CA1083399A - Agricultural tool bar - Google Patents
Agricultural tool barInfo
- Publication number
- CA1083399A CA1083399A CA309,059A CA309059A CA1083399A CA 1083399 A CA1083399 A CA 1083399A CA 309059 A CA309059 A CA 309059A CA 1083399 A CA1083399 A CA 1083399A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- beams
- support
- travel
- main frame
- link
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Agricultural Machines (AREA)
Abstract
AGRICULTURAL TOOL BAR
Abstract Of The Disclosure An agricultural tool bar includes a main frame adapted to be drawn by a traction vehicle. First and second tool support beams are pivotally mounted to the main frame.
The tool support beams are adapted for movement between a use position and a road travel position. In the use position, the axes of the tool support beams are collinear and extend transverse of the direction of travel of the vehicle, and in the travel position, they are folded rearwardly. An articul-ated link is provided for each tool support bar, selectively holding it either in the use position or the folded position.
The main frame and tool support beams may be raised relative to the ground so that the tool support bars do not have to be rotated about horizontal axes prior to folding.
Abstract Of The Disclosure An agricultural tool bar includes a main frame adapted to be drawn by a traction vehicle. First and second tool support beams are pivotally mounted to the main frame.
The tool support beams are adapted for movement between a use position and a road travel position. In the use position, the axes of the tool support beams are collinear and extend transverse of the direction of travel of the vehicle, and in the travel position, they are folded rearwardly. An articul-ated link is provided for each tool support bar, selectively holding it either in the use position or the folded position.
The main frame and tool support beams may be raised relative to the ground so that the tool support bars do not have to be rotated about horizontal axes prior to folding.
Description
- lOB3399 sackground and 5ummary Thi~ invention relates to an a~ricultural tool bar wh~bh is adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle, and more particularly, it relates to a tool bar which is capable of being folded to the rear for roQd travel.
Typically, a tool bar of the type with which the present invention i9 concerned carri~ a number of individual imple-ments, such as seed plahters, ~hi~el plows, ammonia knives, or other ground-working tools or devices. As u~ed herein "tool bar" refers to ~he overall apparatus or system, and a "tool support beam" is the ho~izontal member which extends transversely of the direc~ on of travel of the vehicle in the ~ -use position and on which the individual device~ are mounted.
In the illustrated embodiment, the devices mounted on the to~l support beam are corn planter~, so reference will be `
made throughout to such planters, However, persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that m~ny other individual devices may be readily incorporated into the present invention There has been a tendency in modern trac~ors to incor-porate greater and grea~er pswer inb~ the prime mover, result-ing in increased drawbar pull. This can be accounted for, at lea~t in par~, by modern farming techniques which require deeper plowing of the soil. At any rate, with the power available, there has been a desire to incorporate greater numbers of planters, for example, on a tool bar. Reali~ing that the planters are spaced at row intervals, the witth of
Typically, a tool bar of the type with which the present invention i9 concerned carri~ a number of individual imple-ments, such as seed plahters, ~hi~el plows, ammonia knives, or other ground-working tools or devices. As u~ed herein "tool bar" refers to ~he overall apparatus or system, and a "tool support beam" is the ho~izontal member which extends transversely of the direc~ on of travel of the vehicle in the ~ -use position and on which the individual device~ are mounted.
In the illustrated embodiment, the devices mounted on the to~l support beam are corn planter~, so reference will be `
made throughout to such planters, However, persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that m~ny other individual devices may be readily incorporated into the present invention There has been a tendency in modern trac~ors to incor-porate greater and grea~er pswer inb~ the prime mover, result-ing in increased drawbar pull. This can be accounted for, at lea~t in par~, by modern farming techniques which require deeper plowing of the soil. At any rate, with the power available, there has been a desire to incorporate greater numbers of planters, for example, on a tool bar. Reali~ing that the planters are spaced at row intervals, the witth of
-2- ;~
,. ..
~ ~0833~9 such tool bar~ during use is aubstantial. For example, planters are available which are capable of ~imult~neously planting twelve 30-inch row9. The overall width of such a device is approximately 30 feet. The advantages of planting or cultivating ~welve row~ at a time are obvious. However, one commercial embodiment o~ a twelve-row planter has a rigid one-piece tool ~upport beam, and it require~ a separate trailer~for transport over the road. The tool bar i5 loaded sideways onto the trailer. The time reguired for lo~ding, unloading and connection at the planting site, together with the added expense of the separate long trailer, off~ets man~
of the advantages of the wide tool bar.
In one commercial cultivator capable of cultivating eight rows of 30-inch spacing (agaln, too wite for road travel), the tool support beam is a rigid one-piece construc~-ion having a hitch st one end and a pair of support wheels at the other end 80 that the tool bar may be pulled length-wise for road travel. Again, it is required that the ~armer di~connect the use position of the tool bar from the tractor and re-connect the end hitch for road travel.
Folding tool bars hsve been ~ugge~ted and are available.
In one commercial embodiment, a cultiva~or capable of working twelve ro~s is divided into two side~ section~, one located on either side of the tractor body. The cultivator is s~ec-ially mounted at th~ forward end of the tractor and for road travel, the two cultivator wings are folded forward, 80 that the outboard end~ of the tool suppor~ beams in the use
,. ..
~ ~0833~9 such tool bar~ during use is aubstantial. For example, planters are available which are capable of ~imult~neously planting twelve 30-inch row9. The overall width of such a device is approximately 30 feet. The advantages of planting or cultivating ~welve row~ at a time are obvious. However, one commercial embodiment o~ a twelve-row planter has a rigid one-piece tool ~upport beam, and it require~ a separate trailer~for transport over the road. The tool bar i5 loaded sideways onto the trailer. The time reguired for lo~ding, unloading and connection at the planting site, together with the added expense of the separate long trailer, off~ets man~
of the advantages of the wide tool bar.
In one commercial cultivator capable of cultivating eight rows of 30-inch spacing (agaln, too wite for road travel), the tool support beam is a rigid one-piece construc~-ion having a hitch st one end and a pair of support wheels at the other end 80 that the tool bar may be pulled length-wise for road travel. Again, it is required that the ~armer di~connect the use position of the tool bar from the tractor and re-connect the end hitch for road travel.
Folding tool bars hsve been ~ugge~ted and are available.
In one commercial embodiment, a cultiva~or capable of working twelve ro~s is divided into two side~ section~, one located on either side of the tractor body. The cultivator is s~ec-ially mounted at th~ forward end of the tractor and for road travel, the two cultivator wings are folded forward, 80 that the outboard end~ of the tool suppor~ beams in the use
-3-position are in fro~t of the ~ractor and linked toge~her in the road travel pO8 ition.
Another folding ~ool bar which is available commercially has a rigid center section connected to the rear of a tract-or and two outboard portions or wings wh~eh;fold verti~ally by means of hydraulic cylinders which may be housed in the center beam, if de~ired. In this deYice, the width of the sy~tem in the folded position ~ not su~stan~ially less than it is in the extended or u~e po~ition because even though the tool support ~eams are f~lded, they are folded in such a manner that the implements mounted to the beams extend out-wardly in the folded position--thereby adding their height to the wi~th of the ~pparatus in the travel position. Further, tool bars which fold vertically are undesLrable for use with planters or li~uid applicat~ because the seedboxes and chemicals with the planting units must be emptied to avoid spilling or leaking of the contents and to reduce the weight of the units to avoid bending damage.
A rear-mounted, orward-foldlng tool bar ls disclosed in U,S. Patent 3,491,836. In this patent, the three sections of the tool bar must be rotated so that the devices carried thereby extend vertically in the travel po~ition (~ contras~-ed to hoxizontally in ~he use posltion) prior to folding.
Rear-folding tool bars have also been suggested, although none are known to me which are c~pable of accommoda~
ing seed planters which do not have to be emptied ln order to place the to~l bar in the travel position. For cxample, :.
Another folding ~ool bar which is available commercially has a rigid center section connected to the rear of a tract-or and two outboard portions or wings wh~eh;fold verti~ally by means of hydraulic cylinders which may be housed in the center beam, if de~ired. In this deYice, the width of the sy~tem in the folded position ~ not su~stan~ially less than it is in the extended or u~e po~ition because even though the tool support ~eams are f~lded, they are folded in such a manner that the implements mounted to the beams extend out-wardly in the folded position--thereby adding their height to the wi~th of the ~pparatus in the travel position. Further, tool bars which fold vertically are undesLrable for use with planters or li~uid applicat~ because the seedboxes and chemicals with the planting units must be emptied to avoid spilling or leaking of the contents and to reduce the weight of the units to avoid bending damage.
A rear-mounted, orward-foldlng tool bar ls disclosed in U,S. Patent 3,491,836. In this patent, the three sections of the tool bar must be rotated so that the devices carried thereby extend vertically in the travel po~ition (~ contras~-ed to hoxizontally in ~he use posltion) prior to folding.
Rear-folding tool bars have also been suggested, although none are known to me which are c~pable of accommoda~
ing seed planters which do not have to be emptied ln order to place the to~l bar in the travel position. For cxample, :.
-4-~; , , . , ....... ~
:
one such rear-folding tool bar is disclosed in U.S. Patent ;
3,548,954, but this device also requires that the various sections of the tool support beam be rotated abou~ a common horizontal axis prior to folding so that the implements carried by it extend vertically. Other patents of interest include three U.S. Patents 3,502,154, 3,637,027, and 3,774, 693. ! . , .
The present invention concerns an agricultural tool bar which includes a main frame adapted to be drawn by a traction vehicle and provides first and second pivotal mounting locations. First and second support beams are mounted to said first and second mounting locations on the main frame for pivotal motion about respective vertical axes ~ ;
to permit the support beams to be rotated between use and ;
road travel positions. First and second link means are each connected to a location on said main frame forward of ;~
the beams when the beams are in the use position. Each link means includes at least one rigid link. A first means connects each of the first and second link means toassociated ones of the support beams in the use position at a first location outboard of the pivotal mounting locations. This `
holds the suppo~t beams transverse of the direction of ~ ;
travel oE said vehicle in said use position. A second means connects the rigid links of the first and second link means to associated ones of the support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position.
, ~.
~ 5~
B r;- ~
The main frame is independently supported by wheels, and it may be raised by means of a hydraulic cylinder and piston rod unit. The main frame has a general T-shape with a cross frame member extending transverse of the direction of travel of the vehicle and a base of the T-shape being located generaly along the center line of the system. "
The inboard ends of the tool support beams are located acjacent each other in the use position, and the axes of these beams are collinear and extend transverse of the direction of travel of the vehicle.
The tool support beams may be folded with their outboard ends being pivoted rearwardly. In the folded pos~
tion, the axes of the tool support beams extend parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and the implements or units carried by the tool support beams are located within the perimeter of the beams in the folded position.
Preferably the link means may be articulated links.
The forward end of each articulated link is connected to the main frame at a forward position thereof, and the rear end of each link is connected to an intermediate position on the associated tool support beam. Each link includes a t bending section or elbow. In the use position, the articulated links are folded, and the elbow of each link ,~
is secured to the associated tool support beam at a location ;
outboard of the pivot location for the tool support beam~ `
Thus, the tool support beam is stabilized in ~
~. .
... . . . .. . .
; ~0833~9 the extended or use post~an. When the ~ool suppo~t beam is folded rearwardly, the articulated link is extended, and the elbo~ is connected to the inboard end of the tool support beam to hold it in the folded position.
Each tool support beam may be provided with c~ster wheels at their outboard end3 for support in the folded position. In the use position, additional support wheels may be provided, and these two sets of wheels may be raised and lowered hydraulically by the operator without leaving his position ~n the seat of the tractor.
In operation, the appar~tus ~ the present in~ention iQ simple. To fold the tool support beam~ for road travel, the operator raises the main frame by actuating a first hydraulic cylinder and piston rod unit. He then lowers the caster wheels while raising the other ~upport wheals for each tool support beam. At the same time~ an~row marke~s provided on the outboard ends of the tool support beams are raised. This may all be done with controls located adJacent the operator'~ position and withou~:having to move from that ;~
posttion. The operator then unla~ches the elbows of the articulated links and simply drives forward a short distance.
The outboard ends ~ tool support beams, supported now by the caster wheels, are free to move rearwardly and do so until the apparatus assumes the travel position, at which time, the elbows of ~he ar~culated l~nks latch to the in- ;
bosrd ends of the tool support bars whi~h are now located i~ forward posi~ions, The apparatus i~ thus set up for road ~ 0~3399 travel, all of the implement~ havlng been raised, but not tilted or o~herwise turned, by rai~ng the main frame and by low~ring the ca~ter ~heel~.
In order to set up the apparatu~ ~or u~e 8~ the working site, the operator simply reverses th~ procedwe just mentioned--that i8, first he unlatches the elbow~ o~ the articulated link~ from the inboard or forward ends of the tool support bars, and he then drives the trac~or in reverse circling first to one Ride and then to the other until the two ~ide tool support beams are latched in the use positlon.
The planters may then be lowered for planting by raislng the caster wheels and by lowering the main frame.
It will thu~ be appreciated that the present invention provides a tool bar ~ystem which readily folds between the use position and the travel po3~iQa Further, becau~e of the structure, the tool support beams may be extended to cover a large number of rows. For example, the present invention could readily be ~xtended to have an overall width (in the use position) of 75 feet or more, and yet be folded to the travel pos~tion having an overall width of about ~ixteen ~eet, and thus easily pulled along a highway. ~`
~urther, it will be-appreciated that folding of the tool bar may be accomplished with a minimum of effort by ~ ;
the operator and in a very ~hort time, but with a little experience. Folding doe~ not require that ~he tool ~upport beams er implements carried by it be ~wi~ted or turned in any manner ~o th~ apparatus is su~table for use with many 1~83399 different types of tools, devices or implements.
Other features and advantage~ will be apparent to per- :
sons sk~lled in the art from the foLlowing de~alled descript-ion of a preferred embodiment accomplanied by the a~tached drawings wherein identlcal reference numerals will refer to like parts in the various ~iews.
THE DRAWINGS
Fl~, ~ is a fragmentary plan view of apparatus incor~
porating the present invention;
FIG. 2 and 3 are cDoss sectional views taken through the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the maln frame respec-tively raised and lowered;
FIG. ~ and 5 are fragmentary rear views of the outboard end of a tool support beam of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the raised and lowered positions respectively; and ~IG. 6 is fi fragmentary close-up view showing a mounting of a tool support beam for rotation to conform to the con-tour of the greunt.
De~ailed Descript~on Referring first to FIGS. 1,2 and 3, reference numeral 10 generally designates a main frame which is adapted to be pulled by a traction vehlcle connected to a forward tongue or draft member 11 by means of a conventional hitch (not ~ ,~
shown). The main frame 10 lnclud~s a cross ~rame member or beam 12, a forwardly-extending base rame member 13 extending forwardly of the center of the cross rame member 12 and - .. .. ....
~1083399 ri~idly connected to it, and a vertical forward frame member 15 (see FIGS. 2 ~nd 3).
Extending downwardly from either side of the c~oss frame member are first and second articulated legs 16, 17, The articulated leg 16 includes an upper member 18 and a lower member 19 pivotally connected together at 20. The upper portion of the upper member 18 is welded to the under-side of the CDOSS frame member 12, and the lower portion of the lower member 19 is welded to an axle 22 which is support-ed by wheels 23. The articulated leg 17 is similar to leg 16, but it interconnect~ the other side of t~e cross frame member 12 with the axle housing 22. A hydraulic c~linder and piston rod unit generally designated 25 ha~ its rod and pivotally connected at 26 to the axle hou~ing 22, and its -cylinder e~d pivotally connec~ed at 27 to the c~nter of the cross frame member 12.
Comparing FIGS. 2 and ~, the main frame 10 may be raised when the hydraulic unit 25 is expanded (FIG. 2) and :. :
lowered when it is contracted (FIG. 3). The controls for the hydraulic unit 25 are preferably located on the tractor ad~acent the operator's position ~o that he can ra~ae. or lower the main ~rame without leaving his position on the tractor, Refer~ing particularly now to FIG. 1, first and second tool support beams aredecignated res~ectively 30 and 31.
The beam 30 has an inboard end 32, and the inboard end of the beam 31 is designated 33. As seen in FIG. 1 in solid 1~83399 line, the left side tool support beam i8 arranged in the use position--that is, ~t extends transverse of the direction of travel o~ the vehicle, and the right ~ide tool support beam is seen in the folded or road travel po~ition--that ~s, it ex~ends par~llel to the directlon of travel of the vehicl~
The beam 31 is shown in dashed line in FIG. 1 in the use position, and when the tool support beams 30, 31 are both in the use pesition, the~r inboard ends 32, a3 are located ad~acent the c~nter line of the apparatus which, in -the illuqtrated embodiment, i3 located in the same vertical plane as the axis o~ the base rame mRmber 13. It will be observed that the base frame member 13 and the cross frame member 12 form a g~nerally T-shaped as seen in FIG. 1.
Further, the base frame member 13 and the forward vertical frame member 15 could be replaced by a single member which wpuld extend upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the tongue 11 to the center portion of the cross beam 12, if desired. -The tool support beams~30, 31 are similar and symmetric-al about the center line of the syste~ so that only one need be described in further detail for a complete understanding of the invention. Referring then to the right side tool support beam 31, it is connected to the ~utboard right side of the cross frame member 12 by meAns of a side frame member 35 which extends rearwardly and upwardly from its pivotal - -connection 37 to the tool support beam 31 (see the corre~pond-ing side frame member 35A in FIG. 3 which connects the le~t ..;;
. . .,, , . - - .~ ,. " .; . . - . .. . .
10833~9 side tool support bar 30 to the other side of the CDO~ frame member 1~).
The connec~ion between the cross frame member 12 and the side frame member 35, 35A are pivotal connectlon~, and they are designa~ed respectively 38 and ~9. It i9 the~e pivb~l connections which permit the folding of the tool aupport beams 30, ~1, the two pesition for the right side tool support beam 31 sh~wn respectively in dashed line and in solid line, as explained above.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the lower pivotal connection between the side frame member 35 and the horizontal tool support beam 31 i~ shown. This pivotal connection permit~
the tool support beam 31 to rotate about a horizontal axi3 parallel to the direction o~ t~vel o ~he vehicle, and in-dicated by the dashed line ~3 in FIG. 1. This permits the se~d planter unit~, designated P, to follow the con~our of the ground as it is traver~ed. The beam 31 iY provided with "~
a stu~ shaft 44 which ~cts as a pivot pln and is held by upper and lower members forming a bear~ng and designated 46, 47 in FIG. 6. Referring now to the planter units P, they are of conventional design and commercially available. Each unit include~ a seed bo$ 50 which is held by a forward paral-lel linkage generally designated 51 to the as~ociated tool support bar, and a packing whe~l 52 which follows the planter mechanism and seed box 50 to bury the aeed after planting. The mpuntfng linkage 51 permits the unlt to be 1~8339~
pulled by the associated tool support bar whlle accommodat-ing itsel~ individually ~o variations in ground contour.
In other words, the unit is supported by the wheel 52 wh~¢h determines the height of the planter. There i~ a depth below which the planting ~n~ts P cannot descend when the to~l suppor~ bar 31 is raised and this permits the plantin~
units al~o to be raised when the associated tool support bar is raised sufficiently, as will be discussed. This limit occurs when the upp~r side links of the linkage 51 are ~;~
engaged by and~held against the top of ~he associ~te~
tool support beam.
It will be observed that 1~ FIG. 1, the central portlon of the right side tool support beam 31 has been cut away, ~;
but that th~ planters P are normally spaced a~ equal distanc- ;
es. In this embodiment, there are seven planters P on each tool support beam Be~ween the fifth and sixth planters P
there is a first support wheel 56 which is moun~ed by a linkage 57 to the tool support beam 31. A hydraulic cylinder and piston rod unit 58 i~ connected at it~ cylinder end;A~o ~;
the beam 31 and at its rod end to a brace 59 of the linkage 57. A simi~ar wheel support generally designated~- 60 is provided bet~een the sixth and seventh planter units for the same beam 31, and it is actuated by a hydraulic c~linder ~
and piston rod unit 61. The hydraulic u~it~ 5&, 61 are ~ -operated in unison, again by control~ located adjacent the operator's sta~ion on the traction vehicle. The wheels 56, 60 are emplpyed when the tool support beams are in the ., ~
1~33399 extended ox u~e position (see FIG. 5) and they are rai~ed after an edd cas~er wheel 63 19 lowered ~o 9upport the weight of the tool ~upport beam and planter un~s (~ee FIG. 4).
The caster wheel 63 i8 mounted to a crank 64 which holds a bear~ng slee~e 65 receiving a shaft 66 permitting the wheel 63 to f~eely rotate about the axis of that shaft. The crank 64 ls rigidly connected by means of a pin 68 to an arm 69.
The arm 69 is pivotally connected to the rod end of a cylind-er and piston rod unit 70, the cylinder end of which is pivotally connected to a bra~et 71 located on top of the tool support beam 31, A cable C is al80 connected at one end to the arm 69 (see FIG, 4) and ~he ca~le extends along the tool support beam 31 and i~ partially wound around a ~heave 72 which is pivotally mounted to the beam 31 at an -Ln~l~nation, as illustrated. The other end of the cable C
is secured to a cross bar 73 connected to the supporting lin~age 51 of the second planter unit P2 from the center on ~ .
the right side tool supp~rt bar 31.
When the hydraulie unit 70 i8 expanded, it rotateq the caster wheel 63 into the supporting po~ition shown in FIG. 4, and at~ the same time draws the cable C toward the outboard . end of the tool supp~rt beam 31, thereby lifting the plant- ~
er unit P2 to a height ~ufficient to clear the support :. :
wheel 23 for the main frame 10.
A row marker of conventional design, the arm of which is shown at the upper portion of FIG. 1 and designated 80 may be provided at the outboard end o the tool support '' '.' beam 31 for ma~king the dis~ance between previously planted rows and the one~ currently being planted. However, this forms no part of:~hhe present invention, and need not be des-cribed any fu~ther.
Referring back to FIG, 1, a pa*~ of articulated links generally designated respectively 90 and 91 are interconnect-ed between the for~ard portion of the main frame~10 and the tool support beams 30, 31 respectively. Specific~lly, ~he `
articulated link 91 includes a first link 92, the forward portion of ~h~ch is pivotally connected at 93 to a flange 94 located at the base of ~he vertical frame member 15 (see FIG, 3) of the main frame 10. A second or rear link 95 is plvo~-ally connected at 96 to the rear end of the forward link 92, and its other end is pivotally connected at 98 to a trunnion ' ::
bracket 99 welded to the forward surfa~e of the tool support beam 31. A bracket 99 is provided between the link 95 and the pivotal connection 96 to the ~ink 92, and a catch or tongue 100 i9 welded to the ~op of the bracket 99.
A first latch member 101 is pivotally mounted atalO2 -~
to the inboard end of the tool ~upport beam 31, and a 3imil-ar bracket 103 i~ pivotally mounted at an intermediate locat-ion which is equally di~tant from~ but a~ the other side of th~epivot pin 98. Correspondlng element~ are numbered for the articulated barcket 90 on the left side of the s~stem, but these reference numerals are followed by an A.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the articulated link 90 i9 .
~hown in a folded posltion in whlch the latch 103A engages and holds the cateh member lOOA, In thi~ po~ition, the link ~ -1~833g~
92A is connected to the tool suppor~ burs 30 at ~ po~itlon (n~mely the location of latch 103A) which i~ spaced later-ally beyo~ ~he pivot 39 for the left side tool support bar 30. Thus t the tool support bar 30 in this pos~tion is firmly held extended so that the planter units P may be used for plant~ng. If de~iredS, the bracke~ 99A may be locked by meaas of a bolt 105A, although it i9 not necessary.
In the extended position~ as lllustrated by the qolid line showing of the articulated link 91, the catch member 100 is secured by the latch 101 located at the inboard end of the tool support bar 31, and int~t~s position, the tool support bar 31 is held in a folded position.
In order to fold the tool bar for road travel, first the main frame 10 is raised (FIG. 2) by extending the hydrau-lic unit 25 from the operator~l~ position, after having re-leased the latche~ 101 and lOlA. Next, the c~ster wheel 63 iq lowered by extending the hydraulic unlt 70. This also raises the planter unit P2 by means of the cable C. Next, ;
the use support wheels 56, 60 are raised (~ee wheel 56A in FIG. 2). The system 18 then pulled forwaxd and it is free to pivot about the vertical stub shaf~ 38 in the directio~
of the arrow 110. When it ha8 reached the fully folded position,-the latch 101 engag~e the catch member 100 to hold the tool support bar in the folded position. The tool support beam on the other side may be folded in a slmilar manner. Both tool support beams may be folded simultaneously, if desired, although it may be necessa~y to ~wing the tractor ; ", : . , . .,, - : . ~ . . , .. . .; . .. .. ,.. . .. ...... , ~
~83399 to the side to achieve a fully folded position, depending upon the terrain.
To extend to the tool support bar~ for use, the pro-cedure is reversed. First, the inboard latches 101, lOlA
arei^r~leased, and the tractor is driven backward~ preferably in a circular moti~n opposite to the intended direction of rotation of the side frame members 35~ 35A. Hence, it i~ ;
preferred that when extending the tool support beams for use, only one be opened at a time, When the tool ~upport beam has rea~hed a fully-open~d position, the latch0s 103, 103A will engage the a~soc~ed catch member on the articul-ated link, and the ~ystem will be ready for use.
The raising of the second planter unit P~ (and the corregponding unit on the other side) is necessa~y only becauQe, for the particular row setting desired, ~ ~ould `
otherwise interfere with the support wheel 23 for the main frame. Similarly, the particular location of the s~de frame members 35, 35A is not e~itical. These member~ are in the position ~9h~wn because of the de~ired r2w-to-row spacing of the planter units and a de~ire to have the ~ide frame members 35, 35A located be~teen ad~acent planter unlts.
Beca~seiof the length of the planter units, the location ~ ;
of the pivot connection~ 38, 39 of the tool support beams 319 30 respectively to the main frame lO,~and in particular, to the cross frame member 12 is congidered to be an impsrtant ~eature of the pre~ent invention. It ~ill be observed from FIG~. 2 and 3 that thi9 pivot location is raised above the _17-....
~ O`~ 3~ 9 9 normal use height of the tool support beams, Further, the di~tance between the center line of the sy~tem and the pivot ;~
location (indicated by arrow 118 in FIG. 1) plus the diQtance between that pivot location ~nd the axis of the associated tool support beam 31 (indicated by arrow 119) i9 greater ~.
than the length of the planter units, This relationshi~
enables the planter units to be swung outwardly during the folding motion, and this avoids interference between the units and enables each s~de~to operate independently of ;-the other.
At the ti~e, in the use positlon, the location of the pivots 38, 39 enables all units to be equally spaced, includ-ing the inboard units on each tool support beam. By hav~ng these pivot locations.to the side of the center l~ne, the distance that the tool support baam i~ loca~ed in front of the pivot point in the u~e position is shortended, and, at the same time, the side frame members 35, 35A are located laterally of the eenter line in the use positlon whioh re-duces the strees on these members during use.
The relationships ju~t diacu~sed are advantageous, as mentioned, because of the length of the planter units. If the planter uni~s are shorten~d to less than the seven feet of the better ones now availab~e commercially, or if other, shorter tools are being used, the pivot locations 38, 39 of the tool beam~ to the main frame may be moved clo~er toward the center o~ the ~y~tem, For example, if the tool or planter UllitQ are le~s t~an about five feet long, the ~:
-18- ~ ~;
1~833~9 pivot locatio~s 38, 39 may be mvved adjacent one another and in line with the inboard end~ of the tool beams. This wou~la further permit lowerlng the pivot locations so that the inclined beams 354 35A could a~sume a moxe generally horizontal position.
Another ~mportant feature of the illustrated embodiment is the axticulated links and the functions they perform of locking the tool beams in either ~he ex$ended use position or the folded travel position. An alternative construction for each side would be a ~ingle forward link such as that deslgnated 92 which wou~d have a sleeve collar at its rear end. The collar may be received in a guide rod or bar located on the tool beam, ~nd the collar would be slidable along the guide bar between the two position~ required for use and road trsvel. A latch could be included for secur-ing ~he collar at either po3ition.
I~ will be observed that the present invention ~rovide for a folding tool bar which, in the folded pesition has a constant width, irrespective of the number of ~nit~ on the to~l support beams. In the illu~trated embodlment, the corre~ponding planter uni~ on either tool support beam are ~igned laterally in the folded position, b~t this ~s nQt necessa~y for they may be staggered or interlaced, if de~ired. It will further be observed that folding i8 accomplished without the need to di~connect the main frame from ~he traction vehicle and without having ~o rotate the tool support beams 30, 31 about their a~e~. Because the 10!33399 power of the tractor assists in folding, it i5 not necess2ry the ~w~ or more men be available to assist in ~olding or un-folding the tool bar, Having thus disclosed in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, persons skilled in the ar~ will be able to modify certain of the structure whlch hàs been illustrated and to substitu~e equivalen~ ~lements for those disclosed while continuing to practice the principle of the lnvention and it is, therefore, intended that all such modifications snd suhstitutions be covered as t~ey are embraced within the ~pirit and scope of the appended claims.
,
:
one such rear-folding tool bar is disclosed in U.S. Patent ;
3,548,954, but this device also requires that the various sections of the tool support beam be rotated abou~ a common horizontal axis prior to folding so that the implements carried by it extend vertically. Other patents of interest include three U.S. Patents 3,502,154, 3,637,027, and 3,774, 693. ! . , .
The present invention concerns an agricultural tool bar which includes a main frame adapted to be drawn by a traction vehicle and provides first and second pivotal mounting locations. First and second support beams are mounted to said first and second mounting locations on the main frame for pivotal motion about respective vertical axes ~ ;
to permit the support beams to be rotated between use and ;
road travel positions. First and second link means are each connected to a location on said main frame forward of ;~
the beams when the beams are in the use position. Each link means includes at least one rigid link. A first means connects each of the first and second link means toassociated ones of the support beams in the use position at a first location outboard of the pivotal mounting locations. This `
holds the suppo~t beams transverse of the direction of ~ ;
travel oE said vehicle in said use position. A second means connects the rigid links of the first and second link means to associated ones of the support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position.
, ~.
~ 5~
B r;- ~
The main frame is independently supported by wheels, and it may be raised by means of a hydraulic cylinder and piston rod unit. The main frame has a general T-shape with a cross frame member extending transverse of the direction of travel of the vehicle and a base of the T-shape being located generaly along the center line of the system. "
The inboard ends of the tool support beams are located acjacent each other in the use position, and the axes of these beams are collinear and extend transverse of the direction of travel of the vehicle.
The tool support beams may be folded with their outboard ends being pivoted rearwardly. In the folded pos~
tion, the axes of the tool support beams extend parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle, and the implements or units carried by the tool support beams are located within the perimeter of the beams in the folded position.
Preferably the link means may be articulated links.
The forward end of each articulated link is connected to the main frame at a forward position thereof, and the rear end of each link is connected to an intermediate position on the associated tool support beam. Each link includes a t bending section or elbow. In the use position, the articulated links are folded, and the elbow of each link ,~
is secured to the associated tool support beam at a location ;
outboard of the pivot location for the tool support beam~ `
Thus, the tool support beam is stabilized in ~
~. .
... . . . .. . .
; ~0833~9 the extended or use post~an. When the ~ool suppo~t beam is folded rearwardly, the articulated link is extended, and the elbo~ is connected to the inboard end of the tool support beam to hold it in the folded position.
Each tool support beam may be provided with c~ster wheels at their outboard end3 for support in the folded position. In the use position, additional support wheels may be provided, and these two sets of wheels may be raised and lowered hydraulically by the operator without leaving his position ~n the seat of the tractor.
In operation, the appar~tus ~ the present in~ention iQ simple. To fold the tool support beam~ for road travel, the operator raises the main frame by actuating a first hydraulic cylinder and piston rod unit. He then lowers the caster wheels while raising the other ~upport wheals for each tool support beam. At the same time~ an~row marke~s provided on the outboard ends of the tool support beams are raised. This may all be done with controls located adJacent the operator'~ position and withou~:having to move from that ;~
posttion. The operator then unla~ches the elbows of the articulated links and simply drives forward a short distance.
The outboard ends ~ tool support beams, supported now by the caster wheels, are free to move rearwardly and do so until the apparatus assumes the travel position, at which time, the elbows of ~he ar~culated l~nks latch to the in- ;
bosrd ends of the tool support bars whi~h are now located i~ forward posi~ions, The apparatus i~ thus set up for road ~ 0~3399 travel, all of the implement~ havlng been raised, but not tilted or o~herwise turned, by rai~ng the main frame and by low~ring the ca~ter ~heel~.
In order to set up the apparatu~ ~or u~e 8~ the working site, the operator simply reverses th~ procedwe just mentioned--that i8, first he unlatches the elbow~ o~ the articulated link~ from the inboard or forward ends of the tool support bars, and he then drives the trac~or in reverse circling first to one Ride and then to the other until the two ~ide tool support beams are latched in the use positlon.
The planters may then be lowered for planting by raislng the caster wheels and by lowering the main frame.
It will thu~ be appreciated that the present invention provides a tool bar ~ystem which readily folds between the use position and the travel po3~iQa Further, becau~e of the structure, the tool support beams may be extended to cover a large number of rows. For example, the present invention could readily be ~xtended to have an overall width (in the use position) of 75 feet or more, and yet be folded to the travel pos~tion having an overall width of about ~ixteen ~eet, and thus easily pulled along a highway. ~`
~urther, it will be-appreciated that folding of the tool bar may be accomplished with a minimum of effort by ~ ;
the operator and in a very ~hort time, but with a little experience. Folding doe~ not require that ~he tool ~upport beams er implements carried by it be ~wi~ted or turned in any manner ~o th~ apparatus is su~table for use with many 1~83399 different types of tools, devices or implements.
Other features and advantage~ will be apparent to per- :
sons sk~lled in the art from the foLlowing de~alled descript-ion of a preferred embodiment accomplanied by the a~tached drawings wherein identlcal reference numerals will refer to like parts in the various ~iews.
THE DRAWINGS
Fl~, ~ is a fragmentary plan view of apparatus incor~
porating the present invention;
FIG. 2 and 3 are cDoss sectional views taken through the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the maln frame respec-tively raised and lowered;
FIG. ~ and 5 are fragmentary rear views of the outboard end of a tool support beam of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the raised and lowered positions respectively; and ~IG. 6 is fi fragmentary close-up view showing a mounting of a tool support beam for rotation to conform to the con-tour of the greunt.
De~ailed Descript~on Referring first to FIGS. 1,2 and 3, reference numeral 10 generally designates a main frame which is adapted to be pulled by a traction vehlcle connected to a forward tongue or draft member 11 by means of a conventional hitch (not ~ ,~
shown). The main frame 10 lnclud~s a cross ~rame member or beam 12, a forwardly-extending base rame member 13 extending forwardly of the center of the cross rame member 12 and - .. .. ....
~1083399 ri~idly connected to it, and a vertical forward frame member 15 (see FIGS. 2 ~nd 3).
Extending downwardly from either side of the c~oss frame member are first and second articulated legs 16, 17, The articulated leg 16 includes an upper member 18 and a lower member 19 pivotally connected together at 20. The upper portion of the upper member 18 is welded to the under-side of the CDOSS frame member 12, and the lower portion of the lower member 19 is welded to an axle 22 which is support-ed by wheels 23. The articulated leg 17 is similar to leg 16, but it interconnect~ the other side of t~e cross frame member 12 with the axle housing 22. A hydraulic c~linder and piston rod unit generally designated 25 ha~ its rod and pivotally connected at 26 to the axle hou~ing 22, and its -cylinder e~d pivotally connec~ed at 27 to the c~nter of the cross frame member 12.
Comparing FIGS. 2 and ~, the main frame 10 may be raised when the hydraulic unit 25 is expanded (FIG. 2) and :. :
lowered when it is contracted (FIG. 3). The controls for the hydraulic unit 25 are preferably located on the tractor ad~acent the operator's position ~o that he can ra~ae. or lower the main ~rame without leaving his position on the tractor, Refer~ing particularly now to FIG. 1, first and second tool support beams aredecignated res~ectively 30 and 31.
The beam 30 has an inboard end 32, and the inboard end of the beam 31 is designated 33. As seen in FIG. 1 in solid 1~83399 line, the left side tool support beam i8 arranged in the use position--that is, ~t extends transverse of the direction of travel o~ the vehicle, and the right ~ide tool support beam is seen in the folded or road travel po~ition--that ~s, it ex~ends par~llel to the directlon of travel of the vehicl~
The beam 31 is shown in dashed line in FIG. 1 in the use position, and when the tool support beams 30, 31 are both in the use pesition, the~r inboard ends 32, a3 are located ad~acent the c~nter line of the apparatus which, in -the illuqtrated embodiment, i3 located in the same vertical plane as the axis o~ the base rame mRmber 13. It will be observed that the base frame member 13 and the cross frame member 12 form a g~nerally T-shaped as seen in FIG. 1.
Further, the base frame member 13 and the forward vertical frame member 15 could be replaced by a single member which wpuld extend upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the tongue 11 to the center portion of the cross beam 12, if desired. -The tool support beams~30, 31 are similar and symmetric-al about the center line of the syste~ so that only one need be described in further detail for a complete understanding of the invention. Referring then to the right side tool support beam 31, it is connected to the ~utboard right side of the cross frame member 12 by meAns of a side frame member 35 which extends rearwardly and upwardly from its pivotal - -connection 37 to the tool support beam 31 (see the corre~pond-ing side frame member 35A in FIG. 3 which connects the le~t ..;;
. . .,, , . - - .~ ,. " .; . . - . .. . .
10833~9 side tool support bar 30 to the other side of the CDO~ frame member 1~).
The connec~ion between the cross frame member 12 and the side frame member 35, 35A are pivotal connectlon~, and they are designa~ed respectively 38 and ~9. It i9 the~e pivb~l connections which permit the folding of the tool aupport beams 30, ~1, the two pesition for the right side tool support beam 31 sh~wn respectively in dashed line and in solid line, as explained above.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the lower pivotal connection between the side frame member 35 and the horizontal tool support beam 31 i~ shown. This pivotal connection permit~
the tool support beam 31 to rotate about a horizontal axi3 parallel to the direction o~ t~vel o ~he vehicle, and in-dicated by the dashed line ~3 in FIG. 1. This permits the se~d planter unit~, designated P, to follow the con~our of the ground as it is traver~ed. The beam 31 iY provided with "~
a stu~ shaft 44 which ~cts as a pivot pln and is held by upper and lower members forming a bear~ng and designated 46, 47 in FIG. 6. Referring now to the planter units P, they are of conventional design and commercially available. Each unit include~ a seed bo$ 50 which is held by a forward paral-lel linkage generally designated 51 to the as~ociated tool support bar, and a packing whe~l 52 which follows the planter mechanism and seed box 50 to bury the aeed after planting. The mpuntfng linkage 51 permits the unlt to be 1~8339~
pulled by the associated tool support bar whlle accommodat-ing itsel~ individually ~o variations in ground contour.
In other words, the unit is supported by the wheel 52 wh~¢h determines the height of the planter. There i~ a depth below which the planting ~n~ts P cannot descend when the to~l suppor~ bar 31 is raised and this permits the plantin~
units al~o to be raised when the associated tool support bar is raised sufficiently, as will be discussed. This limit occurs when the upp~r side links of the linkage 51 are ~;~
engaged by and~held against the top of ~he associ~te~
tool support beam.
It will be observed that 1~ FIG. 1, the central portlon of the right side tool support beam 31 has been cut away, ~;
but that th~ planters P are normally spaced a~ equal distanc- ;
es. In this embodiment, there are seven planters P on each tool support beam Be~ween the fifth and sixth planters P
there is a first support wheel 56 which is moun~ed by a linkage 57 to the tool support beam 31. A hydraulic cylinder and piston rod unit 58 i~ connected at it~ cylinder end;A~o ~;
the beam 31 and at its rod end to a brace 59 of the linkage 57. A simi~ar wheel support generally designated~- 60 is provided bet~een the sixth and seventh planter units for the same beam 31, and it is actuated by a hydraulic c~linder ~
and piston rod unit 61. The hydraulic u~it~ 5&, 61 are ~ -operated in unison, again by control~ located adjacent the operator's sta~ion on the traction vehicle. The wheels 56, 60 are emplpyed when the tool support beams are in the ., ~
1~33399 extended ox u~e position (see FIG. 5) and they are rai~ed after an edd cas~er wheel 63 19 lowered ~o 9upport the weight of the tool ~upport beam and planter un~s (~ee FIG. 4).
The caster wheel 63 i8 mounted to a crank 64 which holds a bear~ng slee~e 65 receiving a shaft 66 permitting the wheel 63 to f~eely rotate about the axis of that shaft. The crank 64 ls rigidly connected by means of a pin 68 to an arm 69.
The arm 69 is pivotally connected to the rod end of a cylind-er and piston rod unit 70, the cylinder end of which is pivotally connected to a bra~et 71 located on top of the tool support beam 31, A cable C is al80 connected at one end to the arm 69 (see FIG, 4) and ~he ca~le extends along the tool support beam 31 and i~ partially wound around a ~heave 72 which is pivotally mounted to the beam 31 at an -Ln~l~nation, as illustrated. The other end of the cable C
is secured to a cross bar 73 connected to the supporting lin~age 51 of the second planter unit P2 from the center on ~ .
the right side tool supp~rt bar 31.
When the hydraulie unit 70 i8 expanded, it rotateq the caster wheel 63 into the supporting po~ition shown in FIG. 4, and at~ the same time draws the cable C toward the outboard . end of the tool supp~rt beam 31, thereby lifting the plant- ~
er unit P2 to a height ~ufficient to clear the support :. :
wheel 23 for the main frame 10.
A row marker of conventional design, the arm of which is shown at the upper portion of FIG. 1 and designated 80 may be provided at the outboard end o the tool support '' '.' beam 31 for ma~king the dis~ance between previously planted rows and the one~ currently being planted. However, this forms no part of:~hhe present invention, and need not be des-cribed any fu~ther.
Referring back to FIG, 1, a pa*~ of articulated links generally designated respectively 90 and 91 are interconnect-ed between the for~ard portion of the main frame~10 and the tool support beams 30, 31 respectively. Specific~lly, ~he `
articulated link 91 includes a first link 92, the forward portion of ~h~ch is pivotally connected at 93 to a flange 94 located at the base of ~he vertical frame member 15 (see FIG, 3) of the main frame 10. A second or rear link 95 is plvo~-ally connected at 96 to the rear end of the forward link 92, and its other end is pivotally connected at 98 to a trunnion ' ::
bracket 99 welded to the forward surfa~e of the tool support beam 31. A bracket 99 is provided between the link 95 and the pivotal connection 96 to the ~ink 92, and a catch or tongue 100 i9 welded to the ~op of the bracket 99.
A first latch member 101 is pivotally mounted atalO2 -~
to the inboard end of the tool ~upport beam 31, and a 3imil-ar bracket 103 i~ pivotally mounted at an intermediate locat-ion which is equally di~tant from~ but a~ the other side of th~epivot pin 98. Correspondlng element~ are numbered for the articulated barcket 90 on the left side of the s~stem, but these reference numerals are followed by an A.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the articulated link 90 i9 .
~hown in a folded posltion in whlch the latch 103A engages and holds the cateh member lOOA, In thi~ po~ition, the link ~ -1~833g~
92A is connected to the tool suppor~ burs 30 at ~ po~itlon (n~mely the location of latch 103A) which i~ spaced later-ally beyo~ ~he pivot 39 for the left side tool support bar 30. Thus t the tool support bar 30 in this pos~tion is firmly held extended so that the planter units P may be used for plant~ng. If de~iredS, the bracke~ 99A may be locked by meaas of a bolt 105A, although it i9 not necessary.
In the extended position~ as lllustrated by the qolid line showing of the articulated link 91, the catch member 100 is secured by the latch 101 located at the inboard end of the tool support bar 31, and int~t~s position, the tool support bar 31 is held in a folded position.
In order to fold the tool bar for road travel, first the main frame 10 is raised (FIG. 2) by extending the hydrau-lic unit 25 from the operator~l~ position, after having re-leased the latche~ 101 and lOlA. Next, the c~ster wheel 63 iq lowered by extending the hydraulic unlt 70. This also raises the planter unit P2 by means of the cable C. Next, ;
the use support wheels 56, 60 are raised (~ee wheel 56A in FIG. 2). The system 18 then pulled forwaxd and it is free to pivot about the vertical stub shaf~ 38 in the directio~
of the arrow 110. When it ha8 reached the fully folded position,-the latch 101 engag~e the catch member 100 to hold the tool support bar in the folded position. The tool support beam on the other side may be folded in a slmilar manner. Both tool support beams may be folded simultaneously, if desired, although it may be necessa~y to ~wing the tractor ; ", : . , . .,, - : . ~ . . , .. . .; . .. .. ,.. . .. ...... , ~
~83399 to the side to achieve a fully folded position, depending upon the terrain.
To extend to the tool support bar~ for use, the pro-cedure is reversed. First, the inboard latches 101, lOlA
arei^r~leased, and the tractor is driven backward~ preferably in a circular moti~n opposite to the intended direction of rotation of the side frame members 35~ 35A. Hence, it i~ ;
preferred that when extending the tool support beams for use, only one be opened at a time, When the tool ~upport beam has rea~hed a fully-open~d position, the latch0s 103, 103A will engage the a~soc~ed catch member on the articul-ated link, and the ~ystem will be ready for use.
The raising of the second planter unit P~ (and the corregponding unit on the other side) is necessa~y only becauQe, for the particular row setting desired, ~ ~ould `
otherwise interfere with the support wheel 23 for the main frame. Similarly, the particular location of the s~de frame members 35, 35A is not e~itical. These member~ are in the position ~9h~wn because of the de~ired r2w-to-row spacing of the planter units and a de~ire to have the ~ide frame members 35, 35A located be~teen ad~acent planter unlts.
Beca~seiof the length of the planter units, the location ~ ;
of the pivot connection~ 38, 39 of the tool support beams 319 30 respectively to the main frame lO,~and in particular, to the cross frame member 12 is congidered to be an impsrtant ~eature of the pre~ent invention. It ~ill be observed from FIG~. 2 and 3 that thi9 pivot location is raised above the _17-....
~ O`~ 3~ 9 9 normal use height of the tool support beams, Further, the di~tance between the center line of the sy~tem and the pivot ;~
location (indicated by arrow 118 in FIG. 1) plus the diQtance between that pivot location ~nd the axis of the associated tool support beam 31 (indicated by arrow 119) i9 greater ~.
than the length of the planter units, This relationshi~
enables the planter units to be swung outwardly during the folding motion, and this avoids interference between the units and enables each s~de~to operate independently of ;-the other.
At the ti~e, in the use positlon, the location of the pivots 38, 39 enables all units to be equally spaced, includ-ing the inboard units on each tool support beam. By hav~ng these pivot locations.to the side of the center l~ne, the distance that the tool support baam i~ loca~ed in front of the pivot point in the u~e position is shortended, and, at the same time, the side frame members 35, 35A are located laterally of the eenter line in the use positlon whioh re-duces the strees on these members during use.
The relationships ju~t diacu~sed are advantageous, as mentioned, because of the length of the planter units. If the planter uni~s are shorten~d to less than the seven feet of the better ones now availab~e commercially, or if other, shorter tools are being used, the pivot locations 38, 39 of the tool beam~ to the main frame may be moved clo~er toward the center o~ the ~y~tem, For example, if the tool or planter UllitQ are le~s t~an about five feet long, the ~:
-18- ~ ~;
1~833~9 pivot locatio~s 38, 39 may be mvved adjacent one another and in line with the inboard end~ of the tool beams. This wou~la further permit lowerlng the pivot locations so that the inclined beams 354 35A could a~sume a moxe generally horizontal position.
Another ~mportant feature of the illustrated embodiment is the axticulated links and the functions they perform of locking the tool beams in either ~he ex$ended use position or the folded travel position. An alternative construction for each side would be a ~ingle forward link such as that deslgnated 92 which wou~d have a sleeve collar at its rear end. The collar may be received in a guide rod or bar located on the tool beam, ~nd the collar would be slidable along the guide bar between the two position~ required for use and road trsvel. A latch could be included for secur-ing ~he collar at either po3ition.
I~ will be observed that the present invention ~rovide for a folding tool bar which, in the folded pesition has a constant width, irrespective of the number of ~nit~ on the to~l support beams. In the illu~trated embodlment, the corre~ponding planter uni~ on either tool support beam are ~igned laterally in the folded position, b~t this ~s nQt necessa~y for they may be staggered or interlaced, if de~ired. It will further be observed that folding i8 accomplished without the need to di~connect the main frame from ~he traction vehicle and without having ~o rotate the tool support beams 30, 31 about their a~e~. Because the 10!33399 power of the tractor assists in folding, it i5 not necess2ry the ~w~ or more men be available to assist in ~olding or un-folding the tool bar, Having thus disclosed in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, persons skilled in the ar~ will be able to modify certain of the structure whlch hàs been illustrated and to substitu~e equivalen~ ~lements for those disclosed while continuing to practice the principle of the lnvention and it is, therefore, intended that all such modifications snd suhstitutions be covered as t~ey are embraced within the ~pirit and scope of the appended claims.
,
Claims (9)
1. An agricultural tool bar comprising: a main frame having a forwardly extending draft member adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle, said frame further providing first and second pivotal mounting locations; first and second support beams; means for mounting said first and second sup-port beams repeetively to said first and second mounting locations for pivotal motion about respective vertical axes to permit each support beam to be rotated between a use posit-ion in which said beam extends outwardly and transverse of the direction of travel of said vehicle, and road travel positions in which said beam extends rearwardly and parallel to the direction of travel of said vehicle; first and second link means, each link means including first and second rigid links pivotally connected together, one of said links being pivotally connected to said draft member at a location forward of its associated beam in the use position, and the other link being pivotally connected to its associated beam at a location outboard of the vertical rotational axis for said beam, said first and second links of each link means cooperating with each other such that when the associated beam is in the use position, one of said links extends between said draft member and an outboard location on said beam to hold said beam ex-tended in the use position, and when said beam is in the trav-el position, one of said links extends between a forward location on said draft member and a forward location on its associated beam to hold said beams rearward in the travel position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second link means comprise articulated link means for each support beam, each articulated link means including a first rigid link connected at its forward end to a forward location on said main frame and a second rigid link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said first link to form an elbow, and pivotally connected at the other end to an inter-mediate location on the associated tool support beam; said apparatus further comprising first latch means adjacent the inboard end of each support beam in the use position for securing said link means adjacent said elbows to the associat-ed tool support beam in a folded position; and second latch means carried by each support beam for securing said elbows to a location on said support beam outboard of the pivotal connection of said other end of said second link to hold the associated support beam in an extended or use position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising wheel support means for said main frame; extensible link means for connecting said wheel support means to said main frame, and power means for selectively extending said link support means to raise said travel position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said support beams further includes first wheel support means selectively movable between a raised and a lowered position and adapted to support said support beam in the use position when lowered;
and second wheel support means selectively positionable between a raised and a lowered position and adapted to support said support beam in the travel position when lowered.
and second wheel support means selectively positionable between a raised and a lowered position and adapted to support said support beam in the travel position when lowered.
5. An agricultural tool bar comprising: a main frame adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle and providing first and second pivotal mounting locations; first and second support beams; means for mounting said first and second sup-port beams to said first and second mounting locations for pivotal motion about respective vertical axes to permit said support beams to be rotated between use and road travel positions; first and second link means each connected to a location of said main frame forward of said beams when said beams are in the use position, each link means including at least one rigid link; first means for connecting each of said first and second link means to associated ones of said support beams in the use position at a first location outboard of said pivotal mounting locations to hold said support beams transverse of the direction of travel of said vehicle in said use position; and second means for connecting the rigid links of said first and second link means to associated ones of said support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position.
6. An agricultural tool bar comprising: a main frame adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle and providing first and second pivotal mounting locatins; first and second sup-port beams; means for mounting said first and second support beams to said first and second mounting locations for pivot-al motion about respective vertical axes to permit said support beams to be rotated between use and road travel pos-itions; first and second link means each connected to a lo-cation of said main frame forward of said beams when said beams are in the use position, each link means including at least one ridgid link; first and second releasable latch means for connecting said rigid links of said first and second link means between said associated ones of said sup-pprt beams at a first location outboard of said pivotal mounting locations when said beams are in the use position to hold said support beams transverse of the direction of travel of said vehicle in said use position; and second means for connecting said first and second link means to associated ones of said support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position.
7. In an agricultural tool bar, the combination com-prising: a main frame adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle; first and second horizontally elongated support beams pivotally mounted to said main frame for selective placement either in a use position wherein said support beams extend transverse of the direction of travel of said vehicle or in a travel position wherein said support beams extend parallel to the direction of travel of said vehicle;
first link means for selectively connecting said main frame to said first support beam at a location spaced laterally outward of said pivotal mounting to said main frame when said first support beam is in said use position and for sel-ectively connecting to said first support beam at a location adjacent the forward end thereof when said first support beam is in said travel position; second link means for selectively connecting said main frame to said second sup-port beam at a location spaced laterally outward of said pivotal mounting to said main frame when said second support beam is in said use position, and for selectively connecting to said second support beam at a location adjacent the for-ward end thereof when said second support beam is in said travel position; and a plurality of implements carried by each of said support beams at spaced intervals and extending to the rear thereof when said beams are in said use position, said implements being within the perimeter of said beams when said beams are in said travel position.
first link means for selectively connecting said main frame to said first support beam at a location spaced laterally outward of said pivotal mounting to said main frame when said first support beam is in said use position and for sel-ectively connecting to said first support beam at a location adjacent the forward end thereof when said first support beam is in said travel position; second link means for selectively connecting said main frame to said second sup-port beam at a location spaced laterally outward of said pivotal mounting to said main frame when said second support beam is in said use position, and for selectively connecting to said second support beam at a location adjacent the for-ward end thereof when said second support beam is in said travel position; and a plurality of implements carried by each of said support beams at spaced intervals and extending to the rear thereof when said beams are in said use position, said implements being within the perimeter of said beams when said beams are in said travel position.
8. An agricultural tool bar comprising: a main frame adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle and providing first and second pivotal mounting locations; first and second support beams to said first and second mounting locat-ions for pivotal motion about respective vertical axes to permit said support beam to be rotated between use and road travel positions; first and second rigid links; means for pivotally connecting one end of said first and second links to a location on said main frame forward of said beams in the use position; means connected to the other ends of said first and second links for permitting said other ends of said links to move between first and second positions on their associated beams; first means for releasably latching said other ends of said first and second links to associated ones of said support beams in the use position at a first out-board location to hold said support beams transverse of the direction of travel of said vehicle in said use position;
and second means for releasably latching said other ends of said first and second links means to associated ones of said support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position, said means connected to said other ends of said first and second links remaining connected to their associated support beams to guide said first and second links as said links are moved between use and travel positions.
and second means for releasably latching said other ends of said first and second links means to associated ones of said support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position, said means connected to said other ends of said first and second links remaining connected to their associated support beams to guide said first and second links as said links are moved between use and travel positions.
9. An agricultural tool bar comprising: a main frame adapted to be pulled by a traction vehicle and providing first and second pivotal mounting locations; first and second support beams; first and second side frame members pivotally mounted at one end respectively to said first and second support beams for rotation about horizontal axes, extending perpendicular to the direction of elongation of said beams, and pivotally mounted at the other end to said main frame for pivotal motion about respective vertical axes to permit said tool support beams to be rotated between use and road travel positions; first and second link means each connected at a forward end to a forward location of said main frame; first means for connecting each of said first and second link means to associated ones of said support beams in the use position at a first outboard location to hold said support beams transverse of the direction of travel of said vehicle in said use position; and second means for connecting said first and second link means to associated ones of said support beams in the travel position at a second location adjacent the forward ends thereof when said beams are placed in the travel position.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/831,744 US4117893A (en) | 1975-12-29 | 1977-09-09 | Agricultural tool bar |
| US831,744 | 1977-09-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1083399A true CA1083399A (en) | 1980-08-12 |
Family
ID=25259768
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA309,059A Expired CA1083399A (en) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-08-10 | Agricultural tool bar |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1083399A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-08-10 CA CA309,059A patent/CA1083399A/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4117893A (en) | Agricultural tool bar | |
| CA1071918A (en) | Forwardly foldable toolbar | |
| US3454285A (en) | Offset actuated hitch | |
| US4319643A (en) | Front folding agricultural tool bar with movable carriage to which wings coupled | |
| US5113956A (en) | Forwardly folding tool bar | |
| US6408950B1 (en) | Foldable implement frame and hitch | |
| US4721168A (en) | Agricultural implement with raisable lift frame rotatable about vertical axis | |
| US7604068B1 (en) | Forwardly folding tool bar | |
| US4191262A (en) | Agriculture light tillage implement and tool mounting mechanism therefor | |
| US6374921B1 (en) | Bi-fold implement frame | |
| US6902010B2 (en) | Foldable implement frame and hitch | |
| US5251704A (en) | Detachable harrow sprayer | |
| US4164985A (en) | Straddling tractors | |
| US4576238A (en) | Folding outrigger attachment for farm implements | |
| US6092609A (en) | Flexible folding agricultural implement | |
| US5429195A (en) | Operable coulter frame for farm implements | |
| US3608645A (en) | Farm trailer with load balancing means | |
| CA2132128C (en) | Frame for agricultural cultivator | |
| US4679634A (en) | Apparatus for extending the frame of a tractor | |
| US4117892A (en) | Agricultural folding tool bar with rigid cross frame | |
| US4116283A (en) | Agricultural tillage equipment | |
| US3372657A (en) | Minimum tillage apparatus | |
| DE3784320T2 (en) | TILLAGE MACHINE. | |
| US3528507A (en) | Field tillage apparatus | |
| US4881603A (en) | Tow frame |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |