Wing frame control mechanism for ground working implement

Claim 2

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for pivotal movement about horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main fame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating positions raised 180* from their operating positions wherein the wings are disposed horizontal and at rest on support members of the main frame; the combination therewith of control means comprising first control arms pivotally connected to each of the wing frames, second control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of and below said horizontal axes on which the wing frame pivotally move, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said second control arms, each said first control arms being pivotally connected to one of said second control arms, and a control link pivotally interconnected between a respective one of said pivotally connected first and second control arms and a respective one of the third control arms, actuating means interconnecting said third control arms and operatively movable between first and second positions to effect selective movement of the wing frames through pivoting of said control arms and links, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of the wing frames through substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions upon said actuating means moving between the first and second positions.

Claim 3

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames are at rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings and the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizontal axis, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms and selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, and Cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 4

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames are at rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings and the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizontal axis, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms and selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, and Cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 5

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180 between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings, the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizontal axis, and third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, wherein the second control arms are longer than the first control arms and the third control arms are longer than the second control arms, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms and selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 6

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180 between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings, the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizontal axis, and third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, wherein the second control arms are longer than the first control arms and the third control arms are longer than the second control arms, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms and selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 wherein the common pivot connections of the first and second control arms lie outwardly of and above the horizontal axes on which the wing frames pivot when they are in their extended operating positions, the pivotal connection of each first control arms to the wing frame then being disposed below and generally in a vertical plane containing its said common pivot connection.

Claim 8

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings and the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizontal axis, the first control arms being of shorter length than the second control arms, and the common pivot connection of the first and second control arms lying outwardly of and above the horizontal axis on which the wing frame pivots when it is in its extended operating position, the pivotal connection of the first control arm to the wing framE then being disposed below and generally in a vertical plane containing said common pivot connection, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms and selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 9

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings and the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizontal axis, the first control arms being of shorter length than the second control arms, and the common pivot connection of the first and second control arms lying outwardly of and above the horizontal axis on which the wing frame pivots when it is in its extended operating position, the pivotal connection of the first control arm to the wing framE then being disposed below and generally in a vertical plane containing said common pivot connection, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms and selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 10

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings and the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizonal axis, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, said extendible means being thereby selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms comprising extendible piston means including a cylinder and piston assembly having opposite end portions connected to the third control arms at a distance spaced from the pivotal connections of said third control arms through the main frame such that extension of the pivot means effects pivotal movement of the third control arms in directions outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the main frame, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 11

In a ground working implement having a main frame and a pair of wing frames hingedly supported by the main frame on opposite sides thereof for swinging movement about generally horizontal axes between operating positions wherein the wing frames extend outwardly from the main frame in substantially planar alignment therewith and non-operating horizontal positions wherein the wing frames rest on supporting members of the main frame, the combination therewith of control mechanism means operatively associated with the wing frames for moving them through substantially equal and opposite pivotal movements of substantially 180* between their operating and non-operating positions, said control mechanism means including first and second common pivot connected control arms, the first of said control arms being pivotally connected to the associated wing frame outwardly of the horizontal axis on which the wing frame swings and the second control arm being pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of said horizonal axis, third control arms pivotally connected to the main frame inwardly of the pivotal connection of the second control arms thereto, a control link interconnecting said common pivot connection of each pair of said first and second control arms with an adjacent one of said third control arms, said extendible means being thereby selectively operable to move said common pivot connections in directions toward and away from each other to effectively vary the spacing of said common pivot connections, extendible means interconnecting said third control arms comprising extendible piston means including a cylinder and piston assembly having opposite end portions connected to the third control arms at a distance spaced from the pivotal connections of said third control arms through the main frame such that extension of the pivot means effects pivotal movement of the third control arms in directions outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the main frame, and cross linkage means interconnecting said third control arms for effecting simultaneous equal and opposite pivotal movements of said wing frames as said wing frames move between their operating and non-operating positions in response to operation of said extendible means.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 6 wherein the cross linkage means comprises a pair of cross links of equal length and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the third control arms, each of said cross links having one end pivotally connected to one third arm above its pivotal connection to the main frame and having its other end pivotally connected to the other third control arm below its pivotal connection to the main frame.