Patent ID: 8215413
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. An agricultural system comprising: a hitch assembly including a first end coupled to a hitch and a spaced-apart second end, the hitch assembly configured to transfer lateral forces to a tow vehicle as the agricultural system is towed across a field; a central boom coupled to the second end of the hitch assembly by a pivotal coupling and supported at each end by first ground engaging wheels, the central boom extending transverse to a direction of travel; wing members coupled at each end of the central boom and extending therefrom, the wing members each pivotably coupled at one end to the central boom and having a spaced-apart opposite free end, each of the wing members supported by wing wheels near the free end, each wing member cooperating with the central boom to extend transverse to a direction of travel when the agricultural assembly is in a working position, the wing members configured to move between the working position and a folded transport position; a rear frame including a first end rigidly coupled to the central boom, a spaced-apart second end and an elongated portion positioned therebetween, the rear frame extending aft of the central boom and supported at the second end by second ground engaging wheels; wing frames pivotally coupled to each wing member and extending aft therefrom when in the working position, the wing frames supporting a plurality of row units rearward of the central boom, the wing frames configured to be movable between a ground-engaging position aft of its respective wing member when in the working position and a raised position substantially above its respective wing member when in the folded transport position; and actuators for moving wing members and their respective wing frames between the working position and the folded transport position, at least some actuators spanning pivotal joints between the wing frames and each wing member; wherein when the agricultural assembly is moved from the working position to the folded transport position, the actuators are activated to pivotably move the wing frames of the wing members from the ground-engaging position to the raised position above their respective wing member, and to move each wing member rearward such that each wing member is positioned in the folded transport position next to and substantially parallel to the elongated portion of the rear frame such that the wing member and its associated wing frames are positioned substantially between the first ground engaging wheels under the central boom and the second ground engaging wheels under the rear frame such that the wing wheels, the second ground engaging wheels of the rear frame and the first ground engaging wheels of the central frame carry the weight of each wing member and its respective wing frames when the agricultural assembly is positioned in the folded transport position such that no significant weight from each wing member and its associated wing frames is transmitted to the hitch assembly.