Patent ID: 6035943
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
An agricultural ground-working implement having both a lowered working mode and a raised transport mode, said implement including:(A) a main frame having ground-working tools thereon;(B) positioning wheels on said main frame having means associated therewith for moving the positioning wheels between working and transport positions;(C) an elongated towing hitch member having a rear end attached to a frontal end of said main frame for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the forward travel direction of said main frame, and a forward end connectable to a tractor drawbar;(D) a fluid actuator connected between the frontal end of said main frame and said hitch member at pivot points spaced from said horizontal axis for exerting components of force on said hitch member which tend to effect pivotal motion of said hitch member relative to said main frame;(E) fluid circuit means connectable to a source of fluid pressure and connected to said fluid actuator for controlling the forces exerted thereby between said hitch member and said main frame and selectively operable in:(a) the working mode such that said actuator exerts a selected resilient biasing force on said hitch member enabling a pivotal floating motion of the hitch member relative to said main frame while simultaneously countering force moments applied to said main frame by said tools and transferring downward force components to said hitch member and thence to the tractor drawbar; and(b) the transport mode wherein said actuator exerts sufficient force between said hitch member and the forward end of the main frame as to assist in lifting and maintaining said implement in the raised transport mode; and(F) depth stop means associated with said means for moving said positioning wheels to help establish a working height of said implement above ground in the working mode.