Folding frame implement with wing mounted support stand

An implement having a tool equipped tool bar with a central horizontal section, a wing pivotally mounted to each end of the central section, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the central section for each wing and connected with the wing to move the wing from a working position in general alignment with the central section to a folded storage, or transport position on the central section, a pair of spaced front support structures for the central section in the storage position and a support stand mounted on the wing, the support stand in the wing folded storage position extending downwardly and rearwardly of the tools to support the rear of the implement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention pertains generally to agricultural equipment. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Agricultural implements, which support a plurality of ground working tools, 
have frequently a rather lengthy, span which extends transversely to the 
direction of travel of the towing tractor in order to cultivate or 
otherwise work a large expanse of soil. For transport or storage the 
implement must be folded to a narrow configuration. The folding may be 
done in various ways. Probably the most common, however, is to provide a 
generally horizontal central section with a wing pivotally connected at 
each end of the central section and with each wing being foldable by a 
hydraulic cylinder about 180.degree. from the working position to a 
position wherein the wing rests on top of the central section. This 
provides a narrow and low configuration that is simple and stable while 
also not restricting operator visibility in transport. 
A problem arises when the operator desires to use the tractor for another 
purpose. The implement must be provided with suitable stands for storage 
that the operator must position by dismounting from the tractor, going to 
the rear of the folded implement, and pulling the stands down and fixing 
them in position by quick attachment pins, and then proceeding to the 
front of the implement and doing likewise with additional stands. 
Generally four or at least three stands are needed and located on the 
front and rear of the implement. The tractor can then be utilized to lower 
the implement preferably to rest on the stands with the tools out of 
contact with the ground, and then be driven away for use on other 
equipment. 
The above procedure takes undue time and must be reversed when the 
implement is again placed into use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Applicant, as a consequence, designed an implement that avoids the need for 
the operator to dismount from the tractor seat for the above-noted 
procedure. Specifically, Applicant provides a particular stand which is 
fastened to the top of a wing section when same is in the working 
position. The stand extends rearwardly from the wing, beyond the tools 
mounted thereon, and then upwardly. The upward length is preferably 
sufficient that it is more than the distance from the top of the implement 
central section to bottom of the tools mounted thereon. If spaced front 
carrying wheels mounted on the front of the implement are utilized, the 
operator only has to use the tractor to raise the implement including 
wings until the tools clear the ground and then fold, via the hydraulic 
cylinders, the wings to the storage position wherein the upward extending 
wing stand now automatically extends downwardly and rearwardly of the 
tools on the central section. The implement can now be lowered and the 
tractor disconnected, with the implement being supported by the central 
section carrying wheels in the front and the single wing stand in the 
rear. Normally only one wing stand--located between the two carrying 
wheels-- is necessary in a tripod arrangement. Of course, a stand for the 
other wing could be provided also for longer tool bars. 
Where no carrying wheels are utilized on the central section, the operator 
has to dismount and lower front stands after folding the wings. However, 
he does not have to go around the implement to the rear of same to lower 
the rear stand as same is automatically positioned on folding the wings. 
The stand, where same is attached to the wing, also provides a stop for 
the wing when same is folded. In the working position, the upwardly and 
rearwardly extending stand does not cause a problem as same is well 
inboard of the end of the wing. 
It, is therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new and improved 
agricultural implement. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an implement that when 
folded, automatically provides a rear stand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, 10 indicates an agricultural implement. Implement 
10 includes a frame consisting of a tool bar 11 having a central section 
12, a left wing 14 pivotally connected to one end of section 12 and a 
right wing 15 pivotally connected to the other end of section 12. The hand 
of the wings is determined when standing to the rear of tool bar 11 and 
looking forward to tractor 16 connected thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, tool 
bar 11 has lower brackets 17a and 17b and upper bracket 17c on the front 
thereof for a 3 point hitch connection to tractor 16. 
Wing 14 (see FIG. 3) is connected to central section 12 by hinge 18 for 
movement about upper offset axis 19. Wing 15 is similarly connected to 
central section 12. Hydraulic cylinder 20 having rod end 21 is preferably 
located inside hollow central section 12 with rod end 21 pivotally 
connected to rollers 23 and to links 25 which in turn are pivotally 
connected to ear 27 attached to wing 14. Wing 15 is similarly connected to 
the other end of section 12. The cylinder-links arrangement provides the 
180.degree. fold capability shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 3. Of 
course, other structure could be utilized to achieve the 180.degree. fold 
and, if need be, the cylinder could be mounted outside the central section 
12. 
The implement shown in the Figures is a rotary hoe. Obviously, other ground 
working tools could be utilized thereby providing cultivator or the like 
operation. As shown, the rotary hoe arrangement consists of two rows of 
hoes (front 28 and rear 29) mounted on shaft 30. Front row 28 utilizes 
short arms 31 and rear row utilizes long arms 32. Each arm is individually 
biased until the upper arm stops contact the tool bar by use of springs 
34. At the end of each hoe arm is rotary hoe wheel 35 rotatably mounted 
thereon. The hoe wheels are spaced along central section 12 and wings 14 
and 15 and provide individual hoe action when in the working position of 
FIG. 1. 
Also, a part of implement 10 and shown best in FIG. 3 are preferably spaced 
carrying wheels 37 and 38 on central section 12. Wheel 37 via holes in 
support arm 39 and bracket 40 is adjustably mounted on implement 10. Wheel 
38 is similarly mounted via arm 41 and bracket 42. Wheels 37 and 38 are 
used to support central section 12 when same is of considerable length in 
the working position and help gauge tool depth. Left wing 14 also has 
carrying wheel 43 which is adjustably mounted in wing 14 by arm 44 having 
suitable holes for bracket 45 mounted on wing 14. Wing 15 also has 
carrying wheel 47 similarly mounted thereon. Wheels 43 and 47 provide a 
similar function for wings 14 and 15 in the working position as the 
central section wheels. 
Implement 10 also includes stand 49. Stand 49 is preferably mounted on 
right wing 15 by U-bolt 50 and nuts 51. Stand 49 normally extends upwardly 
in the working position and rearwardly as shown in FIG. 1. When wing 15 is 
rotated to the transport or storage position of FIG. 1, stand 49 extends 
downwardly and rearwardly beyond the rearward extension of rear row 29 of 
hoe wheels 35. Preferably stand 49 has an enlarged base and has sufficient 
length to maintain the tools off the ground in conjunction with the front 
support means. As shown in FIG. 3, with the implement in the stored 
position with the tractor removed, carrying wheels 37 and 38 on the 
central section 12 and on the front thereof support the stored implement 
in conjunction with stand 49 on the rear of the implement as shown in FIG. 
2. Normally only one stand, located between wheels 37 and 38, is required 
in a tripod support arrangement. For longer tool bars a similar stand 
could be mounted on left wing 14 for a four point support. 
On smaller tool bars where wheels 37 and 38 are not required for working, 
straight stands adjustably mounted on the front of central section 12 may 
be utilized in place of wheels 37 and 38 to provide a three point support 
with stand 49. Of course, they would have to be manually manipulated to 
prepare the implement for working and storage. The operator would not have 
to manipulate stand 49, however. 
In operation, with front mounted carrying wheels 37 and 38 utilized, the 
implement is as in FIG. 1. Preferably wing wheels 43 and 47 are also 
utilized although this would depend on the length of wing and also on flex 
or non-flex operation. Upon the completion of the hoeing, the operator 
would use the tractor to raise the tool bar to remove the tools from the 
soil and then actuate the wing cylinders to fold the wings to the position 
of FIG. 2, wherein the wings are approximately 180.degree. from the 
working position. Here stand 49 also provides a stop with central section 
12. Stand 49 now automatically extends rearwardly beyond the rear hoe 
wheels 35 and downwardly therefrom. When the tool bar is lowered, the 
implement now rests on carrying wheels 37 and 38 in the front of the tool 
bar and stand 49 with the tools carrying no load. The tractor can now be 
released at its 3 point connection and driven away for other use. 
Upon again commencing hoeing, the tractor is again connected to the 
implement, the implement lifted and then the wings unfolded to the working 
position of FIG. 1 and the implement lowered to start the working process. 
The operator does not have to dismount from the tractor in either case to 
adjust stands. 
Where front carrying wheels 37 and 38 are not utilized, the front stands in 
lieu thereof would have to be physically manipulated. However, (and as 
mentioned) the operator does not have to walk around to the rear of the 
folded implement to change the position of the rear stand as stand 49 is 
automatically positioned as desired by the folding of wing 14.