USRE22333E - Diskhabbow - Google Patents

Description

June 8, 1943. c WHITE B151: mnnow Origipal Filed Jan. 8, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOIL CHARLES H WHITE BY fi/umu, JaZZZQ/ UW ATTORNEYS June 8, 1943. c. H. WHITE 22,333

' DISK mumow Original Filed Jan. 8, 193B 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CH4/Pf-5 H WHITE 7 BY luv/w, 112mb! IUW ATTORNEYS June 8, 1943. c. H.. WHITE 22,333

DISK HARROW Original Filed Jan. 8', 1.938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I \ll INVENTOR. 0/4/715 H my:

ORNEY June 8, 1943- c. H. WHITE Re. 22,333

' DISK mnnow ori inal Filed Jan. 8, 19:58 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 /20 //z ea /6 -95 INVENTOR 67/14/155 H WHITE ATTORNEYS Reiuued June 8,1943

DISK EABBOW Charles 11. white, mm. 111., assignor to Deere a Company, Moline, 11]., a corporation of 11- linois Original No. 2,264,783, dated December 2, 1941, Serial No. 183,988, January 8, 1938. Application for reissue December 16. .1941, Serial No.

57 Claims.

This invention relates generally to agricultural implements and is more particularly concerned with disk harrows of the double action type, al-

though certain features of my invention are also applicable to disk harrows of the single action t p One of the principal objects of this-invention is the provision of a disk harrow having a rigid unitary frame and draft transmitting means pivotally connected to the frame and to the gangs, and inthe case of harrows of the double action type, it is also an object of the invention in connection to provide draft means not only connecting the pivoted draft member with the front gangs but also connecting the front and rear gangs. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a disk harrow having front I and rear gangs pivotally connected for generally fore and aft swinging movement with a rigid unitary frame to which a separate draft member is pivotally connected, with suitable draft connections extending between the draft member and the front gangs and between the front and rear gangs.

Another object of the prevent invention is the provision of a disk harrow that is exceptionally flexible and wherein the disk gangs are arranged to have independent generally vertical swinging movement with respect to each other about generalLv fore and aft extending axes. This feature makes it possible to have suflicient flexibility in the implement to permit the latter to follow the contour of uneven ground, as may be encountered in terraced fields, for example, without having to rely upon looseness in the various connections and without straining the harrow, yet adequately taking care of the lateral thrusts which the gangs impose on the frame of the harrow.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a disk harrow of the type having a frame wherein the disk gangs are connected to the, frame through universal joint means which permit the disk gangs to move freely in various directions to accommodate irregularities in the ground surface while adequately taking care of lateral thrusts involved.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a disk harrow in which the draft is transmitted to the implement through a draft frame or othermeans which is pivotally connected with the gangs for generally vertical swinging movement about horizontal transverse pivots; This is especially important in harrows of the double action or other type in which the disk gangs are arranged hehindone another, in

that arranging the draft frame for vertical swinging effectively prevents any tendency for variations in the height of hitch .to cause certain gangs or certain disks in the gangs to run deeper than the others.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a disk harrow having front and 1 rear gangs and so arranged thatproper registration is secured between the front and rear disks, whether traveling in a straight line or traveling in a curved path. Specifically in this connection it is an objector this invention to provide front and rear diskgangs pivotally connected to a rigid frame to which the draft transmitting means is also pivotally connected and. in which the swinging movement of the front gangs istransmitted to the rear gangs at such a ratio as to secure the proper registration at all times.

Still further, another object of this invention is the provision of adisk harrow having front and rear pairs of disk gangs and in which the rear gangs are capable of lateral adjustment toward and away from each other so as to accommodate different speeds of operation and different sizes and shapes of disks.

Still another'obiect of the present invention 7 is the provision of a disk harrow wherein spring means is provided so as to tend to cause the disk gangs to return to their aligned positions, and a further object of this invention is the provision of spring means especially arranged to resist the tendency for the soil reaction against the disks to cause those at one end to run deeper than the others. A further object of my invention in this connection is the provision of leveling springs arranged to prevent certain disks from running deeper than the others with a force that increases in effectiveness with an increase in the operating angle of the disk gangs, thereby compensating for the greater tendency for the gangs to dig in when the operating angle is increased.

Figure 2 is a plan-view. similar to Figure. 1

but showing the disk harrow with the gangs in their angled or operating position:

Figure 3 is a planview of the disk harrow in operating position and when drawn curved path;

Figure 4 is a side view of the disk harrow shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear view looking forwardly and along a illustrating particularly the leveling springs for the rear gangs and the means for adjusting the rear gangs toward and away from each other; and

Figure B is a sectiona1 view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the disk harrow chosen to illustrate the principles of the present invention comprises a front pair of gangs, indicated by the reference numeral I, a rear pair of gangs 2, a rigid unitary frame I, and a draft frame 4.

The'front pair of gangs i consist of two right and left hand disk gang sections 1 and I, and each disk gang includes a frame II and suitable inner and outer brackets l I and II which carry the bearings in which the disk shaft is journaled for rotation. Disks are mounted on the shaft and are held in proper spaced relation by spools II. The rear bar of each frame It carries a rack ,II to receive weights when it is desired to provide for additional penetration or when operating in unusually hard ground.

ceived in the sleeve portion II of a yoke II having arms I! which are pivoted and embrace a bearing sleeve II. The latter encloses and is The rear pair of gangs I is of similar construction, embodying two disk gang sections 20 and II, each having a frame 22 carrying suitable brackets II and 24 receiving the shaft upon which disks II are fixed and maintained in spaced apart relation by spacing spools 2B. A weight box or rack 21 is fixed to the forward bar of each frame II. The inner brackets II of the rear gangs are connected together by a cross brace II,- and a similar cross brace II connects the brackets ii at the inner ends of the forward gangs 1 and].

The frame I consists of two generally longitudinally' extending frame bars II and II which are rigidly connected together at or adjacent their ends by transverse members in the form of arches II and II. Secured to the forward arch II is a pair of downwardly and forwardly converging members which receive the draft transmitted thereto and which are provided with a number of holes 4i to provide foradjusting the height of hitch as will be referred to later.

The rear arch II consists of two members 42 and II rigidly secured to or forming a part of the rear ends. respectively, of the frame members II and II. A plate 44 is welded to each of the members 42 and 0 so as to be disposed in overlapping relation, the outer end of each plate 44 having upper and lower apertured ears 4| which receive .the ends of a U-bolt 4|. Each U-bolt embraces the associated other plate and arch member, and the opposite plate 44 carries a plurality of lugs 41 which cooperate with the intermediate portion of the associated U-bolt so that when the U-bolts 4| are tightened, the plates 44 and members 42 and II constituting the rear arch II are firmly fixed together in rigid relation. As will be explained later in detail, the effective width of the frame arch Il may be adjusted by loosening the U-bolts 4| and brin ing the members 42 and 4I closer together or further apart, as desired.

As best shown in Figures 5 and 6, the outer ends of the members 42 and extend downwardly, as at 42' and 43' (Figure 5), and terminate in spindle sections ll each of whi h not laterally adjustable. The front arch II forms supported for rotation on one of the which is disposed about the shaft or spools II tie rod I! which passes through all of the disks and spools of the disk gangs and holds them together for rotation as a unit. The fork ends II of the yoke member II are received by pivot bolts II which pass through the lower ends of the bracket members II. Since the yoke member BI can swing about the transverse axis defined by the bolts II, and since the gang section II and yoke member II can move or swing fore and aft about the generally vertical axis defined by the spindle end ll of the frame arch IO, and since the disk unit can rotate about the axis of the shaft or tie bolt 51, it will be seen that the construction just described provides a universal joint connection between the disk gang unit Ii and the frame, the universal joint connection, taken as a whole, permitting movement of. the disks about the three axes Just mentioned; such axes intersect, as best shown in Figure 6. The other rear disk gang II is connected with a universal joint connection with the other end 43 of the frame arch II by substantially the same construction, and hence a further description is unnecessary. the same reference numerals being applied for each rear gang.

The front arch II of the frame I is similar to the rear arch I8 Just described except that it is arigid part of the unitary frame I, and has downwardly extending ends which are connected to the inner ends of the front disk gangs I and-I by universal joint connections of substantially the same construction shown in Figure 8 and described above. Thus, like the rear gangs II and Ii, the front gangs 1 and I are each connected to the frame I by means permitting the gangs to swing either horizontally or vertically about axes at right angle to one another and which axes intersect the axis of rotation of the gang disks, but each pair of gangs is held stable in vertical position by the rigid frame I and the other pair of gangs pivoted thereto.

The hitch or draft frame 4 which comprises a draft member or draw bar II which includes a pair of laterally spaced angles H and 12 which are connected together at their forward ends by upper and lower plates II. The rear ends of the angles Ii and II are fixed to a clevis 14 having upper and lower apertured ends. A tongue" is slidably disposed in and projects forwardly from the member II and has a plurality. of apertures II formed therein. At its forward end the tongue I1 carries a clevis II for attachmentto a tractor or other source of draft. The tongue 11 extends rearwardly between the plates H and II and at its rear end has a pair of plates II secured thereto by a bolt II.

l'he tongue II is slidable back and forth relative to the draft member with the plates I! in, abutment withthe rear v ends of the plates II through which draft force a slide or yoke u is disposed about the tongue 11 and carries vertical pivots II to which the II and is shown in Pigures l, 2 and 3 in its extreme forward position,

- first pushed back fastened to the weight box 'nected by pivot bolts forward ends or in. of draft links as and I.

are connected. The rear ends of'the draft links.

I. and ii are formed with hooks II which en-. gage in suitable loops I fixed to the forwardbars of the front gangs I and 2. The books It and members form universal joint connections. between the rearwardly diverging draft links ll and II and the front gangs I and I, and the clevis It is connected by universal joint means II to the-forward ends ll oi the harrow frame 2. The universal joint means 51 includes pivot block ll receiving a pin. upon which the clevis 14 is pivoted for lateral movement, and the pivot block II is connected by means of a horizontal pivot III- in the form of a bolt or the like disposed in a selected set of openings ll (Figure 4). Thus, the entire draft frame 4 can swing vertically about generally horizontal transverse axes, or the hitch or draft frame can swing horizontally about the pivot OI on the frame 2 and the pivots l4, 55 on the front gangs, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Mounted on the slide or yoke 25 is a latch IIII .which has an end engageable in any one of the openings II. Acable III extends from the latch II. to the operator's seat on the tractor. The slide 85 carries a pair of lugs H2, and the latch ismounted on the lug III by a pivot bolt H3 or the like. To angle the gangs from their transport position, shown in Figure l, the tongue 11 is to its extreme rearward position, with the plates 22 contacting the clevis II. This can be done by backing the tractor with the latch III disengaged from the tongue 11, as

by the operator pulling on the rope I I I. Then, if

the rope III is released, the latch I III will engage one of the openings I8, and then the tractor can be driven forwardly and will exert a pull through the draft links ll and SI against the outer ends of the front gangs I and 8, thuspulling the gangs 1 and I into angled position until the plates 82 engage the plates 12 on the draft member 10, moving the'front gangs into the position shown in Figure 2. If it is not desired that the gangs be angled fully, the tractor need not be backed far enough to push the tongue I'I rearwardly the full extent but only far enough to secure the desired amount of angle. Then by engaging the latch at this point, the subsequent forward movement of the draft will move the gangs into an angled position somewhat less than the angle shown in Figure2. The amount of angling can be reduced at any time simply by releasing the latch IIII. when the latch is released the soil resistance against the disks of the front gangs will cause the gangs to fall back, either to their transport position (Figure 1), or to an intermediate angled position if the latch III! is reengaged with the tongue 11 before the plates 82 engage the plates The angle of the rear gangs 2i! and 2i is controlled by the angle of the front gangs I and 8 through a link connection between the fore and aft gangs at each side on the harrow. An arm I2. is rigidly connected with and extends rearwardly from the inner end of each of the front gangs I and I, and each arm I20 has a plurality of openings I2I. Another arm I is rigidly 21 of each of the rear and extends forwardly of the harrow in a position laterally outwardly of the arm I25 on the forward gang. A link I25 is con- 7 to the ends of the associated being a pivot bolt I21 the arm gangs 2. and 2I arms I" and I22, there disposed in one of the openings I2l in ever, the row of holes III in the arms or brackets I" is not arcuate about the associated bolt I20 when the gangs are arranged for operation in an angled position, as indicated in Figure 2. Thus, the bolts I21 may be placed in the hole "I that gives the desired angular relation between the front and rear gangs when they are in operating position (Figure 2), but when the gangs are swung back'into their transport position, both front and rear pairs of gangs will be aligned, respectively, regardless as to which of the holes I2I receive the bolts I2'I (Figure l).

A plurality of holes I2! are provided in each of the links I25 for the purpose of adjusting the effective lengths of the latter when the rear end of the frame 2 is adjusted in width to move the rear gangs 20, 2| toward or away from each other,- in order to insure that the rear gangs are brought into alignment when the harrow is set in its transport position. When the rear gangs are adjusted toward each other from the position shown in the drawings, the bolts I28 should be moved to the .inner holes I25, and when the rear gangs are adjusted away from each other from the illustrated position, the

bolts I28 should be placed in the outer holes I29.

ranged for operation, and by placing the bolt I28 in the outer hole I29 the angle of the rear gangs will be greater than the angle of the front gangs. Adjusting the angle of the rear gangs by this means, however, has the disadvantage that when the bolts I28 are placed in holes I29 other than those corresponding to the adjustment of the width of the rear end of the frame I, the rear gangs will not return to a position of true axial alignment in transport position.

7 An important feature of this invention resides in the guiding action of the links I25 and the rear gangs 2i! and 2i which, with the action of the rigid frame connection between the gangs. maintains the rear gangs in proper registration with the front gangs during arlght or left turn, causing the harrow to turn the soil properly during a straight ahead travel and during turns, as indicated in Figure 3. Maintaining the disks of the front and rear gangs in the proper registration, all of the soil is turned either by the front d sks or by the rear disks.

I have found that the registration of this barrow is definitely superior to that of the conventional harrow in which the rear gangs are con nected to a rear draft frame which is pivotally connected toa front frame to which the front gangs are connected, thereby providing for horizontal swinging movement of the two rear gan perior registration of my harrow is that with the articulated type of draft frame last men'- mediate of the front gang furrows, is found both in operation on the straight-away and on turns, but is inclined to be more pronounced on turns. In the harrow of my present invention, however, the rigidity of the unitary frame with the link connections between gangs insures that the harrow is held so that the rear gangs cannot swing lateralhr relative to the front gangs in the manner described, and thus preserves correct registration.

As shown in Figure 3, when making a turn the arm I" on the outside front gang swings substantially into a straight line relation with the associated link III. This serves the beneflcial purpose of preventing the rear gang on the outside of the turn from angling excessively, whereby the outside gangs, being pivoted to the rigid frame I, are held in their proper relative position during a turn as well as when operating straight ahead, as in Figure 2.

The disks of the front \gangs I and I face outwardly, and the disks of the rear gangs 20 and Ii face inwardly. In operation when the disks are angled (Figures 2 and 3) the reaction of the pressure against the disks causes the outer disks of the front gangs and the inner disks of the rear gangs to tend to run deeper, or dig into the soil, and to maintain the front and rear gangs level,spring means are connected between the disk gangs and the rigid frame. A pair of tension springs I and III are connected at their inner ends to the rigid unitary frame l at a point slightly to the rear.

of the front arch a, the lower ends of which are connected by universal joint means to the inner ends of the front gan s 1 and I as described above. The outer ends of the springs are each connected to an adjusting link I, the outer end of which is threaded into a sleeve I which is rotatably disposed in an apertured lug I fixed to the gang frame II in any suitable manner. A handle I is fixed to the outer end of the threaded tube I. so that by tuming the handle I" the tube I can be rotated in one direction or the other to increase or decrease the tension exerted by the associated spring. Since the springs I and I are anchored to the frame to the rear of the vertical axis defined by the universal joint means connecting the inner ends of the gangs I and I to the rigid frame I, the tendency of the springs I40 and III is to return the gangs to their transport position (Figure l) in addition to their effect ofexerting a pull on the outer ends of the front gangs so. as to resist the tendency of the outer ends to run deeper than the inner ends.

Since the inner ends'of the rear gangs tend to dig into the soil and raise the outer ends, compression springs Ill and ill have been provided and are arranged to act between the rigid frame 3 and the outer ends of the rear gangs II and ii. The outer end of each of the springs Ill and ISI bears against a his or bracket III that is welded or otherwise secured in any suitable manner to the gang frame 2!. A long rod Ill extends through each of the springs and through the lug Ill, and the inner end of each rod Ill is threaded and receives a pair of adjusting nuts Ill. The inner end of each of thesprings III This action cases tioned, the rear gangs tend to follow the line of least resistance by swinging bodily about the frame pivot until the discs in .the rear gangs are running in the furrows formed by the front gangs instead of cutting their own furrows interand ill bears against the adjusting nuts through a suitable washer III. The inner end of each of the rods I" inwardly of the threaded portion formed with a bifurcated section I" which is apertured and is pivoted to a universal Joint block III which, in turn, is pivoted about a vertical axis to a lug I" or some other suitable part on the rigid frame sleeve, preferably on a part of the rear arch ll. As illustrated, the lugsv III are formed as a part of the frame arms 42 and II, with the result that when the rear arch ll is adjusted, the points at which the compression springs are anchored to the rigid frame are correspondingly adjusted. These lugs I" are, as best shown in Figure 6, also rearwardly of the vertical pivots (see Figure 6) about which the rear gangs II. and II swing generally fore and aft. As a result of this arrangement, the tendency of the springs is not only to swing the gangs into their transport position but also to hold the outer ends down and offset the tendency for the inner ends to run deeper than the outer ends.

Since the upthrust counterbalanclng springs Ill, Ill and ill, Iii are connected at points spaced longitudinally along the rigid frame with respect to the pivots about which the front and rear gangs swing, these springs exert a force which increases when the angle of the gangs in- .deeper, or dig in, than the other end. Therefore,

arranging the springs in this manner effectively equalizes the pressure between the inner and outer ends of the gangs for any angled position of the gangs.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel disk harrow embodying a rigid unitary frame construction that is connected to each of the front and rear gangs and which is provided with a draft member piv otally connected to the frame and with draft connections between the draft member and the front gangs and also between the front and rear gangs. It will also be noted that the draft member and draft connections have universal joint connection with the rigid frame and front gangs and that the gangs themselves have-universal joint connection with the rigid frame. As a result of this construction the narrow is exceedingly flexible and can accommodate uneven ground, yet the connections between the various parts are such that the disks are all held in the proper position, even during turns. Also, by virtue of the flexible connection between the hitch and the gangs and their frame, the hitch point may rise and fall without affecting the operation of the gangs themselves. Further, the hitch is connected to the frame in a manner making it possible to adjust the pressures of the front gangs relative to the rear gangs by raising or lowering the connection of the draft member to the rigid frame. The latter is so constructed that the rear genes can be adjusted toward or away from each other so as to provide for different speeds of operation and for different sizes and shapes of disks, and the leveling springs actlag between the rigid frame and the front and rear gangs act to tend to return-the gangs to their transport position. thus aiding the straightening of the gangs from their angled position, and in addition the springs are so arranged that their effective force in maintaining the gangs cases level increases with increased operating angle so as to compensate for the greater tendency of the gangs to dig in when the operating angle is increased.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and de- 7 scribed, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the greater aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A disk harrow comprisinga unitary rigidv frame, two pairs of disk gangs pivotally connected to the rigid frame, a rigid draft member pivotally connected for lateral swinging movement to said rigid frame, rigid draft members pivotally connected at their rear ends to the laterally outer end of the forward gangs. and means connecting the forward ends of said last mentioned rigid draft members to said first mentioned rigid draft member for controlled longitudinal movement relative thereto.

2. A disk harrow comprising a rigid frame,

front and rear pairs of disk harrow sections pivot- I ally connected with said frame, a rigid ,draft member pivotally connected to said frame to transmit draft thereto, rigid draft connections 8 A disk harrow a frame, front and. rear disk gangs. universal joint means connecting each gang to said frame for both fore and aft and vertically swinging movement, draft transmitting means also having universal ioint connections with said frame member and the front gangs, and means for holding said gangs stable.

7. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame, two pairs of front and rear gangs, uni'ver sal joint means connecting each of said gangs to said frame for both fore and aft and vertical swinging movement, a draft member pivotally connected to said frame, draft connections between the front and rear gangs and between the front gangs and said draft member, and means for holding said gangs stable.

8. A diskiharrow comprising frame means,-a pair of am gangs connected to said frame means, and draft transmitting means comprising rigid members pivotally connected to said frame means and said gangs, for generally vertical swinging movement about generally horizontal transverse axes and means slidably interconnecting said rigid 1 members to provide for fore and aft movement of said gangs. 9. A disk harrow comprising means serving as a frame having a downturned forward end. a plurality of disk gangs pivotally connected with between said front disk sections and said draft member, whereby movement'bf said rigid draft member in one direction exerts a forward pull on one of said sections and a rearward thrust on the other section, and draft connections between the front and rear disk sections, whereby forward of front and rear gangs, universal joint means connecting each of said gangs to said frame,

whereby said gangs are capable of both fore and aft and generally vertical swinging movement relative to vthe frame, a draft member pivoted for lateral swinging movement to the forward end of said frame, links extending laterally and rearwardly and connected to the outer ends of said gangs and accommodating vertical swinging movement thereof, whereby lateral movement of said draft member in either direction and, regardless of the vertical position of said front gangs,

will swing the latter in the horizontal plane, means actuated by movement of said front gangs in either direction for swinging said rear gangs into and out of angled operating position, and means for holding said gangs stable.

5. A disk harrow comprising a frame, two pairs of disk gangs, universal joint means operatively connecting each gang adjacent its inner end tosaid frame, a draft transmitting member, universal joint means operatively connecting said draft transmitting member to the forward portion of said frame, means on said draft transmitting member and operatively connected with the outer ends of the forward gangs for swinging said gangs in a generally fore and aft direction about the axes established by said first universal joint tive thereto, and means for holding said gangs stable. 7

engagin supporting means for the disk harrow, 1 4. A disk harrow comprising a frame, two pairsv said frame means for swinging into and out of angled relation, draft transmitting means comprising a rigid member pivotally connected to the forward downturned end of said frame means for generally vertical and horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, and a pair of draft transmitting means pivotally connected at their forward ends with said rigid member and at their rear ends with the outer ends of said nes for both vertical and horizontal swinging movementin substantially the same horizontal plane'as the forward end-of said frame means."

10. A disk harrow comprising frame means, two pairs of front and rear gangs connected with said frame means and forming the sole ground draft transmitting means, and means providing for the connection of said draft transmitting means directly to said frame means at any one of a plurality of generally, vertically spaced points on said frame means to provide for varying the pressure of the front gangs relative to the rear gangs by varying the height of connection of said draft transmitting means.

11. A disk harrowcomprising a rigid unitary frame, two pairs of front and rear gangs pivotally connected to said rigid frame for generally fore and aft swinging movement. the forward portion of said rigid frame terminating in a downwardly extending section having a plurality of generally vertically s openings, a draft member adapted to be pivotally connected to said rigid frame member in selected openings, thereby providing for adjusting the pressure of the front gangs relative to the rear gangs, and draft connections between said front and rear gangs and said draft mem- 12. A disk harrow comprising substantially rigid frame means, pairs of front and rear disk gangs, means pivoting the front gangs to said substantially rigid frame means, and laterally adjustable means pivoting the inner ends of each a of the rear gangs to said substantially rigid frame means to provide for lateral adiustment of the means, and means for holding said gangs stable. rear gangs relative to said substantially rigid frame means and toward and away from one another relative to the front gangs to accommodate different speeds of operation. different sizes and shapes of disks and the like.

13. A disk harrow comprising a frame including a pair of generally longitudinally extending frame members, two pairs of front and rear disk gangs, .bearing means at opposite ends of said frame members for supporting the frame on the inner ends of said gangs and establishing generally vertical pivots about which said gangs can swing into and out of angled position, and means for adiustably fixing the distance between the rear ends of said longitudinally extending frame members so as to adiustably fix the distance between the rear gangs.-

14. In a disk harrow, a unitary rigid frame comprising a pair of generally longitudinally extending members, a forward transverse member secured at its ends to the forward portions of said longitudinally extending members, the'latter extending forwardly of said forward transverse member and terminating indownwardly disposed hitch-receiving sections, the portions of said longitudinally extending members rearwardly of said forward transverse member having some flexibility. a pair of rear transverse members rigidly fixed at their outer ends, respectively, to the rear portions of said longitudinal members and movable relative to one another by virtue of the flexibility of said longitudinal member, and clamping means for adiustably fixing said rear transverse members against relative movement to determine the transverse distance between the rear portions of said longitudinally extending members.

15. A disk harrow comprising a frame, a pair of disk gangs pivotally connected with said frame for generally fore and aft swinging movement into and out of transport position, and generally transverse spring means acting against said frame at points spaced longitudinally of the pivot axis of said gangs and against said gangs adjacent the laterally outer portions thereof for urging them toward their transport position.

16. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs, frame means to which said gangs are pivoted for generally fore and aft movement into and out of angled operating position, and spring means extending between said-frame means and said gangs for resisting upthrust of the gangs, said spring means being connected with said frame means at a point spaced from the axes of fore and aft movement of the gangs so that the effective resisting force of the spring means increases generally in proportion to the angular displacement of the gangs from their substantially aligned position;

17. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame having a forward draft-receiving portion, two pairs of front and rear disl: gangs pivotally connected for generally fore and aft swinging movement to the front and rear portions of said frame in laterally spaced relation, a draft member pivotally connected to said front portion of the frame and capable of lateral swinging movement relative thereto, laterally and rearwardly diverging draft connections between said draft member and said front gangs, and operative connections between said front and rear gangs whereby lateral turning movement of said draft member increases the angle between the gangs on the outside of the turn and decreases the angle between the angs on the inside of the turn so as to maintain the gangs in proper registration.

. said gangs, rigid draft cases 18. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame, front and rear pairs of disk gangs pivotally connected at their inner; ends to said rigid frame for generally fore and aft swinging movement, a rigid draft member pivoted to the forward end of said frame, draft connections between said draft member and the outer ends of the front gangs, whereby when said rigid draft member is swung laterally, one ofs s'aid front gangs is pulled forwardly while the other front gang is thrust rearwardly, relative to said frame, and connections between the gangs at each side of the frame whereby when each front gang is swung about its pivot in one direction, the corresponding rear frame is swung about its pivot in the opposite direction. I I

19. A disk barrow comprising a unitary rigid frame, two pairs of front and rear gangs, universal joint means connecting each gang to said rigid frame'means, link means interconnecting transmitting means connected to said rigid frame and the. front gangs by universal Joint connections and means for holding said gangs stable.

20. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame, two pairs of front and rear disk gangs pivoted thereto adjacent their inner ends for generally fore and aft swinging movement, the disks in said front gangs facing outwardly and the disks in the rear gangs facing inwardly, a pair of tension springs connected between said rigid frame and the outer ends of said front gangs to resist the tendency of the outer disks of the front gangs'to run deeper than the inner disks, and a pair of nected between said frame and the outer end of the rear gangs for exerting a thrust against the latter to prevent the inner disks thereof from running deeper than the outer disks.

21. In a disk narrow, a frame comprising generally longitudinally extending members converging downwardly at their forward ends to form a draft receiving frame portion, a pair of front gangs pivoted at their inner ends to said longitudinally extending frame members rear inner ends to said frame for both fore and aft.

and generally vertical swinging movement relativethereto. a draft member pivotally connected to the forward motion of said rigid frame. draft connections from said draft member to the outer ends of said disk gangs, and means for holding the gangs stable.

23. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame, a pair of front and rear gangs having universal Joint connectionswith said frame adjacent their inner ends, a draft member extending forwardly from said frame, universal joint means connecting the rear end of said draft member to the forward end of said frame, a yoke slidably carried by said draft member, draft transmitting link connected to said yoke at their forward ends and having universal joint connections. at their rear ends with the outer ends of the front gangs, said draft member and said links being compression springs conoases adapted to have free vertical swinging movement relative to said front gangs and said frame,

means adjustably fixing the yoke on said draft v member to determine the position of said front gangs relative to said frame, and connections between the front and rear gangs whereby generally fore and aft swinging movement of said front gangs serves to swing said rear gangs generally fore and aft, both said front and rear gangs being capable of generally vertical movement about generally longitudinal axes by virtue of the universal joint connections between said gangs and said frame.

24. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame having a forward draft-receiving portion, pairs of front and rear disk gangs pivotally connected for generally fore and aft swinging movement to the front and rear portions of said frame in laterally spaced relation, a draft member pivotally connected to said front portion of the frame and capable of lateral swinging movement relative thereto, a pair of rearwardly extending arms fixed, respectively, to the inner ends of said front gangs, laterally outwardly extending links pivoted to the rear ends of said arms, and arms fixed to the inner ends of said rear gangs and pivotally receiving, respectively, the laterally outer ends of said last mentioned links, whereby lateral swinging movement of said draft member relative to said rigid frame serves to swing said front and rear gangs in opposite directions relative to said frame.

25'. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs, means serving as a frame therefor, a draft member pivoted to said frame means for vertical movement, draft connections extending from said draft member to said gangs and pivoted thereto for generally vertical movement, and means for maintaining said gang frames in vertical position.

26. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs, each having a gang frame and each gangframe comprising front and rear generally transversely disposed frame bars, a rigid draft.member pivotally connected with the gang frames for vertical movement relative thereto, rigid draft connections pivoted to the forward bars of said gang frames for vertical movement relative thereto, and means for maintaining said gang frames in vertical position.

27. A disk harrow comprising means serving asa frame having a downturned forward end, a plurality of disk gangs pivotally connected with said frame means for swinging into and out of angled relation, draft transmitting means comprising a rigid member connected to the forward downturned end of said frame means, a pair of draft transmitting means pivotally connected at their forward ends with said rigid member and at their rear ends with the outer ends of said gangs for vertical swinging movement, and means for maintaining said gangs in vertical position.

28. A disk harrow comprising a frame, a pair of disk gangs pivotally connected with said frame for generally foreand aft swinging movement into and out of transport position, and generally transverse spring means acting transversely of the harrow. and against said gangs at points spaced longitudinally of their points of pivotal connection with said frame for'bothholding said gangs level in operation and to urge them toward their transport position.

29. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk angs. frame means to which said gangs are pivoted for generally fore and aft movement into and out of angled operating positio and spring means connected between said gangs for resisting upthrust of the gangs, said spring means being connected with said gangs at points spaced generally longitudinally from the axes of fore and aft movement of the gangs so that the effective resisting force of the spring means increases generally in proportion to the angular displacement of the gangs from their substantially aligned position.

30. A disk harrow comprising a unitary rigid frame, two pairs of front and rear disk gangs pivoted thereto adjacent their inner ends for generally fore and aft swinging movement, the disks in one pair of gangs facing outwardly and the disks in the other pair of gangs facing inwardly, a transversely extending tension means connected between the gangs of said one pair to resist the tendency of the outer disks thereof to run deeper than the inner'disks, and. compression resisting means connected between the gangs of said other pair for exerting a thrust against the latter to prevent the inner disks thereof from running deeper than the outer disks.

31. A disk harrow comprising frame means, pairs of front and rear disk gangs pivotally connected for generally fore and aft swinging movement to said frame means, a draft member pivotally connected to said frame means and capable of lateral swinging movement relative thereto, a pair of generally rearwardly extending arms fixed, respectively, to said front gangs, laterally outwardly extending links pivoted to the rear ends of said arms, and arms fixed to said rear gangs and pivotally receiving. respectively, the laterally. outer ends of said last mentioned links, whereby lateral swinging movement of said draft member relative to said rigid frame serves to swing said front and rear gangs in opposite directions relative to said frame.

32. A disk harrow as defined in claim 31, further characterized by said frame means being a substantially rigid structure, either of said first mentioned arms moving substantially into a straight line relation with the associated link when the harrow in angled operating position is drawn along a curved path, as when turning,

thereby cooperating with said rigid frame structure to maintain the gangs on the outside ofthe turn in proper position.

33. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs connected together in generally axial alignment, the soil pressure acting against the gangs tending to cause upthrust at their inner ends, and generally transversely arranged spring means disposed approximately directly above the axes of the disks of said gangs and acting. against the latter for resisting upthrust of the gangs.

34. A disk harrow comprising means serving as a frame, at least one disk gang pivotally con-- nected therewith for generally vertical swinging movement, and yielding means acting transversely against said gang at a point adjacent the outer end thereof and generally above the axis of swinging movement for resisting upthrust of the gangs connected together" in generally axial alignment, the soil pressure acting against the disks of the gangs tending to cause upthrust of the latter, and transversely extending tension means disposed approximately directly above the axes of the disks of the gangs and connected with the latter so as to tend to hold said gangs level and to resist said upthrust, further characterised by said tension means being connected with the outer ends of said gangs to resist upthrust at their inner ends." I g e 37. Adisk harrow complm l a pair of generally axially arranged disk gangs arranged for fore and aft swinging movement into and out of transport position. and transverse means acting transversely of the harrow and against said gangs at points spaced from the axes of their pivotal movement so as to tend to hold said gangs level in operation and urge them toward their transport position.

38 A disk harrow comprising a pair of generally axially arranged disk gangs arranged for fore and aft swinging movement into and out of transport position,. and means acting against said gangs at points spaced from the axes oi their pivotal movement so as to urge them toward their transport position.

39. A disk harrow comprising a pair of generally axially arranged disk gangs arranged for fore and aft swinging movement into and out of transport position. and means acting against said gangs at points spaced from the axes of their pivotal movement so as to tend to hold said gangs level in operation and urge them toward their transport position.

40. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs connected together in generally axial alignment for generally fore and aft swinging movement into diflerent angular positions, the

soil pressure acting against the disks of the gangs tending. to cause upthrust of the latter, and

means connected with said gangs to resist upthrust of the gangs with an eifective force that increases as the angle between said gangs increases.

-41. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs connected together in generally axial alignment for generally fore and aft swinging movement into different angular positions, the soil pressure acting against the disks of the gangs tending to cause upthrust of the latter, and resilient means connected with said gangs at points spaced from the axis of relative movement of said gangs in both vertical and fore and aft directions, whereby said resilient means tends to resist said upthrust with a force that increases when the angle between said gangs increases.

42. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs connected together for generally fore and aft swinging movement into and out of generally axial alignment, the soil pressure acting against the disks of the gangs tending to cause upthrust of the latter, and tension spring means extending lengthwise of and acting against the gangs and disposed above and in back of the axis oi' relative movement of said gangs so as to tend to hold said gangs level inoperation and to resist said upthrust with a force that increases when the angle between said gangs increases.-

43. In a disk barrow. the combination of two oppositely extending disk gangs, a part connected with each of said disk gangs for movement therewith, a centrally disposed main draft member connecting saidparts at their inner ends and including generally upwardly extending spring supporting means and retractile coil springs connected between the said supporting means and outer portions of said parts to exert upward forces on the outer ends thereof and corresponding downward forces at the inner ends thereof.

44. In a disk harrow, the combination of a pair of oppositely extending disk gangs, a draft mechanism including a center member and side members movably connected attheir inner ends thereto, the said side members extending outwardly and being connected tothe disk gangs for movement therewith, and spring acting mechanism extended angularly from upper portions of said center member to outer portions of the side members for exerting adjustable downward pressure at the inner ends of said side members and connected disk gangs.

45. In a disk harrow, the combination of two oppositely extending disk gangs, means movable with each gang and including a part disposed forwardly of the axis of said gang, means including a centrally disposed main draft member connecting the inner ends of said parts, and retractile coil springs connected between said main draft member and outer portions of said parts and so arranged as to exert upward forces on the outer ends thereof and corresponding downward forces at the inner ends thereof.

46. In a disk harrow, the combination of two oppositely extending disk gangs, frame members connected to the disk genes for movement therewith, a centrally disposed main draft member connecting the frame members at their inner ends, and retractile coil springs connected between said main draft member and outer portions of the frame members to exert upward forces on the outer ends of the frame members and corresponding downward forces at the inner ends thereof.

47. In a disk harrow, the combination comprising central draft means, a pair of disk gangs arranged in outwardly and oppositely extending relation, frame members connected to the gangs and pivotaliy connected at inner ends on substantially vertical axes, said central draft means having spring receiving means disposed approximately vertically above the axes of swinging of said gangs, and a separate spring extending between said spring receiving means and the frame member of each gang .for exerting forces on said frame members to counteract generally vertically acting thrust at the center of said disk gangs.

48. In a disk harrow, the combination comprising central draft means, a pair of disk gangs arranged in outwardly and oppositely extending and manually reacting relation, frame members connected to the gangs and pivotally connected at inner ends on substantially vertical axes, said central draft means having spring receiving means disposed approximately vertically above the axes of swinging of said gangs. and a separate retractile coil spring stretched between said spring receiving means and the frame members of each gang for exerting upward forces on outer ends of the frame members and thereby counteracting upward thrust at the center caused by reaction of the disk gan s.

49. In a disk harrow, the combination comprising central draft means,'a pair of disk gangs arranged in outwardly and oppositely extending relation, frame members connected to the gangs and pivotally connected at inner ends on substantially vertical axes, said central draft means hava draft transmitting frame, a pair of oppositely extending disk gangs, gang members connected to the disk gangs and extending lengthwise with respect thereto, means pivotally connecting said gang members for generally vertical swingingf movement relative to said draft transmitting frame, and yielding means comprising two sprin means acting at their inner ends against said draft transmitting frame and disposed generally transversely and acting at their outer ends against said gang members for resisting upthrust thereof. I

51. Atandem disk harrow comprising front and rear pairs of outwardly spread and oppositely acting disk gangs having frame parts extending parallel with their respective axes, springreoeiving parts on the frame parts of the forward gangs, spring means connected to the upper ends of said parts to exert downward forces on inner ends of the front gangs, and spring means for exerting downward forces on outer ends of the rear gangs.

52. A disk harrow comprising a pair of front disk gangs pivotally connected adjacent their inner ends for generally fore and aft swinging movement and for limited vertical swinging movement, a pair of rear disk gangs pivoted ad- Jacent their inner ends for generally fo e and aft swinging movement and for limited vertical swinging movement, the disks in one pair of gangs facing outwardly and the disks in the other pair of gangs facing inwardly, a transversely extending tension means connected between the gangs of said one pair to resist the tendency of the outer disks thereof to run deeper than the inner disks, and compression resisting mean connected between the gangs of said other pair for exerting a thrust against the latter to prevent the inner disks thereof from running deeper than the outer disks.

53. A disk harrow comprising frame means, a pair of disk gangs connected with said frame means for generally vertical swinging movement,

brackets fixed to said frame means at points I thereon spaced from the axes of vertical swinging movement of said gangs relative to said frame means, and transversely disposed spring means reacting at their irmer ends against said brackets for resisting vertical swinging of said gangs.

54. A disk harrow comprising a pair oi disk gangs connected together for generallyvertical swinging movement and for generally fore and aft swinging movement, each gang having a member swingable at least generally fore and aft therewith, a bracket fixed to each member, and transverse spring means disposed/substantially above the axis of fore and aft movement of said gang members and connected with said brackets for resisting displacement of said gangs about the axis of vertical swinging movement in al working positions of the gangs.

55. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs connected together for generally vertical swinging movement and for generally fore and aft swinging movement, each gang having a member swingable at least genera ly fore and aft therewith about a generally vertical axis, a bracket fixed to each member, and transverse spring means disposed substantially above said axis and connected with said brackets for resisting displacement of said gangs about the axis of vertical swinging movement in all working positions of the gangs.

56. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs connected together for generally vertical swlnging novement, each gang having a member swingable draft to the inner ends of said gangs and including a part with which said members are pivoted for generally fore and aft swinging movement about a pair of generally laterally spaced axes, a bracket fixed to each member and swingable therewith, and transverse spring means disposed substantially above said axes and connected with. said brackets for resisting displacement of said gangs about the axis of vertical swinging movement in all working positions of the gangs.

57. A disk harrow comprising a pair of disk gangs. means for applying draft-t0 the gangs, the latter being pivotally connected with said means for generally vertical swinging movement about one or more axes, a bracket fixed to each gang, and spring biase rod means disposed transversely of the harrow and connected with said brackets so as to resist displacement-of said gangs about said one or more axes.

CHARLES H. WHITE.

therewith, means for transmitting

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