Patent Publication Number: US-6902010-B2

Title: Foldable implement frame and hitch

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application, pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.78(c), claims priority based on provisional application Ser. No. 60/390,240, filed on Jun. 17, 2002. 
   This is a continuation-in-part of my prior patent application Ser. No. 09/552,943 filed Apr. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,950. 

   PRIOR ART 
   The present invention relates generally to improvements in foldable implement frames and hitches, and specifically to improvements in the foldable implement frame disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,364,581 and 6,408,950, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   Implement frames and hitches are used to carry a wide variety of implements such as an air-injection planter for corn and other hard kernel grains, rotary hoes, “duck-foot” field cultivators, and the like. It is desirable that such implement frames have a wide span in the work position thereof so that a plurality of rows of crops can be simultaneously cultivated during a single pass. However, when it is time to transport the implement frame from field to field or along a highway, it is desirable that the horizontal extent of the implement frame be small so as to negotiate gates, highway lanes and the like with ease. 
   One form of standard practice heretofore has been to make the implement frame foldable between an extended working position and a retracted transport position with the addition of transport wheels when the parts are in the transport position. The closest prior art is my previous U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,581. Other patents owned by Kinze Mfg. Co. and John Deere were cited during the prosecution of my prior patent and are generally relevant to this invention. For the most part, the planter of the present invention operates similarly to that described in my prior patent. That machine hereafter the &#39;581 machine, was entirely satisfactory for its intended purposes; however, there always is room for improvement. Where possible, I have used the same reference numerals to refer to the same or similar parts in this application as compared to U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,851. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to improve the &#39;581 machine by making it stronger, safer in transport, more versatile, simpler and faster to operate while retaining the beneficial features thereof by employing the dedicated transport wheels, the parent U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,950 mounted for longitudinal movement to change the center of gravity of the planter. 
   Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the foldable implement frame and hitch, whereby the above outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained. 
   The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further features and advantages thereof will best be understood with reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a foldable implement frame and hitch made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the parts of the frame and hitch being shown in the extended working positions; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear plan view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial top elevational view of the foldable implement frame and hitch of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial rear elevational view of the device of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial top plan view of the foldable implement frame and hitch made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the parts being shown in the folded transport positions; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1  in the folded or transport positions; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial view, partly expanded, of the juncture of the wing braces and the main frame in the extended working positions and showing the stabilizing lock; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 8  as seen along lines  9 — 9  thereof; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of the device illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the stabilizing lock mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of the connection between the wing frame and stiffening members; 
       FIG. 13  is a further enlarged view of the members shown in  FIG. 12  from a different view; 
       FIG. 14  is an enlarged perspective view of the pivoting mounting mechanism for the wing frames and stiffening members; 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view showing the relationship of the support frame, wing motors, and wing hinge members; 
       FIG. 16  is an enlarged perspective view showing the relationship of the support frame, center field wheels and wing hinge members, 
       FIG. 17  is a partial side elevational view of the foldable implement frame with the transport wheels in the storage position and the center field wheels in a working position; 
       FIG. 18  is a partial side elevational view of the stabilizer lock assembly when the wing frames are in the extended working positions thereof; 
       FIG. 19  is a partial side elevation view of the new planter showing the transport wheels mounted to a slidable collar in a raised position and the planter lift wheels in the planting position; 
       FIG. 20  is a partial side elevational view showing the new planter with the transport wheels mounted on a slidable collar with the transport wheels elevated and to the rear and the planter lift wheels further extended to facilitate turning the planter at the end of the field; 
       FIG. 21  is a partial side elevational view of the new planter showing the transport wheels mounted to a slidable collar and extending rearwardly in a ground-engaging position with the planter lift wheels also in a ground-engaging position to put the planter in the most raised field position to facilitate movement of the wings forward for road transport; 
       FIG. 22  is a partial side elevational view of the new planter showing the transport wheels mounted to a slidable sleeve in which the transport wheels are fully extended to raise the planter to a higher transport height with the field wheels in their lifted position, the transport wheels being moveable forward of the position illustrated in the drawing to change the center of gravity of the planter in the transport position; 
       FIG. 23  is a partial top elevational view of the planter in the field-engaging position with transport wheels mountable on the slidable collar elevated and rearward, and in their rearward position; 
       FIG. 24  are partial rear elevational views showing the additional hinge point of the new planter frame in the disengaged position with the latch mechanism in the disengaged position; (the top view is with the planter frame up and the bottom view is with the planter frame down); 
       FIG. 25  is a partial top elevational view of the new planter in the forward folded transport position with the transport wheels down and in the rearward position illustrating the second transport latch in the latched position; 
       FIG. 26  is a partial top elevation view of the planter in the forward folded position for transport with planting lift wheels elevated and the transport wheels in their most extended position and forward changing the planter&#39;s center of gravity for transport; 
       FIG. 27  is a partial a side elevational view of the planter illustrated in  FIG. 25  showing the transport wheels mounted on a sliding collar in the position illustrated in  FIG. 25 ; 
       FIG. 28  is a partial side elevational view of the planter in the forward transport position with the transport wheels mounted on a slidable collar fully extended and in the forward position thereof; and 
       FIG. 29  is a partial side elevational view of the planter in the forward transport position changing the planter&#39;s center of gravity. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   There is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings a foldable implement frame and hitch  100  made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the foldable implement frame and hitch  100  including a support frame  101  carried by a plurality of center field wheels  115  and having fixedly connected thereto a main frame  120  having an outer longitudinal frame member  121  telescopically receiving therein an inner longitudinal frame member  125 . Secured to the support frame  101  are two folding wings  180  supported at the outer ends by wing wheel assemblies  200  and provided with wing braces  220 . 
   The implement frame  100  is preferably drawn by a tractor or draft vehicle (not shown) carrying the usual three-point hitch (not shown) that provides a draft connection and which also can be used to elevate the connected portion of the implement frame  100 . The support frame  101  (see  FIGS. 5-7  and  16 ) is formed as a hollow box and extends transversely of the implement frame  100 . Mounted on the lower portion of the support frame  101  are spaced apart bearing members  105  ( FIG. 15 ) extending slightly forwardly and pivotally supporting a transversely extending wheel mount member or rock shaft  106 . The wheel mount member or rock shaft  106  has four pair of struts  110  extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, each pair of the struts  110  carrying an axle  111  on which is mounted one of the center field wheels  115 . The four center field wheels  115  support the frame  101  in the field, but unlike the &#39;581 machine do not support the frame  101  during transport. 
   The main frame  120  extends longitudinally and normal to the support frame  101  and includes the two telescoping frame members  121  and  125 , the outer frame member  121  being hollow and of rectangular cross section (see  FIGS. 8-11 ) and telescopically receiving therein the inner longitudinal frame member  125  that is also hollow and of rectangular cross section. The frame members  121  and  125  are substantially the same as disclosed in the &#39;581 patent and operate in the same manner. 
   In order to raise and lower the support frame  101  and the adjacent end of the main frame  120 , mechanism is provided to raise and lower transport wheel assembly  300  which includes outboard transport wheels  302 A and inboard transport wheels  302 B connected by a frame  301  to a rock shaft  106 A which is parallel to and slightly forward (this is toward the draft vehicle and hitch  165 ) of the rock shaft  106  previously described as a wheel mount member  106  in the &#39;581 patent. The rock shaft  106 A like the rock shaft  106  is mounted to the support frame  101 . The frame  301  ( FIG. 17 ) which holds the transport wheels  302 A and  302 B includes a longitudinally extending frame member  303  extending from the rock shaft  106  and is connected at the other end to a yoke  305  having a center segment  306  generally parallel to the rock shaft  106 A ( FIG. 15 ) and outwardly extending leg segments  307  which are connected as by welding to an outwardly extending transverse segment  308 . It should be understood that there are two intersections  306  of the yoke  305  and two leg segments  307  connected thereto and two transverse segments  308 . Each of the transverse segments carries a strut  310  on which is rotatably mounted one each of the outboard and inboard transport wheels  302 A, B on axles  304 . Although four transport wheels  302 A, B are shown, only two may be used in certain circumstances. 
   The two motor mechanisms  315  ( FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  17 ) each of which raises and lowers one of each transport wheels  302 A, B each includes a cylinder  316  which houses a piston, not shown, and which has a piston rod  319  extending therefrom in the usual manner. One end of each of the motors  315  is pivotally mounted as at  317  to a inverted U-shaped brace member  312  connected as by welding to the outer frame member  121  and more particularly, to the side walls  123  thereof. The other end of each of the piston rods  319  is connected by a connector  318  to the adjacent leg segment  307 . Therefore, the transport wheels  302 A, B are pivoted about the rock shaft  106 A but mounted on axles  304  and moved between a storage position as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 17  to a transport position in which the motor  315  is operated to extend the piston rod  319  so as to position the wheels  302 A, B as shown in FIG.  7 . The rock shaft  106 A is mounted on a pair of spaced connectors  320  which are fixedly mounted, as by welding, to the support frame  101  (FIG.  15 ). 
   In order to facilitate the telescopic movement between the frame member  121  and the inner frame member  125  (which is mounted to a draft vehicle) roller and accompanying mechanism  150  as described in the &#39;581 patent are utilized. 
   When the implement frame  100  is in the working position thereof illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the telescoping main frame members  121  and  125  are in the positions illustrated in FIG.  18 . With the parts in this position, vertically aligned openings through the top and bottom walls of the outer frame member  121  are in alignment with openings in the top and bottom walls of the inner frame member  125 , all as described in the &#39;581 patent. 
   The other end of the inner frame member  125  is provided with a bifurcated hitch  165  having a vertically extending connecting plate  165 A, the bifurcated portions being offset downwardly with respect to the main frame member  125  and secured to a three-point hitch of the associated tractor in the usual manner. This connection of the main frame member  120  to the hitch not only provides the necessary draft connection for the foldable implement frame and hitch  100 , but also provides the connection so that the three-point hitch can be used to elevate the forward end of the implement frame  100 , the rear end of the implement frame  100  and specifically the rear end of the main frame  120  being raised with respect to the ground by operation of the cylinders  315  described heretofore. It should be noted that the transport wheel assembly  300  and more particularly the wheels  302 A, B have been moved forwardly along the frame  120  a considerable distance as compared to the position of the combination field wheel and lift wheels  115  in the &#39;581 patent. By considerable distance, it is meant to be not less than about 36 inches from the support frame  101  to the axles  304  for holding the transport wheels  302 A, B when the transport wheels are in the transport position, as will be described hereafter. The transport wheels  302 A, B in the transport position thereof, may have the axles as much as about 60 inches or move forward of the support frame  101 . 
   In the prior art, transport wheels would generally be positioned anywhere from 1-3 inches forward in the transport position as compared to the field position due to the additional extension of the piston rod which operates the motors that would move the field wheels from the field position to the transport position. When the word substantially is used in this context in this application, it is meant that the axles  3 - 4  of transport wheels  302 A, B are not less than three feet and as much or more than five feet forward of the support frame  101  in the transport position thereof. 
   The wings  180  are pivotally secured to the support frame  101 , and to this end, the support frame  101  carries two bearings  170  on the upper surface thereof spaced inwardly from the ends thereof. Each wing  180  includes a hinge member  181  that is secured to a hinge pin  183  extending upwardly from one of the bearings  170 , each of the hinge members  181  being mounted for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis. The outer end of each of the hinge members  181  carries a vertically oriented connector or strap  185  ( FIGS. 14 and 15 ) which has pivotally secured between the lower ends thereof one end of the associated wing frames  190 . A pivot pin  186  pivotally interconnects the vertical connector or strap  185  and the associated wing frame  190  so as to provide for pivotal movement of the wing frame  190  about a generally horizontal axis defined by the pivot pin  186  and is held in place by the usual cotter pins. The wing frames  190  are hollow and box shape in cross section and are movable between an extended working position illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and a folded transport position illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
   At the end of each member  181  is a shaft  325  extending perpendicularly from the hinge member  181 . At the end of the shaft  325  away from the hinge member  181  is a vertically extending plate  316  similar to the bearing  187  in the vertical connector or strap  185 . The bearing  317  receives one end of stiffening members  330  and  330 A. 
   The stiffening members  330  and  330 A extend generally parallel to the wing frame  190  and has a bifurcated mounting plate  331  at one end thereof, each of the bifurcated mounting plates  331  carrying a bearing member  332  at the end thereof through which a pin  335  pivotally mounts the stiffening members  330  and  330 A to the vertical plate  316 . Cotter pins retain the pivot pin  335  in place. The stiffening members  330  and  330 A are connected to the associated wing frame  190  at the other end thereof by a brace construction  340  (FIG.  3 ). More particularly, the connection between the stiffening members  330  and  330 A and the associated wing frame member  190  includes a spaced apart pair of parallel connecting struts  341  normal to the frame member  190  and stiffening members  330 A, B and a angular strut  342  which connects the end of the wing frame  190  to the end of the stiffening members  330  and  330 A which terminates short of the distal end of the wing frame  190 . 
   Because of the substantial length of each of the wing frames  190 , the outer end thereof is supported by a wing wheel assembly  200  (see particularly FIGS.  1  and  3 ). Each of the wing wheel assemblies  200  includes a bracket (not shown) mounted on the associated wing frame member  190  and fixedly secured thereto as by welding, the brackets being previously described in the &#39;581 patent. A pivot (not shown) is as described in the &#39;581 patent and each supports pairs of struts  206  that each carry an axle  207  upon which is rotatably mounted a wheel  208 . The wheels  208  support the outer ends of the associated wing frames  190  during the movement of the folding wings  180  between the working positions thereof and the transport positions thereof and also whenever it is desired to lift the implements carried by the implement frame  100  out of contact with the underlying soil. 
   In order to move the wheels  208  between the transport positions and the working positions, wheel lift motors  210  have been provided. Each of the motors  210  is the same as the motors  210  previously described in moving the center field wheels  115  and includes a cylinder  211  provided with a piston (not shown) connected to a piston rod  212  that extends out of one end of the cylinder  211 . The other end of the piston rod  212  carries a connector (not shown) that is secured to the wing frame  190 , and the hydraulic cylinder  211  is pivotally secured by a pivot pin (not shown) to two lever arms (not shown) disposed on the opposite sides of the cylinder  211 , all as described in the &#39;581 patent. 
   To assist in holding the folding wings  180  in the fully extended and working positions illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3  each of the folding wings  180  has been provided with a wing brace generally designated by the numeral  220 . One end of each of the wing braces  220  is pivotally secured by a pivot pin  223  to a bracket  221  which includes two spaced apart members  351 , each having an attachment portion  352  connected as by welding to each wing frame  190 , one on the top wall and one on the bottom wall, and a downwardly extending portion  353  and a horizontal portion  354 , each having an aperture  355  therein for receiving the pivot pin  223 . A brace member  357  connects portions  353  and strengthens the brackets  221 . Because of the portions  353 , the horizontal portions  354  extend between and beneath the stiffening members  330  and  330 A by means of a pivot pin  223 , each bracket  221  being fixedly secured to one of the wing frames  190  at a position such that the effective pivot connection between the wing brace  220  and the wing frame  190  is essentially at the midpoint of the wing frame  190  (i.e., the point of intersection of an extension of the wing brace  220  with the wing frame  190  as viewed in FIG.  1 ). The other end of each of the wing braces  220  is pivotally secured by a ball joint  360  to a new stabilizer lock assembly  370  to be described more fully hereinafter. 
   During the transport of the implement frame  100  with the parts in the position illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transport wheels assembly  300  are in the position of  FIG. 7 , which serves to hold the support frame  101  and the adjacent end of the main frame  120  in the elevated positions necessary for transport, preferably about 5 feet above the ground. The complicated lever, latch and cable assembly of the &#39;581 patent is no longer required because the transport wheel assembly  300  moves between its stored position in FIG.  5  and the transport position in  FIG. 7  by operation of hydraulic motors  315  both of which are on hydraulic lines separate from the hydraulic lines which control center field wheels  115  and wing field wheels  208 , all of which are operated by similar hydraulic motors  210 . 
   By providing, dedicated transport wheel assembly  300 , several advantages are obtained. The center of gravity of the implement frame  100  can be adjusted forward toward the draft vehicle between about 3′ and about 5′ during transport as compared to the center of gravity when the field wheels  115  support the implement  100 , which permits the apparatus behind the center of gravity (in the transport position) to be heavier and/or larger. This permits implement frames  100  being able to accommodate  32  or  36  row units, while at the same time moving the transport wheels  302 A, B inboard with respect to the &#39;581 machine. The new transport wheels  302 A, B are preferably  84 ″ apart, center to center, of the outboard pair of wheels  302 A and preferably about  52 ″ apart, center to center, of the inboard pair of wheels  302 B. This is only representative and preferred, but does not limit the invention. Clearly, the outboard pair of wheels  302 A may be somewhat closer or farther apart and that is also true for the inboard pair of transport wheels  302 B. However, an advantage is that all four transport wheels  302 A, B are on pavement, as opposed to the &#39;581 machine, as previously described. Moreover, only two transport wheels may be used instead of the illustrated four without departing from the invention. 
   Yet another advantage in having dedicated transport assembly  300  is the transport wheels hydraulic motors  315  can move the transport wheels  302 A, B downward a sufficient extent (about 5 feet) to elevate the implement frame  100  higher above the ground in the transport position ( FIG. 7 ) than previously available with the &#39;581 device. Further, the center field wheels  115  can be moved a shorter distance at the end of a row when the implement frame  100  is turned (see dotted line position of FIG.  5 ), thereby elevating the implement frame  100  to disengage any ground engaging implements carried by the implement frame  100 , which saves the farmer time. All these advantages are a result of the dedicated transport wheel assembly  300 . 
   In order to assist in moving the folded wings  180  between the retracted travel positions illustrated in FIG.  6  and the extended working positions illustrated in FIG. two wing folding motors  240  have been provided ( FIGS. 6 ,  15  and  16 ). Each of the motors  240  includes the usual hydraulic cylinder  241  having a piston (not shown) disposed therein and connected to a piston rod  244  extending from one end of the cylinder  241 . One end of each of the cylinders  241  is connected to a coupling  242  connected to the associated hinge member  181  by a pin  243 . The piston rods  244  are respectively connected to brackets  245  which are mounted on both the outer frame  121  and the cross member  175  by means of pins  247 . Contraction of the motors  240  assists in moving the folding wings  180  from the extended working positions of  FIG. 1  toward the folded positions of FIG.  6 . 
   When the main frame members  121  and  125  are in the fully telescoped and working positions thereof, it is desired to stabilize the same and to provide for transmission of draft forces there between through structure in addition to the lock pin (not shown) but described in the &#39;581 patent To this end the stabilizer lock assembly  370  has been provided and is best illustrated in  FIGS. 8-11  and  18 . The stabilizer lock assembly  370  includes a tubular bottom frame member  371  fixedly secured as by welding to the side walls  127  of the frame member  125  and to the vertically extending plate  165 A of hitch  165  by a pair of angularly disposed plates  372 . The assembly  370  further includes a butterfly or yoke member  375  fixedly mounted as by welding to the rearmost end of the bottom frame member  371 . The butterfly or yoke member  375  includes two upwardly extending and spaced apart vertical plates  376  connected at the bottom thereof to outwardly extending brackets  377  each provided with two apertures  378  near the ends thereof for receiving the ball joints  360 , thereby mounting the struts  220  to the frame member  371 . The yoke member  375  further includes upwardly and outwardly extending arms  379  each provided with apertures  381  therein for a purpose hereinafter set forth. 
   The outer telescoping frame member  121  is as previously shown in the &#39;581 machine provided with a generally U-shaped member  258  from which extends on both either side of the outer member  121  and more particularly the walls  123  thereof, pins  259 . When the implement  100  is in the working positions thereof with the frame members  121 ,  125  in the fully telescoped operated positions as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pins  259  enter into the recess apertures  381  to provide vertical and lateral stability for the juncture while the forward end of the frame member  121  passes over the bottom frame member  371 , between the arms  379  of yoke  375 . A cross bar  256  on top wall  128  of frame member  125  serves to provide a stop for outer frame member  121  and cooperates with a latch connected to the roller  150  to secure the implement  100  in the operating positions thereof. The presence of the pins  259  in the openings  381  relieves stress in the wing frames  190 . The lefthand and right hand wing frames  190  do not tend to move in opposition to each other, but in unison creating stress, which is transferred by the braces  220  to the bottom frame member  371  and the hitch  165 . 
   When the implement frame  100  is in the folded transport position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it is desirable to lock the wings  180  on the main frame  120 , this structure (not shown) is the same as previously described in the &#39;581 patent. 
   The hydraulic assembly used to operate the present invention is similar to the hydraulic system disclosed in the &#39;581 patent. In the present invention, the center field wheels  115  are operated by hydraulic motors  210  which may be substantially the same as the hydraulic motors  210  which operate the wheel assemblies  200  on the folding wings  180 . In the &#39;581 machine, the hydraulic system connected to the center field wheels  115  was used to activate the field wheels  115  into the transport position. Obviously, in the present case, with dedicated transport mechanism  300  being provided, a separate hydraulic line or lines are dedicated to the transport wheel assembly  300 . Moreover, because there is a separate hydraulic line for the transport wheel assembly  300 , the transport wheels  300  can move a longer vertical extent than the field wheels  115  and  208 . This, as previously discussed, provides a significant advantage of time saving in the field when the farmer has to elevate the implement frame and hitch  100  in order to turn at the end of the rows. This is so because in the &#39;581 machine, the center field wheels, when operated to elevate the frame, would go to the transport position which is higher than is necessary to turn the implement frame  100  at the end of a row. In the present invention, all or a portion of the field wheels  115  (center) and  208  (wings) and the hydraulic motors  210  which are connected thereto may elevate the frame  100  a sufficient amount ( FIG. 5  dotted line) such that any farm implements carried by the frame  100  clears the ground thereby allowing the implement  100  to turn more easily but at the same time do not elevate the frame  100  to the distance above the ground which is provided when the transport wheel assemblies  300  are activated for transport of the foldable implement frame and hitch  100 . 
   The manner of use and operation of the implement frame  100  will now be described in detail. Starting with the parts in the fully retracted and folded position of  FIGS. 6 and 7  which is the transport position for the implement frame  100 , the various parts will be disposed as follows: the three-point hitch will be raised, thus raising the main frame member  125  and the parts associated therewith so as to provide ground clearance. The wings  180  are in the fully folded position whereby the wing frames  190  are disposed essentially parallel and forwardly extending and the stiffening members  330  and  330 A are between the main frame  120  and the adjacent wing frame member  190 . The wing braces  220  are beneath the main frame  120  and occupy substantially the same width. That is the wing braces  220  do not extend much, if any, beyond the width of the main frame  120 . This is extremely important since it permits various units to be mounted on the stiffening members  330 ,  330 A between the wing frame members  190  and the main frame  120 , a significant advantage over the &#39;581 machine. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated the transport wheel assembly  300  in the transport position thereof during which the hydraulic motors  315  have the piston rods  319  fully extended thereby elevating the main frame  120  to its highest position above the ground, such as about 5 feet, and in position for transport. The vertical distance between the main frame  120  and the axles  304  of the transport wheels  302 A and  302 B can be adjusted by a variety of ways including varying the hydraulic motors  315 , as is well known in the art. The axles  304  about which the transport wheels  302 A and  302 B rotate are positioned forward of the support frame  101  preferably between about 3 and about 5 feet and most preferably about 62 inches. As before described, this moves the center of gravity of the folding implement frame  100  forward toward the draft vehicle when the implement frame  100  is in the folded or transport position. Also, hydraulic motors  210  which operate field wheels  115  and  208  may be configured so that the distance between the field position in which implements carried by the end frames  190  and/or the stiffening members  330  and  330 A are in contact with the ground and the distance which the frame  120  has to be elevated in order to disengage those units from the ground (see  FIG. 5 ) for turning the foldable implement frame and hitch at the end of a row can be shorter to save time at the end of each row, compared to the machine described in the &#39;581 patent. 
   In order to move the parts of the implement frame  100  from the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  to those illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the three-point hitch is lowered so as to rest the wing frames  190  upon the wheels  208  and to lower the main frame member  125  out of contact with and spaced below the transport link as disclosed in the &#39;581 patent. The operator then drives the associated tractor slowly rearwardly. The support frame  101  on the wheels  115  remains essentially stationary while the motors  240  are actuated. This action transmits a force to the wing braces  220  that tends to move the wing frames  190  apart and away from each other toward the positions illustrated in FIG.  1 . The hydraulic motors  240  are also extended at this time by actuating the appropriate control valve, (not shown) thus to aid in this rearward swinging of the wing frames  190 . 
   The parts eventually arrive at the positions illustrated in  FIG. 1 , i.e., with the wing frames  190  in lateral alignment, the hydraulic motors  240  fully extended and the main frame members  121  and  125  fully telescoped and with the latch over the bar  256  (FIG.  18 ). The operator can remain in his seat on the tractor since there are no locking pins used in the &#39;581 patent. The latch assembly ( FIG. 18 ) assists in holding the main frame members  121  and  125  in the fully telescoped and coupled position illustrated in FIG.  1 . It will also be noted that as the main frame members  121  and  125  approach the fully telescoped positions thereof, the pins  259  enter the openings  381  in the yoke  375  (see  FIGS. 8-11  and  18 ) to impart rigidity to the main frame at this juncture. 
   The operator then without leaving his seat on the tractor, simultaneously actuates hydraulic motors  315  to the retracted positions so as to lower the support frame  101  and the rear end of the main frame  120  from the position of  FIG. 7  to the working positions thereof shown in FIG.  5 . The hydraulic motors  315  and the hydraulic motors  210  are connected to different hydraulic circuits, whereby actuation of the motors  315  to lower the support frame  101  and the main frame  120  is independent of the motors  210  which raise or lower the wheels  115 ,  208  to the working positions thereof. Moreover, at the end of a row, the motors  210  can be actuated to raise the frame  120   FIG. 5 ) without raising the frame  100  to the extent shown in the transport position of FIG.  7 . 
   Certain implements carried by the implement frame  100  further include clutch arrangements which are also actuated by the shifting of the wheels  115  and/or  208 , whereby placing the wheels  115  and/or  208  in the working position engages the implement clutches, while movement of the wheels  115  and/or  208  to the transport position disengages the implement clutches. The implement frame and the implements thereon are now in the position for working and the associated tractor moves forwardly pulling the implement frame  100  behind. 
   When it is desired to transport the implement frame  100 , it can be moved from the working position illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the transport position illustrated in  FIG. 6  as follows: the operator gets down from the seat of the associated tractor and disengage the latch carried by roller  150 . He then remounts the tractor and actuates control valves to expand the hydraulic motors  315  to raise the support frame  101  and the frame member  121  to the positions of  FIG. 7  while lowering transport wheels  302 A, B. Pilot operated check valves are used with motors  315  to prevent the frame  100  from dropping from the transport position if hydraulic fluid is lost. The operator then starts the tractor forward at a slow rate while simultaneously operating the wing folding motors  240  to retract the same. The inner frame member  125  moves forwardly with the tractor. In  FIG. 1 , the braces  220  are connected to the lower frame member  371  and the inner frame member  125  to extend inner member  125 , which in combination with the retraction of motors  240 , pull the wings  180  forward. The three point hitch on the tractor is raised to engage the latch ( 160 ) as shown in the &#39;581 patent. The outer ends of the wing frames  190  are supported by the wheels  208  which are raised by the motors  210  whereby the parts move to the position of FIG.  6 . to move to the planting position, the above process is reversed As the outer ends of the wings  180 , and specifically the wing frames  190 , approach each other, the wing braces  220  fold underneath the main frame  120  freeing up space between the wing frames  190  and the main frame  120  for units mounted on the stiffening members  330  and/or  330 A. The stiffening members  330  and  330 A prevent the wing frames  190  from cracking or bending because of forces generated during operation of the device. 
   A large number of implements may be advantageously mounted upon the implement frame  100  described. Because of the stiffening members  330  and  330 A, in combination with other features and advantages described herein, 32 or 36 row or larger planters may be used. Other examples of tools that may be mounted upon the frames  100  are rotary hoes and “duck-foot” field cultivators. When folded to the transport position of  FIG. 6 , the implement frame  100  described above has a transport width of less than 11 feet with no implements mounted thereon and has a transport width of less than 15 feet when there are mounted thereon air-injection plate lift planters  60  as illustrated in the drawings. The center of gravity having been moved forward as previously discussed and the dedicated transport wheels  302 A and  302 B permit a shorter turning radius for the subject device compared to the &#39;581 device and the implement frame  100  can carry more weight with a larger number of units because of the new center of gravity does not lift the front of the draft vehicle. 
   It is believed that all the advantages of the &#39;581 machine have been retained but significantly improved by the addition of dedicated transport wheels closer together than the &#39;581 transport wheels, and the relocation of the center of gravity toward the draft vehicle, and the addition of stiffening members  330  and  330 A with the newly configured brackets  221  permitting the wing braces  220  to fit underneath the main frame  120  (see  FIG. 6 ) freeing space for additional units mounted on the stiffening members forward of the wing frames  190 . 
   Referring to new  FIGS. 19  to  28 , an improvement in the &#39;950 devices is shown in which the wings  180  are now approximately  50 % longer for 32 to over 40 row unit planters, and a new flex point for each wing has been added, and the transport wheels are pivotally mounted on a sliding collar with the pivot forward of the transport wheels for larger planters of  32  rows and more, whereas the  24  row planter has the pivot behind the wheels. Numbers used herein with reference to  FIGS. 19  to  29  have been defined in  FIGS. 1-18  of the parent application. 
   Referring now to drawings  19 - 29 , there is illustrated the improvement on the parent planter set forth in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,950 which was an improvement on the planter illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,581, now expired. Where possible, like parts have been numbered with corresponding numbers as those used in the &#39;581 or the &#39;950 patent. A principal difference between the present application and that of its parent and &#39;581 patent is in the mounting of the transport wheels  302 A, B on a sleeve assembly  400  adapted to ride on the outer telescoping frame member  121  so as to permit longitudinal movement of the sleeve assembly  400  and hence the transport wheel assemblies  300 A longitudinally of the planter  100  in order to substantially change the center of gravity of the folded planter in the transport position thereof to permit infinite adjustment of the planter center of gravity in order to prevent the front wheels of the draft vehicle from being lifted from the ground. Because the planter  100  of the present invention may be used with a large number of row units, there is frequently the case where the planter in the folded position becomes back heavy and the mechanism of the present invention as hereinafter described significantly alleviates the problem, thereby preventing a potentially dangerous condition. 
   Another important feature of the present invention compared to that disclosed in the parent &#39;950 patent is in the use of multiple pivots for the wing structures  180  in order to permit fragmented portions of the wing structures to move vertically in the field, that is around a horizontal pivot point in order to accommodate for contour differences in the land when using large multiple row planter systems. 
   As seen in the drawings, the transport wheel assemblies  300 A are mounted as previously described except for the following: a sleeve assembly  400  is provided, which is slidable with respect to the outer tubular frame member  121  and includes a generally parallel side walls  401  interconnected by a top wall  402  and a bottom  403 . The frame assembly  312   a  and associated mechanism is mounted to the sleeve assembly  400 , thereby providing for longitudinal movement of the entire transport wheel assemblies  300 A with the sleeve assembly  400 . More particularly, as previously described, there are preferably, two sets of two transport wheels  302 A and  302 B on each side of the folded frame assembly as seen in the drawings in  FIGS. 19-29  inclusive. The transport wheels  302 A, B are mounted to a pivot  318   a . Another important feature of the present invention as compared to the parent patent is that the pivot point  304   a  for the transport wheels  302 A, B is always forward of the transport wheels  302 A, B, whether the wheels are in their transport position as shown in  FIG. 22  or in their fully folded working position, as shown in FIG.  20 . 
   The sleeve assembly  400  is connected to hydraulic motor  410  having the usual hydraulic cylinder  411  having a piston (not shown) disposed therein and connected to a piston rod  412  extending from one end of the cylinder  411 . One end of the cylinder  411  is pivotally connected to a coupling  417  as at  416  which is mounted to the outer sleeve  121  and the other end of the piston rod  412  is pivotally mounted as at  413  to a coupling  415  mounted to the bottom  403  of the sleeve assembly  400 . Accordingly, the sleeve assembly  400  is longitudinally movable along the outer frame member  121  as herein described and illustrated in the drawings between the position as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21  and the position shown in  FIG. 22 , and is infinitely adjustable between the two positions. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the transport wheel assembly  300 A is in the rear most position, the difference between  FIGS. 20 and 21  is that the transport wheels are in their fully raised position in  FIG. 20  while in  FIG. 21  the transport wheels are moved further downwardly so as to put the planter  100  in its most raised field position. Movement from the position illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21  is accomplished by actuation of the motor  315   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the motor  315   a  has been fully actuated or extended in order to move the transport wheel assembly  300   a  to their fully extended position in order to raise the planter  100  to its highest transport height. In this position, the motor mechanism  410  has been actuated to move the sleeve assembly  400  to its forward most position, changing the center of gravity to prevent the front end of the draft vehicle from being lifted when the planter has a large number of row units, for instance in excess of 32 are employed. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26  are illustrative of the movement of the transport wheel assembly  300 A and the sleeve assembly  400  between the position in which the transport wheels are in their rearmost position and on the ground as illustrated in FIG.  25  and when the planter  100  in its transport position in which the transport wheels  302 A, B are in their most extended position, that is the planter is the highest off the ground, and the sleeve assembly  400  with the transport wheels  302 A, B are moved forwardly to change the planter center of gravity. 
     FIG. 27  is a side view of the planter in the position shown in FIG.  25  and FIG.  28  and shows the planter lift wheels  208  in the fully retracted position but the transport wheels  302 A, B have yet to be moved forward. 
     FIG. 29 , on the other hand, shows the relative change in position of the transport wheels  302 A, B between the rearmost position thereof and the forward most position thereof. 
   Another important feature of the present invention is the use of the two pivots  186 A which were previously disclosed in the &#39;950 patent and the additional pivot  186 B in each wing, which is new in the present planter. The addition of the pivot  186 B greatly facilitates the use of large multiple row planters with large numbers of row units, particularly greater than 32 and relieves stress in the extended wing assemblies as well as facilitating greater ground following by the planter  100 . Because the planter  100  may accommodate  48  row units, there may be provided two latch assemblies  260  and  260 A, the mechanism of which was previously described in the &#39;581 patent and will not be herein described further. The distances between the pivots  186 A and  186 B depends on the number of row units employed, for instance, the pivots may be 210 inches apart for a 36 row planter  100 , but only 180 inches apart for a 32 row planter. 
   While there has been disclosed what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present intention, it is understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.