Hydraulic row marker

Claim 2

A row marker apparatus adapted to be used with a mobile carrier of the type having a hydraulic system and means for mounting attachments, comprising a frame mounted on the mobile carrier, a marker arm, a marker disc mounted on the outer end of said marker arm, means for pivotally mounting said marker arm on said frame for movement between a working position and a stowed position, a hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted at one end on said frame, means operably connecting said hydraulic cylinder to the hydraulic system of the mobile carrier, lifting means pivotally mounted on said frame for motion independent of said marker arm and pivotally connected to the other end of said hydraulic cylinder, said lifting means engaging and raising said marker arm from the working position to the stowed position when fluid pressure is applied to actuate said hydraulic cylinder in one direction, and means for causing withdrawal of said lifting means from engagement with said marker arm for accommodating free downward movement of said arm in the working position when said actuating pressure on the hydraulic cylinder is released.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, in which said lifting and withdrawal means comprises a cradle pivotally mounted on the same axis as the marker arm and extending under said marker arm, said cradle having a crank to which one end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected.

Claim 4

A row marker apparatus comprising a frame, a marker arm pivoted in said frame, a marker disc mounted on the end of said marker, arm, means to raise said marker arm from an operating range to a stowed position, and loading means connected between said frame and said marker arm for augmenting the force by which gravity urges the marker arm and disc toward the ground, said loading means including means responsive to the position of said arm for supplying a continuously increasing downward movement on said marker arm in response to downward movement of said arm in its operating range.

Claim 5

A row marker apparatus comprising a frame, a marker arm pivoted in said frame, a marker disc mounted on the end of said marker, arm, means to raise said marker arm from an operating range to a stowed position, and loading means connected between said frame and said marker arm for augmenting the force by which gravity urges the marker arm and disc toward the ground, said loading means including means responsive to the position of said arm for supplying a continuously increasing downward movement on said marker arm in response to downward movement of said arm in its operating range.

Claim 6

A row marker apparatus adapted to be used with a mobile carrier of the type having a hydraulic and electric system and means for mounting attachments comprising: two marker units each having; a frame mounted on the mobile carrier, a marker arm, a marker disc mounted on said marker arm means pivotally mounting said marker arm on said frame for movement between a stowed position and a working position, latch means between the frame and said marker arm for retaining said marker arm in said stowed position, lifting means between the frame and said marker arm for raising said marker arm to said stowed position, loading means attached to said marker arm to apply a downward moment on the marker arm in its working range and operably connected to said frame such that the downward moment is significantly reduced as said marker arm is raised above said working range by said lifting means, a hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted between said lifting means and said frame, electrically actuated release means for said latch means; switch means for individually actuating each of said release means, electrical conduit operably connecting said control means to said release means and said electrical system of the mobile carrier; hydraulic conduit dependently connecting said hydraulic cylinders to said hydraulic system of the mobile carrier simultaneously actuating said lifting means in response to fluid pressure from said hydraulic system, the respective marker arm and lifting means being effective to lower due to their weight forcing the hydraulic fluid back to the reservoir of said hydraulic system when released and said fluid pressure being disengaged, said loading means forcing said marker disc against the ground, said lifting means continuing to lower freeing the marker arm of any downward resistance from the lifting means in the marker arm working range.

Claim 7

A row marker apparatus adapted to be used with a mobile carrier of the type having a hydraulic and electric system and means for mounting attachments comprising: two marker units each having; a frame mounted on the mobile carrier, a marker arm, a marker disc mounted on said marker arm means pivotally mounting said marker arm on said frame for movement between a stowed position and a working position, latch means between the frame and said marker arm for retaining said marker arm in said stowed position, lifting means between the frame and said marker arm for raising said marker arm to said stowed position, loading means attached to said marker arm to apply a downward moment on the marker arm in its working range and operably connected to said frame such that the downward moment is significantly reduced as said marker arm is raised above said working range by said lifting means, a hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted between said lifting means and said frame, electrically actuated release means for said latch means; switch means for individually actuating each of said release means, electrical conduit operably connecting said control means to said release means and said electrical system of the mobile carrier; hydraulic conduit dependently connecting said hydraulic cylinders to said hydraulic system of the mobile carrier simultaneously actuating said lifting means in response to fluid pressure from said hydraulic system, the respective marker arm and lifting means being effective to lower due to their weight forcing the hydraulic fluid back to the reservoir of said hydraulic system when released and said fluid pressure being disengaged, said loading means forcing said marker disc against the ground, said lifting means continuing to lower freeing the marker arm of any downward resistance from the lifting means in the marker arm working range.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said release means comprises a solenoid connected to said latch means.

Claim 9

A row marker apparatus comprising a frame, a marker arm pivoted on the frame, a marker disc mounted on the marker arm, hydraulic means for raising the marker arm from an operating range to a stowed position, and loading means operably connected between the frame and the marker arm for applying a continuously increasing downward moment on the marker arm in response to downward movement of the arm in its operating range; said loading means including a lever mounted on the marker arm, a link pivotally attached to the lever at a point displaced from said marker arm pivot, and having a length substantially equal to said displacement, and a spring mounted between the link and the frame.

Claim 10

A row marker apparatus comprising a frame, a marker arm pivoted on the frame, a marker disc mounted on the marker arm, hydraulic means for raising the marker arm from an operating range to a stowed position, and loading means operably connected between the frame and the marker arm for applying a continuously increasing downward moment on the marker arm in response to downward movement of the arm in its operating range; said loading means including a lever mounted on the marker arm, a link pivotally attached to the lever at a point displaced from said marker arm pivot, and having a length substantially equal to said displacement, and a spring mounted between the link and the frame.

Claim 11

A row marker apparatus adapted to be used with a mobile carrier of the type having a hydraulic system and means for mounting attachments, comprising a frame mounted on the mobile carrier, a marker arm, a marker disc mounted on the outer end of the marker arm, means for pivotally mounting the marker arm on the frame for movement between an operating range and stowed position, a hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted at one end on the frame, mean operably connecting the hydraulic cylinder to the hydraulic system of the mobile carrier, lifting means pivotally mounted on said frame for motion independent of said marker arm and pivotally connected to the other end of the hydraulic cylinder, said lifting means engaging and raising said marker arm from the operating range to the stowed position when fluid pressure is applied to actuate said hydraulic cylinder in one direction, means for causing withdrawal of said lifting means from engagement with the marker arm for accommodating free downward movement of the arm in the operating range when said actuating pressure on the hydraulic cylinder is released, and loading means for applying an increasing downward moment on the marker arm in response to downward movement of the arm in its operating range.

Claim 12

A row marker apparatus adapted to be used with a mobile carrier of the type having a hydraulic system and means for mounting attachments, comprising a frame mounted on the mobile carrier, a marker arm, a marker disc mounted on the outer end of the marker arm, means for pivotally mounting the marker arm on the frame for movement between an operating range and stowed position, a hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted at one end on the frame, mean operably connecting the hydraulic cylinder to the hydraulic system of the mobile carrier, lifting means pivotally mounted on said frame for motion independent of said marker arm and pivotally connected to the other end of the hydraulic cylinder, said lifting means engaging and raising said marker arm from the operating range to the stowed position when fluid pressure is applied to actuate said hydraulic cylinder in one direction, means for causing withdrawal of said lifting means from engagement with the marker arm for accommodating free downward movement of the arm in the operating range when said actuating pressure on the hydraulic cylinder is released, and loading means for applying an increasing downward moment on the marker arm in response to downward movement of the arm in its operating range.