Balanced implement transport vehicle

A balanced implement transport includes a rotatable drawbar having a first plurality of spaced apart implement hitch frames, for connection to individual implements to be drawn over the surface of the ground disposed for rotation with the drawbar between a position generally parallel with the surface of the ground, and a raised, substantially vertical transport position; and a second plurality of spaced apart implement hitch frames, for connection to individual implements to be drawn over the surface of the ground, rotatably disposed on said drawbar, for adjustable positioning thereon between a position parallel to the first plurality of implement hitch frames and a position of greater than 90 angular degree displacement so that the centers of gravity of the first implement hitches may be disposed on one side of the drawbar and those of the second implement hitches are disposed on the other side of the drawbar. The implement hitches are suitably staggered and disposed to be operative with ground working implements attached at all times.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to improvements in agricultural implement transport 
vehicles and is more particularly directed to a balanced implement 
transport vehicle to be used as a drawbar for a multiplicity of 
earth-working implements, when in an operative position, and to carry the 
same from one location to another when in a transport position. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The prior art is replete with numerous examples of towing vehicles to 
distribute the draft force from a prime mover to a plurality of 
earth-working implements. Many of such vehicles are of such size, when in 
operative position, as to be particularly suited to a foldable type of 
construction, and, in many cases, are configured to provide a lifting of 
the implements attached thereto during transport activities from one 
location to another. At least two disadvantages of known prior art 
vehicles have been noted to exist in the ponderosity dictated by the mass 
of the structural aspects of such apparatus that is required to raise and 
support the implements during the lifting and transport operations and the 
lack of versatility to operate under adverse operating conditions or with 
a variety of earth-working implements. 
Examples of such prior art, as has been determined in the course of a 
search of the U.S. Letters Patent, are set forth in the following list: 
______________________________________ 
Patent Number Inventor Issue Date 
______________________________________ 
3,428,333 Nelson 2/18/69 
3,967,684 Haverdink 7/6/76 
3,154,151 Zimmer et al 10/27/64 
4,088,346 Schreiner et al 
5/9/78 
3,841,412 Sosalla 10/15/74 
3,162,459 Marmorine et al 
12/22/64 
3,935,696 Pavel 2/3/76 
3,006,422 Mighell 10/31/61 
4,002,334 Wilbeck 1/11/77 
3,651,870 Calkins 3/28/72 
3,901,327 Mitchell 8/26/75 
______________________________________ 
The objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the 
following Summary and Description. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a vehicle to receive, tow and 
carry a plurality of earth-working implements in an improved and facile 
manner. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a balanced implement 
transporting vehicle in which the vehicle may be fabricated of lightweight 
material and which is stable, for the purposes designed, in a draft or 
towing mode of operation as well as a transport operation. 
In the illustrated embodiments of this invention, a three-section foldable 
drawbar is rotatably disposed on a wheeled support that is in turn adapted 
to be attached to a source of draft force, such as a prime mover tractor. 
A plurality of implement connecting frames are disposed along the length 
of the rotatable and foldable drawbar such that one plurality of alternate 
frames are ridigly attached to the rotatable drawbar for rotation 
therewith and to be operated between positions substantially parallel to 
the surface of the earth and in a vertical upraised position. The other 
plurality of alternate frames are adjustably rotatably disposed on the 
drawbar and for rotation therewith, such that their position with respect 
to the drawbar may be adjusted from one substantially parallel to the 
surface of the earth or to a position, with respect to the drawbar, that 
will dispose the center of gravity thereof on the opposite side of the 
drawbar with respect to the first plurality of alternately disposed 
frames. It will be seen that the last mentioned plurality of frames may be 
suitably rotated to various intermediate positions, with respect to the 
drawbar as it rotates, so as to place the center of gravity of the frames 
(and attached implements) on the opposite side of the drawbar as it is 
rotated to raise the other frames to a vertical (transport) position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The vehicle of this invention is indicated generally by reference character 
30 and includes a drawbar 10 that is rotatably disposed, for approximately 
90.degree. rotation, on the rear end of a towing frame 70 that is in turn 
attached to the drawbar of a tractor 90. A plurality of long hitch frames, 
20, and short hitch frames, 40, are shown alternately disposed along the 
length of drawbar 10. 
Drawbar 10 is shown comprised of a center section 11, and right and left 
sections 12 and 13 that are connected to center section 11 through right 
U-joint 14 and left U-joint 15. Right and left drawbar sections 12 and 13 
on drawbar 10 are further provided with right and left transport wheels 16 
and 17, disposed on suitable axles 93 and 94 and right and left support 
wheels 18 and 19 disposed on suitable axles 95 and 96. Center section 11 
of the drawbar 10 is rotatably disposed on the rear portion of towing 
frame 70 for rotation about a lateral axis so that right and left sections 
12 and 13 are rotatable therewith, as will be described below. 
Towing frame 70 includes a right side rail 71, and left side rail 72 and a 
hitch 73, adapted for connection to the drawbar 91 of tractor 90 through a 
suitable pin 92. Towing frame 70 is supported by right and left wheels 75 
and 76 and includes a wing frame 74 that is pivotally disposed on the top 
of side rails 72 and 73 through suitable pivots 78 and 79 and includes a 
front latch, indicated generally by reference character 80. Left cable 81 
is shown extending from the forward portion of rotatable wing frame 74 to 
the outer portion of left section 13 on drawbar 10 and right cable 82 is 
shown connected from the forward portion of wing frame 74 to the outer 
portion of right portion, 12, of drawbar 10. 
Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings, center section 11 of 
drawbar 10 is shown pivotally disposed on right and left pivots 100 and 
101 that are attached to the top rear of side rails 71 and 72 on towing 
frame 70, through pins 102 and 103 that are connected through right and 
left lever arms 104 and 105 attached, through suitable means, such as by 
welding, to center section 11. The opposite ends of right lever arm 104 
and left lever arm 105 are provided with appropriate pivot connections 106 
and 107 respectively to hydraulic pistons 110 and 111 respectively. A pair 
of right and left hydraulic cylinders, 108 and 109 are shown pivotally 
disposed on right and left pivot assemblies 112 and 113 disposed on right 
and left side rails 71 and 72 on towing frame 70. Left cylinder 109 is 
shown having suitable hoses 115 and 116 for connection to a source of 
hydraulic fluid under pressure (not shown). 
Right and left side rails 21 and 22 of long hitch frame 20 are shown 
attached in spaced apart disposition through suitable mounting means 23 
and 24 (which may be welded or bolted or the like) for rotation with 
center section 11 on drawbar 10. Similarly the left side 42 of a short 
hitch frame 40 is shown pivotally disposed in a pivot 120, through pin 44 
and the right side rail of a short frame 40 is shown pivotally disposed in 
a pivot means, 121, through pin 43. 
Referring to FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings, the relationship and 
relative positions of the short and long hitch frame members 20 and 40 
with respect to the surface of the earth, drawbar 10 and the other 
portions of the vehicle, as well as the configuration of the long and 
short hitch frames, are shown in various positions of the cycle of 
operation. 
Long hitch frames 20 and short hitch frames 40 are configured and disposed 
on drawbar 10 in a staggered relationship to provide for earth-working 
implements of a size that will permit an overlapping earth-working 
function whereby the entire width of drawbar 10 may be utilized to 
completely work the surface of the ground over which it may be drawn. 
Long hitch frame 20 is provided with right and left side members 21 and 22 
that are suitably interconnected. The front ends are mounted upon drawbar 
10, for rotation therewith, through right and left mounting means 23 and 
24. The rear ends of side members 21 and 22 are pivotally connected to an 
elongated implement connector 25 at right and left pivot means 26 and 27. 
An implement 31 is shown operatively connected, through appropriate means 
(not shown) to the rear end of implement connector 25. 
Short hitch frame 40 is also generally rectangularly shaped and includes 
right and left side members 41 and 42 that are rotatably disposed on front 
right and left pivot means 43 and 44 to provide a rotatable draft 
connection to drawbar 10. Side members 41 and 42 are shown having a curved 
side configuration to allow for the positioning of an implement in a 
suspended location thereunder so that the center of gravity is located at 
a position on the front side of drawbar 10. A comparatively short 
implement connector 45 is shown pivotally connected to the rear ends of 
right and left side members 41 and 42 through right and left pivot means 
46 and 47. An arm 48, adapted to pivotally receive the end of a hydraulic 
cylinder 49 at one end is rigidly connected to rotate with drawbar 10. A 
piston 50 extends from cylinder 49 to a member disposed intermediate right 
and left sides 41 and 42 on short hitch frame 40. Cylinder 49 is provided 
with hoses 51 and 52 for connection to a suitable source of hydraulic 
fluid under pressure. 
It may now be appreciated that long hitch frames 20 are operable to rotate 
with the entire length of drawbar 10 and that short hitch frames 40 are 
likewise operable to rotate with drawbar 10 in a similar fashion and are 
also adjustably rotatable with respect to drawbar 10 as will be set forth 
below. Hydraulic cylinders 108 and 109 are typically operated in unison 
through suitable means (not shown) to rotate drawbar 10 between its 
transport and earth working positions. Hydraulic cylinders 49 in each of 
short hitch frames, 40, are operated independently of hydraulic cylinders 
108 and 109, but typically are operated in unison through suitable means 
(not shown). 
Other implements 61, may also be suitably attached to drawbar 10 for 
concurrent operation. 
OPERATION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 and the dotted outline portions of FIG. 3 illustrate a plan view of 
the invention in operative earth-working disposition. The solid outline on 
the plan view of FIG. 3 indicates the apparatus in a transport position, 
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the apparatus with the implements in a raised 
transport position and drawbar 10 in an operative position. 
With the apparatus in the position of FIG. 1 and assuming that an area of 
ground has been covered, an operator on tractor 70, being provided with a 
typical hydraulic control system (not shown) will initiate the rotation of 
drawbar 10 through suitable energization of right and left cylinders 108 
and 109 to cause drawbar 10 to start rotation in a counterclockwise 
direction (as viewed on FIGS. 9 and 10). He will have previously applied 
provide fluid under pressure to cylinders 49 on short hitch frames 40 to 
first initially raise short hitch frames 40 from the generally horizontal 
earth-working position to a generally vertical over center position as 
illustrated in FIG. 9. The counterclockwise rotation of drawbar 10 
initiates the movement of long hitch frames 20, carried by drawbar 10, 
from the generally horizontal earth-working position toward a vertical 
transport position. FIG. 10 shows the relationship of long and short hitch 
frames 20 and 40 as the implements 31 are raised into a transport 
position. 
When the rotation of drawbar 10 has been completed through an approximate 
90 degree sector, transport wheels 16 and 17 will be in a vertical 
position to support the outer ends of right and left sections 12 and 13 on 
drawbar 10 and the relationship of short hitch frames 40, having traveled 
past a vertical position may be adjusted to balance the weight on the 
forward side of drawbar 10 with the weight on the rear side. With all of 
the implements in the raised position, as shown on FIGS. 2 and 4, the 
front latch 80 on towing frame 70 may be released and tractor 90 driven in 
a forward direction which will result in right and left sections 12 and 13 
on drawbar 10 swinging rearwardly as they pivot about universal joints 
(knuckle) 14 and 15 respectively and wing frame 74 will raise upwardly and 
assume a near vertical position (not shown). 
It may be noted that the relative position of the short and long frame 
hitches 40 and 20 in the solid outline portion of FIG. 3 allows the use of 
implements having a maximum earth-working width due to the disposition of 
the short frames 40 adjacent center portion 11 on drawbar 10 so that in 
the transport mode of operation, implements supported therefrom are 
disposed on the outside of the transport mode of the vehicle. 
As may be now be appreciated, the invention provides an implement vehicle 
which achieves a substantial increase in efficiency through the use of 
lighter weight materials and hydraulic system components with an attendant 
result that the vehicle becomes more flexible in operation due to the lack 
of interference between the implements and frames when in the raised 
transport mode of operation and, because of the balanced load disposed 
over drawbar 10, the effects of rough terrain and speed of the vehicle are 
substantially less destructive to the structure.