A folding tool bar for agricultural implements and including a central section and outboard wing sections hingedly connected thereto for movement between extended operative lowered positions where they may follow rolling ground conditions and folded over-center raised positions to reduce transport width. Each wing section is actuated by a two-stage hydraulic cylinder on the central section which cooperates with a crank arm on such wing section during its first stage to apply torque to the crank arm through the medium of a draw link by a pulling action in tension, assisted by a powerful camming action, the two forces serving to raise the wing so that it barely clears the ground at a small angle on the order of 5.degree., thereby enabling the implement to perform a turnabout motion with the tools withdrawn from the ground but with the wing remaining unfolded. An abutment within the cylinder positively terminates the first stage of operation and determines the 5.degree. elevation of the wing so that the wing section is thus positively and firmly supported during the turnabout operation and thereafter, if desired, the first stage of cylinder operation may be discontinued to restore the wing to its ground-engaging position for working the next crop row. However, if over-center wing folding operations for transport purposes are desired, the second stage of each cylinder is employed. Conventional hydraulically operatedmarkers at the outer ends of the wings, and also hydraulically operable assist wheels which are carried by the main tool bar section are caused to become effective at appropriate times under the control of novel hydraulic circuitry.
A tri-fold row marker comprises three arm segments, a winglet pivotally coupled to the toolbar, an inner arm pivotally coupled to the winglet, and an outer arm pivotally coupled to the inner arm. A marker disc is mounted to the distal end of the outer arm for marking the ground surface when said row marker is its extended working position. The winglet is provided with a first bell crank extending upwardly from the winglet and a second bell crank extending downwardly from the winglet. The inner arm is provided with a third bell crank extending downwardly therefrom. A double acting hydraulic cylinder is pivotally coupled to the agricultural implement and the first bell crank for retracting and extending the row marker. An inner control arm is pivotally coupled to the agricultural implement and the third bell crank for pivoting the inner arm relative to the winglet when the hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted. An outer control arm is pivotally coupled to the second bell crank. The outer control arm is also coupled to the inner and outer arms by two pivot links that are pivotally coupled to the outer control arm and the inner and outer arms. The outer control arm pivots the outer arm relative to the inner arm when the hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted. Retracting the hydraulic cylinder from its extended position folds the marker arm into its retracted transport position, and extending the hydraulic cylinder from its retracted position unfolds the marker arm into its extended working position.
A tool bar having a hollow central section and oppositely extending offset hinged wings movable from a generally horizontal, transversely extending working position to a folded transport position. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned in the central section adjacent each wing and has its rod end pivotally connected to a pair of sliders below their center position for an effective lever action about the offset hinge with the sliders substantially spanning the hollow central section. The rod end is also pivotally connected to a pair of links via a slotted connection, with the links also being pivotally connected to the ear of a wing. The sliders reduce wing fall as the cylinder moves the wing from the working position approximately 180.degree. to a transport position on top of the central section or vice versa. The slotted link connection prevents binding of the sliders against the central section during the procedures.
A breakaway system which is easily reset by a user and does not utilize shear pins or spring loaded tension devices. The inventive device includes a support member having a U-shaped cross-sectional area, an inner member attached to the support member, an outer member pivotally attached to the support member opposite of the inner member, a lip portion attached to the outer member which projects through an opening with the support member, and a spring leveraged arm pivotally attached to the inner member containing a roller opposite thereof which engages a swaged face of the lip portion. The lip portion preferably has a ramped face opposite of the swaged face which allows the lip portion to be reset behind the roller of the arm without requiring the replacement of any components.
A field marker for easily and compactly folding to and from an implement with relatively few moving components. The inventive device includes an inner arm pivotally attached to a bracket structure attachable to a side of an implement, an outer arm pivotally attached to the inner arm, a marking disc journaled to a distal end of the outer arm, a first hydraulic cylinder attached between the bracket structure and the inner arm, a second hydraulic cylinder attached between the inner arm and the outer arm, and wherein the first and second hydraulic cylinders are fluidly connected in series so as to simultaneously extend and simultaneously retract the inner and outer arms. The inner arm is preferably rotatable about a substantially horizontal plane and the outer arm is preferably rotatable about a substantially vertical plane. The first hydraulic cylinder is larger than the second hydraulic cylinder to compensate for displaced hydraulic fluid by the shaft of the first hydraulic cylinder.
An agricultural row marker assembly is provided which includes a three-piece articulated arm and which is hydraulically actuated. The assembly has a base which is connectable to an agricultural tool bar. A second arm is pivotally mounted to the first arm and a telescopingly extendable third arm is pivotally connected to the second arm. A marker disc is located at the distal end of the third arm. The arm is hydraulically actuated with the hydraulic cylinder acting on the first arm through a link member. A second link runs from the base to the second arm and a cable runs between the second link and the third arm so that extension of the hydraulic cylinders extendable rod urges all three arms in the substantially linear alignment.
