Folding sequence of entire agricultural tillage implement

A system for reconfiguring an agricultural tillage implement from an operating configuration to a transport configuration, the agricultural implement having a main frame section, a tool bar attached to and extending transverse to a pull hitch tube of the main frame section, a main shank frame pivotally attached to the tool bar, at least one wing section pivotally coupled with the main frame section about at least one generally vertical axis, and at least one wing front shank frame pivotally coupled with the at least one wing section, comprising:

• at least one main shank frame hydraulic cylinder connected to the main shank frame and operable to pivot the main shank frame up and over the tool bar;
• at least one wing section hydraulic cylinder connected to the at least one wing section and operable to pivot the at least one wing section forward about the at least one generally vertical axis to a position adjacent to and generally parallel with the pull hitch tube of the main frame section;
• at least one wing front shank frame hydraulic cylinder connected to the at least one wing front shank frame and operable to pivot said at least one wing front shank frame to a generally vertical position;
• and
• a controller linked to said at least one main shank frame hydraulic cylinder, to said at least one wing section hydraulic cylinder, and to said at least one wing front shank frame hydraulic cylinder, said controller functioning to reconfigure the agricultural tillage implement from the operating configuration to the transport configuration by a folding sequence of steps, said folding sequence of steps comprising:
• a first step of pivoting the main shank frame up and over the tool bar using said at least one main shank frame hydraulic cylinder;
• a second step of pivoting the at least one wing front shank frame to said generally vertical position using said at least one wing front shank frame hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• a third step of pivoting said at least one wing section forward about said at least one generally vertical axis to said position adjacent to and generally parallel with the pull hitch tube of the main frame section using said at least one wing section hydraulic cylinder.

A method of reconfiguring an agricultural tillage implement from an operating configuration to a transport configuration, said method comprising the steps of:

• pivoting a main shank frame from a position down and forward of a tool bar to a position up and over said tool bar, said main shank frame being pivotally attached to said tool bar, said tool bar being attached to and extending transverse to a pull hitch tube of a main frame section;
• pivoting at least one wing front shank frame to a generally vertical position, said at least one wing front shank frame being pivotally coupled with at least one wing section, said at least one wing section being pivotally coupled with said main frame section about at least one generally vertical axis;
• and
• pivoting said at least one wing section forward about said at least one generally vertical axis to a position adjacent to and generally parallel with said pull hitch tube of said main frame section.

A method of reconfiguring an agricultural tillage implement from an operating configuration to a transport configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

• pivoting a main shank frame up and over a tool bar, said main shank frame being pivotally attached to said tool bar, said tool bar being attached to and extending transverse to a pull hitch tube of a main frame section;
• pivoting at least one wing front shank frame to a generally vertical position, said at least one wing front shank frame being pivotally coupled with at least one wing section, said at least one wing section being pivotally coupled with said main frame section about at least one generally vertical axis;
• pivoting said at least one wing section forward about said at least one generally vertical axis to a position adjacent to and generally parallel with said pull hitch tube of said main frame section;
• raising a center shank sub-frame and operating at least one rear lift wheel and a pull hitch to raise said main frame section prior to pivoting said main shank frame up and over said tool bar, said center shank sub-frame being attached to and positioned below said pull hitch tube of said main frame section, and said at least one rear lift wheel and said pull hitch being attached to said main frame section;
• pivoting a crumbler basket of a main rear auxiliary implement to a raised position while pivoting said main shank frame up and over said tool bar, said crumbler basket of said main rear auxiliary implement being pivotally attached to said main rear auxiliary implement;
• and
• pivoting at least one wing section rear auxiliary implement to a generally vertical position while pivoting said at least one wing front shank frame to said generally vertical position, said at least one wing section rear auxiliary implement being pivotally coupled to said at least one wing section.