Multiple-piece wing sections for cultivator and selectively locking means for same

Claim 2

A farm implement of the foldable, sectional tow type comprising a wheeled cart bearing a central tool supporting section and mounting said central section for movement about a generally horizontal axis between a work performing position and a transport position; and a pair of tool supporting wing sections, one on each side of said central section, each wing section being hingedly connected to said central section and movable therewith between said transport position and said work performing position and having at least two differing portions, each of said wing sections being flexible so as to permit movement of at least one portion of each wing section relative to another portion thereof to allow each wing section, when in the work performing position, to flex to conform to the contour of the underlying terrain whereby the length of each wing section can be maximized to thereby maximize the width of swath of the implement when said central section and said wing sections are in said work performing position, and means for effectively rigidifying said wing sections to preclude said portions of the same from oscillating relative to each other when said wing sections are in said transport position.

Claim 3

The implement of claim 1 whErein said rigidifying means comprises a mechanical lock.

Claim 4

A farm implement of the foldable sectional tow type comprising: a wheeled cart; a central section adapted to mount ground working tools pivotally mounted on said wheeled cart for movement between a generally horizontal work performing position and a generally vertical, transport position; a pair of wing sections, one on each side of said central section; hinge means pivotally connecting each of said wing sections to the adjacent side of said central section whereby said wing sections may move between said generally horizontal work performing position and said generally vertical transport position with said central section; each of said wing sections being defined by a plurality of frames each adapted to mount ground engaging, work performing tools; additional hinge means hingedly interconnecting the frames of each wing section to permit relative movement therebetween about a generally horizontal axis extending approximately parallel to the direction of travel of said implement when said frames are in said work performing position; and means for substantially precluding said wing section frames from moving relative to each other when said sections are in said generally vertical transport position.

Claim 5

A farm implement of the foldable sectional tow type comprising: a wheeled cart; a central section adapted to mount ground working tools pivotally mounted on said wheeled cart for movement between a generally horizontal work performing position and a generally vertical, transport position; a pair of wing sections, one on each side of said central section; hinge means pivotally connecting each of said wing sections to the adjacent side of said central section whereby said wing sections may move between said generally horizontal work performing position and said generally vertical transport position with said central section; each of said wing sections being defined by a plurality of frames each adapted to mount ground engaging, work performing tools; additional hinge means hingedly interconnecting the frames of each wing section to permit relative movement therebetween about a generally horizontal axis extending approximately parallel to the direction of travel of said implement when said frames are in said work performing position; and means for substantially precluding said wing section frames from moving relative to each other when said sections are in said generally vertical transport position.

Claim 6

An implement according to claim 3 wherein said precluding means comprises means for selectively disabling said additional hinge means.

Claim 7

An implement according to claim 4 wherein said disabling means comprises at least one lock means on each of said wing sections.

Claim 8

An implement according to claim 5 wherein each of said lock means comprises a first element pivotally secured to one of the frames; a second element pivotally secured to the adjacent frame and pivotally secured to said first element; and means for precluding said first element from pivoting relative to said second element.

Claim 9

An implement according to claim 6 wherein said first element comprises an elongated handle and said second element includes an L-shaped link; and said precluding means comprises a lock pin adapted to interconnect said handle and said link at a point remote from their pivotal connection to each other.

Claim 10

An implement according to claim 3 wherein alternate ones of said frames comprising said wing sections and said central frame are staggered relative to the adjacent frames in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of said implement when said frames are in said work performing position to thereby preclude interference between tools secured to said frames.