US4026365A — Caster wheel supported agricultural implement wit…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 217 words

In an agricultural implement, in combination, an elongated transversely extending tool-carrying framework designed for reception of earth-working tools thereon in laterally spaced relationship, a first tractor hitch mounted on said framework in the medial region thereof for enabling the implement to be towed forwardly so that said framework advances in broadside fashion, a second tractor hitch mounted on one end of the framework for enabling the implement to be towed sidewise so that the framework advances endwise, a plurality of ground-engaging caster wheels carried by and operatively supporting the framework, all of said wheels being of the free-trailing caster type, and means automatically effective to lock one of said caster wheels for rotation in a plane parallel to the framework when the implement is towed endwise by said second hitch, said automatically effective locking means for said one caster wheel embodying a caster yoke for said wheel, a detent plate mounted on said yoke for movement in unison therewith and having a ramp portion thereon, and a locking pin movably mounted on the framework, slidably engageable with said ramp portion, and designed for locking cooperation with an opening which is formed in said detent plate and which moves into register with the locking pin when the caster wheel moves into its position of parallelism with said framework.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 217 words

In an agricultural implement, in combination, an elongated transversely extending tool-carrying framework designed for reception of earth-working tools thereon in laterally spaced relationship, a first tractor hitch mounted on said framework in the medial region thereof for enabling the implement to be towed forwardly so that said framework advances in broadside fashion, a second tractor hitch mounted on one end of the framework for enabling the implement to be towed sidewise so that the framework advances endwise, a plurality of ground-engaging caster wheels carried by and operatively supporting the framework, all of said wheels being of the free-trailing caster type, and means automatically effective to lock one of said caster wheels for rotation in a plane parallel to the framework when the implement is towed endwise by said second hitch, said automatically effective locking means for said one caster wheel embodying a caster yoke for said wheel, a detent plate mounted on said yoke for movement in unison therewith and having a ramp portion thereon, and a locking pin movably mounted on the framework, slidably engageable with said ramp portion, and designed for locking cooperation with an opening which is formed in said detent plate and which moves into register with the locking pin when the caster wheel moves into its position of parallelism with said framework.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 109 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said yoke is provided with an upstanding caster spindle which is rotatably journalled in the framework, the detent plate is provided with an upwardly presented generally cylindrical cam surface having a linear crest portion which projects radially outwardly of said spindle, said opening is formed in the distal end region of said crest portion, and the lower end of said locking pin is designed for selective camming engagement with the detent plate on either side of the opening, depending upon the direction of rotation of the yoke as the opening moves into register with said locking pin.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 78 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said locking pin projects loosely and slidably through said framework, has its lower end engageable with said detent plate under the influence of gravity, is removable endwise from the framework, and a storage opening is formed in said framework in the vicinity of said spindle for reception of the locking pin when it is desired that the associated caster wheel shall function for free trailing purposes.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein hydraulic means are provided for individually raising and lowering said caster wheels relative to the framework for consequent lowering and raising of the framework relative to the ground.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 214 words

In an agricultural earth-working implement, in combination, a rigid transversely extending horizontal support bar, a pair of normally aligned transversely extending horizontal tool bars designed for reception of earth-working tools thereon in laterally spaced relation and having their adjacent ends pivotally connected to the support bar on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of the implement, front and rear ground-engaging caster wheels mounted on the outer ends of each said tool bar whereby each said bar is constrained to rise and fall in conformity with an undulatory ground pattern, a central ground-engaging caster wheel mounted on said support bar and disposed rearwardly thereof, said support bar being provided with a centrally disposed tractor hitch for enabling the implement to be towed forwardly so that said support bar and tool bars advance in broadside fashion, one of said tool bars being provided with a second tractor hitch at its outer end for enabling the implement to be towed sidewise so that the support bar and tool bars advance endwise, all of said caster wheels being of the free-trailing caster type, and means automatically effective to lock said central caster wheel for rotation in a plane parallel to said support bar and tool bars when the implement is towed endwise by said second tractor hitch.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 214 words

In an agricultural earth-working implement, in combination, a rigid transversely extending horizontal support bar, a pair of normally aligned transversely extending horizontal tool bars designed for reception of earth-working tools thereon in laterally spaced relation and having their adjacent ends pivotally connected to the support bar on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of the implement, front and rear ground-engaging caster wheels mounted on the outer ends of each said tool bar whereby each said bar is constrained to rise and fall in conformity with an undulatory ground pattern, a central ground-engaging caster wheel mounted on said support bar and disposed rearwardly thereof, said support bar being provided with a centrally disposed tractor hitch for enabling the implement to be towed forwardly so that said support bar and tool bars advance in broadside fashion, one of said tool bars being provided with a second tractor hitch at its outer end for enabling the implement to be towed sidewise so that the support bar and tool bars advance endwise, all of said caster wheels being of the free-trailing caster type, and means automatically effective to lock said central caster wheel for rotation in a plane parallel to said support bar and tool bars when the implement is towed endwise by said second tractor hitch.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 122 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said front caster wheels is mounted on the distal end of a forwardly extending outer carrier arm which is pivoted at its rear proximate end to its associated tool bar, each of said rear caster wheels is mounted on the rear distal end of a rearwardly extending carrier arm which is pivoted at its front proximate end to its associated tool bar, the central caster wheel is mounted on the rear distal end of a rearwardly extending central carrier arm which is pivoted at its forward proximate end to the support bar, and hydraulic lift means are provided for individually raising and lowering each of said carrier arms.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 6, wherein the hydraulic lift means for each of the front and rear outer caster wheels comprises a hydraulic lift cylinder operatively connected between each outer arm and its associated tool bar, and the hydraulic lift means for the central caster wheel comprises a hydraulic lift cylinder operatively connected between a medial region of said central carrier arm and the support bar.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said automatically effective locking means for said central caster wheel embodies a caster yoke for such wheel and which underlies said central carrier arm, and cooperating detent elements on said latter arm and yoke which move into locking cooperation with each other when said central caster wheel assumes its position of parallelism with the support bar.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 109 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said automatically effective locking means for said central caster wheel embodies a caster yoke for such wheel and which underlies said central carrier arm, a detent plate mounted on said yoke for movement in unison therewith and having a ramp portion thereon, and a locking pin movably mounted on said central carrier arm, slidably engageable with said ramp portion, and designed for locking cooperation with an opening which is formed in said detent plate and which moves into register with the locking pin when the caster wheel moves into its position of parallelism with the support bar.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 111 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 9, wherein said yoke is provided with an upstanding caster spindle which is rotatably journalled in the central carrier arm, the detent plate is provided with an upwardly presented generally cylindrical cam surface having a linear crest portion which projects radially outwardly of said spindle, said opening is formed in the distal end region of said crest portion, and the lower end of the locking pin is designed for selective camming engagement with the detent plate on either side of the opening, depending upon the direction of rotation of the yoke as the opening moves into register with said locking pin.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 70 words

In an agricultural implement, the combination set forth in claim 10, wherein said locking pin projects loosely and slidably through said central carrier arm, has its lower end engageable with said detent plate under the influence of gravity, is removable endwise from the carrier arm, and a storage opening is formed in said carrier arm inwardly of its rear distal end and beyond the radial reach of said detent plate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-05-30	1980-11-29	1981-05-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-05-30	1984-11-29	1985-05-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-05-30	1988-11-29	1989-05-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Caster wheel supported agricultural implement with self-locking caster wheel

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