Rear Folding Implement

Farm implements and toolbars designed to carry tillage tools are being manufactured in larger and wider sizes to improve the farmer's productivity. Toolbars designed to carry tillage tools are typically comprised of a center section that is positioned directly behind a tractor and normally include transversely extending outer sections pivotally connected at their respective inner ends to the center section. In some instances, there are as many as two additional outer sections or frames pivotally connected together and coupled with each outer end of the center section. Today a single tractor often pulls several transversely aligned implement sections which may extend in width as much as sixty feet from end to end.

One of the major problems encountered with these extremely wide implements occurs when the implement width must be reduced to permit transport over roads and through fence gates.

One method commonly used to move an extremely wide implement is to detach the implement from the tractor, move the tractor to one end of the implement, re-attach it and then transport the implement lengthwise with respect to its transverse dimension. The disadvantage with this type of implement is that there must be provided duplicate hitching structure. Further, the implement length to be transported must equal the working implement width and consequently, significant control and turning problems are encountered as it is moved along roads or through gates.

Another method commonly provided utilizes hydraulic cylinders between the center and outer sections to swingably raise the outer section vertically above the outer end of the center section. While this has proven somewhat successful for three section implements, folding mechanisms for implements having more than three sections become very expensive to build and maintain. It has also been common to rotate the implement sections forwardly about vertical pivots on opposite ends of the center section to positions alongside the tractor. Since the implements or tools mounted on the section or toolbar normally extend rearwardly, the overall width of the forwardly folded implement and tractor will equal the width of the tractor plus the depth of both implement sections and their tools. Often this width is too great for the transport problems mentioned. Further, no provision is made with this type of design for implements having more than three sections.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, it would be desirable to swing the outer sections rearwardly of the center sections. One of the major difficulties not overcome with respect to swinging the outer sections rearwardly occurs because the tools mounted on these sections normally project rearwardly. Consequently, when the outer sections are swung rearwardly, interference between the tools on the center section and the tools on the outer section occurs. Thus, there has not been a great deal of success with this method.

With the above in mind, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a multi-section rearwardly swing tool-carrying implement in which the tools on the outer sections do not engage or contact tools on the center section when the outer sections are rotated into their transport position.

It is also a main object of the present invention to provide on the center section carriers that may be shifted transversely to shift the outer sections transversely away from the center sections and thereby provide clearance between tools on the center and outer sections as each other section is rotated rearwardly. Each of the carriers is provided with a vertical pivot to which is attached the slide portion of the carrier and the inner end of the outer section. Upon the carrier being shifted to the outer end of the center section, the outer section may be rotated about the vertical pivot to narrow the implement transport width.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a pair of transversely elongated carriers that are slidable with respect to the center section of the frame. These carriers are connected to the outer sections and are restrained against rearwardly swinging movement until shifted to the outer ends of the center section. At the respective inner end of each carrier is provided the pivot structure or suitable cam means enabling the carrier to be swung rearwardly. The carrier length is elongated sufficiently to provide adequate separation between adjacent tools on the center and outer section as the outer section tools are swung rearwardly of the tools on the center section during folding operations.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide this type of implement in combination with a tractor. The carriers are shifted transversely by means of hydraulic cylinders controlled from the tractor seat. Thus, a tractor may be driven forwardly after the carriers are shifted to the outer ends of the center section to facilitate the inward shifting of the outer sections about the respective vertical pivots. Also, after the implement has been transported to its desired location, the tractor may be utilized for helping the outer sections to swing forwardly to their transverse aligned position as the hydraulic cylinders cause the carriers to be positioned from the ends of the center section.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rear folding multi-section implement having its outer sections folded for transport.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view illustrating the carrier in its operational position. Portions are broken away to show the internal mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and expanded elevational view of the carrier mechanism connecting the center and outer sections and taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a modified version of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view similar to FIG. 5, but on a smaller scale showing the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 5 in a transport position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the yoke brackets taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6.

The implement herein to be described is pulled by a tractor 10 having a conventional hydraulic system which enables the operator to activate the hydraulic power means provided on the implements that trail behind the tractor. The implement is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a transport configuration and includes a center section 12 having a hitch 14 connectible with the tractor 10. The center section 12 is connected to outer sections 16 which, as illustrated in FIG. 2, extend during operation transversely outwardly from opposite ends of the center section 12. The outer sections 16 have ground wheels 18 which are castered and which may be adjusted vertically with respect to the frame so as to raise and lower the outer sectionns 16 with respect to the ground. Wheel supports 20 are mounted on the outer sections 16 and project outwardly therefrom to the wheels 18. The center section 12 and two outer sections 16 carry rearwardly projecting tool supports 22 which in turn carry, for example, cultivator shovels 24. It should be understood that while the particular type of tool shown is a cultivator, other types of equipment, such as planters, chisel plows, and numerous others could operate satisfactorily in the present arrangement of implement sections.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the center section 12 is comprised of a hollow rectangular-shaped tube 26 that is sufficiently large to carry a mechanism within it. Fixed into the tube 26 at its top and bottom are sizing or lining plates 28. A carrier indicated by the reference numeral 30 is slidably carried within each end portion of the center section tube 26. Each carrier 30 is connected at its inner end with the ram portion of a three stage hydraulic cylinder 32 that has its base end secured to the center section 12 for limited transverse movement. The carriers 30 have upper and lower elongated channel members 34 and 36 and have a pivot structure 38 secured to the end and a guide means 40 including a slot secured along their rearward length. The essentially identical upper and lower channel members 34 and 36 are securely joined by vertical plate members 42 to form a rigid box-like structure.

At the inner and rearward end of each channel (as viewed in FIG. 2) is secured the pivot structures 38 for controlling swinging movement of the carrier when it is extended. The rearward vertical surface of the pivot structure 38 is rounded to abut on pin 60 and provide a pivot point about which the carrier 30 can swingably rotate. Each pivot structure 38 further includes upper and lower plate members 44 having a vertically disposed opening 46 through which pivot pin 48 passes and is connected with the outer end of the three stage cylinder 32. The opposite or inner end of the hydraulic cylinder 32 is carried on the vertical pin 50 which extends through transverse elongated slots 52 provided in the upper and lower surfaces of the center section 26 so as to permit limited transverse movement of the hydraulic cylinder 32 during transport operations as the trailing and folded outer sections swing slightly from side to side.

The guide means 40 is formed by a pair of vertically extending ribs 54 spaced rearwardly from the back side of the vertical plate member 42 of carrier 30. The ribs 54 define with that side of the carrier 30 an upright elongated slot 56 extending the length of the carrier 30. Carried at the outer end of the center section tube 26 on the top and bottom end portions are horizontal and rectangularly-shaped reinforcing plate structures 58 supporting between them a vertically disposed pin 60. This pin 60 rides in the slot 56 formed by ribs 54 as the carrier is shifted between its retracted and extended positions. The pin 60, as is best seen from viewing FIGS. 2 and 3, is closely adjacent the rear wall of the center section tube 26 so as to provide an axis of rotation about which the carrier 30 can rotate as extended. At the inner end of the slot 56 is provided the pivot structure 38 and stop surface whereat the vertical pin 60 will abut and seat and about which the carrier 30 rocks rearwardly.

As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the ram of the hydraulic cylinder 32 is connected to the carrier 30 at a point which is forwardly of the pin 60 about which the carrier will rotate when extended. It is this length designated 62 in FIG. 3 which serves as the moment arm for the forces exerted by the hydraulic cylinder 32 to rotatably swing the carrier 30 about the pivot pin 60 carried by the center section tube 26.

Fixed to the outer end of each carrier 30 and horizontally perpendicular thereto is a tube which carries an elongated pivot pin 64. To this pivot pin 64 is joined the outer section 16. About the horizontal axis formed by this pivot pin 64, relative vertical movement between the center section 12 and outer section 16 is permitted as uneven ground contours are encountered.

Extending rearwardly from each end of the center section 12 are stops 66 against which the folded outer section 16 can abut and be resiliently restrained against the inward and transverse movement encountered during transport. The stop 66 includes a rearwardly extending elongated bracket structure 68 carrying at its unsupported end a cushion device 70. The cushion device 70 is comprised of a central rod 72 slidably carried in vertical plate 74 of the bracket structure 68 and secured thereto by nut 75. The outer end of the rod 72 has a flat head portion 76 and a helical spring 78 coaxially surrounds the rod 72 to bear against the vertical plate 74 at its one end and the flat head 76 at its other end.

In operation, the outer sections 16 are transversely aligned with the center section 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the operator is ready to fold the outer sections 16 rearwardly, he activates the three stage hydraulic cylinders 32 to begin extending the rams. As the cylinder rams are extended, the carriers 30 will slidably shift outwardly guided by the liners 28, the tube 26 and the pivot pin 60 carried at the outer end of the center section 12. Caster wheels 18 provided on the outer sections 16 facilitate the transverse movement of the outer section 16 as it is shifted by the extension of the hydraulic cylinder 32 and movement of the carrier 30. As each carrier 30 reaches the fully extended position, the pivot structure 38 at the inner ends of each slot 56 abuts against the pin 60 providing a pivot point about which the carrier 30 swings rearwardly. Further extension of the hydraulic cylinder 32 will cause the carrier 30 to swing rearwardly about the pivot pin 60 and full extension of the cylinder causes the outer section 16 to contact the bumper means 66. The operator then attaches a rigid bar 80 to the rearward ends of the trailing outer sections 16 to limit lateral movement of the sections 16 during transport.

Illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a modified version of the present invention which includes a means 82 for further separating the tools on the outer section from those on the center section. This means or mechanism 82 includes a telescoping arm 84 slidably carried within the inner end portion of the outer toolbar frame 86. Each arm 84 is connected at its outer end to a two stage hydraulic cylinder 88 carried within the outer section toolbar frame 86 and is joined at its inner end to the horizontal pivot 64 secured to the outer end of carrier 30. The hydraulic cylinder 88 is pinned at its base end within the toolbar frame 86 and connected at its ram end to an ear 90 carried by the arm 84. A pair of yoke brackets 92 are provided on opposite sides of toolbar 86. The brackets are bifurcated at their inner ends to receive the horizontal pin of the pivot structure 64. When retracted, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the horizontal pivot 64 is seatably positioned within the yoke brackets 92 carried by the toolbar frame 86. This yoke connection serves to minimize twisting damage to the arm or carrier 30 during operation.

In operation, the modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is utilized similarly to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. However, prior to initiating the folding procedure, the arm 84 must be telescoped out of the toolbar frame 86 to laterally separate the outer section tools from the center section tools. Then the folding process is completed as is that of the preferred embodiment. To unfold, the procedure is reversed, with the arm 84 being telescoped into the toolbar frame 86 after the outer section 16 has been unfolded to a position transversely aligned with the center section 12.