US 4,619,330 A · Flexibility for wide swath agricultural implements

Abstract

Improvements in flexibility for wide swath agricultural implements having hinged wing frame sections to enable the implement to be folded compactly for transport and also to better follow ground contours are provided by dividing at least one of the sections into side-by-side subsections which are pivotally interconnected for relative movement about a transverse axis. Thus, relative flexing between adjacent frame portions can take place about hinge axes parallel to travel direction while relative flexing between adjacent wing sections of the frame can take place about transverse axes. Preferably the pivotal interconnections are located to divide the frame into portions of equal width and the pivotal interconnections are reinforced by link means which connect the adjacent portions to resist bending movements about a vertical axis at the interconnection while still permitting the hinged sections to be folded.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A flexible frame for wide-swath traveling agricultural implements adapted to follow the contours of the ground and maintain a substantially constant height relative thereto, comprising:

a plurality of frame sections arranged side-by-side relative to travel direction and each adapted to be supported by at least one ground-engaging wheel;
hinge means connecting adjacent of said sections for relative flexing therebetween about an axis substantially parallel to travel direction for following ground contours and for folding of at least one of said adjacent sections relative to the other for non-operational transport of the implement;
at least one of said sections comprising a pair of separate subsections arranged side-by-side relative to travel direction;
and
pivot means connecting said subsections to each other for relative flexing between side-by-side portions of said frame about an axis substantially perpendicular to travel direction and located about midway between fore-and-aft ends of said sections with respect to said travel direction, each of said portions being adapted to be supported by at least two wheels spaced apart in the direction of travel, whereby said portions more readily follow ground contours.

2 more elements

A flexible frame for wide-swath traveling agricultural implements adapted to follow the contours of the ground and maintain a substantially constant height thereabove, comprising:

a central section adapted to be supported by at least one ground-engaging wheel and having on each side thereof at least one wing section adapted to be supported by at least one ground-engaging wheel;
hinge means connecting each of said wing sections to said central section for relative flexing therebetween about an axis substantially parallel to travel direction for following ground contours and for folding of said wing sections relative to said central section for transport;
each of said wing sections comprising:
separate subsections arranged side-by-side relative to travel direction;
and
pivot means connecting said subsections to each other for relative flexing between adjacent side-by-side portions of said frame about an axis substantially perpendicular to travel direction and located about midway between fore-and-aft ends of said sections with respect to said travel direction, each of said portions being adapted to be supported by at least two wheels spaced apart in the direction of travel, whereby said portions more readily follow ground contours.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexibility for wide swath agricultural implements

Life of this patent

Flexibility for wide swath agricultural implements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14