Abstract:
A latching arrangement for an agricultural implement having components which may be retracted or folded from an extended operational position to a stowed position better suited to transport and/or storage including a first remotely operable actuating mechanism for moving a component between the stowed and extended positions, a lever having a component engaging hook near one end and a fulcrum fixed to the implement, and a second remotely operable actuating mechanism for selectively engaging the hook and component only when the component is in the stowed position. The second actuating mechanism is operable independently of, and from the same location as, the first actuating mechanism. The second actuating mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder fixed to the implement and having a piston rod coupled to the lever near a lever end opposite the hook.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to agricultural implements, and, more particularly, to such implements having articulated portions which may be moved between extended and compacted positions for an agricultural operation and transport respectively. 
       2. Description of the Related Art 
       [0002]    One result of the demands of modern farming techniques is the tendency to manufacture various farming implements in greater and greater widths to reduce the time and required number of passes in tilling, planting, applying fertilizer, herbicides, etc., and harvesting crops. A drawback of the increasing widths is the problem of transporting the implement on public roadways. The typical solution for this problem is the creation of implements which retract or fold laterally extending implement portions for transport or storage. 
         [0003]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,137 discloses a field cultivator having a pair of laterally extendable/retractable wings. The wings are pivotable to a generally vertical position for transport and there is a locking arrangement for the foldable wing frame of the implement which latches an actuating cylinder in the retracted (wings raised) position. The latch may be engaged by gravity. In this patented arrangement, there are two wings extending laterally in the operational position and pivotal upward and toward one another about respective generally horizontal axes into the transport position. Once the implement assembly has been moved to a field or other location where the wing frame should be lowered into the operating position, an implement user can dismount the tractor or other primary mover and walk back to the cylinder latch assembly where simply lifting the distal end of the latch member unlocks the cylinder. 
         [0004]    A somewhat more sophisticated folding arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,078 where laterally extending wings of a planting system include fore and aft extending portions. In preparation for transport, these fore and aft portions are folded upward about a generally horizontal axis from their generally horizontal attitude and toward one another into a vertical attitude. Thereafter, the wing assembly is pivoted inwardly about a generally vertical axis toward the body of the implement. Inadvertent deployment of the wings during transit is prevented by a push-pull cable controlled sliding pin. The pin provides a lockout function which prevents rockshaft rotation and therefore also actuation of hydraulic valves controlled by rockshaft rotation. 
         [0005]    In US2015/0156955 a multi-section agricultural implement is disclosed which may be folded between transport and operational positions. The disclosed implement is similar to that of the U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,078 but different wing sections are folded in a unique way so as to not interfere with one another. 
         [0006]    There are a number of other agricultural implements in which component parts may be moved between a compacted transport position and an extended or deployed position for an agricultural operation. In general these known systems employ mechanical latching arrangements or simply rely on continued energization of one or more actuating cylinders for securing the movable parts in the transport position. The mechanical latching arrangements require an implement operator to dismount from the tractor or other traction unit to engage and/or disengage the latch. Reliance on continued energization of actuating cylinders may be employed so long as there is no hydraulic failure associated with one of those cylinders. 
         [0007]    What is needed in the art is a secure system for retaining implement components in a transport position requiring minimal operator action to enable or disable the retention system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a component latching arrangement which reduces the effort and time required in converting an agricultural implement having foldable components between transport and operational configurations. 
         [0009]    The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural implement having a main frame including a pull hitch tube extending in a forward travel direction, and a tool bar coupled with and extending transverse to the pull hitch tube. There is at least one wing section coupled with the main frame section for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis between an operational position and a stowed transport position. The wing section has a further toolbar portion extending from the main frame toolbar. There are components extending foreward and rearward of the tool bar portion in the operational position. Each wing section component is pivotable about a corresponding generally horizontal axis to and from a transport position. There are hydraulic fold cylinders operable to pivot the forward and rearward components from their operational position to the transport position. First and second hydraulically actuable clamping arrangements retain the forward and rearward components in their respective transport positions independent of the fold cylinders. A shared hydraulic cylinder is coupled through a common actuating linkage for simultaneously moving the first and second clamping arrangements toward corresponding component retaining positions. 
         [0010]    The invention in another form is directed to a latching arrangement for a retractable component of a traction unit towable agricultural implement. The latching arrangement has a lever with a component engaging hook near one end and a fulcrum pivotally fixed to a non-retractable portion of the implement. There is an actuating cylinder coupled to the lever which is controllable from the traction unit to engage the hook with the component and to disengage the hook from the component. A remotely operable actuating mechanism pivots the retractable component about a generally horizontal axis between the stowed position and an extended position for performing a farming operation. A component stop member limits pivotal motion of the component to the stowed position where the hook engages and forces the component into firm contact with the stop member. 
         [0011]    An advantage of the present invention is component retention is not dependent on the hydraulic cylinder employed to pivot the component. 
         [0012]    Another advantage is the latching mechanism is operable with minimal operator intervention. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage is the foldable components of a towable agricultural implement may have those components extended for operation and retracted for transport without the implement operator ever leaving the towing unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a portion of a towable agricultural implement incorporation the invention in one form; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of some of the wing sections of the implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a portion of the wing sections of  FIG. 2  from a different perspective; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view showing the fore and aft tool frames of a single wing section folded and latched in the retracted position from a still further perspective. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of a tillage implement of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the tillage implement is in the form of a multi-section field cultivator  10  for tilling and finishing soil prior to seeding. The cultivator has a main frame section  12  and a plurality of wing sections: an inner section  14 , a middle section  16  and an outer wing section  18 . There is a similar plurality of wing sections (not shown) which extend toward the left as viewed. 
         [0021]    Main frame section  12  is the center section that is directly towed by a traction unit, such as an agricultural tractor (not shown). Main frame section  12  includes a pull hitch tube  20  extending in a forward travel direction  22 , and a tool bar  24  which is coupled with and extends transverse to pull hitch tube  20 . Main frame section  12  generally functions to carry a shank or other tool frame  26  for tilling the soil, and a rear auxiliary implement  28  for finishing the soil. 
         [0022]    Rear auxiliary implement  28  includes a spring tooth drag  30  and a rolling basket  32  which co-act with each other to finish the soil. However, rear auxiliary implement can be differently configured, such as a spike tooth drag, cultivator shanks, etc. Shank frame  26  generally functions to carry cultivator shanks  34  with shovels  36  at their lower ends for tilling the soil. The shank frames are pivotally coupled with tool bar  24 , such as with couplings  38  and  40 . Certain ones of the shank frames are positioned in front of the tool bar  24  when in an operating position as in  FIGS. 1-3 , and folded up and over the tool bar  24  when in a transport position as shown in  FIG. 4 . A center shank sub-frame portion is attached to and positioned below pull hitch tube  20  and functions to till the soil in the intermediate open space between the two inner wing sections. This center portion is raised up and lowered with the raising and lowering of rear lift wheels  42  using a hydraulic cylinder. The couplings  38  function as an aft pivot for the aft tool frames  46  while the couplings  40  function as pivot for the fore tool frames  44  as will be better understood in reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 2 , a fold cylinder  48  couples a clevis  52  extending from a portion of the fore tool frame  44  with a bracket  54  which is fixed to the tool bar  24 . When cylinder  48  is enabled to retract the piston and piston rod, the portion of tool frame  44  associated with the outer wing  18  pivots about horizontal axis  50  from the illustrated generally horizontally deployed position to a generally vertical transport position. This pivotal motion is arrested by a stop  56  which engages a cross member  59  of the fore tool frame. Other tool frame portions may be retracted similarly. For example, the fore tool frame portion of wing  16  has a cross member  58  which engages a stop  57  when that portion is raised. The aft tool frame portions are similarly pivotable about a generally horizontal axis  60  defined by the coupling between hinge portions  62  and  64  as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 3 , hinge portions  62  are fixed to and extend from the tool bar  24  while portions  64  are formed as part of the aft tool frame  46 . Pivotal motion of the aft tool frame is controlled by rearward hydraulic fold cylinders such as  65  ( FIG. 2 ) and is arrested by stops  66 . The aft fold stops  66  are engaged by aft tool frame cross members  68  in the transport position. 
         [0025]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , note there is a latch  70  extending rearwardly from tool bar  24  associated with the tool frame of wing section  14 . There are similar rearwardly extending latches  72  and  74  for wings  16  and  18  respectively. Similar latches  76 ,  78  and  80  extend forward from the tool bar  24  for the respective fore tool frames. The structure of an exemplary latch  78  is more readily seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 2 , the latch  78  has a hook end  82  shaped to grasp the cross member  58  of the fore tool frame and secure the frame in the raised position. The latch is pivotally fixed to the tool bar or other non-retractable portion of the implement by a pivot  84  which functions as a fulcrum for a first class lever. The lever actuating end  90  opposite the hook is pivotally attached to a transverse bar  92 . Bar  92  is coupled to and actuated by a hydraulic cylinder  94  which is controllable by the implement operator from the traction unit and is independent of the fold cylinder such as  48 . Latch actuating cylinder  94  is anchored at  96  to the tool bar and has a piston rod coupled to the transverse bar  92 . Similarly, the latch  80  for the fore tool frame portion of wing  18  has a hook end  83  shaped to grasp the cross member  59  of the fore tool frame and secure the frame in the raised position. The latch  80  is pivotally fixed to the tool bar or other non-retractable portion of the implement by a pivot  85 . Another latch actuating cylinder  95  is anchored at  97  to the tool bar and has a piston rod coupled to a transverse bar  93 . The transverse bar  93  is pivotally coupled to the lever actuation end  91  as better seen in  FIG. 4 . Illustrative transverse bar  92  is pivotally coupled to the actuating end  90  of latch  82  as well as the actuating end  89  of rearward latch  72  so that the two latches operate in unison under the control of a shared cylinder  94 . Other pairs of fore and aft latches may be similarly coupled for conjoint motion. 
         [0027]    When the field work is complete, the operator may pivot the several fore tool frames by actuating hydraulic cylinders such as  48  and  49 . When the frames reach their respective stops such as  56  and  57 , pivotal motion ceases. Similarly, the rearward extending tool frames are pivoted to their raised positions engaging the stops  66 . The operator may then actuate latching cylinders such as  94  and  95 . The cylinders retract their respective piston rods raising the transverse bars  92  and  93  and the affixed lever actuation ends  89 ,  90  and  91 . Vertical bar motion causes hook ends  82  and  86  of the latches to lower into engagement with their respective tool frame cross members securing the frames in the raised position for transport. Note particularly in  FIG. 4  the elongated slot where the lever ends are coupled to the bar. This slot allows linear actuation of the piston rod and rotational motion of the lever arms about their respective fulcrums  84  and  88 . 
         [0028]    When the operator desires to deploy the tool frames for an agricultural operation, the hydraulic latching cylinders such as  94  and  95  are enabled remotely by the operator to extend their piston rods unlatching both fore and aft tool frames. Then, still at the remote location, the operator enables fold cylinders such as  48  and  49  to extend their piston rods lowering the tool frames into an operational position. 
         [0029]    Several current machines employ remotely actuable hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering tool frames. The present invention provides a remotely actuable latching system so that the operator never need leave the traction unit either for deploying or for retracting the tool frames. 
         [0030]    The invention has been described with reference to an agricultural machine having both fore and aft extending tool frames which may be pivoted upwardly into juxtaposition for travel allowing latching of both fore and aft tool frames with a single hydraulic cylinder. Separate cylinders could be used, each with a single latch. Further application of the invention is not limited to such machines, but is applicable to more simplistic machines such as described in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,137 where folding is simply upward and inward. Pneumatic cylinders or electrical solenoids could be used in some applications rather than the described hydraulic cylinders. Many other variations are possible. 
         [0031]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.