Agricultural implement having field and transport modes

An agricultural implement comprising:

• a frame on wheels, said frame having a longitudinal axis and left and right sides as viewed in a forward direction;
• a tongue for hitching the frame to a towing vehicle, said tongue extending forward from the frame and being pivotally connected adjacent its rearward end to the frame for up and down swinging movement relative to the frame on an axis transverse to the frame;
• means for raising and lowering the frame relative to its wheels;
• a forward and a rearward tool-carrying beam on the left side of the frame;
• a forward and a rearward tool-carrying beam on the right side of the frame;
• each beam carrying a gang of tools;
• each beam being pivoted on the frame on a first axis for swinging movement relative to the frame between a field position extending out from the respective side of the frame at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the frame and a transport position extending rearward from its pivot and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
• each beam also being pivoted on the frame for up and down swinging movement relative to the frame on a second axis;
• a swivel wheel for each beam;
• means for raising and lowering each beam relative to its swivel wheel whereby the beam may be maintained in a generally horizontal position as the frame is raised or lowered relative to its wheels;
• a linkage between the tongue and the left forward and rearward beams;
• a linkage between the tongue and the right forward and rearward beams;
• each linkage comprising an arm pivoted on the tongue for swinging movement between a field position extending forward from the pivot for the arm and a transport position extending out from the respective side of the tongue;
• each of said arms being swingable up and down with the tongue on swinging of the tongue on said transverse axis and swingable in and out relative to the tongue between the said field and transport positions of the arm;
• each linkage further comprising a first link having a connection at one end constituting its forward end to the respective arm and a connection at its other end constituting its rearward end to the respective forward beam, said connections being such as to allow up and down swinging of the tongue relative to the frame and the forward beam and to allow swinging movement of the forward beam between its field and transport positions and up and down swinging of the forward beam relative to the frame;
• each linkage further comprising a second link having a connection at one end constituting its forward end to the respective forward beam and a connection at its other end constituting its rearward end to the respective rearward
• beam, said connections being such as to allow swinging movement of the beams between their field and transport positions and relative up and down swinging of each beam and the respective second link;
• and
• means for latching each of said arms in field position, said links thereupon holding said beams in field position as the implement is towed forward.