the wing frame,
• wherein the outer tube is displaceable from a retracted position to an extended position along the inner tube at least as the inner tube is pivotally displaced in the downward direction,
• wherein the wing flex assembly comprises a linkage system, the linkage system being pivotally coupled to each of the inner tube, the outer tube, and the center frame, the linkage system being adapted to exert a force to linearly displace the outer tube along the inner tube at least in response to the wing frame being flexed in the downward direction, and
• wherein the linkage system includes a center link, a lower link, and an upper link, the center link being pivotally coupled to the center frame, the upper link pivotally coupled to both an upper portion of the center link and the outer tube, the lower link pivotally coupled to both a lower portion of the center link and the inner tube.

A frame system of an agricultural implement comprising:

• a center frame coupled to at least a first tool;
• a wing frame coupled to at least a second tool;
• a wing flex assembly comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube being pivotally coupled to the center frame and adapted to be pivotally displaced in at least a downward direction relative to the center frame in response to a downward flex of the wing frame;
• and
• a front fold pivot structure and at least one position control bracket, the front fold pivot structure being attached to the center frame, the inner tube being pivotally coupled to the front fold pivot structure to provide a first pivot point, the at least one position control bracket being pivotally coupled to the front fold pivot structure to provide a second pivot point, and the position control bracket further pivotally coupled to the outer tube to provide a third pivot point,
• wherein the outer tube is slidingly displaceable along the inner tube at least as the inner tube is pivotally displaced in the downward direction,
• wherein second tool is coupled to the outer tube and is laterally displaced with the sliding displacement of the outer tube,
• wherein the inner tube is at least pivotally displaceable from a neutral position to a downward position in response to the downward flex of the wing frame,
• wherein the outer tube is displaceable from a retracted position to an extended position along the inner tube at least as the inner tube is pivotally displaced in the downward direction.