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Claims  |
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I claim:
1. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a central
transverse horizontal frame having ground wheels thereon; a pair of
horizontal outer frames; tools supported on the central and outer frames;
and projecting rearwardly therefrom when in working position; vertical
pivot means carried by the central frame inwardly of its outer ends at
distances with respect to the outer ends substantially equal to a major
portion of the rearward expanse of the tools on the outer frames when they
are in their working position; means connecting the outer frames with the
pivot means for movement between a first fowardly folded position in which
the major portions of said tools on the respective outer frames are within
the transverse expanse of the central frame and a second transversely
extending position; powered folding means between the central and outer
frames for moving the latter between their first and second positions;
locking means between the central and outer frames for securing the latter
in their second position; and hitch means adapted for connection to and
support by a tractor and including a pair of drawbar links extending in
diverging relation from forward ends joined together to rear ends
connected to respective outer frames outwardly of the vertical pivot
means.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the hitch means further
includes a telescoping member having front and rear sections, the rear
section connected with the central frame and the front section connected
with a hitch structure.
3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical pivot means is
carried on the central and forward portion of the central frame and the
outer frames include inner and outer portions, the inner portions
connected to the pivot means and the outer portions connected with said
inner portions so as to be aligned with the central frame when the outer
frames are in their second position.
4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the tools supported on the
outer frames include a plurality of material carriers spaced along their
inner and outer portions, said carriers transversely aligned when said
frames are in their second position.
5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the length of each link exceeds
the length of the portion of the respective outer frame extending between
the respective pivotal connection between the link and said frame and the
outer end of the respective outer frame.
6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the tools on the central and
outer frames include a plurality of earth engaging row units and material
carriers, said units and material carriers on each frame being
transversely aligned with the respective row units and material carriers
on the other frames when the outer frames are in their second position.
7. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the rearwardly projecting
tools are earth engaging row units mounted in transversely spaced relation
along the central and outer frames and transversely aligned material
containers associated with the respective row units for feeding material
to the ground areas in which the row units are working, and further
characterized by at least part of the containers being carried on the
outer frames forwardly of the central frame.
8. The invention defined in claim 7 characterized by the respective row
units depending from and extending rearwardly from the central and outer
frames, and by the material containers being suspended on the outer frames
in a forward and vertical offset relation to said frames, and said outer
frames have inner portions forwardly offset with respect to the central
frame which suspend the respective containers mounted thereon in
transverse alignment with those on the outer frames.
9. The invention defined in claim 1 in which complementary latch elements
are provided on the respective outer frames, each of which engage the
elements on the other outer frame and guide said frames to substantially
the same height upon said outer frames being shifted to their folded
position.
10. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein each outer frame portion
between the vertical pivot means and the connection to a respective
drawbar link composes a folding link, rigid with the outer frame, and the
powered folding means acts between said folding link and the central frame
to shift the folding link, its respective drawbar link and the outer
frame.
11. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein the combined length of the
folding link and its drawbar link exceed the width of their respective
outer frame.
12. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein the powered folding means is
connected to the folding link rearwardly of the vertical pivot means.
13. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the vertical pivot means is a
pair of vertical pivot structures carried at the forwardly edge of the
central frame, one pivot structure mounted adjacent each side of the
fore-and-aft center line through the central frame.
14. The invention defined in claim 13 wherein the outer frames are mounted
on respective pivot structures and when in their first folded positions
occupy generally parallel fore-and-aft extending positions adjacent the
fore-and-aft center line.
15. The invention defined in claim 14 wherein the tools on the outer frames
are a plurality of earth engaging row units, said units extending
rearwardly when the frames are in their second positions and transversely
when the frames are in their first positions.
16. In a forwardly folding agricultural implement having a transverse
horizontal main frame having ground wheels thereon and a pair of outer
horizontal frames connected therewith, one outer frame extending
transversely outwardly beyond each end of said main frame and tools
supported on the central and outer frames and projecting rearwardly
therefrom when in their working position, the improvement comprising means
for positioning said outer frames in either a first position folded
forwardly of the main frame or a second transverse position, including:
vertical pivot means carried by the main frame inwardly of its ends at
distances with respect to the outer ends of the central frame at least
equal to a major portion of the rearward expanse of the tools on the outer
frames when in their working position and at distances sufficient to
permit the major portions of the tools on the respective outer frames to
be within the transverse expanse of the main frame when the outer frames
are in their first position, means connecting the outer frames with the
pivot means to permit the former to be moved between their first and
second positions; releasable locking means between the main and outer
frames to maintain the latter in their transverse position; and drawbar
means including a hitch structure adapted for connection to and for
support on a tractor, said drawbar means further including a pair of link
members pivotally coupled with the hitch structure, and extending
rearwardly to pivotal connections with respective outer frames outwardly
spaced of the pivot means, said hitch structure being forwardly and
horizontally shiftable with respect to the central frame when the outer
frames are moved between their second and first positions and rearwardly
and horizontally shiftable with respect to the central frame as said outer
frames are moved between their first and second positions.
17. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein the outer frames carry means
for securing said frames together in their folded position, said means
further supporting the frames on the link members during transport.
18. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein the drawbar means is further
characterized as having telescoping front and rear sections between the
hitch structure and main frame, the rear section rigidly connected to the
main frame and slidable along the front section upon movement of the outer
frames between their second and first position.
19. The invention defined in claim 18 wherein there is further provided
releasable locking structure between the sections to secure them in a
retracted relation.
20. The invention defined in claim 16 wherein the length of each link
member is greater than the length of the portion of its respective outer
frame extending between its outer end and the pivotal connection of the
link with said outer frame.
21. The invention defined in claim 16 further provided with latching means
carried by the outer frames for securing said frames together when in
their first position.
22. A foldable agricultural implement comprising: a central transverse
horizontal section having ground wheels thereon; vertical pivotal means
carried by the central section inwardly of its ends; a pair of horizontal
outer sections coupled with the pivotal means each section movable between
a first forwardly folded fore-and-aft position and a second transverse
position; tools suspended by said central and outer sections to project
rearwardly therefrom when in their working positions; said vertical
pivotal means being spaced from the respective ends of the central section
at distances with respect to the outer ends substantially equal to the
major portion of the distance the tools project rearwardly from the outer
sections when in their working position and at distances sufficient to
permit the major portions of said tools on the outer sections to be within
the transverse expanse of the central section when the outer sections are
in their forwardly folded position; hitch means adapted for connection to
and for support on a tractor and including a pair of rearwardly extending
link members, joined at their respective forward ends and pivotally
connected at their respective rearward ends with an outer section
outwardly spaced of the pivotal means; powered folding means between the
central section and outer sections for moving said outer sections between
their first and second positions; locking means to releasably secure the
outer sections in their second position; and latching means carried on the
ends of said outer sections and connectible to the link members when said
sections are in their first folded position to secure said section ends
together and support said section ends on said link members whereby said
implement when in its folded position is supported at its forward end by
the hitch means and at its rear end by said central section.
23. The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the hitch means includes a
hitch supporting the link members at their forward ends, said hitch
adapted for connection to a vertically shiftable support means carried by
a tractor to permit outer ends of the outer sections to be elevated for
transport by the tractor support means.
24. The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the pivotal connection
between the links and their respective outer sections permit swinging
relative movement about a vertical axis only.
25. The invention defined in claim 24 wherein the vertical pivotal means is
a pair of horizontally spaced apart pivot structures, one adjacent each
side of a fore-and-aft extending center line through the central section
and coupled with a respective outer section.
26. The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the links and their
respective outer sections swingably move with respect to each other about
vertical pivotal axes and the central section is towed when the outer
sections are in their first position by the links and rigid outer frame
portions between the link pivotal connection and pivotal means.
27. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a central
transverse horizontal frame having ground wheels thereon; a pair of outer
horizontal frames transversely aligned with the central frame; tools
supported on the frames and extending in a fore-and-aft direction
therefrom when in their working position; a fore-and-aft extending hitch
means including a telescoping member having front and rear sections
extendable in length to permit said outer frames to swing forwardly; means
connecting the rear section to the central frame; vertical pivot means
mounted on the central frame inwardly of its ends; frame members extending
transversely of the central frame, the frame members having inner ends
carried on the vertical pivot means and outer ends fixed to the respective
horizontal outer frames to permit the latter to fold forwardly, said
vertical pivot means being spaced inwardly of the respective ends of the
central frame distances substantially equal to a major portion of the
fore-and-aft dimension of the tools when in their working position and at
distances sufficient so that at least major portions of the tools carried
on the outer frames are within the transverse expanse of the central frame
when the outer frames are folded forwardly; and latch means for securing
the outer frames in their forwardly folded position.
28. The invention defined in claim 27 wherein there is further provided
between the front and rear sections a roller means including a roller
wheel carried by each section, each wheel yieldably biased towards contact
with the other section.
29. The invention defined in claim 27 in which the vertical pivot means are
centrally located with respect to the central frame on the forward edge
thereof, and said frame members extend outwardly from the pivot means
beyond the transverse expanse of the central frame.
30. The invention defined in claim 27 characterized by said frame members
having fore-and-aft horizontal pivotal junctures adjacent the respective
outer ends of the central frame to thereby accommodate relative vertical
movements between the central and outer frames.
31. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a central
transverse horizontal frame having ground support wheels; a pair of outer
horizontal frames transversely aligned with the central frame; a
fore-and-aft extending hitch means composed of telescoping front and rear
sections movable between extended and retracted positions and having a
forward end adapted for connection to a vertically adjustable tractor
hitch; tools supported on the central and outer frames and extending
rearwardly therefrom when in working position; means connecting the rear
section to the central frame; vertical pivot means mounted and centrally
located on the central frame; means mounting the respective outer frames
on the vertical pivot means to permit the outer frames to fold forwardly
and to position their respective tools forwardly of the central frame and
outboard of the vertical pivot means, said vertical pivot means being
located inboard of the outer ends of the central frame distances with
respect to the outer ends substantially equal to the rearward expanse of
the major portions of the tools when in their working position and said
distances being sufficient to permit the major portions of said tools on
the respective outer frames to be within the transverse expanse of the
central frame when the outer frames are folded forwardly; and members
rigid with the respective outer frames, engageable with the hitch means
when the outer frames are folded forwardly, whereby said outer frames may
be supported by the central frame and the hitch means when connected to a
tractor hitch and may be raised and lowered by the tractor hitch.
32. The invention defined in claim 31 characterized by said outer frames
having horizontally extending pivot means permitting vertical movement
relative to the central frame and having ground wheel supports so that the
outer frames move in accordance with the ground surface and vertically
relative to one another, and by one of said members that are rigid with
the respective outer frames having a V-shaped surface opening inwardly
when the outer frames are folded forwardly, and the other of said members
has a part that engages the V-shaped surface and guides the outer frames
to substantially the same height upon the frames being folded forwardly.
33. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a central
transverse wheel supported frame; a pair of outer frames; tools supported
on the central and outer frames and extending fore-and-aft thereon when in
their working position; vertical pivotal structure carried by the central
frame adjacent a fore-and-aft extending center line through the central
frame, means connecting the outer frames with the pivotal structure for
movement between a first forwardly folded and second transversely
extending position, said vertical pivotal structure being located inboard
of the transverse opposite ends of the central frame distances with
respect to the outer ends substantially equal to the fore-and-aft expanse
of the tools when in their working position and at distances sufficient
that at least major portions of the tools on the outer frames are within
the transverse expanse of the central frame when the outer frames are in
their forwardly folded positions; powered folding means between the
central frame and each outer frame for moving the latter between its first
and second position; locking means between the central and outer frames
for releasably securing the latter in their second position; and
fore-and-aft extending hitch means including a telescoping member having
front and rear sections, the rear section rigidly coupled with the central
frame, and a pair of drawbar links extending in diverging relation from
forward ends joined together and connected to the front section to rear
ends vertically pivotally connected to respective outer frames outwardly
of the vertical pivotal structure.
34. The invention defined in claim 33 wherein the outer frames carry
complementary latching means for securing them together when in their
folded position.
35. The invention defined in claim 34 wherein said latching means includes
means for supporting the outer ends of the outer frames on the telescoping
member when the frames are in their folded position.
36. The invention defined in claim 34 wherein the latching means includes
an arm carried by each outer frame for supporting it on the telescoping
member when in its folded position, said arms including complementary
shaped positioning means for aligning a power operated latch member
carried by one arm with a latching structure carried by the other arm.
37. The invention defined in claim 36 wherein the positioning means
includes a horizontally opening V-shaped jaw carried by one arm and a stop
bar receivable in said jaw and carried by said other arm.
38. The invention defined in claim 36 wherein the power operated latch
member includes a latching pin carried at one end of a hydraulic cylinder
pivotally supported on the arm for rotation about a horizontal axis, a
control rod pivotally connected at its one end with said arm in vertically
spaced relation to the hydraulic cylinder pivotal support, said rod
mounted for limited sliding movement along its pivotal connection with
said arm, and means rigidly joining the other end of said rod with said
hydraulic cylinder.
39. The invention defined in claim 36 wherein the latching means includes
an upwardly extending member carried by one arm and having a horizontally
opening hook for receivably positioning a latching pin carried by the
other arm.
40. The invention defined in claim 33 wherein there is further provided
means for releasably locking the telescoping sections in a retracted
position.
41. The invention defined in claim 10 wherein there is further provided
means for locking the telescoping sections in a retracted position
including a plate having an opening therethrough carried by one section
and a locking pin carried by the other section and biased towards
engagement with said plate and a hydraulic cylinder for disengaging the
pin from the opening.
42. The invention defined in claim 33 wherein the drawbar links are
pivotally connected to their respective outer frames for swinging movement
about vertical axes.
43. The invention defined in claim 33 wherein the pivotal structure is
carried by the central frame forwardly thereof and the outer frames
include joined inner and outer portions, said inner portions spaced from
and forward of said central frame and coupled with said pivotal structure
and said outer portions aligned with said central frame.
44. The invention defined in claim 43 wherein said outer frames are further
provided with respective horizontal pivot means transversely spaced from
the pivotal structure, about which horizontal pivot means said inner and
outer portions are permitted relative vertical movement.
45. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a wheel
supported central frame having transversely opposite ends; centrally
located vertical pivot means on the central frame; outer frames extending
when the implement is in working position transversely outwardly from the
opposite ends; tools mounted on the central and outer frames, each outer
frame having a frame portion extending inwardly beyond said opposite ends
for mounting on the centrally located pivot means to permit the outer
frames to swing forwardly to folded positions, and with each of said frame
portions having a length sufficient to permit the major portions of the
fore-and-aft extending tools on the respective outer frame to be within
the transverse expanse of the central frame when the respective outer
frame is folded forwardly; drawbar links having forward ends joined
together and diverging outwardly and rearwardly when the implement is in
working position to rear ends connected to the respective outer frames
outwardly of the centrally located pivot means, each drawbar link being
composed of a single rigid member; and latch means for detachably locking
the respective frame portions to the central frame.
46. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a wheel
supported central frame; a pair of outer frames, one extending outwardly
of each end of the central frame; tools supported on the outer frames and
extending fore-and-aft with respect thereto when in working position; a
drawbar structure composed of folding linkage, one for each side of the
implement, each linkage including a forwardly extending link having front
and rear ends and pivotally connected at its rear end to an outer end of a
transversely extending link that is rigid with its respective outer frame
and has its inner end pivotally connected to the central frame at a
location inwardly of its respective outer end to permit the outer frame to
swing forwardly to a folded position, the latter link being sufficiently
long and being pivotally connected to the central frame inboard from the
end of the central frame a distance substantially equal to the major
portion of the fore-and-aft expanse of the tools on the outer frame when
in their working position that when the respective outer frame is in its
folded position at least the major portions of the tools carried thereon
are within the transverse expanse of the central frame; means connecting
the forward ends of the forwardly extending links; and locking means for
securing the linkage in a folded position.
47. The invention defined in claim 46 wherein the invention is further
characterized by a telescoping member having front and rear sections, the
rear section rigid with the central frame and the front section coupled
with the forward ends of the forwardly extending links.
48. A forwardly folding agricultural implement comprising: a central
transverse horizontal frame vertically adjustable to be raised and lowered
on support wheels; a pair of outer horizontal frames transversely aligned
with the central frame; a fore-and-aft extending elongated hitch means
connected to and for pulling said frames and having a forward end adapted
for connection to a vertically adjustable tractor hitch; tools supported
on the central and outer frames and extending rearwardly when in working
position; vertical pivot means mounted and centrally located on the
central frame; means mounting the respective outer frames on the vertical
pivot means to permit the outer frames to fold forwardly and to position
their respective tools forwardly of the central frame and outboard of the
vertical pivot means, said vertical pivot means being located inboard of
the outer ends of the central frame distances substantially equal to the
rearward expanse of the major portion of said tools when in their working
position and sufficient to permit the major portions of said tools on the
respective outer frames to be within the transverse expanse of the central
frame when the outer frames are folded forwardly; and members rigid with
the respective outer frames, engageable with the hitch means when the
outer frames are folded forwardly and overlying said hitch means whereby
said outer frames when in their folded positions may be suspended on the
hitch means and central frame by raising said tractor hitch and the
central frame on its support wheels. |
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