Hitch structure for agricultural implements

Claim 2

Hitch structure comprising: a. a telescopic arm movable between extended and retracted positions and including a pair of relatively longitudinally movable members; b. a latch pin acting between said members for releasably securing said arm in its extended and retracted positions, said pin being mounted on one of said members for axial movement between an operative position wherein said latch pin is engageable with the other of said members at spaced points thereon corresponding with the extended and retracted positions thereof, and an inoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axis between locking and unlocking positions; c. means acting between said one member and said latch pin for biasing the latter axially toward its operative position; d. first stop means on said one member; e. second stop means on said pin for locking said latch pin in its inoperative position out of engagement with said other member, said second stop means being engageable by said first stop means when said pin is moved axially out of engagement with said other member and rotated to its locking position; and f. means on said other member between said spaced points thereon engageable with said pin in response to movement of said other member between its extended and retracted positions and operative to rotate said pin from its locking to its unlocking position.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 including stop means on said members defining the extended and retracted positions of said arm.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 1 including a first, axially offset projection on said pin, and a second projection on said other member between said spaced points thereon and engageable with said first projection as said other member is moved between its extended and retracted positions.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said second stop means comprises a radial projection on said pin, and including structure on said one member supporting said pin for axial sliding movement, and a coil spring surrounding said pin and acting between said support structure and said projection to axially bias said pin for engagement with said other member.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said projection is engageable with said one member to limit axial movement of said pin.

Claim 7

In combination with an elongated agricultural implement having a mobile frame movable between a wide, generally crosswise operating position and a narrow, generally longitudinal transport position, hitch means convertible between said operating and transport positions comprising: a. first arm means including first and second relatively longitudinally movable members, said first member being connected at one end to said frame for horizontal pivotal movement; b. second arm means connected at one end to said frame for horizontal pivotal movement at a point on said frame spaced from said first member, and connected at its opposite end for horizontal pivotal movement to said second member, whereby said first and second arm means are horizontally foldable between transport and operating positions toward and away from said frame, respectively; c. means on the outer end of one of said arm for connection to the drawbar of a tractor and movable with said one arm between said operating and transport positions; d. a latch pin acting between said first and second members for releasably securing said first arm means in its operating and transport positions, said pin being mounted on one of said members for axial movement between an operative position wherein said latch pin is engageable with the other of said members at spaced points thereon corresponding with the operating and transport positions thereof, and an inoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axis between locking and unlocking positions; e. means acting between said one member and said latch pin for biasing the latter axially toward its operative position; f. first stop means on said one member; g. second stop means on said pin for locking said latch pin in its inoperative position out of engagement with said other member, said second stop means being engageable by said first stop means when said pin is moved axially out of engagement with said other member and rotated to its locking position; and h. means on said other member between said spaced points thereon engageable with said pin in response to movement of said other member between its extended and retracted positions and operative to rotate said pin from its locking to its unlocking position.

Claim 8

In combination with an elongated agricultural implement having a mobile frame movable between a wide, generally crosswise operating position and a narrow, generally longitudinal transport position, hitch means convertible between said operating and transport positions comprising: a. first arm means including first and second relatively longitudinally movable members, said first member being connected at one end to said frame for horizontal pivotal movement; b. second arm means connected at one end to said frame for horizontal pivotal movement at a point on said frame spaced from said first member, and connected at its opposite end for horizontal pivotal movement to said second member, whereby said first and second arm means are horizontally foldable between transport and operating positions toward and away from said frame, respectively; c. means on the outer end of one of said arm for connection to the drawbar of a tractor and movable with said one arm between said operating and transport positions; d. a latch pin acting between said first and second members for releasably securing said first arm means in its operating and transport positions, said pin being mounted on one of said members for axial movement between an operative position wherein said latch pin is engageable with the other of said members at spaced points thereon corresponding with the operating and transport positions thereof, and an inoperative position, and for rotational movement about its axis between locking and unlocking positions; e. means acting between said one member and said latch pin for biasing the latter axially toward its operative position; f. first stop means on said one member; g. second stop means on said pin for locking said latch pin in its inoperative position out of engagement with said other member, said second stop means being engageable by said first stop means when said pin is moved axially out of engagement with said other member and rotated to its locking position; and h. means on said other member between said spaced points thereon engageable with said pin in response to movement of said other member between its extended and retracted positions and operative to rotate said pin from its locking to its unlocking position.

Claim 9

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said latch pin is mounted on said first member.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 6 wherein said connection means is mounted on said second member.