Patent Publication Number: US-2013233580-A1

Title: Smooth forward folding implement frame

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 61/608,511, filed Mar. 8, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a forward folding implement frame, and more particularly to a forward folding planter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As the power of tractors and agricultural efficiency has increased, agricultural implements, such as planters have increased in span, or width, to accommodate larger numbers of individual row units. Large planters generally include a main frame having a forward hitch assembly for drawing by a tractor and left and right wing sections pivotally attached to a portion of the main frame. The pivoting wing connections allow the wings to fold relative to the main frame for transport and storage of the planter. Early planters pivotally displaced the wings vertically to reduce planter width and to provide clearance for transport through narrow spaces. However, as the size of planters has increased, planter wings are generally folded in a forward direction to accommodate longer planter wings or wing sections. This evolution has necessitated the incorporation of telescoping hitch assemblies and specific folding functions to accommodate planter wings of increased length. 
     The folding functions of such planters have, to varying degrees, operating limitations due to their design and the environment in which they operate. For example, a forward folding agricultural planter is capable of great operating widths, which make it a prime candidate for the gained efficiencies of bulk commodities, such as seed and fertilizer. To achieve the efficiencies of bulk commodities while facilitating forward folding of the planter, it is generally necessary to place the bulk commodities on the center frame of the machine near the road transport wheels. This location, in conjunction with the flex points of the toolbar, significantly loads the center portion of the planter and does not allow for adequate mass of the free-floating wings. The lack of mass or downforce on the wings may allow the resistance of the soil being penetrated by a ground-engaging tool to lift the wings and prevent the tools from penetrating the ground to a desired depth. Past attempts at addressing this problem have been to transfer weight from the center section to the wing by way of a hydraulic cylinder or other force-generating device. 
     Another operating limitation of current agricultural planters is that they require a series of sequential folding steps in order to move from a field use configuration to a secured road transport configuration. One step that can pose great difficulty is the latching of the wing sections at the hitch. Typically, this has been accomplished by lowering the front of the planter hitch as the wings fold toward the towing tractor, and then securing the wings by way of a latch or hook. When the hitch is raised for transport, the wing is supported and secured for transport. Such wings must be lifted off the ground and supported to achieve a secured transport configuration. 
     To secure the wings in a transport configuration, the wings must turn approximately 90° from field use configuration to transport configuration and travel over uneven and soft soil conditions. These soil conditions can hinder the wings from rotating. For instance, the wings, and the tires supporting wings, can sink into the soil to inhibit proper latching. Past attempts at addressing this problem have centered on using a combination of hydraulic cylinders for folding each wing, leading to additional expense. These fold cylinders impart a horizontal force on the wing, causing rotation of the wings towards the hitch and are separate and distinct from the hydraulic cylinders used to transfer weight from the center section to the wings. Moreover, the fold cylinders are typically oversized to force the wings through any uneven or soft soil conditions. Oversizing the hydraulic cylinders again leads to increased expense and requires additional structure to prevent damage to the hitch. 
     Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a means of forward folding the wing sections of an agricultural planter that overcomes the deficiencies in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is principal object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes the deficiencies in the art. 
     It is another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, system and method to both assist in horizontal folding of an agricultural implement and transfer weight to the wings of the implement. 
     It is yet another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an agricultural implement with a hydraulic system that assists horizontal folding of the agricultural implement between a field use configuration and a transport configuration. 
     It is still another object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an agricultural implement with a hydraulic system that assists in the latching of wings in a secured transport configuration when traveling over uneven and soft soil conditions. 
     It is a further object, feature and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an agricultural implement with a hydraulic system that transfers weight from the center section of the implement to its wings. 
     It is still a further object, feature, and/or advantage of the present invention to provide an agricultural implement with a lift system that provides continuous downforce on the wings to assist ground-engaging tools attached thereto in penetrating the soil at a desired depth. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a forward folding implement connected to a tow tractor and having a transport configuration and a field use configuration is the provided. The frame includes, at least in part, a telescoping tongue for connection to the tow tractor; a main frame attached to the telescoping tongue away from the tow tractor, the main frame being supported by a plurality of ground engaging wheels; a wing pivotally coupled to the main frame and having a plurality of ground engaging tools attached thereto; a first hydraulic cylinder coupled between the main frame and the wing to pivot the wing with respect to the main frame about a substantially vertical axis; and a second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the wing to pivot the wing with respect to the wing support member about a substantially horizontal axis. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the left and right wing sections include a wing support and a wing frame. Each wing includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders, a first hydraulic cylinder coupled between the wing support and the wing frame and a second cylinder coupled between the wing support and the main frame. The pair of hydraulic cylinders for each wing are utilized to transfer weight to the wings and to assist in folding the wings from field use to road transport configurations. A first hydraulic cylinder utilizes the cap end of the cylinder to generate a moment about the hinge point between the wing support and wing frame, to transfer weight from the center section to the wing. When the flow of hydraulic fluid is reversed such that pressure is placed on the rod side of the cylinder, uplift is created on the wings to assist in the folding from field use to road transport configurations. The uplift counteracts the soft or uneven soil conditions by lowering the amount of force present on the outboard wing wheels, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful latching for transport. A second hydraulic cylinder uses both the cap and rod ends to move the wing between field use and road transport configurations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The appended claims set forth those novel features that characterize the invention. However, the invention itself, as well as further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like reference characters identify like elements throughout the various figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a foldable implement frame made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the parts of the frame and hitch being shown in extended field use configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the foldable implement frame made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the parts of the frame and hitch being shown between field use configuration and road transport configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a foldable implement frame made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, the parts of the frame and hitch being shown in road transport configuration; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of the latch assembly of the implement frame illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are left and right wing sections of another embodiment of a implement frame; and 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the implement frame of  FIGS. 11A and 11B . 
     
    
    
     Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is shown a foldable implement frame  6  in accordance with the aspects of the present invention. The implement frame  6  includes a hitch assembly  8 , a telescoping tongue  10 , and a main frame  12  mounted to and supported by wheels  30 . The frame, for instance, may include four wheels, where all four wheels are shown in  FIG. 2 . Secured to the main frame  12  are a left wing  14 , a center section  16 , and a right wing  18 . The terms left and right are used in relation to the direction of travel of the implement frame  6  during use in a field or during transport, and are included for references to the drawings. The directional terms used throughout the application are not to be limiting to the scope of the invention. 
     The telescoping tongue  10  extends longitudinally from the main frame  12  and includes telescoping tongue members  10   a  and  10   b,  with the outer tongue member  10   a  being hollow and of rectangular cross section and telescopically receiving therein an inner longitudinal tongue member  10   b.  It is to be appreciated that the telescoping tongue  10  may include more sections as well, depending on the length needed. The additional tongue sections can be hollow and received within one another to allow the length of the tongue to vary. At a forward end of the inner tongue member  10   b  is a bifurcated hitch assembly  8 . 
     The hitch assembly is similar in configuration to that described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,408,950 and 6,902,010, which are incorporated herein by reference. The hitch assembly of the present invention is adapted to provide a connection for a two-point hitch to a tow vehicle, such as a tractor  4  to elevate the forward end of implement frame  6 . An extendable drawbar may also be used in place of the two-point hitch. 
     It should be noted that in a field use configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the wings are generally perpendicular to the tongue  10 , while in a transport use configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the wings are generally parallel to the tongue  10 . As the wings  14 ,  18  transition from the field use configuration to the transport configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4-6 , the tongue  10  telescopes to provide sufficient distance between the tractor  4  and the main frame  12  for the wings  14 ,  18  to come forward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the center section  16  is disposed on an aft end portion of main frame  12 , i.e., opposite the hitch, and includes a plurality of row units  26  attached thereto by way of a conventional parallel linkage. Left and right wings  14 ,  18  are similarly provided with a plurality of row units  24 ,  28 . Each row unit  24 ,  26 ,  28  is conventional in design and operation and includes furrow forming wheels, a seed dispensing arrangement with a discharge tube, furrow closing wheels, gauge wheels, as well as additional options used in the planting process. An example of a row unit for use with the present invention is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,747, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. However, any type of row unit could be used with the invention. The agricultural implement is not limited to a planter with row units, but instead could be adapted for use with any implement having folding wing extensions such as seed drills, cultivators, fertilizer and pesticide applicators, and the like. 
     The center section  16  is pivotally attached to the aft end portion of main frame  12  and can be raised and lowered by a pair of hydraulic cylinders  34  on the aft end portion of main frame  12 . The center section  16  can be raised above its normal operating height during planting to facilitate on the go turning in the field or transport of the planter. 
     The left and right wings  14 ,  18  are similar to one another in design, operation, and in the manner in which they are pivotally attached to the implement&#39;s main frame  12 . The following detailed description of the implement frame  6  addresses primarily the design and operation of only the left wing  14  for the sake of brevity. 
     The left wing  14  includes a wing support  36  and a wing frame  38 . The wing frame  38  includes the combination of a forward bar  40  and a respective aft bar  42 . The forward bar  40  is pivotally coupled to the aft bar  42  by means of an outer coupler  44  and an inner coupler  45 . The aft bar  42  can be raised above its normal operating height during planting to facilitate on the go turning in the field or transport of the planter. 
     An inner end portion  36   a  of the wing support  36  is pivotally coupled to the main frame  12  at a pin  50  to allow for rotation of the left wing  14  about a vertical axis in a generally horizontal plane towards the towing tractor  4 . A hydraulic cylinder  46  is connected at its cap end by a pin  64  to a mounting extension  62  extending rearward from main frame  12 . At its rod end, the hydraulic cylinder  46  is connected by a pin  68  to a mounting extension  66  on the wing support  36 . In one mode of operation, actuation of the hydraulic cylinder  46  moves the left wing  14  forwardly through a generally horizontal plane into a secured transport configuration. 
     An outer end portion  36   b  of the wing support  36  is pivotally coupled to an inner end portion  38   a  of the wing frame  38  via a pin  52  to allow for rotation of the wing frame  38  about a horizontal axis in a generally vertical plane by actuation of a hydraulic cylinder  48 . The outer end portion  36   b  of the wing support  36  extends horizontally from the main frame  12  and curves downward until it is substantially vertical. The inner end portion  38   a  of the wing frame  38  includes an upper member, forward bar  40 , and lower member  60  coupled thereto. The hydraulic cylinder  48  is pivotally connected at its cap end to an extension  54  on the wing support  36 . At its rod end, the hydraulic cylinder  48  is pivotally connected to mounting plates  58  on the inner end portion  38   a.  In one mode of operation, actuation of the hydraulic cylinder  48  moves the wing frame  38  downwardly through a generally vertical plane, thereby transferring weight from the main frame  12  to the wing frame  38 . In another mode of operation, the flow of hydraulic fluid is reversed through the hydraulic cylinder  48  such that wing frame  38  moves upwardly through a generally vertical plane. By rotating the wing upward, weight on the wing frame  38  is transferred to the main frame  12  and the wing frame  38  is able to more easily travel over uneven and soft soil conditions, thereby aiding in folding and latching of implement frame  6 . The right wing  18  is similarly, pivotally attached to the main frame  12  and rotated through horizontal and vertical planes in the same manner as left wing  14 . 
     It should be appreciated that the cylinders  48  can provide a wide range of movement of the right and left wings  14 ,  18 . For example, as discussed above, the cylinders can provide a down force pushing the wings below horizontal. The cylinders can also raise the wings, potentially up to 90° above horizontal. However, one aspect of the invention provides that the cylinders  48  move the wings  14 ,  18  between (−45°) and 45° relative to the horizontal, while a preferred aspect provides for movement between (−21°) and 21° relative to the horizontal. 
     The transfer of the weight of the wing frame  38  to the main frame  12  during or before the forward folding movement of the wing  38  has many advantages. Because the wing  38  will have less ground resistance, less force will be required to move the wing. Therefore, a smaller cylinder  46  may be used with the implement for moving the wing  38  forward. The smaller cylinder equates to less weight for the implement  6  and makes for a less expensive implement. Furthermore, as the wing  38  has less resistance during the forward folding process, there is less likelihood that the wing will be snagged or temporarily stopped by the ground. This is advantageous, as at present, when a snag occurs, excess force is required to overcome the snag, which can cause the wing to violently slam against the tongue  10  or other components of the implement  6 . The slamming can damage the components. Thus, another aspect of the invention is that the smooth forward folding of the present invention may also increase the life of components of the implement  6  by reducing the wear and tear caused by inadvertent slamming during the forward folding process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an outer end portion of the left wing  14  is supported by a wheel assembly  22 . Similarly, an outer end portion of the right wing  18  is supported by a second wheel assembly  23 . The wheel assembly  22  includes a bracket fixedly secured to the forward bar  40  of the wing frame  38  at an outer end portion  38   b.  The wheel assembly  22  may also be longitudinally slidable along the wing frame  38 . The wheel assemblies support the outer ends of the associated wings during the movement of the wings  14 ,  18  between a field use configuration and transport configuration. To assist in holding the folding wings  14  and  18  in the fully extended and field use configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , each of the wings  14  and  18  has been provided with a wing brace  70 . The left wing brace  70  is pivotally secured by a pivot pin  82  to a bracket  80  on lower member  60  of the wing frame  38 , which includes two spaced apart members (not shown) each having an attachment portion. The opposite end of the wing brace  70  is pivotally secured by a ball joint (not shown) of a stabilizer lock assembly  90  similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,010, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     The folding process begins with the implement in the field use configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In this configuration, the wings extend outwardly and are generally perpendicular to the tongue  10 . Referring to the left wing  14 , the aft bar  42 , and the row units  24  attached thereto, is pivoted upward relative to the forward bar  40 . Next, the operator disengages a mechanism holding the tongue members  10   a  and  10   b  in the retracted, coupled position shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The tongue  10  is then free to telescopically extend via the combined movement of the tow tractor  4  and extension of the hydraulic cylinder  46  to provide sufficient distance between the tow tractor  4  and the main frame  12  for the wings  14 ,  18  to fold forward. As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , as the tongue telescopically extends, the wing braces  70  extend the inner tongue member  10   b  from the outer tongue member  10   a,  moving the wings  14 ,  18  forward towards a transport position. As the outer ends of the wings  14 ,  18  approach the tongue and each other, the wing braces  70  fold underneath the tongue  10 , freeing up space between the wings  14 ,  18  and the tongue  10 . Furthermore, actuation of the hydraulic cylinder  48  during the folding process transfers weight from the wing frame  38  to the main frame  12  to allow the wing frame  38  to more easily travel over uneven and soft soil conditions, thereby aiding in folding and latching of the implement frame  6 . 
     When the implement frame  6  is in the folded transport position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , it may be desirable to lock the left and right wings  14 ,  18  to each other over top of the tongue  10  with a latch assembly  98 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 10 , such that the wings will remain in said position during transport. There is provided a transport link  100  that is pivotally secured at one end thereof between two brackets  102  on a left wing  14  by means of a pivot pin  104 . The other end of the transport link  100  carries an upwardly extending latch  106  having an abutment surface that is inclined generally upwardly. The right wing  18  carries two upstanding flanges  110  adapted to receive therebetween the latch  106  on the transport link  100 . A pin is fixedly secured between the flanges  110  and is adapted to be engaged by the latch  106  when the parts are placed in the position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     As the wings  14 ,  18  move from the positions illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  to that illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , the transport link  100  is in a down or essentially horizontal position that slightly declines downwardly and is held in that position by a stop (not show). As the two wings  38  approach each other, a cam surface between the upstanding flanges  110  is contacted by the abutment surface of the latch  106 . The latch  106  then rotatably engages the pin. To place the implement frame  100  in the transport position, the operator actuates the two-point hitch assembly or extendable drawbar  8 , thus lifting the tongue  10  and main frame  12  against the underside of the transport link  100 . This also lifts the wings  14 ,  18  and the attached parts. The transmittal of the weight of the wings  14 ,  18  and the attached parts to the transport link  100  further serves to lock the transport link  100  in the wing retaining positions shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
     As shown in the figures, the latch  106  is positioned at the proximal end of the left wing  14 . However, it should be appreciated that the latch  106  may be positioned at the proximal end of either the right or left wing.  FIG. 5  shows the latch on the right wing, while the other figures show the latch on the left wing. The purpose of the latch  106  is to engage the pin to aid in connecting the right and left wings  14 ,  18  during the transport configuration of the implement. Furthermore, the latch may be orientated such that it is upward facing (concave generally upward) or downward facing (concave downward). Either orientation will allow the latch  106  to engage the pin to lock the wings in the transport configuration. 
       FIGS. 11A ,  11 B, and  12  show another embodiment of a planter frame  110  incorporating the novel aspects of the present invention.  FIGS. 11A and 11B  are sections of the implement frame  110 , which are split at “A”, in order to better show the sections and their components. As shown in the figures, the frame  110  comprises many of the same components as the frame shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . The frame  110  includes a tongue  112  extending between a hitch  111  and a main frame  114 . A left wing  116  and a right wing  118  extend from the main frame  114 , and are hingably connected thereto. The left wing  116  includes wheels  117  and the right wing  118  includes wheels  119 . A center section  120  is positioned generally aft of the main frame portion  114 , and includes a plurality of wheels  122 . Each of the wings  116 ,  118 , as well as the center section  120  will include a plurality of row units (not shown), as mentioned above. However, the wheels  122  at the central portion may also include an assembly  124  that will rotate the axle of the wheels  122 . This can raise and lower the central portion between a field use and transport use, and can also aid in turning the frame  110 . 
     Each of the wings  116 ,  118  will be operatively attached to the main frame  114  via a hydraulic cylinder  128  positioned between the wing and the main frame. Similar to the cylinders  48  above, the cylinder  128  will provide a lifting and downforce for the left and right wings  116 ,  118  in relation to the main frame  114 . This will account for variations in ground hardness, as well as providing a method for easier turning of the frame  110  in the field and for forward folding the wings of the frame to a transport configuration. 
     The frame  110  also includes first and second cylinders  126  positioned between the left and right sections of the main frame  114  and the tongue  112 . The tongue  112  may be telescoping or fixed in length. Positioned generally from the wings  116  to the tongue  112  are left and right braces  130 ,  132 , which further aid in the folding of the wings. 
     The folding and unfolding of the frame  110  between a field use configuration and a transport configuration can be as follows. The frame  110  in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B, and  12  is in a field use configuration. To fold forward to a transport configuration, the cylinders  128 ,  129  are retracted to reduce the down pressure on the wings  116 ,  118  and to slightly lift said wings. The tongue cylinders  126 ,  127  then begin retracting their piston, which is connected to a fixed coupling on the tongue. Thus, the wings will be drawn towards the coupling, which causes the wings  116 ,  118  to rotate towards one another at the tongue  112 . The wing braces  130 ,  132  may be telescoping members such that their length can be reduced as the wings are folded toward one another. The wings  116 ,  118  can then be locked to the tongue  112  to hold the wings in place during transport. Furthermore, the wheels  122  of the central section  120  can be rotated to shorten the distance between the wheels  122  and the hitch  111 , which aids in transport of the frame  110 . 
     It should also be understood that the features of any of the exemplary embodiments illustrated and described herein may be incorporated into any of the other exemplary embodiments illustrated and described herein in any combination and without any limitation. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions were selected to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention.