US3487882A - Articulated cultivating implement - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1970 J. H. BURTON ARTICULATED CULTIVATING IMPLEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20. 1967 Jan. 6, 1970 J. H. BURTON 3, 8

ARTICULATED CULTIVATIHG IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 20. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 14/! A raw:

6, 1970 J. H. BURTON ARTICULATED CULT I VAT ING IMPLEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 20, 1967 INVENTOR du-iw Balm.

ATTORNEY Jim. fi, 1970 J. H. BURTON ARTICULATED CULTIVATING IMPLEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 20, 1967 K III 4 III III III I 5 I III a o 2 M III T I I I l XI I I I I I I o XQI II p I. I 3 G I .I I I I 5 m n VAIIIIIIIII P xlllll /V VTIIIIIII H 4 VT 5 XI MUM c United States Patent M 3,487,882 ARTICULATED CULTIVATING IMPLEMENT Joseph H. Burton, General Delivery, Bethany, Manitoba, Canada Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,457 Int. Cl. A01b 49/00, 63/16, 63/22 US. Cl. 172-310 30 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cultivators, particularly relatively wide cultivators using chisel plow type teeth or the like.

Conventional cultivators which are relatively narrow, have little difficulty in operation even when used on uneven ground. However, with the modern tendency for cultivators to be made relatively wide, hilly or irregular terrain poses the problem of uneven depth control, skipping hollows, and cultivating too deeply on hillocks.

A certain flexibility has been provided by building the cultivator in a plurality of substantially rectangular sections hinged together along hige lines parallel to the direction of travel. However, depth control is still a problem with such cultivators and the raising of one section of course leads to uneven lifting of the adjacent sections so that such devices do not work in a satisfactory manner.

The present device overcomes these disadvantages by the provision of a plurality of reverse triangle sections having angled hinge lines and castor wheels located both back and front thus having the effect of giving each section threewheeled support capabilities. Due to the diagonal hinge line, flexing on two planes is accomplished and this together with non-rigid articulated draft members, gives complete flexibility.

The diagonal hinge lines cross over the lines between adjacent rear and forward wheels thus giving a lifting action on back or front of the triangle sections while going over a hill and a lowering action while going through a hollow.

Offset frames of the character herein described are more adaptable to the mounting of seeding equipment and the construction tends to place the wheels more in line with the shankrows. The overall width of the machine is also narrowed thus facilitating endpull transportation which is necessary with machines of this width.

All of the wheels are mounted outside of the frames thus giving maximum trash clearance and optimum tooth arrangement.

Although the present device described herein shows five sections with seven supporting wheels, nevertheless it will be appreciated that the number of sections can be increased or decreased depending upon the requirements of the operator.

A further advantage is the novel method utilized to change the device from field operating position to end wise transport position utilizing the same draft component.

With the foregoing in view, and such other objects, purposes or advantages as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept in whatsoever way the same may be embodied having regard to the particular exemplification or exemplifications of same here- 3,487,882 Patented. Jan. 6, 1970 in, with due regard in this connection being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partially schematic, of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic plan view showing the hydraulic system and the pulley and cable system.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary isometric view of one end of the implement, enlarged with respect to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the hinge connection between adjacent sections.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of the hitch component enlarged with respect to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of the right-hand end of FIGURE 1 showing the means of attachment of the hitch assembly thereto.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side view of one of the draft arm connections, substantially along the line lt)ltl of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic view of two adjacent sections showing the preferred arrangement of the cultivators carried thereby.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view substantially along the line 12-12 of FIGURE 6, but with the wheel assembly removed.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGURE 1 in which a plan view of the implement is shown.

Reference character 20 illustrates generally one of the intermediate implement carrying sections and reference character 21 indicates generally the end implement carrying sections. It will be noted that in the drawings, there are five sections shown altogether, three intermediate sections 20 and two end sections 21. However, it will be appreciated multiples or larger number of sections can be used if desired.

The intermediate sections 20 comprise frames 22 including rear side members 23, front side members 24 and inclined side members 25 extending between the ends of the front members 24 and the rear members 23.

Transverse re-inforcing members 26 extend between the side members 25 intermediate the ends thereof and longitudinal braces 27 extend between the transverse members 26 and the front and rear members 24 and 23 as clearly shown.

When viewed in plan, these intermediate sections are of substantially isoceles trapezoidal configuration.

The intermediate sections are connected together in an articulated fashion, by the inclined side members 25. FIGURES 2 and 5 show details of this form of connection, lugs 28 being engaged by pivot pin 29 as clearly shown. The lugs depend downwardly below the plane of the sections as shown in FIGURE 2.

It will therefore be observed that the hinge lines 30 between adjacent sections are inclined either towards or away from the longitudinal axis 31 of the implement, said inclinations also alternating between adjacent sections as clearly indicated in FIGURE 1.

Secured to and extending beyond the boundaries of each intermediate section is a wheel assembly, the ones extending forwardly being identified generally by reference character 32 and the ones extending rearwardly being designated generally 33.

In the present embodiment, with three intermediate sections 20, the central intermediate section upon the longitudinal axis 31 is provided with a wheel assembly 33 extending rearwardly but the two adjacent intermediate sections upon each Side thereof are provided with wheel assemblies 32 extending forwardly.

The end sections 21 are also provided with a frame 34 having a front member 35, a rear member 36 and inner, inclined side members 37 and an outer member 38. It is pivotally connected to the next adjacent intermediate section 24 by pivot pins 29 similar to the method of connecting adjacent intermediate sections together.

These end sections are also provided with wheel assemblies and inasmuch as they are similar in construction to wheel assemblies generally designated 32, the same reference characters have been given to these end wheel assemblies which also extend forwardly of the front sections.

The front wheel assemblies 32 are mounted on forward extensions 27 of the braces 27. In the end wheel assembly shown in FIGURE 4, a member 39 is supported by transverse struts 40 spaced and parallel from the side frame member 38 and members 38 and 39 are equivalent to the braces 27 insofar as the mounting of the front wheel as sembly is concerned.

A wheel fork 41 supports a ground engaging wheel 42 for rotation therewithin, said wheel fork having a cross member 43 spanning the upper ends thereof.

A spindle 44 extends vertically from the cross member 43 and engages within a bearing component 45 which, together with the spindle 44 and fork 41, forms a castoring component.

An elongated member 46 consisting of a pair of spaced and parallel beams 47 extend rearwardly from the castoring component 45 to which they are attached by horizontally located pivot bearing 48. A block or spacer 49 maintains the beams 47 in the spaced and parallel relationship.

A member (FIGURE 6) 50 is secured to each of the beams 47 upon the underside thereof and intermediate the ends thereof, said members extending downwardly and rearwardly in spaced and parallel relationship. Brackets or hangers 51 are secured to each of the members 38 and 39 and extend downwardly therefrom, said brackets carrying bearings 52 within which a spindle 53 is supported and the lower ends 54 of the members 50 are secured to this spindle 53 thus mounting these members in a horizontal located bearing assembly (see FIG- URE 12).

An hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 55 is pivotally secured by one end 56 to the brace 39, with the piston rod 57 being pivotally secured to an upstanding member 58 secured to the end 59 of the elongated members 46.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated the extension of the piston and cylinder assembly 55 will cause the front of the section to which it is connected, to move upwardly relative to the wheel 42, pivoting around the horizontal pivot assembly spindle 53. By contrast, contraction of the piston and cylinder assembly will lower the front of the section relative to the wheel 42.

Means are provided to prevent the spindle 44 from misaligning or moving from the vertical position during adjustment of the front of the section, said means taking the form of a pair of plates 60 secured to the bearing component and extending rearwardly therefrom. A rod 61 is pivotally connected by means of pin 62 between plates 60, said rod inclining rearwardly and downwardly to be pivotally connected to cross member 40 by means of pin 63.

It will be noted from FIGURE 12 that this rod 61 is substantially parallel to the downwardly and rearwardly inclining members and the rod, members 50 and bear ing component 45, and anchoring points for these components form a parallelogram linkage which maintains the castoring spindle 40 substantially in a vertical position irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the front of the sections.

With the exception of members 38 and 39, the remainder of the construction for the front wheel assembly 32 is similar for all front wheel assemblies, members 27 taking the place of members 38 and 39.

Also shown in FIGURE 4 is the rear wheel assembly 33. This consists also of a wheel fork 41 with wheel 42 and cross member 43. A castoring component 45 includes spindle 44 and these components are similar in construction as hereinbefore described for the front wheel assembly 32.

An elongated member 63 is secured to the castoring component and extends forwardly therefrom, said member comprising a pair of beams in spaced and apart relationship. These are connected by means of a horizontal pivot spindle 64, to hangers 65 depending from the longitudinal members 11 at the rear of the sections so that the entire wheel assembly can move vertically within limits relative to the section. The method of relative movement between the rear wheel assembly and the section will be described in conjunction with the hydraulic system and the pulley and cable assembly, later on in the specification.

A draft assembly is provided collectively designated 66, said draft assembly including a hitch component 67 shown in detail in FIGURE 8. This hitch component includes a main tongue 68 with a cross bar 69 secured to the end thereof.

Lugs 70 secured upon each side of the tongue 68 and the lugs receive the ends 71 of a pair of draft arms 72, detachable pins 73 connecting the ends 71 to the lugs 70. The draft bars extend rearwardly and outwardly one upon each side of the longiudinal axis 31 and are connected to the intermediate sections 20 upon each side of the centrally located intermediate sections.

The connection is by means of a universal joint 73 shown in FIGURE 10, portion 74 being secured to the intermediate section 20.

A flexible cable 75 is secured by one end 76 thereof to the tongue and by the other end thereof to the outer sections 21, there being a cable upon each side of the implement extending outboard of the draft arms 72. This means that draft applied to tongue 67 is also transferred equally to the outermost sections 21, to the next adjacent intermediate sections 20 which together supply draft for the central intermediate section lying on the longitudinal axis 31.

I have provided means for quickly detaching the hitch component 67 from the implement and in this connection reference should be made to FIGURE 8. A plate 77 is secured to a bar 78 which in turn is pivotally retained within a channel 79 by means of a pivot pin 80. A handle 81 is secured to the channel and extends rearwardly and is normally maintained in the position shown in FIG- URE 8 by means of pin 82 spanning brackets 83 within which the handle 81 rests. The channel in turn is pivotally secured to the tongue 68 by means of pivot pins 84 extending upwardly from the tongue.

When in the position shown in FIGURE 8, the cables 75 are held in the tightened position due to the overcentering action of the assembly. However, when it is desired to detach the cables from the draft component, pin 82 is removed thus enabling handle 81 to be moved pivotalling the channel 79 around pins 84 and through ring 78 forward in the direction of arrow 85, the entire over-centre assembly together with the cables can be removed from the tongue 68.

By the same token if pins 73 are removed, and pins 82 removed from the ends of the cross bar 69 and with the extending lugs 87 on the draft arms, the draft arms can be removed from the draft assembly and the tongue 68 together with cross bar 69 can be detached completely.

'The cables can, of course, be coiled upon the sections for transporting purposes and the draft arms 72 swung inwardly across the front of the implement so that they can lie parallel with the front and rest within brackets (not illustrated) with support them. The tongue together with the bar 69 can then be secured to one end section 21 and in this connection FIGURE 9 shows the details. A pair of upstanding brackets 88 are secured to the member 39 and the ends 89 of the cross bar 69 engages the brackets with pins 86 connecting same. This means that the entire implement can be moved endwise for transporting purposes For the purpose of transporting the machine, I have found it desirable to lock the rear wheel assembly 33 on the end section 21 remote from the carrying brackets 88 together with the front wheel assembly 32 immediately to the right of this assembly as shown in FIGURE 1. For clarity, this particular rear wheel assembly is identified as 33A and the front assembly as 32A.

It is also desirable to lock all of the rear wheel assemblies 33 when the device is in the field position as shown in FIGURE 1, and reference to FIGURE 4 shows the method of locking utilized.

A tongue 90 extends forward of the cross piece 43 of the wheel fork. An aperture in the tongue is engaged by bolt 91 which also passes through a cross bracket 92 spanning the elongated member 63 adjacent the rear end thereof. This locks the rear wheel 42 in the position shown in FIGURE 4, for field use.

When it is desired to use this particular wheel assembly, in the position used for transporting, it is swung 90 substantially in the direction of arrow 93 so that an apertured lug 94 extending from one side of the cross piece 43, is situated under the cross piece 92 so that the bolt 91 can be engaged through the cross piece 92 and the lug 94. This locks the wheel assembly in the transport position. The other rear wheel assemblies are provided with similar structures for locking them in the field position and the front wheel assemblies designated 32A are provided with a lug 94, cross piece 92 and bolt 91, none of which are illustrated in the front wheel assemblies.

Describing next the hydraulicand mechanical portion of the device, reference should first be made to FIGURE 3 which shows the schematic lay-out thereof.

It is to be understood that a source of hydraulic pressure is normally available such as a tractor and that this may be conveyed to the implement through flexible hoses. A pressure hose is identified by reference character 95 and the hose conduit divides into first portion 96 and a second portion 97 with the portion 96 extending one side of the longitudinal axis 31 and the portion 97 on the other.

The first portion 96 enters the first piston and cylinder assembly 55 at the rear and a further conduit 96A connects the front of the cylinder with the rear of the next adjacent cylinder 55 as clearly shown. A return conduit 968 extends from the front of the last mentioned cylinder 55 to a common return conduit 98.

Conduit 97 follows the same route upon the opposite side of the longitudinal axis 31 so that similar subsidiary reference characters have been given. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that if the lifting resistance on one side of the longitudinal axis is less than the other due to softer ground, for example, then normally all of the lift would occur on this one side at the expense of the other until a piston and cylinder assembly is fully exended whereupon increase in resistance would force the other side to be lifted. I have overcome this by providing a novel mechanical linkage which not only balances out the two sides so that lifting is equivalent but also raises the rear sections at the same time.

FIGURE 3 shows the mechanical linkage schematically while FIGURE 4 shows the mechanical details. A cable 99 is secured to upstanding member 58' of the elongated member 47 and this cable extends rearwardly around a sheave 100 and then longitudinally of the outer section 21 to a further sheave 101. The cable then extends rearwardly again and passes under a roller 1G2 held within bracket 103 depending rearwardly and downwardly cen- 6 trally of the outermost section 21. The cable is then secured over a cylindrical member 104, to anchor plate 105, reference character 1% indicating the anchoring of this specific cable 99.

A further cable 197 is anchored by the end thereof to plate 1135, reference character 108 indicating the anchorage. This cable passes under the sheave or pulley 192 and then around a sheave or pulley 109 situated adjacent pulley 101. The cable extends longitudinally along the outermost section and passes to the next adjacent intermediate section specifically designated 20A. It passes over a further sheave or pulley 109 located centrally of this section and then forwardly to be secured to the corresponding upstanding portion 58 of the elongated member 46.

Also secured to the upstanding intermediate section 58 is a further cable which also passes over sheave 109' extending in the opposite direction and .identified in FIG- URE 3 by reference character 110. It passes to the central intermediate section, over sheave 111 and thence rearwardly to an anchorage on the rear wheel assembly 33 of this section to be secured in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

A similar system of pulleys and cables upon the other half of the implement lying on the other side of the longitudinal axis.

In operation, and assuming that the right-hand side of FIGURE 3 encounters less resistance as the implement is being raised from the wheels, as soon as the righthand side commences to elevate, the cables will be extended and will thus raise the rear of the outer section due to reaction of the cables over the pulleys 102. This increases the resistance that transfers the activating pressures to the other side of the assemblies so that the two sides, one upon each side of the centre, or longitudinal axis, elevate equally and at the same time. The sections are maintained substantially horizontal from front to back due to the raising of the rear sections by the mechanical connection to the wheel assemblies.

The aforementioned inclination of the pivot hinge lines 30 is of importance in the flexibility of the implement when used over rough ground. Reference character 112 in FIGURE 1 indicates lines extending between the vertical castoring pivots of adjacent wheel assemblies. It will be observed that these lines intersect the hinge lines of the adjacent sections, substantially between the hinge points and at an angle.

This gives substantally three-point support to each section even though each section with the exception of the outermost sections 2.1, is only provided with one-wheel assembly.

Due to the angle of inclination of the hinge lines between sections, a lifting action is imparted to the back or front of one of the sections as it gives over a hill or hillock while at the same time lowering opposite sides of adjacent sections.

By contrast, the reverse is true if one section is lowered due to riding over a depression.

This gives the required flexibility due to the extreme width of the machine and enables a machine of this width to cultivate land sufiiciently regardless of the contour thereof.

Another advantage of the wheel assemblies being outboard of the sections, and the sections being of the configuration and having hinge lines as described, is the fact that the cultivating implement secured thereto can be placed most advantageously and FIGURE 11 shows an example of two adjacent sections shown schematically with the cultivating implements indicated in position.

The desired cultivating implement is a chisel plow and if they are placed as shown by the X in FIGURE 11, it will be seen that precisely equal spacing between the cultivator rows can be accomplished not only between the cultivating implements on one section, but also between the cultivating implements of adjacent sections,

dotted line 113 indicating the lines of cultivation formed if the implement is traveling in the direction of arrow 114.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a relatively heavy duty wide cultivating implement has been designed having the required flexibility to maintain constant penetration even when used on contoured land and on which the hitch assembly can readily be removed from the field using position and transferred to the transporting position so that the machine can be moved endwise when it is desired to move it from one location to the other.

Various modifications can be ma de within the scope of the invention concept disclosed. Accordingly, it is intended that what is described herein should be regarded as illustrative of such concept and not for the purpose of limiting protection to any particular embodiment thereof, but that only such limitations should be placed upon the scope of protection to which the inventor hereof is entitled, as justice dictates.

What I claim the present invention to be is:

1. An articulated cultivating implement comprising in combination a plurality of intermediate implement carrying sections, and an end implement carrying section at each end of said plurality of intermediate sections, said sections being adjacently hingedly connected together in a horizontal plane, the hinge lines between adjacent sections inclining diagonally from the direction of travel, alternatively to one side and then the other, wheel support means for each section, said support means being at the front side of one section and at the rear side of the next adjacent section, wherein a line drawn between the vertical axes of adjacent wheel support means, crosses at an angle, the hinge line between said adjacent sections, and a draft assembly detachably connected to said implement.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said intermediate sections are of isocelesal trapezoidal configuration when viewed in plan, said hinge lines being on the inclined sides of the said sections.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said wheel support means on the said front sides of said sections includes a wheel fork, a wheel journalled for rotation in said fork, a castoring component mounting said wheel fork and said wheel for castoring action, means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement of said section relative to said wheel, and fluid operating means extending between said section and castoring component for said vertical movement.

4. The device according to claim 2 in which said wheel support means on the said front sides of said sections includes a wheel fork, a wheel journalled for rotation in said fork, a castoring component mounting said wheel fork and said wheel for castoring action, means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement of said section relative to said wheel, and fluid operating means extending between said section and castoring component for said vertical movement.

5. The device according to claim 1 in which said wheel support means on said rear sides of said sections includes a wheel fork, a wheel journalled for rotation in said fork, a castoring component mounting said wheel fork and said wheel for castoring action, and means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement of said sections relative to said wheel.

6. The device according to claim 2 in which said wheel support means on said rear sides of said sections includes a wheel fork, a wheel journalled for rotation in said fork, a castoring component mounting said wheel fork and said wheel for castoring action, and means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement of said sections relative to said wheel.

7. The device according to claim 3 in which said wheel support means on said rear sides of said sections includes a wheel fork, a wheel journalled for rotation in said fork, a castoring component mounting said wheel fork and said wheel for castoring action, and means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement of said sections relative to said Wheel. 7

8. The device according to claim 4 in which said wheel support means on said rear sides of said sections includes a wheel fork, a wheel journalled for rotation in said fork, a castoring component mounting said wheel fork and said wheel for castoring action, and means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement of said sections relative to said wheel.

9. The device according to claim 7 which includes further means operatively connected between said means mounting said castoring component to the said front sides of said sections and said means mounting said castoring component to the rear sides of said sections.

it}. The device according to claim 8 which includes further means operatively connected between said means mounting said castoring component to the said front sides of said sections and said means mounting said castoring component to the rear sides of said sections.

11. The device according to claim 9 in which said fluid operating means includes a piston and cylinder assembly for each section as aforesaid, a fluid pressure carrying line, said line dividing into a first part and a second part, said first part being operatively connected in series to the piston and cylinder assemblies on one side of the longitudinal axis of said implement, the second part being operatively connected in series to the said piston and cylinder assemblies on the other side of the longitudinal axis of said implement, said further means also balancing the effective lift of all of said piston and cylinder assemblies.

12. The device according to claim 10 in which said fluid operating means includes a piston and cylinder assembly for each section as aforesaid, a fluid pressure carrying line, said line dividing into a first part and a second part, said first part being operatively connected in series to the piston and cylinder assemblies on one side of the longitudinal axis of said implement, the second part being operatively connected in series to the said piston and cylinder assemblies on the other side of the longitudinal axis of said implement, said further means also balancing the effective lift of all of said piston and cylinder assemblies.

13. The device according to claim 3 which includes means extending between said castoring component and said section to maintain said castoring component substantially vertical throughout the said limited vertical movement of said section relative to said Wheel.

14. The device according to claim 13 in which said castoring component includes a vertically situated bearing component, a spindle journalled in said bearing component and extending upwardly from said wheel fork, said means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement including an elongated component, a horizontal pivot mounting said bearing component to the front end of said elongated component, a member extending downwardly and rearwardly from intermediate the ends of said elongated component, a horizontal pivot assembly mounting said member to said section, said fluid operating means being connected to the other end of said elongated component.

15. The device according to claim 14 in which said means extending between said castoring component and said section to maintain said castoring component substantially vertical, includes a rod pivotally connected by one end thereof to said bearing component by the other end thereof to said section, said rod, said elongated component said bearing component, and said member extending downwardly from said elongated component, cooperating to form a parallelogram linkage.

16. The device according to claim 7 which includes means extending between said castoring component and said section to maintain said castoring component substantially vertical throughout the said limited vertical movement of said section relative to said wheel.

17. The device according to claim 9 which includes means extending between said castoring component and said section to maintain said castoring component substantially vertical throughout the said limited vertical movement of said section relative to said wheel.

18. The device according to claim 11 which includes means extending between said castoring component and said section to maintain said castoring component substantially vertical throughout the said limited vertical movement of said section relative to said wheel.

lit. The device according to claim 16 in which said castoring component includes a vertically situated hearing component, a spindle journalled in said bearing component and extending upwardly from said wheel fork, said means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement including an elongated component, a horizontal pivot mounting said bearing component to the front end of said elongated component, a member extending downwardly and rearwardly from intermediate the ends of said elongated component, a horizontal pivot assembly mounting said member to said section, said fluid operating means being connected to the other end of said elongated component.

20. The device according to claim 17 in which said castoring component includes a vertically situated bearing component, a spindle journalled in said bearing component and extending upwardly from said wheel fork, said means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement including an elongated component, a horizontal pivot mounting said bearing component to the front end of said elongated component, a member extending downwardly and rearwardly from intermediate the ends of said elongated component, a horizontal pivot assembly mounting said member to said section, said fluid operating means being connected to the other end of said elongated component.

21. The device according to claim 18 in which said castoring component includes a vertically situated bearing component, a spindle journalled in said bearing compononent and extending upwardly from said wheel fork, said means extending from said section mounting said castoring component for limited vertical movement including an elongated component, a horizontal pivot mounting said bearing component to the front end of said elongated component, a member extending downwardly and rearwardly from intermediate the ends of said elongated component, a horizontal pivot assembly mounting said member to said section, said fluid operating means being connected to the other end of said elongated component.

22. The device according to claim 1 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms pivotally secured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each of the longitudinal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component to said implement, upon each Side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms, said hitch component being selectively detachable from said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably secured to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last mentioned means including an over-centre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said overcentre link component.

23. The device according to claim 3 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms pivotally secured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each side of the longitutnal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component to said implement, upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms, said hitch component being selectively detachable from said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably secured to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last mentioned means including an over-centre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said over-centre link component.

24. The device according to claim 5 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms pivotally scured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component to said implement, upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms, said hitch component being selectively detachable from said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably seccred to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last mentioned means including an over-centre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said over-centre link component.

25. The device according to claim 7 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms pivotally secured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component t said implement, upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms, said hitch component being selectively detachable from said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably secured to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last mentioned means including an over-centre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said over-centre link component.

26. The device according to claim 9 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms pivotally secured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component to said implement, upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms, said hitch component being selectively detachable from said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably secured to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last men tioned means including an over-centre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said over-center link component.

27. The device according to claim 14 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms pivotally secured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component to said implement, upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms, said hitch component being selectively detachable from said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably secured to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last mentioned means including an overcentre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said over-centre link component.

28. The device according to claim 15 in which said draft assembly includes a hitch component, a pair of draft arms piv-otally secured by one end thereof, one to each side of said hitch component, each of said draft arms extending to said implement, one upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, articulated means connecting said draft arms by the other ends thereof to said implement, detachably connected cables extending from said hitch component to said implement, upon each side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and outboard of said draft arms and said cables whereby said hitch component can be detachably secured to one of said end sections in transport position, said hitch component including means to tighten and loosen said cables relative to said sections to facilitate the installation and removal of said cables, said last mentioned means including an over-centre link component operatively mounted on said hitch component, said cables being secured by one end thereof to said over-centre link component.

29. The device according to claim 11 in which said further means includes cable and pulley assemblies operatively connected between the wheel assemblies of said sections, the cable and pulley assemblies of adjacent front mounted wheel assemblies extending to the rear mounted Wheel assembly of the section therebetween.

30. The device according to claim 12 in which said further means includes cable and pulley assemblies o-peratively connected between the Wheel assemblies of said sections, the cable and pulley assemblies of adjacent front mounted wheel assemblies extending to the rear mounted Wheel assembly of the section therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 208,129 9/1878 Vandawater 172-456 3,308,891 3/1967 Jackson 172-456 3,327,787 6/1967 Adee 172311 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner JAMES W. PETERSON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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