Patent Publication Number: US-10327375-B1

Title: Side folding toolbar for chemical applicator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/563,004, filed on Jul. 31, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,173, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to multi-row, wide-swath, agricultural implements such as chemical applicator implements having a laterally folding toolbar mounted to a towable carriage. More specifically the present invention includes a multi-section toolbar that folds rearward alongside a trailing carriage so as to reduce the overall transport dimensions of the implement. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Agricultural semi-trailed equipment such as, for example, chemical application equipment is used to treat a relatively wide swath of a field in a single pass. A chemical applicator generally consists of a rolling carriage that supports a vessel to carry application material and a toolbar suspended from the carriage framework. The carriage is attached to a prime mover, normally a tractor, through a load bearing pivot point at the rear of the prime mover which allows the tractor-trailer combination to articulate for steering purposes. Tools such as rolling coulters along with injection nozzles or knives are attached to the toolbar to accurately incorporate plant nutrients into the soil at desired depths and lateral increments measured from the centerline of the main carriage frame and the prime mover. 
     The economics of multi-row processing of chemical incorporators continuously push for increasing the latitudinal or lateral distance covered by a toolbar, commonly known as swath width, of the application equipment in an effort to reduce the number of passes required for a given area of land. In addition to increasing the toolbar&#39;s swath width, larger chemical reservoir capacities are also desired to reduce the number of time consuming reloading operations that are required. As the lengths of applicator toolbars are increased they must also have sufficient folding capabilities to collapse the overall width of the device for towing the applicator safely down a road. For narrower road transport, the conventional wide swatch toolbar is provided with a rigid center section approximately the width of the maximum overall transport dimension and multiple wing sections suspended from the center section that fold out from the center section. It is often desirable that the multiple stages of wing folds match the standard incremental swath width of the corresponding planting equipment so as to enhance the toolbar&#39;s versatility. Suspending the wings laterally from the center section eliminates the need for a wheel lift assembly to carry the wing sections in the raised position thereby reducing the amount of crop damage that can occur while turning at the row ends. 
     To further enhance producer profitability with chemical applicators it is also desirable to minimize the lateral deviation of nutrient placement relative to the plants as well as minimizing plant damage from the trailing carriage assembly caused by off-tracking. Off-tracking is a common characteristic of fixed axle semi-trailed equipment whenever the refraction angle at the hitch point deviates from an aligned position such as during turning or when steering corrections are necessary. Implement off-tracking is also exaggerated on trailing equipment when it is traversing a side slope where gravitational force tends to pull or slide the trailer down the slope causing the centerline of the implement to deviate from the center line of the prime mover. Whatever the cause for off-tracking the result is a substantial risk of increased crop damage and yield loss whenever a fertilizer applicator deviates from the center of the crop swath. 
     Off-tracking has been minimized previously by keeping the incorporation toolbar as close to the prime mover as possible. This means that the toolbar is often coupled to the carriage as far forward as possible, typically in a mid mounted position between the forward most wheels of the rolling carriage and the rear wheels of the prime mover. A mid-mount toolbar design generally requires the center section of the toolbar to transverse beneath the carriage hitch that is fastened to the drawbar of the prime mover. 
     To further reduce costly crop damage while turning at the row ends, the minimum toolbar lift height, measured from the ground to the lowest point of the toolbar&#39;s incorporation tool, should exceed the height of the crop to which the fertilizer is being applied. However, on mid mounted toolbars the lift height of a mid mounted toolbar is restricted by the height of the carriage hitch. This lift height is further diminished on successive wing sections relative to the center section due to the gravitational and inertial forces that cause wings to sag or dip when the applicator is turned around on the row ends. To enhance the lift height of the toolbar during such turns it is a common industry practice is to slightly elevate or pivot the outer wings up. This method of raising the outer wings works relatively well with prior mid-mounted toolbars because the wings are generally pivotally secured about a horizontal axis and the method of slightly lifting the wings on the end rows is similar to folding the wing for applicator transport. 
     However, a major problem associated with the conventional vertical folding toolbars is the excessive height of the folded wings in the transport position which thereby increases the possibility of striking overhead obstacles during road transport. 
     A further problem associated with prior folding toolbars is that during field incorporation they do not have sufficient vertical travel laterally among the toolbar sections to compensate for rolling terrain such as hills, draws, or terraces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an agricultural side folding towed carriage and toolbar system in which outer wings fold both vertically and laterally rearward alongside the carriage to package a wide swath mid-mounted toolbar into a minimal transport profile for safer travel on public roadways. In the deployed unfolded field position, the wing sections are aligned in an end to end manner parallel to the center toolbar section. 
     The towed carriage portion of the invention functions as a rolling carrier frame for the chemical storage reservoir as well as the supporting structure for the multiple section folding toolbar. The carriage is pivotally attached to the rear of prime mover through a load bearing hitch which allows the tractor-trailer combination to articulate for steering purposes. The hitch is significantly elevated on the carriage to allow clearance for the center section of the rearward folding toolbar to pass below it. A tube assembly traversing the back side of the carriage and extending laterally past the outer sides of the storage reservoir is fixed to the carriage to vertically support and horizontally secure the rearward folded wing sections in the transport position. 
     The rearward folding toolbar includes a laterally rigid mid mounted center toolbar section that is disposed transversely to the direction of travel and allowed to translate vertically through parallel links and corresponding hydraulic actuators pivotally secured to the trailing carriage and the toolbar. A pair of first wing sections extends out from the sides of the center section flanking the center section. These are also known as main wing sections. Each main wing section is suspended from the outer end of the center section by a hinge assembly in the form of a flex hinge. The flex hinges located between the main wings and the center section allow the main wing sections to be pivotally secured to the center section along a vertical axis that enables folding of each main wing rearward into a transport disposition as well as allowing rotation along a horizontal axis for field application in varying land contours. 
     A hydraulic cylinder or other actuator operatively secured to the bottom side of the outer end of the center section and the flex hinge assembly is used to rotate each flex hinge assembly to thereby fold each main wing forward into the aligned field position or rearward into the transport position. A latch mechanism and hydraulic cylinder are pivotally pinned to a leading main tube member in the toolbar center section to mechanically secure each side folding main wing parallel to the center section for field operation. The latch mechanism consists of a plate weldment with a radius indentation that rotates vertically on a horizontal axis about the end of the center section by means of a pivotally secured hydraulic cylinder. With each main wing section aligned end to end with the center section in the field position, the radius indentation of each latch assembly is lowered over a cross pin that is secured to the beginning of each leading main wing section tube and axially aligned with the horizontal hinge on each flex hinge assembly. This configuration allows a latch to secure each main wing section in the forward, aligned, field position while still permitting each main wing section to pivot vertically about its horizontal hinge for ground contour following and row end wing tilt capabilities. 
     Each main wing section is flanked by an outer foldable wing section that consists of a single tube pivotally secured about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the lateral swath of the toolbar. With this folding hinge configuration the outer wing rotates vertically about 170 degrees to fold from a field position that is aligned with the main wing to a transport position such that it rests on top of the corresponding adjoined main wing section. If a narrower swath width is desired for incorporation, it is acceptable to operate the toolbar with the main wing section in the deployed field position and the outer foldable wing sections stored in the transport position. If a wider swath width is desired, each outer foldable wing section may be provided with a bolt-on tube extension to increase the length of the outer foldable wing. 
     A double acting hydraulic cylinder or other actuator is located on top of the toolbar and pivotally secured along the horizontal axis of each flex hinge and main wing section to supplement the gravitational force applied to the wing sections. These cylinders are used to transfer the weight of the carriage and chemical volume onto the main wing sections to provide down force on incorporation tools on the main wing sections and outer wing sections to force them into the soil when the implement is in the deployed field position. The percentage of weight that is transferred through the cylinder to the main wing can be controlled and adjusted using a hydraulic pressure reducing/relieving valve. When the operation of each of these same cylinders is reversed, it provides the force required to rotate each main wing section about the corresponding flex hinge&#39;s horizontal axis thereby lifting the outer wings slightly as desired during turning at the row ends with the toolbar in the deployed field position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a side folding chemical applicator system in accordance with the invention with the toolbar in a deployed field operating position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the toolbar assembly of the applicator in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the sidefolding chemical applicator of  FIG. 1  with the toolbar folded in a transport position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a carriage assembly frame; 
         FIG. 5  is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of the semi-trailer assembly of the applicator with a transport rack shown detached; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the transport rack of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a center toolbar section in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial front perspective view of the center toolbar section of  FIG. 7  illustrating the underside components not visible in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of left side components of the toolbar between the outer end of the center section and inner end of a main wing section; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a toolbar flex hinge detail; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the toolbar flex hinge detail of  FIG. 10  illustrating the underside components not visible in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of a toolbar latch assembly detail; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a toolbar main wing section; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the main wing section as in  FIG. 13  illustrating the underside components not visible in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of components of a toolbar located between the outer end of the main wing section and inner end of a flip or outer wing section; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an assembled flip or outer wing section; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the outer or flip wing section of  FIG. 16  illustrating the opposite end components not visible in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged detailed perspective view of an outer or flip wing hinge and linkage area; 
         FIG. 19  is a detailed perspective view of the outer or flip wing hinge and linkage area of  FIG. 18  illustrating the underside components not visible in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a flip wing linkage component; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an outer wing lower clamp component; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a main wing section linkage component; 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a main wing section clamp component; 
         FIG. 24  is a side view of a side folding chemical applicator illustrating the motion of a main wing section for saddling and unsaddling to and from the secured transport position; 
         FIG. 25  is a top view of a folding chemical applicator illustrating the motion of main wing section for side folding to and from the transport position; 
         FIG. 26  is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the flex hinge and latch area of the toolbar in a disposition approaching field position; 
         FIG. 27  is an enlarged perspective view of the flex hinge and latch area of the toolbar in the aligned field position; 
         FIG. 28  is a front elevation view of one side of a chemical applicator with the main wing section of the toolbar fully raised and the flip wing section stored in a folded transport position; 
         FIG. 29  is a front elevation view of the left side of the chemical applicator as in  FIG. 28  with the toolbar flip wing section partially folded; 
         FIG. 30  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the flip wing linkage; and 
         FIG. 31  is a bottom view of a main wing and center section connection with the main wing partially folded. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description details one or more embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are presented as examples but not as limitations as those skilled in the art will recognize that other implements may make use of the principles of the toolbar of the invention and that it may take other forms while remaining within the confines of the inventive concepts. For example, while actuators may be described as hydraulic cylinders, it will be understood that any type of operator that could be used is also contemplated including pneumatic or electric cylinders or rotary actuators in some cases. 
     The present invention provides an improved wide swath toolbar consisting of a center section, flanked by flex hinge mounted side folding main wing sections, and vertical folding outer wing sections. The arrangement advantageously places the center toolbar section in close proximity to the rear wheels of the prime mover and in front of a trailing carriage assembly to minimize toolbar off-tracking. 
     The invention provides a fertilizer applicator, or the like, with a toolbar that folds rearward along side of the trailing carriage to increase the application swath width while reducing the overall height when transporting the assembly between fields. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a toolbar where the wing sections adjacent to the center section fold laterally rearward for transport thereby reducing overall height for transport between fields while still providing sufficient vertical motion to allow for varying field contours during field deployment. 
     A further advantage of the invention is to secure the laterally folding wings forward in the field position with a mechanical latch that permits rotation about the hinge axis to also allow wing translation in the vertical direction and to provide hydraulic down force on the folding wings to simulate a multiplication of vertical gravitational loading. In addition, the toolbar provides a means to tilt the main wing sections slightly upward during turning at row ends to enhance the main wing and outer wing crop clearance. 
     Agricultural semi-trailed chemical and similar applicators in accordance with the present invention all have features in common. A perspective view of a side-folding chemical applicator system is shown in  FIG. 1  in a deployed field operating position shown generally at  40 . The system includes a carriage assembly  42  which supports a chemical reservoir vessel  44  and a toolbar assembly  46 . The chemical reservoir vessel  44  stores a mixture of plant nutrients that are to be evenly distributed using incorporation tools commonly, but not limited to, rolling coulter devices as illustrated at  48  mounted along the toolbar assembly  46 . Gauge wheel assemblies  50  are usually installed on the toolbar assembly  46 . They provide a groove to control the maximum depth of plant nutrient placement into the soil. The carriage assembly  42  is supported by a rolling assembly consisting of a plurality of wheels and tires, one of which is shown at  52 , or track assemblies (not shown). The remaining resultant forces are typically supported by an elevated or arched hitch assembly that protrudes from the front of the carriage assembly  42  above the toolbar assembly  46  and includes a hitch  54  designed to be pivotally attached to the rear of a prime mover (not shown) in a conventional manner. 
     Important aspects of the present invention generally reside in the transport rack  56  that is attached to the carriage assembly  42  and in the toolbar assembly  46 . A toolbar assembly  46  is shown in  FIG. 2  and includes a pair of flex hinge members  60  and wing latch  62 , located on both outboard ends of a center section assembly  64 , that allow sections of the toolbar to be aligned for field use and folded rearward for transport as shown in the enlarged view of  FIG. 3 . The transport rack  56  and the toolbar assembly  46  are described in greater detail below. 
     An exemplary carriage frame assembly  70  is shown in  FIG. 4  and is mainly constructed of, but not limited to, rectangular tubing, as at  72 , round tubing, as at  74 , formed plates, profile plates, and other shaped steel members arranged in a manner that effectively supports relatively heavy gravitational loads incurred from the chemical reservoir  44  of  FIG. 1  and the toolbar assembly  46  through the wheels  52  and the carriage hitch assembly. It will be appreciated that a variety of carriage frame configurations may be used depending on the shape and size of the chemical reservoir vessel or other storage tank. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the transport rack  56  of the invention captures the rear structure of the carriage frame  70  and is shown to bolt to outside vertical side plates  74 . The transport rack  56  is primarily a symmetric tubular framework arranged in a manner that spans beyond the width of the carriage assembly frame to support the toolbar  46  in the rearward folded transport position shown in  FIG. 3 . Because the transport rack  56 , shown in  FIG. 6 , is a symmetric framework, components of one side can be described in detail with components of the other side understood to be an opposed or mirror image of what is described. A single generally horizontal top tube  80  is joined on each end to a horizontal side extension tube  82  by a generally vertical tube member  84  and an angular brace member  86 . The top of the vertical tube member  84  is notched out to allow the horizontal top tube member  80  to recess into it and a rectangular hole is cut through two faces near the bottom of the vertical tube member  84  at  88  to allow the horizontal side member to pass through. Mounting holes in member  84  enable bolting of transport rack  56  to the carriage assembly  70 . Angular brace member  86  is secured to one end of member  80  and the connection is reinforced by a formed laminate plate  92 . The outside end of the angular member  86  is joined to the member  82  to help support any resultant generally vertical load applied to the outer ends of member  82 . An end cap  94  may be attached to member  82 . 
     Two standoff tube members  96  are mounted to the outer ends of the member  82  at slight angle and spaced apart so as to coincide with the tubular members of a main wing of a toolbar stored in the transport position as will be described. Standoff members  96  are both capped with end cap plates  98 . A transport peg  100  with a formed cap  102  is fixed to the upper face of member  82  just inside the inner standoff tube  96 . A gusset plate  104  braced between the transport peg  100  and the angular member  86  provides additional lateral strength to the transport peg  100 . A square spacer tube  106  is provided to support a vertical wing stop tube  108 . A profiled gusset  110  provides lateral support to the wing stop tube  108 . Implement lighting mounting plates are provided as at  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the four primary components that make up the supporting structure of the invention&#39;s toolbar assembly  46  are the center section  64 , the flex hinges  60 , the main wings  66 , and the outer flip wings  68 . The center section  64  of the toolbar assembly serves as the base platform flanked by the flex hinges  60  and wing assemblies that are symmetrically suspended from the ends. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the center section  64  shown is pivotally secured to the sides of the trailer carriage frame  70  through parallel link arrangements consisting of upper parallel link assemblies  120 , lower parallel link assemblies  122 , and main lift cylinders  124 . As seen in  FIG. 31 , each main lift cylinder  124  is operatively attached to the trailer carriage frame  70  and each lower parallel link  122  to raise and lower the toolbar assembly  46 . In the field or deployed position, the center section  64  is the primary portion of the toolbar assembly that is connected to the trailer carriage frame  70 , by the parallel link assemblies, through which all the resultant forces of the toolbar assembly  46  are transferred back into the carriage frame  70 . 
     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the rigid framework of the center section  64  is shown enlarged and consists of a front rectangular tube  130  and rear rectangular tube  132  that runs transversely to parallel link mounts  134 . Because of the symmetry of the center section  64  about the middle of the front rectangular tube  130  and rear rectangular tube  132 , only the components of the center section  64  on one side, will be described in detail, it being understood that the opposite end components are an opposed or mirror image of what is described. DOM round tubing  136  is centered through holes in the parallel link mounts  134  to provide a sufficient bearing surface for pins securing the center section  64  to the parallel links. The front rectangular tube  130  and rear rectangular tube  132  run in spaced parallel relation to each other and are the primary center section support members through which the loads from the outer wings are conveyed to the parallel links and ultimately to the trailer carriage frame  70  of  FIG. 1 . These two parallel members also provide a structure to which soil incorporation tools such as rolling coulters can be clamped. 
     The top side of the outer end of the front rectangular tube  130  is profiled to accommodate generally vertically pivoting latch member  62 , shown in  FIG. 9 , that secures the front of a main wing  66  to the front rectangular tube  130  when the main wing  66  is in the deployed field position. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a side folding arrangement includes hinge mounts or hinge castings  140  with grease zerk provisions located at the top and bottom faces at the outer ends of the rear rectangular tube  132 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 9 , hinge castings  140  capture main wing hinge pins  142  and allow them to pivot about a vertical axis to enable side folding of the main wings  66  by means of the adjoining flex hinges  60 . 
     During the side folding and unfolding process of the main wings  66 , the top and bottom hinge castings  140  must transfer the moment couple of the gravitational load on the main wings  66  and outer flip wing  68  onto the ends of the center section  64 . Hinge straps  144  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) secured to the hinge castings  140  strengthen the hinge castings and assist in transferring the tension stress from the moment couple directly into the parallel link mounts  134  thereby reducing stresses that would otherwise be transmitted through the hinge casting  140  and into the rear rectangular tube  132  during the folding operation. 
     Cross brace tubes  146  are centered between the front rectangular tube member  130  and the rear rectangular tube member  132  near the outer end of the center section  64  as well as within the parallel link mount  134  to provide rigidity throughout to the center section. Top and bottom reinforcement plates  148  and  150 , respectively, are laminated over the outer cross braces  146  and front and rear rectangular tube members  130  and  132  to enhance stability and adhesion between the adjoining members and strengthen the wall surfaces. A further brace plate  152  is secured between the top and bottom reinforcement plates to tie the components together and help stabilize the outer edges of the hinge castings  140 . The openings on the ends of the rear rectangular tube  132  may be closed as by rectangular end cap plates  154 . 
     A pair of spaced latch cylinder lugs  156  with concentric holes provide a mount for a latch cylinder  158  ( FIG. 9 ) on the top face of each top reinforcement plate  148  ( FIG. 7 ). The concentric holes of the latch cylinder lugs  156  are positioned at a horizontal and vertical distance relative to the center axis of concentric latch bushings  160  fixed near the outer end of the front rectangular tube  130 . Latch laminate plates  162  are added to the outer ends of the front inside vertical faces of member  130  to strengthen the vertical wall of member  130  opposing the lateral force that is applied to the latch bushings  160  during field operation. An inner rectangular end cap plate  164  is recessed into the outer end of the front rectangular tube member  130 . A formed receiver ramp  166  designed to help position each main wing  66  relative to the latch  62  in the deployed field position shown in  FIG. 27 , is fixed to the front and lower faces at each outer end of the front rectangular tube  130  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . To provide clearance for the main wing  66  to side fold properly into deployed field position, a spacer plate  168  is positioned between the front face of the front rectangular tube  130  and the inside face of the formed receiver ramp  166 . 
     A more comprehensive understanding of the purpose of receiver ramp  166  and spacer plate  168  will become more apparent as the folding operation is described in further detail hereinafter. Secured below the front rectangular tube  130  and attached to the inner cross tube  146  and parallel link mount  134  is a formed cylinder lug mounting plate  170 . The main fold cylinder lug  172  attached to the formed cylinder lug mounting plate  170  pivotally anchors the blind end of the main fold cylinder  174  shown in  FIG. 9  about a vertical axis for side folding the main wing  66 . A small flat plate ties the vertical leg of the formed cylinder lug mounting plate  170  to the bottom face of the parallel link mount  134  to withstand the resultant forces incurred by the main fold hydraulic cylinder  174  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     It is recognized that some crop spacing and application practices require an incorporation tool to be laterally placed at an interval coinciding with the pivoting latch mechanism or main wing hinge area. To accommodate this possibility a toolbar offset assembly  176 , shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , is attached to each end of the forward face of the center section member  130  protruding forward just below the latch cylinder lugs  158  and extending outwardly around the latch bushings  160 , spacer plate  168  and receiver ramp  166 . Other features such as hose rings  178 , for securing hoses, and hardware mounts may be present on the center section  64  but these are not pertinent to the present invention. 
     Referring to the exploded view of  FIG. 9 , and  FIGS. 26 and 27 , a flex hinge assembly  60  is adapted to be pivotally secured about a vertical axis at each end of the rear rectangular tube  132  using a flex hinge pin as at  142 . Each flex hinge assembly is pivoted generally horizontally about its hinge pin by an operating device which may be a hydraulic cylinder as at  174  shown operatively attached between main fold cylinder lug  172 , of the center section, and flex hinge side fold cylinder lug  180 , shown best in the enlarged details of  FIG. 31 . This provides the force to pivot each flex hinge member  60  about the flex hinge pin  142  thereby folding and unfolding the main wings  66 . In addition, each flex hinge member  60 , in conjunction with the latch assembly as described hereinafter in more detail, is a primary component of the invention as it enables a main wing  66  not only to rotate generally horizontally about a vertical axis for side folding but also enables the corresponding main wing to pivot or rotate generally vertically about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the swath width for ground following and lift assist characteristics as will be described. 
     A flex hinge  60  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The hinge includes a down pressure lug plate  182  which is a core component of the flex hinge assembly  60  that ties many of the other component in the flex hinge assembly  60  together. The down pressure lug plate  182  is a profiled plate that has a hole  184  near the top for mounting one end of an actuator which may be a hydraulic down pressure cylinder  186 , shown in  FIG. 9 , and extends through the flex hinge  60  to capture flex hinge bushing at  188  which enables generally vertical pivoting of a corresponding main wing as will be described. The thickness mid plane of the down pressure lug plate  182  coincides with the center axis of the concentric holes in the flex hinge upper and lower hinge mounts or hinge castings  190  as well as the width mid plane of the flex hinge bushing  188 . An upper casting mounting plate  192  is secured to the down pressure lug plate  182  and supports the lower face of the upper casting  190 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , further details of the flex hinge assembly will be described. The top rib of the upper casting is joined to the adjacent down pressure lug plate  182  to reinforce the upper casting  190  and transfer a majority of the resultant force from the down pressure cylinder  186  attached to the down pressure lug  182  directly into the side fold hinge at the location between the upper and lower castings  190 . A cylinder lug mounting plate  194  separates the upper and lower hinge castings  190  and secures the side fold cylinder lug  180  in a horizontal plane at the desired distance from the centers of the hinge castings  190 . A lower casting mounting plate  196  is used to stabilize the side fold cylinder lug  180  in the horizontal direction and secures the lower hinge casting  190 . A shaped side plate member  198  is fixed to the outer edge of the cylinder lug mounting plate  194 , the upper casting mounting plate  192 , the lower casting mounting plate  196 , the flex hinge bushing  188 , and an end cap  200  to stabilize outer edge of the upper casting and lower castings  190  and the flex hinge bushing  188 . A further side plate member  202  is secured to the inner vertical face of the cylinder lug mounting plate  194 , the top face of the lower casting mounting plate  196 , the inner edge of the upper casting mounting plate  192 , the inner edge of the flex hinge bushing  188 , and the inner edge of the end cap  200  to help stabilize the inner edge of the upper and lower castings  190  and the flex hinge bushing  188 . 
     The end cap  200  facilitates the distribution of the stresses introduced into the adjoining spaced side plates  198  and  202  from the resultant forces applied to the flex hinge bushing  188 . A further gusset plate  204  angularly secured to the cylinder lug mounting plate  194 , the lower casting mounting plate  196 , and the side plate member  202  facilitates the distribution of the stresses introduced into the lower casting mounting plate  196  and the cylinder lug mounting plate  194  from the hydraulic cylinder pivotally attached to the side fold cylinder lug  180 . 
     As shown in the fractional exploded view of  FIG. 9 , a latching system assembly is positioned in parallel to the flex hinge  60  and used to mechanically secure each main wing  66  in the field position while still allowing the main wing  66  to rotate or pivot freely in a generally vertical direction about the concentrically aligned main wing hinge pin  210  and main wing latch pin  212  to enable each main wing to have ground following and lift assist characteristics. An actuator in the form of latch cylinder  158  is operatively connected to each outer end of the center section  64  and a latch assembly  62  to rotate the assembly about a center section latch pin  214  to capture the main wing latch pin  212  as shown in  FIG. 27 . 
     The latch assembly  62 , shown in  FIG. 12 , consists of two outside latch plates  220  spaced apart and strengthened by a latch lug plate  222 . Latch bushing  160  with provisions for a grease zerk is centered between the two outside latch plates to maintain consistent spacing and provide additional wear surface around the main wing latch pin  212 . 
     Further with respect to the generally vertical pivoting of main wings  66 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 27 , each main wing assembly  66  is adapted to be pivotally secured about a generally horizontal axis to the flex hinge  60  by main wing hinge pin  210 . A hydraulic or other down pressure cylinder  186  is designed to be operatively connected between the flex hinge  60  and the main wing  66  to operate to pivot the main wing  66  about the main wing hinge pin  210 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , each main wing assembly  66  includes a front tube member  230  and a rear tube member  232  separated and spanned by a cross tube  234 . Main wing hinge mounts or hinge castings  236  with the holes concentrically aligned are fixed to the front and back face of member  232 . A shim plate may be is positioned between the inner faces of the main wing hinge castings  236  and the front and back faces of the main wing rear tube  232  to provide accurate spacing between the main wing hinge castings  236  to capture the flex hinge assembly  60  ( FIG. 9 ). A rectangular end cap plate  238  is located at the inner end of each tube member  232  to strengthen the tube member  232  against stresses that may propagate through hinge castings  236 . 
     Hinge bushings  240  with thru holes at each end are concentrically aligned with the holes in the hinge castings  236  and positioned through the outside and inside vertical faces of the front tube  230 . The inner end of each tube member  230  is recessed to accommodate the hook end of the latch assembly  62  ( FIG. 9 ) which pivotally secures the front tube member  230  about an axis central to the hinge bushings  240  and hinge castings  236 . A four hole pattern  242  is placed in the bottom wall at the inner end of each main wing tube member  230  to accommodate connection of a stainless steel wear plate  244 , shown in  FIG. 9 , that will be described hereinafter. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , and the parts of the main wings, a laminate plate is added as at  246  to strengthen the portion of each front tube member  230  that bears lateral force applied to the hinge bushings  240  in the lengthwise direction of the tube when the latch  62  has secured the main wing latch pin  212  in the deployed field position. 
     A down pressure tube  248  with a profiled end including a hole in each vertical face is placed angularly onto the inner end of each rear tube  232 . The down pressure tube  248  is the primary component for transferring the resultant forces of down pressure cylinder  186  into the main wing  66 . Down pressure tube  248  is supported at its outer end by a further support tube  250  fixed perpendicular to the bottom face of tube  248  angularly to the rear tube  232 . Cylinder bushings are fixed concentrically to the holes in the down pressure tube  248  on both vertical faces, spaced apart an appropriate distance to accommodate clevis  254 , attached to the rod of down pressure cylinder  186  ( FIG. 9 ). The outer front and back vertical walls of the down pressure tube  248  are reinforced with laminate plates  252  to supplement the bearing strength of the tube walls and strengthen the fusion of the support tube  250  to tube member  248 . An end cap  256  provides the outer end of the down pressure tubes  248  to add strength and seal the open end from the environment. Further laminate support plates  258  may be added to supplement the connection between the front and rear face of the support tube member  250  and the respective faces of the rear tubes  232 . Pressure plates  260  are welded to the both the front and back faces of the down pressure tube member  248  and the respective faces of the rear tube member  232  to reinforce the connection of the down pressure tube member  248  to the rear tube member  232 . 
     Flip wing rest tube shapes  262  are fixed angularly to the top of the main wing rear tube members  232  and the main wing front tube members  230 . A rest tube  262  supports a corresponding flip wing  68  when the wing is stored in the transport position as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . A formed support cross plate  264  near the middle of the main wing  66  maintains the gap between each front tube member  230  and rear tube member  232  and provides a primary platform to secure the flip wing cylinder lug plate  266 . Lower cross plates  268  tie the bottom of the formed support cross plate  264  and the flip wing cylinder lug plate  266  to the lower faces of the front tube members  230  and rear tube members  232 . Inner hinge mounts or hinge castings  270  are fixed about the outer top and end faces of the rear tube members  232  and front tube members  230  to pivotally secure the flip wing  68  ( FIG. 2 ). The vertical faces on the outer ends of both the front tube members  230  and the rear tube members  232  are coped away and a round cross tube  272  is positioned through the holes to maintain the gap between tubes  230  and tubes  232  and to also provide the bearing surface for the flip wing linkage assembly ( FIGS. 18 &amp; 19 ) detailed hereinafter. Round end cap plates  280  are placed over both ends of the round cross tube  272  to seal the opening from the environment. Small gusset plates  274  fixed to the round cross tube  272  and the inside vertical faces of both the front tube  230  and the rear tube  232  prevent the flip wing linkage assembly ( FIGS. 18 &amp; 19 ) from translating along the round cross tube  272 . Formed laminate plates  276  are placed under the round cross tube  272  and centered on the bottom face of the rear tube  232  and the front tube  230  to re-establish tube wall material that was removed and join the lower face of inner hinge castings  270  to the round cross tube  272  and tubes  230  and  232 . A formed transport lock plate  278  is fixed to the outer rear face of the rear tube  232  as well as the outer face of main wing inner hinge casting  270  to capture the transport peg  100  shown on the transport rack in  FIG. 6  when the main wing  66  is in the transport position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The exploded perspective view of  FIG. 15  shows the connection between a main wing  66  and a flip wing  68 . The flip wing  68  is pivotally joined between the main wing inner hinge castings  270  on the outer end of each main wing  66  by a flip wing pin  290  spanning through the centers of both main wing inner hinge castings  270  and flip wing hinge mount or hinge castings  292 . Flip wing hinge pin  290  from horizontal translation and rotationally joins the main wing  66  to the outer flip wing  68 . 
     The inner portion of each wing  68  are illustrated in the details of  FIGS. 16 and 17 , spaced hinge castings  292  are fixed to the generally vertical faces of the flip wing main tube  294  so as to fit between the main wing inner hinge castings  270  on hinge pair  292  as shown in  FIG. 15 . As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , tube  294  is provided with an end cap at  296  and an extension cover plate  298  on the outer or free end which also provides a mounting surface to attach a flip wing extension assembly as at  69  shown in  FIG. 2 . A linkage tube  300  is recessed into the upper portion of the flip wing tube  294  near the hinge castings  292  to provide bearing surfaces for a flip wing linkage assembly. Round inner stop plates  302  and outer end caps  304  minimize axial translation of the flip wing linkage assembly  306  shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
     In some application embodiments it may be necessary to have a incorporation tool located near the flip wing hinge or the flip wing linkage area. For this toolbar configuration an exemplary bolt-on offset as at  308  consisting of a tubular frame and plate assembly is fastened to the flip wing  68  as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 15, 18 and 19 , parts of each flip wing linkage assembly  306  include two flip wing link members  310 , two lower clamps  312 , a main wing link member  314 , a main wing clamp  316 , a linkage pin  318 , and two external pin retaining rings  320 . The two flip link members  310  are pivotally clamped about each end of the linkage tube  300  using lower clamps  312  in a manner that allows free rotation with lubrication around the linkage tube  300 . The main wing link member  314  likewise is pivotally clamped about the center of the round cross tube  272  by the main wing clamp  316  in a manner that allows free rotation with lubrication on the surface of round cross tube  272 . The main wing link member  314  and the flip wing link members  310  are pivotally secured to the rod end clevis  322  of a flip wing hydraulic cylinder  324  attached to main wing linkage member  314  by linkage pin  318 . External retaining rings  320  retain flip wing linkage pins  318  in place while allowing them to rotate freely in place. 
     Each flip wing linkage assembly  306  in combination with the flip wing hydraulic cylinder  324  (operatively connected to the flip wing cylinder lug plate  266  on the main wing) is used to fold the flip wing assembly  68  approximately 170 degrees from the deployed field position to the transport position where it rests on corresponding main wing  66 , or conversely. 
     Referring to the detail in  FIG. 20 , each flip wing link member  310  may include a heavy wall DOM tube  330  sectioned approximately in half and flanked by mounting plates  332 . Provision is made to grease the inner face as the rotational bearing surface for the flip wing link member  310 . A triangular profiled plate  334  with a through hole  336  to secure a cylinder bushing  336  is also joined to member  330 . Lower clamps  312  shown in  FIG. 21  has a similar configuration but without member  334 . 
     In the perspective view of  FIG. 22 , each main wing link assembly  314  includes a heavy wall DOM tube segment  340  sectioned approximately in half and flanked by mounting plate  342 . Grease provisions are made for the bearing surface of member  340 . Two spaced semi-circular profiled plates  344  with through holes provided with cylindrical bushings  346  are centrally spaced along tube  340 . 
     Main wing clamp detail of  FIG. 23  includes heavy wall DOM tube segment  350 . Mounting plates  352  in the same configuration as the main wing linkage  314  ( FIG. 22 ). Two semi-circular profile plates  354  are centrally spaced about the heavy wall DOM tube segment  350  and the three hole mounting plates  352 . The semi circular profile plates  354  have a flat surface on the outer radius to serve as a mechanical stop for the flip wing assembly  68  as illustrated in  FIG. 30 . The normal method of operating a side fold fertilizer applicator, or the like, in accordance with the invention will be described and illustrated for one side of the applicator, it being understood that the other side of the toolbar operates in an identical opposed manner. Starting in the transport position, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 24 , the main wings  66  are lifted vertically from the transport rack  56  by retracting the rod end of the down pressure cylinder  186  so that the formed transport lock plate  278  in  FIG. 25  on the main wing  66  raises above the transport peg  100  on the transport rack assembly  56  shown in  FIG. 24 . To rotate the main wings  66  forward as illustrated in  FIGS. 25 and 31 , the main fold hydraulic cylinder  174 , pivotally connected the center section  64  and the flex hinge  60  is retracted causing the flex hinge  60  to rotate about the flex hinge pin  142 . 
     The rotating cycle continues until the main wing  66  is parallel to the center section  64  where it is secured in the deployed field position by the latch assembly  62 , the gravitational and torsion loads of the main wing  66  and outer flip wing  68  are transmitted entirely to the center section  64  through the flex hinge assembly  60 . The gravitational loading is introduced to the flex hinge  60  by a combination of the down pressure cylinder  186  and the main wing hinge pin  142  shown in  FIG. 9 . Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 25 , all torsion loading from the main wing  66  and outer flip wing  68  during the folding process is transmitted to the flex hinge  60  through the main wing hinge pin  142 . The resultant forces applied to the down pressure lug  182  and the flex hinge bushing  188  are transmitted into the center section  64  ( FIG. 9 ) through the upper and lower castings  190  and the side fold cylinder lug  180  shown in the flex hinge illustration  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     As each main wing  66  is rotated forward, the main wing latch pin  212  ( FIG. 26 ) approaches pivoting latch  62 . For the pivoting latch  62  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) to effectively engage the main wing latch pin  212  in the field position, the center axis of the main wing latch pin  212  must be aligned closely to the center axis of the main wing pin  210  at a consistent distance from the center section latch pin  214 . It will be appreciated that the torsion on the flex hinge pin  142  and the main wing hinge pin  210  as a result of gravity acting on the components extending outward from the flex hinge  60  can cause flexure in the components that make up each main wing  66 . This component flexure combined with the hole clearances necessary for rotation at the flex hinge pin  142  and the main wing hinge pin  210  may cause axial misalignment between the main wing latch pin  212  and the main wing hinge pin  210 . To account for such an anticipated pin misalignment a stainless steel wear plate  244  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 26  is secured with taper headed fasteners  245  to the underside of the main wing front tube  230  near the latch hinge. An identical stainless steel wear plate  244   a  is secured to the formed receiver ramp  166  on the center section  64  in the same manner. 
     When the rotation of flex hinge  60  approaches the field position in which the main wing front tube  230  nears a laterally aligned position with the center section front rectangular tube  130 , stainless steel wear plate  244  contacts stainless steel wear plate  244   a . Thus a resultant vertical force proportional to the incline of the formed receiver ramp  166  is applied to the inner end of the main wing front tube  230  as the inner end of the main wing front tube  230  continues to slide up the formed receiver ramp  166  until the main wing latch pin  212  is axially aligned with the main wing hinge pin  210 . 
     Once each main wing fold hydraulic cylinder  174  ( FIG. 31 ) is fully retracted and the main wing  66  is aligned with the center section  64 , as shown in  FIG. 27 , the blind end of double acting latch cylinder  158  is pressurized to rotate the latch assembly  62  about the latch pin  214  ( FIG. 26 ) to capture the main wing latch pin  212 . With the main wing latch pin  212  axially aligned to the flex hinge pin  210  and secured by the latch assembly  62 , the main wing  66  is mechanically restrained from pivoting horizontally about the main wing hinge pin  142 . However, the main wing is still able to pivot vertically about main flex hinge pin  210  and main wing latch pin  212  to enable it to follow ground contour or for lift height assist during tuning maneuvers at row ends. 
     With the main wing  66  secured by a latch assembly  62 , the toolbar assembly  46  may be used to incorporate chemical although said flip wing  68  is still in the folded transport position shown in  FIG. 28  to match the swath width of planting equipment. When it is desired to rotate flip wings  68  into the deployed field position as shown in  FIG. 18 , the rod end of flip wing hydraulic cylinders  324  is extended applying a moment through the flip wing linkage assembly about the flip wing hinge until the flip wing tube  294  is rotated and vertically aligned with the main wing  66 .  FIG. 30  shows an enlarged flat profile of a main wing clamp system showing end cap  296  contacting and ensuring vertical alignment of flip wing tube  294  with main wing  66 . 
     For chemical incorporation, the toolbar assembly  46  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is lowered from the fully raised field position by releasing the trapped fluid in the blind end of main lift cylinders  124  as well as the rod end of down pressure cylinders  186 . When the fluid is drained from the blind end of main lift cylinders  124 , it permits the upper and lower parallel link assemblies  120  and  122  to pivot simultaneously about pins in the parallel link mounts  134  enabling a vertical translation of the toolbar assembly  46  with minimal deviation from its level orientation. When the fluid is released from the rod end of the down pressure cylinder  186  it allows the main wing  66  to rotate about the main wing hinge pin  210  and the main wing latch pin  212 . This rotational motion causes the main wing  66  to lower proportionally to the distance away from main wing hinge pin  210  thereby lowering incorporation tools clamped latitudinal along the main wing  66  and flip wing  68 . 
     Once the application tools, such as coulters  48  engage the ground, the rod end of the main lift cylinders  124  and the blind end of the down pressure cylinders  186  can be pressurized to force the application tool, coulter  48  into the soil. 
     When the rod end of the main lift cylinder  124  is pressurized it exerts a downward resultant vertical force on the lower parallel link  122  which is thereby transferred into the center section assembly  64  through the parallel link mounts  134  ( FIG. 7 ). The penetration depth of tools attached to the center section is controlled by the amount of retracted stroke length of the main lift cylinders  124  relative to the drawbar height of the prime mover and the carriage wheels  52 . 
     When the blind end of the hydraulic down pressure cylinders  186  is pressurized the rod end exerts a linear force directed away from the flex hinge  60 , thereby pivoting main wings  66  downward and increasing a resulting downward vertical force applied to attached incorporation tools to cause them to effectively penetrate the soil to a desired depth. The desired incorporation depth is controlled by raising or lowering the gage wheels  50  Adjusting the amount of fluid pressure applied to the blind end of the hydraulic down pressure cylinder  186  regulates the amount of gravitational load that is transferred to the main wing  66  and allows the down pressure cylinders  186  to retract and extend as needed for the main wing  66  and flip wing  68  assemblies to follow the ground contour during the application process. 
     To raise the toolbar  46  from the ground the blind end of the main lift cylinders  124  and the rod end of the down pressure cylinders  186  are pressurized. This redirects the resultant force applied to the lower parallel links  122  from a downward vertical force to an upward force thereby raising the toolbar assembly  46 . 
     Of course, reversing the flow to the hydraulic down pressure cylinder  186  and pressurizing the rod end of the down pressure cylinders  186  will reverse the resultant forces and cause the main wing  66  to roll up to a controlled height thereby providing the additional lift height to the main wing  66  and outer flip wing  68  assemblies for crop clearance during turns. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2, 15, and 28 , when it is desired to fold a flip wing  68  into the transport position, the flip wing hydraulic cylinder  324  is retracted creating a moment through the flip wing linkage assembly  306  about the flip wing hinge until the flip wing tube  294  ( FIG. 28 ) is inverted and rests on the bumper  370  bolted to the top of the flip wing rest tube  262 . 
     To fold a main wing back into the transport position as shown in  FIG. 24 , the rod end of the latch cylinder  158  ( FIG. 26 ) is first pressurized to rotate the latch assembly  62  about the latch pin  214  and release the main wing latch pin  212  from the latch assembly  62 . As shown in  FIGS. 24, 25 and 31 , the main wing  66  is folded back into the transport position by extending the side fold cylinder  174  causing the flex hinge  60  to rotate about the flex hinge pin  142  until the rear rectangular tube  232  on the main wing  66  contacts a poly pad  372  that is fastened to the vertical tube  108  on the transport rack  56 . Trapped oil in the rod end of the down pressure cylinder  186  is released to lower the outer end of the main wing  66  onto the standoff tubes  96  of the transport rack. The standoff tubes  96  on the transport rack  56  transmit a resultant vertical support opposite the gravitational loading on outer end of the main wing  66  thereby eliminating the moment that would otherwise be present about the flex hinge assembly  60 . The formed transport lock plates  278  capture the transport peg  100  and mechanically secure the main wings  66  in the side folded position eliminating the reliance on the side fold cylinder  174 . 
     With the toolbar folded for transport as shown in  FIG. 3 , the chemical applicator can now be safely and easily moved from one location to another. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.