Agricultural implement with foldable wings

Claim 2

An angricultural implement comprising in combination, a main frame which may be hitched behind a tractor, said frame supporting a gang of soil working tools on its underside, means for setting said tools at a soil working depth including a pivot shaft rotatably mounted on said frame, and hydraulic means for rotating said pivot shaft, a wing frame hingedly connected to said frame to swing between a storage position over the main frame and a working position extended to one side of said main frame, said wing frame supporting soil working tools on its underside and a shaft means rotatably supported on said wing frame to set the wing supported tools at a working depth, said shaft means of the wing and pivot shaft of the main frame being disposed in parallel relation and at right angles to an axis on which the wing swings about its hinge connection to the main frame, and articulate linkage means interconnecting said main frame pivot shaft to the wing rotatable shaft means including a screw threaded swivel link at said hinge axis through which the hydraulic means sets the wing tools as it sets the main frame tools, said wing frame being hingedly connected to said frame by hinge connection means which includes a hinge element fixed at one end to an outer side of the wing frame and pivotally connected to means fixed to an outer side of the main frame to swing on a horizontal hinge axis disposed intermediate the transport and field working positions to which the wing is swung about its said hinge axis, an operating link pivotally connected a one end to said hinge element outward of and above said hinge axis when the wing is in its storage position, hydraulic pushpull means mounted on the main frame inwardly of a vertical including said hinge axis, said push-pull means being pivotally connected to the operating link at a distance remote from its connection to the hinge element and below said hinge axis, a pivot element on said operating link intermediate said pivotal connections of the link to said push-pull means and hinge element, and a transversely extending guide track on said main frame along which said pivot element of the operating link slides with actuation of said push-pull means to effect swinging of said wing between its storage and working position.

Claim 3

An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivot shaft of the main frame also supports wheel means radially spaced from the axis on which said pivot shaft rotates, the wheel means swinging on the axis of said pivot shaft as it rotates to lower the frame and its wing as the wing and main frame supported tools are set at their working depth by operation of the hydraulic means.

Claim 4

An agricultrual implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivot shaft of the main frame supports first wheel means radially spaced from the axis on which said pivot shaft rotates, the shaft means of the wing frame supporting second wheel means similarly radially spaced from the axis on which said shaft means rotates, the working depth of the main frame and wing tools being set by the aNgle through which said first and second wheel means are rotated.

Claim 5

An agricultural implement according to claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection of the operating link to the hinge element comprises a first pivot pin fixed to a portion of the hinge element spaced from the hinge axis, a second pin fixed to a portion of the operating link spaced from its connection to the push-pull means, each said hinge element and operating link having an arcuate slot which slidably receives the pivot pin of the other and is centered on its pivot pin, the disposition and angular extent of said slots and relationship of said pivot pins to the hinge axis being such that the force of the push-pull means is transferred through the operating link to effect swing of the wing between its storage and working positions.

Claim 6

An agricultural implement according to claim 4 wherein the wing is free to swing when in its working position to follow the contour of the ground on which the main frame moves.

Claim 7

An agricultural implement according to claim 4 wherein the slot in the link pulls on the pin of the hinge element to raise the wing out of its horizontal rest position and the pin in the slot of the hinge element serves to resist swinging of the wing on the link as the center of gravity of the wing is moved past a vertical through the hinge axis such that movement of the wing about the hinge axis between its storage position and working position remains under the contorl of the push-pull means.

Claim 8

In an agricultural implement having a main frame which is moved across the ground and a wing hinged to one side thereof for swinging between a horizontal storage position over the main frame and a working position where it extends horizontally outwardly from the side of said frame, the improvement wherein the wing is fixed at an angle to one end of a hinge element pivotally connected to the frame to swing on a fixed horizontal axis disposed at a height intermediate said two horizontal positions of the wing, an operating link, first pivot means securing said link to said one end of said hinge element outward of and above the horizontal axis of said pivotal connection of the hinge element to the main frame when the wing is in its storage position, push-pull means mounted on said frame inwardly of said pivotal connection, second pivot means securing said push-pull means to the operating link at a distance remote from said first pivot means and below the fixed horizontal axis of said pivotal connection, a pivotal element on said operating link intermediate said first and second pivot means, and a transversely extending guide track on said main frame along which said pivotal element of the operating link slides with actuation of said push-pull means to effect swinging of said wing between its storage and working positions.

Claim 9

In an agricultural implement having a main frame which is moved across the ground and a wing hinged to one side thereof for swinging between a horizontal storage position over the main frame and a working position where it extends horizontally outwardly from the side of said frame, the improvement wherein the wing is fixed at an angle to one end of a hinge element pivotally connected to the frame to swing on a fixed horizontal axis disposed at a height intermediate said two horizontal positions of the wing, an operating link, first pivot means securing said link to said one end of said hinge element outward of and above the horizontal axis of said pivotal connection of the hinge element to the main frame when the wing is in its storage position, push-pull means mounted on said frame inwardly of said pivotal connection, second pivot means securing said push-pull means to the operating link at a distance remote from said first pivot means and below the fixed horizontal axis of said pivotal connection, a pivotal element on said operating link intermediate said first and second pivot means, and a transversely extending guide track on said main frame along which said pivotal element of the operating link slides with actuation of said push-pull means to effect swinging of said wing between its storage and working positions.

Claim 10

An agricultural implement having a main frame which moves across the ground, a wing hinged to one side of the main frame so as to be swingable between a horizontal position at rest atop the frame and a horizontal working position where it extends outwardly from said side of the main frame, and operating means therefor including push-pull means mounted on the main frame having its effective force directed generally transversely of and below the hinge axis on which the wing swings when energized, and operating link having one end pivotally secured to said push-pull means to receive said force and means connecting a portion of the link remote from said one end to the wing to transfer said force, said connecting means comprising a first pivot pin fixed to a portion of the wing spaced from the hinge axis, a second pivot pin fixed to a portion of the operating link spaced from its connection to the push-pull means, each said portions of the wing and operating link having an arcuate slot which slidably receives the pivot pin of the other portion and is centered on its pivot pin, the disposition and angular extent of said slots and relation of said povot pins to the hinge axis being such that the force of the push-pull means is transferred through the operating link to effect controlled swing of the wing between its at rest and working positions.

Claim 11

An agricultural implement having a main frame which moves across the ground, a wing hinged to one side of the main frame so as to be swingable between a horizontal position at rest atop the frame and a horizontal working position where it extends outwardly from said side of the main frame, and operating means therefor including push-pull means mounted on the main frame having its effective force directed generally transversely of and below the hinge axis on which the wing swings when energized, and operating link having one end pivotally secured to said push-pull means to receive said force and means connecting a portion of the link remote from said one end to the wing to transfer said force, said connecting means comprising a first pivot pin fixed to a portion of the wing spaced from the hinge axis, a second pivot pin fixed to a portion of the operating link spaced from its connection to the push-pull means, each said portions of the wing and operating link having an arcuate slot which slidably receives the pivot pin of the other portion and is centered on its pivot pin, the disposition and angular extent of said slots and relation of said povot pins to the hinge axis being such that the force of the push-pull means is transferred through the operating link to effect controlled swing of the wing between its at rest and working positions.

Claim 12

An agricultural implement as claimed in claim 8 wherein the operating link is so disposed when the wing is in its working position that the arcuate slots are generally horizontal, said slots having an angular extent accommodating swing of the wing about the hinge axis to follow slope contour varying from horizontal when in its working position.

Claim 13

An Agricultural implement as claimed in claim 9 wherein when the wing is in its at rest position on the main frame the operating link is so disposed that its slot is generally vertical and the pivot pins are in the upper reaches of said slots to resist horizontal and vertical movement of the wing.

Claim 14

An agricultural implement having a main frame which moves across the ground, a wing which is hinged to one side of the frame so as to be swingable between a horizontal at rest position atop the main frame and a horizontal working position extending outwardly from the side of said main frame, and operating means to effect said swinging including push-pull means mounted on the frame which when energized direct a force across and below the hinge axis on which the wing is swingable, an operating link pivotally connected to said push-pull means below the hinged axis to receive said force, a portion of the wing remote from said hinge axis and a portion of the operating link remote from said connection to the push-pull means each having a convex-concave shaped arcuate slot and a pivot pin slidably received in the arcuate slot of the other portion such that the force of the push-pull means is transmitted through the operating link to swing the wing on said hinge axis between its at rest and working positions, the slot in said portion of the link which receives the wing portion pivot pin extending in a direction generally axially of the link and with its concave side facing and centered on the pivot pin of said link portion, the slot of the wing portion being disposed between the pivot pin of the link portion and the hinge axis and having its convex side facing the hinge axis, the arcuate extent of said slot in the wing portion being such that a radial bisector thereof centered on the pivot pin of the wing portion in the slot of the link portion also passes through the hinge axis, the pin of the wing portion engaging against the upper end of the link portion slot and the pin of the link portion in the wing portion slot being disposed to the wing side of said radial bisector when the wing is in its horizontal at rest position so as to stabilize the wing and inhibit swinging thereof on said hinge axis when the push-pull means is deenergized.

Claim 15

An agricultural implement having a main frame which moves across the ground, a wing which is hinged to one side of the frame so as to be swingable between a horizontal at rest position atop the main frame and a horizontal working position extending outwardly from the side of said main frame, and operating means to effect said swinging including push-pull means mounted on the frame which when energized direct a force across and below the hinge axis on which the wing is swingable, an operating link pivotally connected to said push-pull means below the hinged axis to receive said force, a portion of the wing remote from said hinge axis and a portion of the operating link remote from said connection to the push-pull means each having a convex-concave shaped arcuate slot and a pivot pin slidably received in the arcuate slot of the other portion such that the force of the push-pull means is transmitted through the operating link to swing the wing on said hinge axis between its at rest and working positions, the slot in said portion of the link which receives the wing portion pivot pin extending in a direction generally axially of the link and with its concave side facing and centered on the pivot pin of said link portion, the slot of the wing portion being disposed between the pivot pin of the link portion and the hinge axis and having its convex side facing the hinge axis, the arcuate extent of said slot in the wing portion being such that a radial bisector thereof centered on the pivot pin of the wing portion in the slot of the link portion also passes through the hinge axis, the pin of the wing portion engaging against the upper end of the link portion slot and the pin of the link portion in the wing portion slot being disposed to the wing side of said radial bisector when the wing is in its horizontal at rest position so as to stabilize the wing and inhibit swinging thereof on said hinge axis when the push-pull means is deenergized.

Claim 16

An agricultural implement according to claim 11 wherein the slot in the link pulls on the pin of the wing portion to raise the wing out of its horizontal rest position and the pin in the slot of the wing portion serves to resist swinging of the wing on the link as the center of gravity of the wing is moved past a vertical containing the hinge axis so that movement of the wing about the hinge axis from its rest position to its working position remains under the control of the push-pull means.

Claim 17

An agricultural implement according to claim 11 wherein the operating link is disposed generally vertical when the wing is in its at rest horizontal position such that the wing portion pin is in the upper reaches of the slot in said portion of the operating link to resist movement of the wing about the hinge axis.

Claim 18

An agricultural implement according to claim 11 wherein the operating link is disposed generally horizontal when the wing is in its horizontal extended work position, the pivot pins being disposed intermediate the ends of their respective receiving slots to accommodate swinging of the wing about the hinge axis to follow the contour of the ground over which the main frame moves.

Claim 19

An agricultural implement having a maIn frame which moves across the ground, a wing connected to one side of the main frame so as to be swingable on a horizontal hinge axis between a horizontal position at rest atop the frame and a horizontal working position in which the wing extends outwardly from said side of the main frame, and operating means therefor including push-pull means mounted on the main frame inwardly of and below the hinge axis, an operating link having one end pivotally secured to said push-pull means below said hinge axis and means connecting an opposite end portion of the link to an outwardly extending hinge plate portion of the wing to transfer said force, said connecting means comprising a first pivot pin fixed to said hinge plate portion of the wing at a location spaced outwardly from and above the hinge axis when the wing is in its at rest position atop the main frame, a second pivot pin fixed to said opposite end portion of the operating link at a location spaced from its connection to the push-pull means, each said portions of the wing and operating link having a concave-shaped slot which slidably receives the pivot pin of the other portion and is centered on the pivot pin of said other portion, a sliding pivotal element disposed on said link below the hinge axis and adjacent the pivotal connection of the push-pull means to the operating link and link, horizontally disposed guide track on the main frame which slidingly receives said pivotal element with actuation of said push-pull means to support the wing as it is swung between its at rest position and working position in response to actuation of the push-pull means, the concave-shaped slot in said opposite end portion of the operating link extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the operating link with its concave shape facing the hinge axis, the concave-shaped slot in the wing hinge plate portion being disposed between the first pivot pin and the hinge axis with its concave shape facing away from the hinge axis, the operatink link being disposed vertically when the wing is in its at rest position atop the main frame and horizontally when the pivotal element is withdrawn into the guide track below the main frame far enough to locate the wing in its generally horizontal extended working position outwardly of the main frame, the angular extent and disposition of said slots in the wing hinge plate portion and opposite end portion of the operating link being so related that the pivot pins are in the upper reaches of the respective receiving slots when the wing is atop the main frame to inhibit swinging of the wing on said hinge axis, said pivot pins being disposed intermediate the reaches of the respective receiving slots of said wing hinge plate portion and opposite end portion of the operating link when the wing is in its horizontal extended working position so as to accommodate swing of the wing about the hinge axis to follow the ground contour over which the implement is moved.

Claim 20

An agricultural implement having a maIn frame which moves across the ground, a wing connected to one side of the main frame so as to be swingable on a horizontal hinge axis between a horizontal position at rest atop the frame and a horizontal working position in which the wing extends outwardly from said side of the main frame, and operating means therefor including push-pull means mounted on the main frame inwardly of and below the hinge axis, an operating link having one end pivotally secured to said push-pull means below said hinge axis and means connecting an opposite end portion of the link to an outwardly extending hinge plate portion of the wing to transfer said force, said connecting means comprising a first pivot pin fixed to said hinge plate portion of the wing at a location spaced outwardly from and above the hinge axis when the wing is in its at rest position atop the main frame, a second pivot pin fixed to said opposite end portion of the operating link at a location spaced from its connection to the push-pull means, each said portions of the wing and operating link having a concave-shaped slot which slidably receives the pivot pin of the other portion and is centered on the pivot pin of said other portion, a sliding pivotal element disposed on said link below the hinge axis and adjacent the pivotal connection of the push-pull means to the operating link and link, horizontally disposed guide track on the main frame which slidingly receives said pivotal element with actuation of said push-pull means to support the wing as it is swung between its at rest position and working position in response to actuation of the push-pull means, the concave-shaped slot in said opposite end portion of the operating link extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the operating link with its concave shape facing the hinge axis, the concave-shaped slot in the wing hinge plate portion being disposed between the first pivot pin and the hinge axis with its concave shape facing away from the hinge axis, the operatink link being disposed vertically when the wing is in its at rest position atop the main frame and horizontally when the pivotal element is withdrawn into the guide track below the main frame far enough to locate the wing in its generally horizontal extended working position outwardly of the main frame, the angular extent and disposition of said slots in the wing hinge plate portion and opposite end portion of the operating link being so related that the pivot pins are in the upper reaches of the respective receiving slots when the wing is atop the main frame to inhibit swinging of the wing on said hinge axis, said pivot pins being disposed intermediate the reaches of the respective receiving slots of said wing hinge plate portion and opposite end portion of the operating link when the wing is in its horizontal extended working position so as to accommodate swing of the wing about the hinge axis to follow the ground contour over which the implement is moved.