Folding outrigger attachment for farm implements

Claim 2

A folding implement comprising, in combination: a center carriage having ground engaging wheels to support the carriage; at least one wing section cooperative with and hingedly attached to the carriage for pivoting the wing section between a field travel, extended position substantially transverse to the direction of carriage travel and a road travel, folded position substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel; means for connecting the wing section to the carriage, said means for connecting having an upstanding wing support member and a first hinge connection defining an axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel, said first hinge connection connecting the carriage to the wing support member and defining means for pivoting the wing section to follow the contour of the ground independent of the carriage when the wing section is in the extended position; said means for connecting further including a second hinge connection defining a substantially upright axis, said second hinge connection connecting the wing section to the wing support member and defining means for pivoting the wing section about the upright axis between the extended position and the folded position; and a flexible linking member connected between the wing support member and the carriage including means for altering the length of the linking member, said linking member controlling the extent of pivotal motion of the wing support member about an axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel and further providing cantilever support for the wing section when the wing section is in the folded position.

Claim 3

The implement of claim 1 wherein the first hinge connection is comprised of a pair of horizontally spaced hinges connecting the carriage to the wing support member and the second hinge connection is comprised of a pair of vertically spaced hinges connecting the wing section to the wing support member.

Claim 4

The implement of claim 1 including a detachable, fixed length link between the carriage and the wing support member.

Claim 5

The implement of claim 1 including a transport support bar on the carriage for cooperative support of the wing section in the road travel, folded position.

Claim 6

A folding implement comprising, in combination: a carriage having running gear, an attached tongue for transport of the carriage, and a tool hitch for support of a farm tool assembly by the carriage; said running gear attached to the carriage including ground engaging wheels for support thereof during ground transport of the carriage, said running gear including means for raising and lowering the carriage and attached tool assembly; at least one wing section and associated wing tool assembly, said wing section hingedly attached to the carriage by a hinge assembly for pivoting the wing section between a field travel, extended position substantially transverse to the direction of carriage travel and road travel, folded position substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel; said hinge assembly including a first hinge couple having first and second leaves with the first leaf connected to the carriage, and a second hinge couple having first and second leaves with the first leaf connected to the wing section, said second leaves of the couples being connected to an upstanding bracket intermediate the hinge couples, said first hinge couple connected to one side of the bracket and the second hinge couple connected to the opposite side of the bracket, one of said couples defining a pivot axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel for pivoting the wing section to follow the contour of the ground when the wing section is in the extended position, and the other couple defining a substantially upright axis of pivoting the wing section about the upright axis between the extended position and the folded position; and a flexible linkage connecting the bracket to the carriage, said linkage controlling the extent of pivotal movement of the bracket and attached wing section about an axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel and further providing cantilever support for the wing section when the wing section is in the folded position.

Claim 7

A folding implement comprising, in combination: a carriage having running gear, an attached tongue for transport of the carriage, and a tool hitch for support of a farm tool assembly by the carriage; said running gear attached to the carriage including ground engaging wheels for support thereof during ground transport of the carriage, said running gear including means for raising and lowering the carriage and attached tool assembly; at least one wing section and associated wing tool assembly, said wing section hingedly attached to the carriage by a hinge assembly for pivoting the wing section between a field travel, extended position substantially transverse to the direction of carriage travel and road travel, folded position substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel; said hinge assembly including a first hinge couple having first and second leaves with the first leaf connected to the carriage, and a second hinge couple having first and second leaves with the first leaf connected to the wing section, said second leaves of the couples being connected to an upstanding bracket intermediate the hinge couples, said first hinge couple connected to one side of the bracket and the second hinge couple connected to the opposite side of the bracket, one of said couples defining a pivot axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel for pivoting the wing section to follow the contour of the ground when the wing section is in the extended position, and the other couple defining a substantially upright axis of pivoting the wing section about the upright axis between the extended position and the folded position; and a flexible linkage connecting the bracket to the carriage, said linkage controlling the extent of pivotal movement of the bracket and attached wing section about an axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel and further providing cantilever support for the wing section when the wing section is in the folded position.

Claim 8

The implement of claim 5 including a removable fixed link connected between the bracket and the carriage to limit pivotal movement of the bracket and the attached wing section about an axis substantially aligned with the direction of carriage travel.

Claim 9

The implement of claim 5 including means for varying the length of the flexible linkage.

Claim 10

The implement of claim 5 wherein the first hinge couple comprises at least a pair of horizontally spaced hinges connecting the bracket to the carriage and the second hinge couple comprises at least a pair of vertically spaced hinges connecting the bracket to the wing section.

Claim 11

The implement of claim 5 including a wing section attached on each side of the carriage to the carriage by first and second couple means.