Forwardly folding agricultural planter

Abstract

An agricultural planter is provided with hydraulically operated devices to effect the folding and unfolding of the planter support structure between operative and transport configurations. The planter includes a telescopic hitch apparatus that lengthens as the pivoted wing members are folded forwardly to position a transport lock mechanism for engagement with vertically oriented wing latch retainer bars mounted in a latch tower on the draw bar. A hitch latch mechanism is also provided to control the movement of the telescopic draw bar. A caster lock apparatus is also provided to control the castering action of a wheel device positioned near the ends of the wing members. In operation, the laterally extending tool bar is pivoted on a transverse axis to forwardly roll the tool bar toward an intermediate transport position. Once the tool bar is properly positioned, wing fold hydraulic cylinders pivot the laterally extending wing assemblies forwardly to effect engagement between the transport lock mechanism and the latch tower. An unfold abutment finger is provided to allow the wing assemblies to float with changing ground undulations, while providing a abutment against which the wing cylinders can push to effect unfolding of the wing members. A tool bar lock fixes the tool bar in a forwardly rolled transport position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.