Abstract:
An apparatus for use with an agricultural assembly including at least one rigid support member and a plurality of power cables that traverse along trajectories generally aligned with a cable trajectory adjacent a mounting segment on a mounting side of the support member, the apparatus comprising a substantially rigid restraining member that forms an elongated passageway that traverses between first and second ends and that defines a minimum cross sectional area that loosely accommodates all of the cables passing therethrough and a mounting member linked to the restraining member and operable to mount the restraining member to the mounting side of the support member such that the passageway is substantially aligned with the cable trajectory wherein the cables are loosely receivable through the passageway to generally retain the cables proximate the support member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application No. 10/062,612 which was entitled “Planter Hitch Apparatus” and which was filed on Jan. 31, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to agricultural equipment and more specifically to a hose guide for use with an extendable multi-stage hitch assembly for linking an agricultural implement to a prime mover.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Various types of agricultural implements have been developed that can be linked via an implement tongue member to a tractor hitch or other type of prime mover to facilitate different tasks including, for example, seeding, fertilizing and tilling. Hereinafter, unless indicated otherwise, the background of the invention and the present invention will be described in the context of an exemplary planter implement assembly.  
           [0004]    While there are many different factors that have to be considered when assessing the value of a planter assembly, one relatively important factor is how quickly the assembly can accomplish the task that the assembly has been designed to facilitate. One way to increase task speed has been to increase planter assembly width thereby reducing the number of passes required to perform the implement&#39;s task for an entire field. Thus, for instance, doubling the width of the exemplary planter assembly generally reduces the time required to completely seed a field by half.  
           [0005]    With the development of modern high-powered tractors and planter assemblies, many planter assemblies extend to operating field widths of 40 feet or more. Hereinafter when a planter assembly is extended into an operating configuration to accomplish a seeding task, the planter assembly will be said to be in an operating position and have an operating width.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, while expansive planter assembly operating widths are advantageous for quickly accomplishing tasks, such expansive widths cannot be tolerated during planter assembly transport and storage. With respect to transport, egresses to many fields are simply not large enough to accommodate transport of a 40 plus foot planter assembly into and out of the fields. In addition, often buildings and fences obstruct passageways and therefore will not allow transport. Moreover, many farm fields are separated by several miles and farmers have to use commercial roadways to transport their planter assemblies to and from fields. Essentially all commercial roadways are not designed to facilitate wide planter assembly transport.  
           [0007]    Recognizing the need for expansive planter assembly operating widths and relatively narrow transport widths, the industry has developed some solutions that facilitate both transport and operating widths. To this end, one solution has been to provide piece-meal planter assemblies that can be disassembled into separate sections and stacked on a wheel supported carrier member or on a separate trailer for transport. Obviously this solution is disadvantageous as it requires excessive labor to assemble and disassemble the planter assemblies between transport and intended use and may also require additional equipment (e.g., an additional trailer).  
           [0008]    Another solution has been to provide a folding planter assembly configuration. For instance, in a “scissors type” configuration, where a planter assembly chassis is supported by wheels, right and left implement bars are pivotally mounted to the chassis where each bar is moveable between an operating position extending laterally from the chassis and a transport position where the bar is forwardly swingable over the tongue member and supportable by the tongue member during transport. As another instance, “pivotal-type” configurations provide a single implement bar centrally mounted for pivotal movement on a wheel supported carrier platform where the single bar is pivotable about the mount so that half of the bar extends over the tongue member and is supportable thereby and the other half of the bar extends away from the tractor behind the chassis. In either of these scissors or pivotal configurations, the tongue member has to be long enough to accommodate half the implement bar length plus some clearance required to allow a tractor linked to the tongue member to turn left and right. Thus, for instance, where the planter assembly operating width is 40 feet, the tongue member generally has to be greater than 20 feet long.  
           [0009]    While task speed is one important criteria with which to judge planter assembly value, one other important criteria is planter assembly effectiveness and efficiency. In agricultural endeavors, perhaps the most important measure of effectiveness is yield per acre. For this reason, when seeding a field, a farmer wants to seed every possible square foot of the field and thereafter, when maintaining (i.e., tilling, fertilizing, etc.) and harvesting a field, the farmer wants to avoid destroying the plants in the field. To maximize field seeding, farmers typically travel along optimal field paths. For instance, to ensure that seed is planted along the entire edge of a field, a farmer typically starts seeding the field by first traveling around the edge of the field with a seeding implement at least once and often two or more times along adjacent consecutively smaller paths prior to traveling in parallel rows through the field. These field edge paths are generally referred to in the industry as headland passes. By performing one or more headland passes about a field edge prior to performing parallel passes, the farmer provides a space for turning the tractor and implement around between parallel passes while still covering the entire space along the field edge.  
           [0010]    While headland passes increase overall field coverage, whenever a tractor is driven over field sections that have already been seeded, the tractor and planter assembly wheels crush the seeds or growing plants that they pass over and therefore reduce overall field production (i.e., yield per acre). For this reason, as known in the industry, where possible, farmers routinely attempt to reduce the number of headland passes required in a field.  
           [0011]    Unfortunately, the number of headland passes required to facilitate complete field coverage is related to the turning radius of a tractor and planter assembly combination and the combination turning radius is directly related to the length of the tongue member between the planter assembly and the tractor. Thus, for instance, where the tongue is six feet long the turning radius may require only one headland pass while a twenty foot long tongue may require two or more headland passes to facilitate complete coverage.  
           [0012]    Recognizing that a short tongue during planter assembly operation reduces the number of required headland passes and therefore increases efficiency and that a long tongue is desirable to accommodate pivotal and scissors type implement configurations, some industry members have developed staged tongue members that expand to accommodate implement transport and retract to provide a minimal turning radius during implement operation. One of these solutions provides a single stage telescoping tongue member including a first tongue member mounted to a planter assembly chassis and a second tongue member that is telescopically received in the first tongue member. To facilitate expansion and retraction, a hydraulic cylinder is positioned within one of the first and second tongue members with a base member mounted to one of the tongue members and a rod secured to the other of the tongue members. With relatively large implements and tractors, the force required by the cylinder is relatively large. By placing the cylinder inside the tongue members, cylinder force is evenly distributed thereby reducing cylinder wear, reducing cylinder requirements and increasing the useful cylinder life cycle.  
           [0013]    While better than non-telescoping tongue members, unfortunately, single stage members cannot telescope between optimal maximum and minimum lengths. For this reason, where single stage tongue members have been employed, either extended implement operating width has been minimized or extra headland passes have been used to accommodate a larger than optimum turning radius.  
           [0014]    One other solution has been to provide a multi-stage tongue member that is able to telescope between optimal maximum and minimum lengths. Designing workable multi-stage tongue assemblies, however, has proven to be a difficult task. To this end, a separate cylinder is required for each stage in a multi-stage assembly. For instance, in a two stage assembly at least two cylinders are required. Unfortunately, in the case of a retracted multi-stage tongue assembly, the retracted assembly can only accommodate a single internally mounted cylinder (i.e., a cylinder mounted within the internal tongue assembly member). As indicated above, to balance cylinder load during operation and thereby minimize cylinder wear and increase useful cylinder lifecycle, the industry has opted to place tongue dedicated cylinders inside tongue member passageways and external tongue dedicated cylinders have not been considered a viable option.  
           [0015]    One exemplary and seemingly workable multi-stage tongue assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,956 which is entitled “Forwardly Folding Tool Bar” and which issued on May 19, 1992 (hereinafter “the &#39;956 patent”). The implement configuration in the &#39;956 patent teaches a scissors-type implement having left and right bar members mounted to a wheel supported chassis for pivotal rotation between an extended operating position and a transport position over the tongue assembly. The tongue assembly is mounted to the chassis and extends toward a tractor including several (e.g., 5) telescoped tongue members including a distal tongue member  14  that actually links to a tractor hitch. To move the bar members between the operating and transport positions the &#39;956 patent teaches that first and second hydraulic cylinders are mounted between the chassis and a point spaced from the chassis on each of the right and left bar members, respectively. By extending cylinder rods, the bar members are driven into extended operating positions and when the rods are retracted the bar members are driven into transport positions.  
           [0016]    The &#39;956 patent teaches that the tongue assembly can be extended and retracted while the bar members are driven between their operating and transport positions and by the first and second hydraulic cylinders by attaching braces between the bar members and the distal tongue member. More specifically, a first rigid brace is pivotally secured at one end about midway along the right bar member and so as to form an acute angle therewith and at an opposite end to the distal tongue member and a second rigid brace is pivotally secured at one end about midway along the left bar member so as to form an acute angle therewith and at an opposite end to the distal tongue member.  
           [0017]    The &#39;956 patent teaches that when the cylinder rods are retracted so that the bar members are in the transport position, the tongue assembly is extended so that the distal end of the assembly clears the ends of the bar members. When the cylinder rods are extended, the bar members are driven toward their extended operating positions and the braces simultaneously pull the distal tongue member toward the chassis thereby causing the tongue assembly to retract. By reversing the rods so that the rods extend, the braces force the distal tongue member away from the chassis thereby causing the tongue assembly to extend. Thus, the &#39;956 patent configuration replaces the tongue dedicated rods with the first and second braces on opposite sides of the tongue assembly, the braces in effect operating as rods to extend and retract the tongue assembly and providing a balanced load to the distal tongue member during extension or retraction.  
           [0018]    The &#39;956 solution, like other solutions, has several shortcomings. First, because the &#39;956 patent configuration cylinders are linked between the chassis and the bar members, in the case of some planting assemblies, the cylinders will get in the way of planting assembly components (e.g., seed metering devices, ground engaging coulters, etc.). Similarly, because of the locations of the braces (i.e., secured between central points of the braces and the distal tongue member), the braces also will obstruct use of certain planting assembly components.  
           [0019]    Second, in order to simultaneously drive the bar members between the operating and transport positions and drive the distal tongue member between the retracted and extended positions, the cylinders have to be relatively large and therefore expensive. One way to reduce cylinder size is to modify the planter assembly configuration to increase the acute angles that the braces form with each of the bar members when the bar members are in the extended operating positions. This solution, however, leads to a third problem with the &#39;956 patent configuration. Specifically, to simultaneously provide a workable design including braces and accommodate larger acute angles that enable the use of smaller cylinders, the overall retracted tongue assembly length must be increased which is contrary to the primary purpose for which the assembly has been designed (i.e., to reduce tongue length during planter assembly operation and increase tongue length during planter assembly transportation).  
           [0020]    One solution to the problems above is described in the related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/062,612 (hereinafter “the related reference”) which is entitled “Planter Hitch Apparatus”, which is commonly owned with the present invention and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The related reference recognizes that where separate hydraulic cylinders have been provided for each stage in a multi-stage tongue assembly, the cylinder loads are shared between the separate cylinders and therefore the overall load requirements on each stage cylinder are reduced appreciably. Where cylinder load is reduced the cylinder can be placed “off-load” center without appreciably affecting load balance on the cylinder and therefore without appreciably reducing cylinder lifecycle.  
           [0021]    Thus, it has been recognized that, in the case of a multi-stage tongue assembly that can accommodate only a single internally mounted cylinder, additional externally mounted cylinders can be provided for each of the additional stages. For instance, in the case of a two stage assembly, a first stage may be motivated via an internally mounted cylinder and a second stage may be motivated via an externally mounted cylinder. In this case, the external cylinder will only assume a fraction (e.g., 50%) of the overall load and therefore can be placed off-load center without appreciable effects and without a balancing cylinder on the other side of the tongue assembly.  
           [0022]    According to one embodiment described in the related reference, a multi-stage tongue assembly includes a separate hydraulic cylinder for each stage where at least one of the cylinders is mounted externally of the tongue members (see FIGS. 1 and 7 generally). For instance, in the case of a two stage assembly including a first tongue member mounted to the underside of a carrier platform, a second tongue member telescopically received within the first member and a third tongue member telescopically received within the second member, one cylinder is mounted externally and the other cylinder may be mounted either internally or externally.  
           [0023]    The related reference also teaches a hydraulic automated locking mechanism for locking the tongue members in extended and retracted positions. To this end, in the case of the two-stage tongue assembly described above, the locking mechanism includes two separate locking assemblies, a first assembly mounted to the distal end of a first tongue member and a second assembly mounted to the distal end of the second tongue member. Thus, in this case, hydraulic fluid has to be provided to each of the first and second locking assemblies.  
           [0024]    In most cases planter assemblies (and agricultural implements generally) that are pulled by tractors or other types of prime movers do not come equipped with their own power plants. This is because most farmers employ many different implements and to provide a separate power plant for each implement would render the combined suite of implements far to costly for most farmers. Instead, tractors, the farmer&#39;s primary mechanical tools, are typically constructed such that they have power capacities sufficient to both transport an attached implement as well as provide power to run the implement. For instance, in the case of the planter assembly described above and in greater detail below, a tractor linked to a planter hitch assembly would provide hydraulic fluid to any planter assembly cylinders required to rotate the implement between transport and functional positions, to raise and lower support wheels, to raise and lower an implement bar, to extend and retract the telescopic tongue assembly and to control the locking assemblies. In addition, the tractor would also provide electrical power to the hydraulic valves (e.g., solenoid valves), any blower mechanisms for seed delivery, to the row unit metering devices and to any other devices requiring electrical power (e.g., tail lights, sensors, etc.).  
           [0025]    To provide power to a planter assembly, a tractor typically comes equipped with one or, in most cases, a plurality of power or power source ports that are positioned proximate a hitch receiving member and the planter assembly is equipped with one or more power receiving ports. Power cables are then provided to link associated ports (i.e., hydraulic to hydraulic, electrical to electrical, etc.) together. Generally the planter assembly pivots about the hitch receiving assembly with respect to the tractor and therefore the power cables are constructed to flex and accommodate a degree of pivoting consistent with a minimum tractor turning radius.  
           [0026]    As in most assemblies including power cables, in the case of a planter assembly, the power cables have to be protected from damage. For instance, if the hydraulic hose providing fluid to the internal tongue member of a multi-stage tongue assembly is severed with the tongue in the retracted and functional position (see FIG. 1), the planter assembly cannot be rotated into the transport position (see FIG. 9) and hence the assembly cannot assume a suitable configuration for transport along most roadways.  
           [0027]    Generally, one solution for protecting a power cable has been to mount the cable such that the cable&#39;s relative juxtaposition with respect to the components that the cable is mounted to remains unchanged and such that the cable resides in a space devoid of other moving components. For instance, in the case of a hydraulic hose and a non-staged tongue assembly (i.e., a non-telescoping tongue member), the hose can be mounted directly to the external surface of the non-staged tongue member.  
           [0028]    Unfortunately, in the case of a multi-staged tongue assembly power cable protection is a more difficult task because the tongue assembly length is variable. One solution for accommodating a variable length tongue assembly is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/101,881 which is entitled “Hose Control For Planter Apparatus” which was filed on Mar. 21, 2002, which is commonly owned with the present invention and which is incorporated herein for its teachings regarding cable routing and protection. While the protective sheath member described in the aforementioned reference protects and routes cables sufficiently adjacent a multi-staged tongue assembly, the sheath does little to restrain cables proximate other portions of the planter assembly. For instance, cables have to generally be routed from the sheath to other planter components such as hydraulically controlled markers and other components at the ends of the implement bar(s).  
           [0029]    Fortunately, planters can generally be configured such that many of the planter cables follow a similar path for most of their length and only diverge at distal ends thereof. Thus, mounting assemblies have been configured that, in effect, bundle all of the cables together at certain points and mount the cables to adjacent planter members to restrict or minimize cable movement at those points. For instance, one mounting assembly includes a clamp member and associated relatively long bolt/nut combinations. An exemplary clamp member includes a concave member that, as its label implies, is concave to one side and forms apertures on either end of the concave member for receiving bolts. The bolts are received through the apertures and through similarly arranged apertures on a support structure (e.g., the carrier frame or some other rigid planter member) and can be secured thereto via the associated nuts with the concave side of the member facing the support structure.  
           [0030]    This clamp-bolt/nut assembly is advantageous as the clamp assembly can be adjusted so that the size of the space between the concave member and the support structure is adjustable to accommodate variable cable configurations. For instance, two cables may be positioned within the clamp assembly and the bolts can be tightened down to secure and restrict the two cables or, in the alternative, ten cables may be fed through the clamp assembly and secured thereby to the support member.  
           [0031]    While the clamp assembly described above has some advantages, the assembly also has several shortcomings. First, in the case of any assembly including bolt/nut combinations for securing purposes, it is desirable to completely tighten the bolt/nut combinations to ensure that the nuts do not loosen during use. This is particularly true in environments where extreme vibrations are anticipated such as in a typical agricultural environment. Thus, with a clamp type assembly like the assembly described above, to ensure that the assembly performs its function properly, the assembly must be completely tightened. Also, in this regard, it should be noted that a completely tightened clamp reduces noise caused by vibrating components that are not clamped.  
           [0032]    Unfortunately, while necessary to ensure that the assembly remains functional, the tight assembly requirement renders the clamp type assemblies rather cumbersome to use. To this end, during configuration several components have to be manipulated at one time including the nuts and bolts, the concave member and each of several different cables. In some cases as many as ten or more cables have to be manipulated and therefore configuration is difficult. In addition, where a cable has to be added to an already configured clamp type assembly, machinations required to unclamp the assembly, insert the additional cable and re-clamp the assembly are cumbersome.  
           [0033]    Second, most clamps have a relatively short length along an axis parallel to the concave surface of the concave member and therefore, in many cases, to ensure that the cables are aligned along a desired or optimal trajectory, two or more clamp assemblies may be required.  
           [0034]    Third, as in the case of any mechanical assembly, in the present case, the relatively large number of components required to configure the clamp assembly increases assembly costs. This problem is particularly acute where, as indicated above, two or more clamp assemblies have to be mounted adjacent each other to ensure that cables are aligned along a desired trajectory.  
           [0035]    Fourth, in some cases where the cables are mounted adjacent moveable planter assembly components, protective cases that form the external surfaces of the cables rub against the clamp assembly components during planter assembly movements. For instance, in the case of a pivotable implement bar where a clamp assembly is mounted to the implement bar but one end of cables passing therethrough is securely mounted to a bulkhead, when the bar is rotated, the cables may rub against the bolt shafts adjacent thereto tending to wear the external surfaces of the cables and reduce the length of the cables useful life. Where the bolt shafts are threaded, the rough threaded shaft surfaces tend to exacerbate this wearing problem.  
           [0036]    Therefore a need exists for an apparatus that can be used to provide a cable restraining member that is versatile, inexpensive and easy to configure and employ.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0037]    It has been recognized that a simple, substantially rigid restraining assembly can be configured that forms a passageway that is large enough to easily pass a relatively large number (e.g., 15) of cables. For instance, the passageway may be formed via a plastic (e.g., PVC) conduit. The conduit can be mounted to any support member including, in the planter assembly described above, the implement bar, in a position that is generally aligned with a desired trajectory of cables passing adjacent thereto. By making the passageway substantially larger than the cross sectional area of each of the cables to pass therethrough and generally larger than the combined cross sectional areas of the cables to pass therethrough, the restraining assembly facilitates quick and versatile restraint configuration.  
           [0038]    Consistent with the above, the invention includes an apparatus for use with an agricultural assembly including at least one rigid support member and a plurality of power cables that traverse along trajectories generally aligned with a cable trajectory adjacent a mounting segment on a mounting side of the support member, each of the power cables having a cable specific cross sectional area, the apparatus comprising a substantially rigid restraining member that forms an elongated passageway that traverses between first and second ends, the passageway defining a minimum cross sectional area that is greater than the combined cross sectional areas of the plurality of power cables and a mounting member linked to the restraining member and operable to mount the restraining member to the mounting side of the support member such that the passageway is substantially aligned with the cable trajectory, wherein, with the restraining member mounted to the support member, the cables are loosely receivable through the passageway to generally retain the cables proximate the support member.  
           [0039]    In one aspect each of the cables may include a connector mounted to an end, at least a first connector corresponding to a first cable has a cross sectional area that is greater than the cross sectional area of the first cable and wherein, with all but the first cable passing through the passageway, the passageway cross sectional area is large enough to allow the first connector to pass therethrough. In some embodiments the first connector has a cross sectional area that is at least as small as the cross sectional area of each of the connectors corresponding to each of the cables. In other embodiments the first connector has a cross sectional area that is at least as large as the cross sectional area of each of the connectors corresponding to each of the cables.  
           [0040]    In at least some embodiments the restraining member includes a lateral wall member that extends between the first and second ends and the lateral wall member forms at least one aperture that passes therethrough that is large enough to allow passage of the first connector. In some cases the restraining member forms a plurality of apertures and more specifically may form a cylinder having apertures formed in different sides of the cylinder.  
           [0041]    The invention further includes an apparatus for use with an agricultural assembly including at least one rigid support member and a plurality of power cables that traverse along trajectories generally aligned with a cable trajectory adjacent a mounting segment on a mounting side of the support member, each of the power cables having a cable specific cross sectional area, the apparatus comprising a means for forming an elongated substantially rigid passageway that traverses between first and second ends, the passageway defining a minimum cross sectional area that is greater than the combined cross sectional areas of the plurality of power cables, and a means for mounting the means for forming to the mounting side of the support member such that the passageway is substantially aligned with the cable trajectory, wherein, with the means for forming mounted to the support member, the cables are loosely receivable through the passageway to generally retain the cables proximate the support member.  
           [0042]    Moreover, the invention further includes an agricultural apparatus comprising a wheel mounted carrier platform, an implement bar mounted for pivotal motion to the carrier platform, the implement bar including a mounting segment on a mounting side, a plurality of power cables mounted to the apparatus such that the cables extend along a cable trajectory proximate the mounted segment, a substantially rigid restraining member that forms an elongated passageway that traverses between first and second ends, the passageway defining a minimum cross sectional area that is greater than the combined cross sectional areas of the plurality of power cables and a mounting member secured to the restraining member and mounted to the mounting segment of the implement bar such that the passageway is substantially aligned with the cable trajectory, wherein, with the restraining member mounted to the support member, the cables are loosely received through the passageway to generally retain the cables proximate the implement bar.  
           [0043]    These and other objects, advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention and reference is made therefore, to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1 is a is perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a planter apparatus constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carrier frame of illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the carrier frame illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mainframe assembly used with the configuration of FIG. 1;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an extended operating position;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a transport position;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position with an implement between the operating and the transport positions;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with storage units attached and in the transport position;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 with storage units in the transport position;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the power cable control system shown in the operation position of the agricultural apparatus;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the restraining assembly of FIG. 10;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line  12 - 12  of FIG. 11;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of an end of the restraining member in FIG. 11; and  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a connector corresponding to one power cable. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0058]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in the context of an agricultural assembly  10  which includes a carrier frame assembly  12 , a main frame assembly  69  and an implement assembly  15 . As its label implies, carrier frame assembly  12  includes components configured to facilitate transport or carrying of other assembly  10  components. Main frame assembly  69  includes components that generally remain with the carrier frame assembly and that are used to mount different implement assemblies thereto. As its label implies implement assembly  15  includes components used to carry out a specific agricultural process corresponding to a specific implement. For instance, the components that comprise the implement assembly may be used for tilling, fertilizing, planting, etc. Main frame assembly  69  is mounted to carrier frame assembly  12  and implement assembly  15  is mounted to main frame assembly  69 .  
         [0059]    The present invention generally resides in the carrier frame assembly  12  and, more particularly, in a power cable routing or restraining assembly  54  that is mounted to an implement bar  16  that forms part of assembly  15 . In the FIGS. the restraining configuration generally includes three separate but similar restraining assemblies identified separately by numerals  54   a,    54   b  and  54   c  and hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as configuration or assembly  54 . For this reason, hereinafter, first, an exemplary implement assembly  15  and the main frame assembly  69  are described in minimal detail and thereafter restraining assemblies  54  are described in greater detail.  
         [0060]    Referring still to FIGS. 1 through 3 and also to FIGS. 5 through 9, the exemplary implement assembly  15  includes a bar member  16 , row units  17  (e.g., planting assemblies including seed hoppers, coulters and seed metering devices), wheels  35 ,  36 , wheel support members  37  and extendable markers  42 ,  43 . Bar member  16  is typically a rigid steel rectilinear bar having dimensions within the six by six to ten by ten range and extends along the length of implement assembly  15 . Bar  16  is generally mounted to main frame assembly  69  in any manner known in the art and the relationship between implement assembly  15  and the main frame assembly  69  is adjustable.  
         [0061]    Wheels  35  and  36  are mounted via wheel support members  37  at opposite ends of bar  16  and are generally positionable in two positions with respect to the ground (not illustrated). First, as illustrated in the figures, wheels  35  and  36  and/or the entire implement assembly  15  may be manipulated via hydraulic cylinders or the like such that wheels  35  and  36  are in an upright position where the wheels  35  and  36  clear the ground below. Second, wheels  35  and  36  or the entire implement assembly  15  may be manipulated such that wheels  35  and  36  contact the ground below and support the ends of the implement assembly there above with implement components either above the ground or, depending on implement type, perhaps partially engaging the ground.  
         [0062]    Markers  42  and  43 , like wheels  35  and  36 , are mounted at opposite ends of bar  16  and generally extend from bar  16  to a front side (see FIGS. 1, 5, etc) of the implement assembly. Operation of markers  42  and  43  is well known in the art and therefore will not be explained here in detail. Suffice it to say markers  42  and  43  may assume either a stored position (see FIG. 5) where the markers are generally retracted or an extended and operating position (not illustrated) where the markers  42  and  43  are unfolded and extend at least in part in the direction away from units  17  and toward a tractor (not illustrated) that may be attached to assembly  10 .  
         [0063]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the main frame assembly  69  includes, among other components, a main frame bar member  14 , a roller assembly  14 , a latching assembly  45  and a pivot plate  28 . Pivot plate  28  is mounted to an undersurface of bar member  14  about one-fourth the length of bar member  14  from a first end thereof and forms a downwardly opening pivot receiving aperture (not observable in the FIGS.) for receiving a carrier frame assembly pivot pin (see  34  in FIG. 2) which is described in more detail below. Latch assembly  45  cooperates with other system latching components (e.g., see two instances of latch  46  in FIG. 2) mounted on the carrier frame assembly  12  to lock the main frame assembly  69  and attached implement assembly  15  in either a transport position (see FIGS. 6, 8 and  9 ) or an operating position (see FIGS. 1 and 5). Precise configuration and operation of assembly  45  is not explained here in the interest of simplifying this explanation.  
         [0064]    Roller assembly  44  is mounted to bar member  14  at a point about one-fourth the length of bar  14  from a second bar  14  end (not numbered) and includes at least one roller mounted for rotation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of bar member  14  and that is formed so as to be supportable on a track runner (e.g.,  38  in FIG. 2) formed by a carrier frame platform (see platform  24  in FIGS. 2 and 3) that is explained in greater detail below. Thus, plate  28  and assembly  14  are, in the present example, essentially equispaced along the length of bar  14 . Positioning of plate  28  and wheel assembly  44  is important to ensure proper balancing of the attached implement assembly  15  and is generally a function of how best to balance assembly  15  about a carrier assembly axis  310  which is also referred to herein as a transport axis and that defines a transport direction along which the tongue assembly  18  extends (see FIGS. 1 and 2).  
         [0065]    Bar member  14  is configured so as to have means for attaching the implement assembly bar member  16  to main frame bar member  14  at either end of the main frame bar member  14 . Representative views that show attachment are FIGS. 1 and 5 through  7 . While many linking means are contemplated, as illustrated in FIG. 4, exemplary means include rigid, substantially vertical and upwardly extending receiving plates collectively identified by numeral  48  that extend in parallel from opposite ends of bar  14  and bolt holes (not separately numbered) for receiving some type of clamping brackets.  
         [0066]    Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 and also to FIG. 4, in addition to the components described above, main seed hoppers  40  are shown secured to the main frame bar  14  via brackets  49  that mount to plate members  48 . Hoppers  40  receive and store seed for delivery to mini-hoppers (not separately numbered) that form part of the row units  17 . While not described here in detail it should suffice to say that a pneumatic seed delivery system including a blower of some type and a network of seed delivery hoses links hoppers  40  to the mini-hoppers to automate seed delivery.  
         [0067]    Referring still to FIGS. 1, 2,  3  and  5 , carrier frame assembly  12  generally includes a cross bar  13 , two wheel assemblies  30 , a draw bar assembly  18  and platform  24 . Each wheel assembly  30  includes an axle support member  32  and a pair of wheels  31  mounted on opposite sides of a corresponding support member  32 . Cross bar  13  (see FIG. 3) is a steel elongated bar. A separate one of wheel assemblies  30  is mounted at each one of the cross bar  13  ends and extends downward therefrom so that assemblies  30  support cross bar  13  above ground.  
         [0068]    A pivot pin  34  (see bottom end thereof in FIG. 8) is provided that extends upwardly from a top surface of bar  13 . Pin  34  is formed about a vertical axis  11  and is formed so as to be receivable by the downwardly facing opening formed by pivot plate  28  (see FIG. 4) for rotation thereabout.  
         [0069]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2,  3 ,  7  and  9  draw bar assembly  18  is a two stage tongue assembly that is described in greater detail below. Suffice it to say at this time that, among other components, assembly  18  includes a first tongue member  25  having first and second ends  150  and  151  and forming a first passageway (not numbered). First tongue member  25  also forms an external surface  154 . As best seen in FIG. 3, first tongue member  25  is secured at its first end  150  to a central point of cross bar  13  via welding or some other suitable securing process.  
         [0070]    Referring to FIGS. 2, 3,  8 , platform  24  is essentially a rigid flat bed member that is secured to a top surface of cross bar  13  and approximately half of first tongue member  25  proximate cross bar  13 . Among other features, platform  24  forms a track runner  38  on a top surface which is reinforced on a platform undersurface (see FIG. 3) via supporting tracks  23  and  22  or in any other manner known in the art. Pivot pin  34  extends through an opening in platform  24 . Referring also to FIG. 4, track runner  38  forms an arc about pivot pin  34  having a radius dimension that is identical to the space dimension between pivot plate  28  and roller assembly  44  on bar  14 . Runner  38  is dimensioned so as to securely support the roller of assembly  44  in any position along the runner and thereby provide support to main frame bar  14  thereabove.  
         [0071]    Referring still to FIGS. 2 and 4, transport and operating implement locking brackets or latches  46  are also provided on the top surface of platform  24 . A transport bracket  46  is generally spaced from pivot pin  34  along a line parallel to the length of first tongue member  25  while an operating bracket  46  is generally spaced from pin  34  on the side of first tongue member  25  opposite pin  34 . Each bracket  34  is formed so as to securely receive and lock to latch assembly  45  to lock the main frame assembly  69  and other components secured thereto to platform  24  in either the transport or operating positions.  
         [0072]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2,  4  and  8 , with carrier frame assembly  12  assembled and implement assembly  15  secured to the main frame assembly  69  as described above, the main frame bar  14  is positioned such that pin  34  is received in the opening formed by plate  28  and with the assembly  44  roller supported on runner  38 . Gravity maintains main frame assembly  69  on runner  38  and some type of collar (not illustrated) on pin  34  may be provided to further ensure that assembly  69  remain secured. With wheels  35  and  36  and/or the implement assembly manipulated so that the wheels  35 ,  36  are off the ground, the entire main frame bar  14  and components attached thereto are moveable between the transport position illustrated in FIG. 9 to the operating position illustrated in FIG. 1 and to any intermediate position therebetween (see FIG. 7) by simply rotating main frame bar  14  about pivot pin  34 . As indicated above, when in either the transport or operating positions, latch assembly  45  and one of brackets  46  cooperate to lock main frame bar  14  to carrier assembly  12  to eliminate relative movement during transport. Any means for rotating bar  14  about pin  34  may be employed. Similarly, any means for operating latch assembly  45  and for raising and lowering the implement assembly and/or the lateral support wheels  35 ,  36  may be employed.  
         [0073]    Referring again to FIG. 1 where the assembly is shown in the operating position, consistent with reducing the number of required headland passes needed to perform an agricultural task for an entire field, the cross bar assembly  18  is relatively short. Referring also to FIGS. 7 and 9, however, it can be seen that, in order to accommodate a long implement configuration in the transport position, the tongue assembly has to be extended.  
         [0074]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2,  3 ,  7  and  9 , an exemplary two stage tongue assembly according to the present invention includes the first tongue member  25  described above, second and third tongue members  19  and  20 , respectively, a hitch assembly  26  and a first hydraulic tongue cylinder  50  and a second hydraulic tongue cylinder  52 .  
         [0075]    First member  25  has first and second ends  150  and  151 , an external surface  154 , forms a first passageway (not numbered) and is secured to a central point on cross bar  13 . Second tongue member  19  has first (not numbered) and second  161  ends, an external surface and forms a second passageway (not numbered) while third tongue member  20  has first (not numbered) and second  171  ends, has an external surface and forms a third passageway (not numbered). Hitch assembly  26  is secured to the second end  171  of third tongue member  20 . Attached to the two-stage tongue is a power cable control system  21  that retracts during implement operation and extends during transport and that is described in greater detail below. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, third tongue member  20  is dimensioned to be received within the second tongue member passageway with minimal clearance while second tongue member  19  is dimensioned to be received within the first tongue member passageway.  
         [0076]    Referring once again to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , first cylinder  50  includes a rod that extends therefrom to a distal end and is double acting meaning that the cylinder  50  is plumbed so that the rod can be forced to either extend or retract. Similarly, a second cylinder (not illustrated) includes a rod having a distal end and that is double acting. The second hydraulic cylinder is generally mounted within the third tongue member passageway. More detail regarding an exemplary multi-stage tongue assembly that may be used with the present invention is described in the related reference identified above and entitled “Planter Hitch Apparatus” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         [0077]    An exemplary power cable system that may be used to provide power (e.g., hydraulic fluid, electrical power, etc.) to assembly  10  is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/101,881 which is entitled “Hose Control For Planter Apparatus”, which was filed on Mar. 21, 2002 and which is incorporated herein by reference. For the purposes of the present invention it should suffice to say that, referring to FIG. 10, a plurality of cables  75  that are linked to ports on a tractor or some other type of prime mover (not illustrated) are routed through a bracket  66  and down through cable control system  21  (system  21  including trough member  61  and sheath member  58 ), out an end  59  of assembly  21  and back to a bulkhead  56 . The cables  75  pass from a back side of bulkhead  56  through a bracket  131  to another bulkhead  67  that is mounted to and for movement with main bar member  14 . While the cables are identified via single line  75 , it should be appreciated that line  75  generally represents a plurality of cables and will likely represent a variable number of cables, the number of cables being a function of the configuration  10 .  
         [0078]    Referring still to FIG. 10, from bulkhead  67  at least some of the cables  75  are routed along the implement bar  16  in either direction to distal ends or some intermediate point thereof. For instance, separate hydraulic cables may extend in either direction from bulkhead  67  to markers  42  and  43  for controlling markers  42  and  43 . The present invention resides in the restraining members or assemblies  54   a,    54   b  and  54   c  that are mounted along bar  16 . As illustrated, restraining assembly  54   b  is centrally mounted along bar  16  and generally extends along the segment of bar  16  that supports the eight central most row units  17 . Assembly  54   a  is mounted to one end of bar  15  and extends along a segment that supports four end row units and assembly  54   c  is similarly mounted to the other end of bar  16 . Cables from bulkhead  67  may be fed through central assembly  54   b  to the other assemblies  54   a  and  54   c  or may simply be fed directly to one of end assemblies  54   a  or  54   c . Each of assemblies  54   a,    54   b  and  54   c  are similarly constructed and operate and are used in a similar fashion and therefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, only assembly  54   b  will be described in detail.  
         [0079]    Referring also to FIGS. 11 and 12, an exemplary embodiment of restraining assembly  54   a  is illustrated and, generally, includes a restraining member  100  and a mounting member or assembly including, mounting supports or extensions  120   a,    120   b  and  120   c,  a plurality of substantially U-shaped brackets collectively identified by numeral  102  and a plurality of nuts collectively identified by numeral  115 . Restraining member  100  is generally annular or conduit shaped and forms a passageway  114  that extends from a first end  124  to a second end  126 . Member  100  can be formed of any rigid material but, preferably, is formed using a plastic or PVC pipe and may be of various lengths. In at least one embodiment, the length of member  100  is approximately three to eight feet. Also, in at least one embodiment, the diameter of passageway  114  is approximately 3½ to 5 inches. Referring also to FIG. 13, in at least one embodiment, the edges  140  of restraining member  100  are rounded. By rounding the edges  140 , wear and tear on cables passing through passageway  114  is substantially minimized.  
         [0080]    Referring still to FIGS. 11 and 12 and also to FIG. 10, mounting supports  120   a,    120   b  and  120   c  are similarly constructed and operate in a similar fashion and therefore only support  120   c  will be described in detail to simplify this explanation. It should suffice to say supports  120   a,    120   b  and  120   c  are spaced along bar  16  adjacent the corresponding four end row units  17  and are rigidly secured to bar  16  along a mounting section. Support  120   c  extends up from bar  16  to a distal end and forms two apertures (not illustrated) for receiving distal ends of a U-shaped bracket  102  (see FIGS. 11 and 12). Generally, the apertures formed by support  120   c  are spaced such that restraining member  100  can be placed therebetween.  
         [0081]    Clamp or bracket member  102  is generally U-shaped including a concave central member  112  that forms a concave surface  116  and two distal ends  110  ands  111 . Each of ends  110  and  111  is threaded and sized to receive one of nuts  115  and, as indicated above, ends  110  and  111  are separated such that ends  110  and  111  simultaneously align with apertures formed by support  120   c.  As illustrated in FIG. 12, a separate end  110 ,  111  passes through a separate one of the apertures in support  120   c  and a separate nut  115  is received and securely tightened to each of the ends  110  and  111 . Bracket  102  is sized and shaped to receive a lateral side of restraining member  100 .  
         [0082]    As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, to assemble assembly  54 , first supports  120   a - 120   c  are mounted to bar  16  so that they extend upward therefrom and are generally aligned with each other. Thereafter, restraining member  100  is placed against a bearing surface (i.e. see  159  in FIG. 12) of each of supports  120   a - 120   c  and between apertures formed thereby. U-shaped brackets  102  are placed over restraining member  100  such that distal ends  110 ,  111  pass through corresponding apertures. Next, nuts  115  are used to secure U-shaped brackets  102  to supports  120   a - 120   c,  thereby securing restraining member  100  to bar  16 . Hoses and other types of power cables  75  are fed through passageway  114  from bulkhead  57  to other assembly  10  components or visa versa.  
         [0083]    Importantly, the uniform cross-sectional area of passageway  114  is greater than the combined cross-sectional areas of the power cables  75  that pass therethrough. More particularly, referring to FIG. 14, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, each of the power cables  75  includes a connector  155  at an end that is passed through passageway  114  where the connector has a cross-sectional area which is greater than the corresponding cable  75  and the cross-sectional area of passageway  114  is greater than the combined cross-sectional areas of all of the cables  75  except a first of the cables plus the cross-sectional area of the connector  155  corresponding to the first of the cables. The connector corresponding to the first of the cables may be the either largest or the smallest of the connectors in terms of cross-sectional area or may be any other size connector in between.  
         [0084]    Referring now to FIG. 11, in at least one embodiment, a lateral wall of restraining member  100  forms at least one and perhaps several apertures that pass therethrough. In FIG. 11, two exemplary apertures are identified by numerals  130  and  132 . Apertures  130  and  132  are provided so that at least one and perhaps more than one of the cables passing in first end  124  may be extended in a direction other than the direction out second end  126 . For instance, two directions in FIG. 11 that correspond to apertures  130  and  132  are identified by numerals  134  and  136 , respectively. Referring still to FIG. 11 and also to FIG. 10, cables may be passed through apertures like apertures  130  and  132  to direct the cables to a space either above or below bar  16 .  
         [0085]    While the drawings, specific examples, and particular formations given describe exemplary embodiments, they serve the purpose of illustration only. The materials and configurations shown and described may differ depending on the chosen performance characteristics and physical characteristics of the planter equipment. For example, the type of planter equipment may differ. In addition, other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., rectilinear) may be extruded to form restraining member  100 . Moreover, the edges of member  100  need not be rounded.