Patent Publication Number: US-2010126743-A1

Title: Implement frame with front folding wings and transport wheels

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of agricultural implements, such as planters and other wide, foldable implements towed behind a work vehicle, such as a tractor. 
     A wide range of farm implements have been developed and are presently in use for tilling, planting, harvesting, and so forth. Seeders or planters, for example, are commonly towed behind tractors and may cover wide swaths of ground which may be tilled or untilled. Such devices typically open the soil, dispense seeds in the opening, and reclose the soil in a single operation. Seeds are commonly dispensed from seed tanks and distributed to row units by a distribution system. To make the seeding operation as efficient as possible, very wide swaths may be covered by extending wings on either side of a central section of the implement pulled by the tractor. Included in the wing assemblies are tool bars, row units mounted thereon, and support wheels. The wings and row units are commonly disposed in a “floating” arrangement during the planting operation, wherein hydraulic cylinders allow the implement to contact the soil with sufficient force to open the soil, dispense the seeds and close the soil. For transport, the wings may be elevated by the support wheels to disengage the row units from the ground and folded forward to reduce the width of the implement. 
     The central section of the implement may also contain support wheels that are extended when in a transport position. For wide implements incorporating a central section, wings, and row units of the type described above, the support wheels add complexity to the assembly and limit the available configurations of row units. In particular, when in a planting position, portions of the support wheels, the related actuators, and assemblies are positioned between the row units. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention provide an innovative arrangement for transporting agricultural implements, particularly for transitioning from a planting to a transport position. The present embodiments may be used in a wide range of settings, but are particularly well-suited for implements such as seeders, planters, discs, plows, and so forth in which winged extensions can be folded forward by mechanisms after the wings and attached row units are raised from contact with the ground. For example, the present embodiments may provide wheel assemblies that are stored in front of the row units so as not to affect crop row spacing. The arrangement may then provide for actuators to extend the wheel assemblies in order to lift the row units off the ground to move to a transport position. When in a fully-folded position, the wing and wheel assemblies may be arranged to interleave, in order to minimize width of the implement in transport position. The arrangement may also provide improved stability and load balancing by shifting the weight of the implement while in transport position. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective views of an embodiment of an agricultural implement, e.g., a planter, in a planting position, wherein the implement includes a central portion and wing assemblies that can be folded forward to a transport position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the agricultural implement in a transport position, illustrating the wing assemblies in a folded forward position; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the agricultural implement in a planting position; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the agricultural implement in a transport position; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of an embodiment of the planter implement in a transport position; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an embodiment of the agricultural implement in a transport position, illustrating the central wheel assembly in an extended position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Any examples of operating parameters and/or environmental conditions are not exclusive of other parameters/conditions of the disclosed embodiments. 
     As discussed in detail below, various configurations of agricultural implement systems may be employed to improve control over implements during transport and to increase flexibility during seeding. In particular, when in a planting or ground engaging position, portions of wing support wheels, related actuators, and assemblies are positioned between the wing row units. This arrangement affects and increases the minimum spacing between row units, thereby increasing the overall planter width and limiting crop row spacing for operators. Moreover, when the wings are folded forward in a transport position, the weight of the implement may be shifted as wheels are extended, placing an unbalanced load on the tractor hitch and causing stress on the folding mechanism. For example, the embodiments discussed below may employ a support wheel assembly on each wing to be positioned in front of the tool bar when retracted while the row units are engaged in the ground. Further, a central wheel assembly may be stored in front of a central tool bar and may be deployed, raising the implement system when the wings are folded forward, thereby increasing clearance during transport. In an embodiment, the wings may fold forward, where the wings will couple or lock to a tow bar, the wing wheel assembly may then be retracted, thereby interleaving the wing support wheels and improving weight distribution during transport. 
     Turning now to the drawings and referring first to  FIG. 1 , an agricultural implement  10  is illustrated in the form of a planter. The implement is designed to be towed behind a work vehicle such as a tractor. The implement includes planter hitch assembly  12  which is attached to tow bar  14 . Planter hitch assembly  12  may be used to attach planter  10  to a tractor and may be pivotally coupled to tow bar  14  to allow flexibility as the planter implement changes elevation as it is towed across a terrain. Also included in planter  10  is central tool bar  16 . Central tool bar  16  extends transversely with respect to the tow bar  14 . Central wheel assembly  18  is disposed below and coupled to central tool bar  16 . Central wheel assembly  18  may include an actuator  17  that extends the assembly to a transport position. Further, central wheel assembly  18  may also be retracted when the planter is in a planting or ground engaging position. 
     Wing tool bars  20  are disposed on each side of central tool bar  16 . Wing tool bars  20  are pivotally coupled to central tool bar  16  enabling wing tool bars  20  to fold in a forward direction  23  when the planter  10  is in a compacted transport position. When in transport position, wing tool bars  20  are generally parallel to central tool bar  16 . Wing wheel assemblies  22  are used to lift tool bars  20 , thereby enabling planter  10  to move to a transport position. Wing wheel assemblies  22  may be retracted in a direction  19  or extended in an opposite direction  25  to move the wing tool bars from the ground engaging position to the transport position, respectively. As the wing wheel assemblies  22  are extended in direction  25 , row units  24  are elevated above contact with the ground, thereby removing the planter  10  from the planter position. Actuators  21 , such as hydraulic cylinders, may be attached to tow bar  14  and/or central tool bar  16  and each wing tool bar  20  to facilitate the folding of wing tool bars  20 . One or more wing actuators  21  may be attached to each of the two wing tool bars  20  in order to control the wings. The wing actuators  21  may be connected on each end, to the tow bar  14  and/or central tool bar  16  and each wing tool bar  20 , by pins or other pivoting joint. 
     In an embodiment, wing wheel assemblies  22  may be extended while wing tool bars  20  are folded forward toward tow bar  14 . When the wing tool bars  20  are fully folded, they may be elevated over tow bar  14 . Wing wheel assemblies  22  may then be retracted, enabling the wing tool bars  20  to lock to tow bar  14 , and enabling the wheels to interleave, thereby reducing the overall width of the planter  10  when in a compacted transport position. As wing wheel assemblies  22  are retracted, central wheel assembly  18  may be extended in direction  27 , to elevate the implement  10  in transport mode. As discussed below, when interleaved, the wing wheel assemblies  22  include at least one opposing tool bar wheel adjacent to that wing&#39;s wheel. This position is referred to as the compacted transport position. The wheel assemblies  22  from opposite sides face one another in staggered positions as the tool bars  20  fold toward one another, as shown by arrow  23 . Eventually the wheel assemblies  22  are at least partially or entirely overlapping in a row, parallel to the tow bar  14 , where the wheel assemblies  22  alternate from the left bar  20  to the right bar  20  (See  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). 
     Also attached to wing tool bars  20  are wing row units  24 . Wing tool bars  20  support the row units  24  designed to dispense seeds along parallel rows and at a desired spacing in a field. Depending upon the design of the row units and upon such factors as the nature of the field (e.g., tilled or untilled), each row unit may serve a variety of functions and may have structures designed for these functions. Such structures may include, for example, an opening disc, a metering system, a covering disc, a firming wheel, a fertilizer dispenser, and so forth. Recipients or hoppers may be mounted on the framework of each row unit for receiving seeds, fertilizer or other materials to be dispensed by the row units. In the present embodiment, a distribution system serves to communicate seeds from the seed tanks to the various row units. 
     When wing wheel assemblies  22  are extended in a downward and rearward direction  25  to a deployed or extended position, wing row units  24  are lifted so as not to be in contact with the ground below. Moreover, central wheel assembly  18  may be extended  27  in the same manner, downward and rearward, away from the tractor, to an extended position, further lifting row units  24 . Wing tool bars  20  may be folded forward  23  while wing row units  24  are elevated, enabling wing tool bars  20  to fold inward toward tow bar  14 . 
     When wing tool bars  20  are folded completely forward  23 , wing wheel assemblies  22  may be raised  19  and retracted  25  in order to enable wing tool bars  20  to be secured to tow bar  14  or hitch assembly  12 , thereby relieving the load sustained by the wing actuators  21 . For example, wing wheel assemblies  22  may raise the wings high enough to allow the wings to be above the planter hitch assembly  12  when fully folded, and then lower the assemblies onto and lock or couple to the hitch assembly  12 . In the embodiment, central wheel assembly  18  may be fully extended  27  to the deployed or transport position, lifting wing wheel assemblies  22  out of ground contact when the wing tool bars  20  are completely folded forward, shown by arrow  23 . As central wheel assembly  18  is extended, the placement of seed tanks  26  on the implement  10  is used to improve stability of the implement, thereby increasing mobility. For instance, when the central wheel assembly  18  is extended, the load of seed tanks  26  may be shifted rearward from planter hitch assembly  12 , further reducing the load and stress on the hitch assembly  12 . This shifting of the seed tanks  26  rearward may be accomplished by any suitable mechanism, such as a hydraulics assembly. The position of central wheel assembly  18  beneath seed tanks  26  may increase stability of the implement  10  during transport. 
     In a folded and compacted transport position, the individual wheels of wheel assemblies  22  may interleave (see  FIGS. 2 and 4 ), thereby reducing the overall transport width of planter  10 . In the present embodiment, central wheel assembly  18  may be extended from central tool bar  16  in an arc motion rearward and downward, shown by arrow  27 , to a transport position. The arc motion  27  is caused by a pivotal attachment of the wheel assemblies  18  to the central tool bar  16 . For instance, central wheel assembly  18  is pivotally mounted to central tool bar  16 , and therefore it moves in an arc motion when it is deployed or retracted in directions  27  and  29 , respectively. Also supported by tow bar  14  and central tool bar  16 , are seed tanks  26  and other planter apparatus such as a liquid fertilizer container. 
     A perspective view of an embodiment of the compacted transport position of agricultural planter implement  10  is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Included in planter implement  10  are tow bar  14 , wing wheel assemblies  22 , wing row units  24 , and central wheel assembly  18 . The figure also shows central row units  30  which are attached to central tool bar  16 . When in transport position, central wheel assembly  18  is extended and central row units  30  are elevated out of contact with the ground below, increasing clearance of the implement. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of an embodiment of planter implement  10  in the ground engaging position. Draft tubes  32  are shown, which are connected to tow bar  14 , as well as each of wing tool bars  20 . In the embodiment, wing tool bars  20  fold forward in a direction  23 , draft tubes  32  collapse inward, shown by arrow  35 , toward tow bar  14  due to the fact that draft tubes  32  are mounted to a telescoping portion  34  of tow bar  14 . The telescoping portion  34  of tow bar  14  is utilized to extend tow bar  14  when transitioning to a fully-folded or compacted transport position, shown by arrow  38 . That is, as the wing assemblies  20  are folded forward, in direction  23 , the upper portion of draft tubes  32  and telescoping portion  34  move in direction  38 , away from outer portion  36 , drawing the draft tubes inward, indicated by arrow  35 . The telescoping extension of tow bar  14  provides clearance for the wing components that come together when the planter  10  is in a transport position. Further, the telescoping portion of the tow bar  14  retracts to allow for reduced overall implement length when the wing tool bars  20  are extended and the planter is in a ground engaging position, improving maneuverability. Also illustrated are wing row units  24  mounted behind wing tool bars  20 . When wing row units  24  are in a ground engaging position, wing wheel assemblies  22  are forward of wing tool bars  20 . This arrangement for wing wheel assemblies  22  improves the flexibility in placement of the row units on the tool bars. For example, because wing wheel assemblies are not retracted between the row units, the spacing between wing row units  24  may be reduced, thereby increasing the density of seeding in a field. Central row units  30  are also mounted behind central tool bar  16 , which supports seed tanks  26 . In the embodiment, there are four central row units  30  and ten wing row units  24  located on each of the wing tool bars  20 . The number and configuration of row units  24  may vary depending on application, cost, and physical factors. Both sets of row units  24  and  26  may be raised from contact with the ground when the central wheel assembly  18  and/or wing wheel assemblies  22  are extended, shown by  27  and  25 , respectively. 
     An embodiment of the planter implement  10  is shown in a transport position in  FIG. 4 . This view shows planter implement  10  from the bottom in the fully-folded or compacted transport position. In a presently contemplated embodiment shown, wing wheel assemblies  22  from opposite sides (e.g., left and right) are in an interleaved arrangement  39  below tow bar  14  when wing tool bars  20  are folded forward  23 . The interleaved wing wheel assemblies  22  includes at least one opposing tool bar wheel adjacent to that wing&#39;s wheel. For example, when completely folded, the figure shows that the wheels alternate from front to back in the following fashion: left wing wheel, right wing wheel, left wing wheel, right wing wheel, left wing wheel, right wing wheel. 
     Central wheel assembly  18  is shown in an extended position forward of central tool bar  16  and below seed tanks  26 . Wing pivots  34  are located on wing tool bars  20 , pivotally coupling each tool bar  20  to central tool bar  16 . Wing pivots  34  enable wing tool bars  20  to fold forward  23  and rearward  33  into a ground engaging position. As discussed above, when in a fully-folded transport position, wing tool bars  20  may lock to tow bar  14  by hooks, latches, or other fasteners, thereby shifting the weight of wing tool bars  20  to the planter hitch assembly  12  and the attached tractor. This arrangement relieves stress and reduces the load on the folding mechanisms, actuators  21 , and the pivot points  34  by coupling the outer portions of wing tool bars  20  to the tow bar  14 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment planter implement  10  in a compacted transport position from a rear view. The figure includes wing row units  24  as well as wing wheel assemblies  22 . Central wheel assembly  18  is extended  27  and supports the weight of seed tanks  26 , which are located above and behind central wheel assembly  18 . In the extended position, the load of seed tanks  26  may be shifted rearward from planter hitch assembly  12 , further reducing the load and stress on the hitch assembly  12 . This shifting of the seed tanks  26  rearward may be accomplished by any suitable mechanism, such as a hydraulics assembly. The position of central wheel assembly  18  beneath seed tanks  26  may increase stability of the implement  10  during transport. As illustrated, implement width  36  is minimized due to the interleaving arrangement of wing wheel assemblies  22  as previously discussed. 
       FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a side view of planter implement  10  in a folded transport position. In the illustrated position, central wheel assembly  18  is in a fully-extended or deployed position, thereby lifting wing wheel assemblies  22 , wing row units  24 , and central row units  30  off the ground  60 . Central wheel assembly  18  may be extended by an actuator  17 . 
     Wing tool bars  20  may include joints and/or linkages as well as actuators to enable row units  24  to adjust to the contours of a field. As shown previously in  FIG. 3 , the positioning of wing wheel assemblies  22  and central wheel assembly  18  forward of the tool bars  20  when the assemblies  22  are retracted  19  and the planter is in a planting or ground engaging position, reduces the spacing between row units  24  and  30 , enabling an operator to further reduce the width between rows planted. Further, this arrangement provides more efficient use of tool bar space on the implement, maximizing the amount of rows to be planted in each pass across a field. The wheel arrangement may also improve stability, especially during transport by moving the seed tank load away from the hitch assembly, while reducing the folded width of the implement. 
     A number of variations may be envisaged for the arrangement described above. For example, a pair of tension members may be used to control the movement of central wheel assembly  18 , with one being fitted on either side of the actuator to provide redundancy. Similarly, the tension member may be designed for removal from the arrangement, as in the illustrated embodiment, or may remain resident with the implement. In the latter case, the tension member may be hooked or otherwise configured to be swung down on one or more pins by pivotal movement on one of the pins, or on an additional structure. Moreover, in alternative configurations, the tension member may be secured to other components of the tool bar, brackets, or other elements than the pins used to secure the actuator pivotally to the implement. 
     While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.