Foldable farm implement

For an agricultural implement having a central frame member mounted to a main frame assembly, a pair of inner wings pivotally mounted to opposite ends of the central frame member, and a pair of outer wings mounted to the inner wings, a method for folding the implement from an extended, in-field position to a folded, transport position, the method comprising:

• rotating the outer wings about respective first vertical axes of rotation in a generally rearward direction to a position wherein the outer wings are positioned adjacent and behind the inner wings;
• rotating the central frame member about a lateral axis of rotation to rotate the central frame member and the inner and outer wings forward to an upright position;
• and
• rotating the inner wings about respective second vertical axes of rotation to a position in which:
• the outer wing frames are orientated above the adjacent inner wing frames and the main frame assembly;
• and
• the inner wing frames are oriented between outer wing frames and the main frame assembly.

An implement frame adapted to be towed by a prime mover along a surface, the apparatus comprising:

• a main frame assembly having a first end connectable to the prime mover and a second end, opposite the first end, connected to a central frame member, wherein the central frame member is pivotally connected to the second end of the main frame assembly;
• first and second inner wing frames pivotally mounted to opposed sides of the central frame member at a pair of first pivot connections, the first wing frame having a first pair of parallel frame members extending from the central frame member and the second wing frame having a second pair of parallel frame members extending from the central frame member;
• first and second outer wing frames pivotally mounted to the first and second inner wing frames, respectively, at a pair of second pivot connections, wherein the first outer wing frame is pivotally mounted to one of the parallel frame members of the first pair of parallel frame members and the second outer wing is pivotally mounted to one of the parallel frame members of the second pair of parallel frame members, and wherein the outer wing frames may be pivoted about vertical axes defined by the second pivot connections to fold the outer wing frames inward toward the central frame member so that the outer wing frames are generally adjacent the inner wing frames;
• wherein the pivotal connection between the central frame member and the second end of the main frame assembly defines a transverse axis of rotation for the central frame member relative to the second end of the main frame assembly such that the central frame member may be folded forward about the transverse axis of rotation to rotate the inner and outer wing frames to a substantially upright position in which the inner and outer wing frames are positioned generally perpendicular to the surface;
• wherein the first pair of pivot connections define longitudinal axes of rotation for the first and second inner wing frames relative to the central frame member such that when the outer wing frames are folded to a position adjacent the inner wing frames, the inner wing frames may be pivoted about the longitudinal axes of rotation defined by the first pair of pivot connections to fold the inner and outer wing frames to forward position in which:
• the outer wing frames are orientated above the adjacent inner wing frames and the main frame assembly;
• and
• the inner wing frames are oriented between outer wing frames and the main frame assembly.