Patent ID: 7497269
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. An agricultural implement apparatus supported on wheels for movement along the ground in an operating travel direction, the apparatus comprising: a center section; an inner wing pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to one end of the center section about an inner wing axis oriented substantially horizontally and in alignment with the operating travel direction; an outer wing pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the inner wing about an outer wing axis oriented substantially parallel to the inner wing axis; and a wing extension pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the outer wing about a wing extension axis oriented substantially parallel to the inner wing axis; wherein the apparatus is movable from a field position, where the center section inner wing, outer wing, and wing extension are oriented substantially horizontally, to a folded transport position; and wherein the apparatus is moved to the folded transport position by pivoting the wing extension upward about the wing extension axis, and by pivoting the outer wing upward about the outer wing axis to a position extending upward and inward over the inner wing such that the wing extension axis is located above a mid-portion of the inner wing, and the wing extension extends substantially toward the inner wing axis such that the wing extension, outer wing, and inner wing form a triangle configuration, and by then pivoting the inner wing upward about the inner wing axis to an upright orientation wherein an apex of the triangle configuration is above a central portion of the center section; wherein the wing extension and outer wing are locked into alignment when in the field position such that pivotal movement about the wing extension axis is substantially prevented; an extendable transport actuator pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to the outer wing and pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to a lock mechanism connected to the wing extension, and wherein the transport actuator is operative to pivot the wing extension upward about the wing extension axis to the transport position, and is operative to pivot the wing extension downward about the wing extension axis to the field position, and wherein the lock mechanism is operative to lock the wing extension and outer wing into alignment such that when in the field position the wing extension and outer wing are maintained in alignment; wherein the lock mechanism is an over-centering lock mechanism configured such that when in the field position the wing extension and outer wing are maintained in alignment by the over-centering lock mechanism such that an upward force on the wing extension exerts no force on the transport actuator; wherein the lock mechanism comprises an inner link pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to the outer wing at a first pivot location above a wing frame; an outer link pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to the wing extension above a wing extension frame at a second pivot location below the first pivot location, and pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the inner link at a third pivot location below the second pivot location; and a stop mounted on the outer wing below the inner link such that when in the field position, the inner link rests on the stop; and wherein the transport actuator is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to the outer wing at a fourth pivot location above the first pivot location, and is pivotally attached to the inner link at a fifth pivot location above the first pivot location.