US 4,496,004 A · Rearwardly folding agricultural implement

Abstract

This invention teaches an improved collapsible farm implement of the type having a wheeled frame or cart and right and left side elongated toolbars pivoted at their inboard ends about vertical axes relative to the frame so as to allow toolbar rotation rearward through approximately a quarter turn between a fully elevated field use position disposed crosswise to the path of implement travel and a road transit position disposed parallel to the path of implement travel. A wheeled truck assembly is mounted near the outboard end of each toolbar for providing rolling support of the latter, and each wheeled truck assembly can be rotated relative to the toolbar about an axis disposed substantially normal to the toolbar through approximately a quarter turn operable to steer the outboard end of the toolbar, upon appropriate forward or rearward implement movement, between the respective fully elevated field use and road transit positions. To provide a compact collapsed implement, each toolbar is pivoted or rotated approximately a quarter turn about a horizontal axis disposed substantially parallel to the toolbar so as to raise and lower tool elements carried on the toolbars between a lowered, operative field use position adjacent the ground and a fully elevated field use position disposed substantially normal to the ground. Partial toolbar rotation is utilized during normal field operation to raise tool elements clear of the ground for turning at the end of field passes. A power cylinder is used to steer each wheeled truck assembly and to rotate each toolbar for raising and lowering the tool elements, and a flow divider is used to admit equal volumes of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinders so that synchronized steering or tool element lift operation takes place.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A rearwardly folding agricultural implement comprising:

a. a wheeled cart adapted to be connected to and drawn by a tractor;
b. a pair of toolbars supporting ground working elements, with each toolbar being pivotally mounted on said cart generally adjacent the bar inner end for movement between a first lowered field operating position wherein said bars are transversely aligned to the direction of implement travel and said ground working implements are mounted rearwardly of said toolbars in ground engaging relation and an elevated transverse second position above said first position and then to a third road transit position in which the toolbars are pivoted rearwardly;
c. ground engaging steerable wheel support means mounted on each toolbar generally adjacent the bar outer end and supporting the toolbar in all of said positions;
d. latch means for connecting each toolbar to the cart in the field operating and elevated positions;
e. first hydraulic means for moving each toolbar between said first operating position and said second elevated position;
f. second hydraulic means for actuating each said latch means;
g. third hydraulic means for steering each said wheel support means;
h. control means for operating said first, second and third hydraulic means independently in sequence;
and
i. a hydraulic circuit for said first, second, and third hydraulic means including a flow divider for providing substantially equal flow to each said third hydraulic means for movement of said toolbars between the elevated second and rearward road transit positions upon movement of the implement.

7 more elements

A rearwardly folding agricultural implement comprising:

a. a wheeled cart adapted to be connected to and drawn by a tractor;
b. a pair of toolbars adapted to support ground working elements, with each toolbar being pivotally mounted on said cart generally adjacent the bar inner end for movement between lowered field operating position wherein said bars are transversely aligned to the direction of implement travel and an elevated generally vertical position and then to a road transit position in which the toolbars are pivoted rearwardly;
c. wheel support means mounted on each toolbar generally adjacent the bar outer end;
d. latch means for connecting each toolbar and the cart in the field operating and generally vertical positions;
e. first hydraulic means for moving each toolbar between an operating and a generally vertical position;
f. second hydraulic means for actuating each said latch means;
g. third hydraulic means for steering each said wheel support means;
h. control means for operating said first, second and third hydraulic means in sequence;
i. a hydraulic circuit for said first, second, and third hydraulic means including a flow divider for providing substantially equal flow to each said third hydraulic means for movement of said toolbars between the general vertical and rearward road transit positions upon movement of the implement;
and
hobble means for latching the toolbars together in the road transit position;
said hobble means for said toolbars being mounted between each wheel support means whereby, movement of the wheel support means to the generally vertical and field operating position unlatches same and including spring means to latch the hobble means upon movement to the road transit position.

9 more elements

A rearwardly folding planter comprising:

a wheel supported hitch cart having a forwardly extending hitch adapted for connection to a tractor and providing a vertical pivot structure aligned on the path of travel with the hitch;
left and right pivot arm structures having one end pivotally connected to said vertical pivot structure and respectively extending to the left and right therefrom and having a distal end providing a horizontal axis pivot support, said pivot arm structure being swingable about said vertical pivot structure on said cart between an operating position wherein said horizontal axis is transverse of the direction of travel and a transport position wherein said horizontal axis is parallel to the direction of travel;
left and right toolbars pivotally mounted respectively on said left and right pivot arm structures and extending parallel to said horizontal axes thereof to wheel supported distal ends;
a plurality of planting units mounted only on said toolbars, being disposed rearwardly thereof in ground engaging relation in the operating position;
means for pivoting said toolbars, in the transversely extended position, about said horizontal pivot arm axes between the operating position and an intermediate position wherein said planting units are disposed above said toolbars in perpendicular relation to the operating position of said planting units;
and means allowing pivoting of said toolbars and said pivot arm structures rearwardly about said vertical pivot structure on said cart to transport positions parallel to the path of travel.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rearwardly folding agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Rearwardly folding agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29