Patent ID: 6647705
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
In a flex wing rotary cutter including a deck assembly comprising a central unit, a wing unit hinged to said central unit for movement about a hinge axis between a lowered working condition and a raised transport position, a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the central unit and the wing unit for raising the latter to its transport position, and a latch structure coupled between said central unit and said wing unit for selectively securing said wing unit in its raised transport position, the improvement comprising: said latch structure being defined at least in part by an elongate strut including first and second sections, a lost-motion connection between said strut first and second sections permitting the latter to move between fully extended and retracted positions; first and second upstanding brackets being respectively fixed to said central and wing units at opposite sides of said hinge axis; said hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends respectively pivotally coupled to said first and second upstanding brackets; and said strut being mounted to said first and second brackets at respective locations above the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder, with said strut first section being coupled to said central unit and said strut second section being coupled to said wing unit such that said strut extends across, and crosswise to, said hinge axis; said strut collapsing to its retracted position in response to said wing unit being pivoted to said transport position; and a locking member being coupled to said first and second sections of said strut for fixing them together in said retracted position of said strut and thereby locking said wing unit in said transport position.