Patent ID: 6532723
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
In an agricultural implement including a chassis supported on a pair of transversely spaced ground wheels for traversing the ground and a crop harvesting arrangement mounted for being carried by the chassis for transport in longitudinal and transverse positions relative to a direction of travel during operation, the improvement comprising: said crop harvesting arrangement including a central main body and a plurality of peripheral components including an elongate, transversely extending, front peripheral component and opposite side components; said front peripheral component having a length substantially equal to a distance between outer surfaces of said pair of transversely spaced ground wheels and defining a transverse interface with an upper front location of said central main body, and being mounted to said central main body at said transverse interface for pivoting about a horizontal transverse axis between a lowered, operating position wherein said front peripheral component projects forward of said main body, and a raised, transport position, wherein said front peripheral body is located entirely behind a forward end of said main body; said opposite side components respectively defining fore-and-aft extending opposite side interfaces with upper opposite side locations of said central main body, and being respectively mounted to opposite sides of said main body for pivoting at said opposite side interfaces for pivoting about respective first and second horizontal, fore-and-aft extending axes between a lowered working position wherein a distance between respective outermost surfaces of said opposite side components is greater than said distance between outer surfaces of said pair of ground wheels, and a raised transport position, wherein said opposite side components are located from each other by a distance within said distance between said pair of ground wheels; said distance between outer surfaces of said pair of ground wheels being located within the confines of, or matching maximum legally permitted dimensions for the transport of said implement on public roads when said peripheral components are in said respective transport positions.