Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to farm equipment such as planters and drills and, more particularly, to a way of folding such machines into a relatively narrow roading width. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
   It is known in the art to fold multiple section planters and drills forwardly from wide spread field positions to narrowed transport positions. However, in many multiple sections machines gauge wheels on the wing sections project forwardly from the front side of the sections and thus tend to interfere with one another when the sections are folded together. To avoid these interference problems, pivot points for the wing sections are typically spaced far enough apart to keep the gauge wheels from interfering with one another when the machine is in its folded condition. However, this necessarily increases the overall width of the folded machine. 
   The present invention solves this problem by making the gauge wheel assemblies shiftable from their positions on the front side of the wing sections into outboard positions at the ends of the sections during folding of the wings into their folded positions. This clears out the space otherwise occupied by the gauge wheels on the front side of the wing sections and allows the wing sections to come closer together in the folded position, resulting in a reduced overall width of the machine. 
   The ground engaging wheel of each gauge wheel assembly comprises a self-aligning castor wheel that reacts to ground forces during the folding and unfolding sequence so as to reorient itself with the path of travel of the machine. A positive, hydraulic-operated latch locks the castor wheels in straight-ahead positions during field operations, and a spring-loaded detent yieldably maintains the castor wheels in straight-ahead positions during over-the-road travel. The gauge wheel assemblies are shifted between their inboard and outboard positions by hydraulic cylinders that are coupled in master-slave relationship with fold cylinders for the wing sections, so that folding of the wing sections and repositioning of the gauge wheels occur simultaneously. Instead of a long central tongue, the machine utilizes a pair of pull bars that are coupled at their rear ends to the wing sections and converge forwardly to a common hitch member that is connected to the towing tractor. Ball swivels at the rear ends of the pull bars allow for independent flexing of the wing sections as uneven terrain is encountered. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a right, front, top isometric view of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the machine being illustrated with its wing sections in their field positions; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 1  but showing the wing sections folded forwardly into their folded positions for transport; 
       FIG. 3  is a right, rear, fragmentary isometric view of the machine illustrating the way in which the rear axle can pivot about a fore-and-aft axis to compensate for field irregularities; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary isometric view of one of the gauge wheel assemblies associated with a wing section and illustrating details of the locking bar mechanism for releaseably holding the castor of the assembly in a straight-ahead position; 
       FIG. 5  is another enlarged, fragmentary isometric view of the gauge wheel assembly illustrating other details of construction of the locking bar mechanism; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, fragmentary isometric view of one of the gauge wheel assemblies illustrating the locks that releaseably retain the assemblies in their inboard and outboard positions; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view through one of the gauge wheel assemblies illustrating further details of construction of the locking bar mechanism for retaining the castor wheel in its straight-ahead position, the bar being shown in its released condition. 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 7  but showing the locking bar in its locked position; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the overall machine with the wing sections in their field positions; 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the machine with the wing sections partially folded; and 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the machine showing the wing sections completely folded into their folded positions for transport. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate and the specification describes certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular disclosed embodiments. 
   The implement  10  disclosed herein for purposes of illustration comprises a three section seeding machine, although almost all the openers of such machine have been removed to simplify the drawings and promote an understanding of the principles of the invention. As will be apparent, the principles of the present invention are applicable to many different types of folding implements and are not limited to machines having three sections. Some of the principles of the invention are applicable to rear folding machines as well as front folding machines. 
   In the illustrated embodiment the three section implement  10  includes a center section  12  and two wing sections  14  and  16  on opposite sides of center section  12 . Center section  12  includes a wheeled carriage or frame  18  having a front axle assembly  20  and a rear axle assembly  22 . Front axle assembly  20  has a pair of hydraulic cylinders  22  that regulate the height of the front of frame  18 , while rear axle assembly  22  has hydraulic cylinders (not shown) that regulate the height of the rear of frame  18 . As illustrated particularly in  FIG. 3 , rear axle assembly  22  is mounted to the frame  18  via a fore-and-aft trunnion  28  so that rear axle assembly  22  can swivel about a fore-and-aft axis to accommodate changes in ground contour experienced by wheels  30  and  32  of axle assembly  22 . Front axle  20  is not pivotal side-to-side and remains level with the frame  18  as wheels  34  and  36  of front axle assembly  20  engage the ground. A seed box  38  (only partially shown) mounted on frame  18  is adapted to supply seeds to openers carried on a single transverse tool beam  40  across the front of frame  18  (see FIG.  2 ). Opener assemblies are secured to tool beam  40  along the length thereof as represented by the opener assembly  42  in FIG.  3 . It will be appreciated that opener assemblies similar to opener  42  are also provided for wing sections  14  and  16 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , wing section  14  includes a transversely extending beam  44  that is connected at its inner end to frame  18  via an upright pivot  46  for horizontal swinging movement. Beam  44  includes a relatively short inboard section  48  and a much longer outboard section  50  that is coupled with inboard section  48  via a horizontal, normally fore-and-aft extending pivot  52 . As will be seen, pivot  52  enables wing section  14  to swing up and down relative to center section  12  during field operations. A gauge wheel assembly  54  is mounted on beam  44  adjacent the outer end of section  50  for supporting wing section  14  for over-the-ground travel. A horizontal tool bar  56  is fixed to section  50  of beam  44  below and rearwardly thereof for the purpose of supporting a line of openers (not shown) on the wing section. A seed box  58  (partially shown) is affixed to tool bar  56  for supplying seeds to the openers situated below it. A horizontally disposed swing cylinder  60  adjacent in the inner end of beam  44  connects a fixed crank  62  on inner beam section  48  with frame  18  for the purpose of effecting fore-and-aft folding and unfolding swinging movement of wing section  14 . 
   The opposite wing section  16  is similar to wing section  14  and includes a horizontal beam  64  that is connected at its inboard end to frame  18  via an upright pivot  66  located slightly to the left of pivot  46  as viewed from the rear of the machine. Beam  64  includes a short inboard section  68  carried by pivot  66  and a much longer outboard section  70  connected to inboard section  68  by a horizontal, normally fore-and-aft extending pivot  72  for up and down swinging movement of outboard section  70 . A gauge wheel assembly  74  adjacent the outer end of beam  64  is mounted on outboard section  70  to support beam  64  during both field operations and over-the-road travel. A tool bar  76  shown best in  FIG. 3  is fixed to outer beam section  70  and extends parallel thereto in somewhat downwardly and rearwardly spaced relationship therewith for supporting a series of openers (not shown). A seed box  78  (partially shown) is affixed to tool bar  76  for supplying seeds to the underlying openers. A swing cylinder  80  connects a fixed crank  82  on inboard section  68  with the frame  18  for effecting powered fore-and-aft swinging movement of beam  64  during folding and unfolding operations. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , the three sections  12 ,  14  and  16  are pulled during field operations and road travel by a pair of pull bars  84  and  86  that connect at their rear ends to sections  14  and  16  respectively and converge forwardly to a common hitch member  88  that is adapted for coupling with a towing vehicle (not shown). Pull bars  84 ,  86  are pivoted at their front ends to hitch member  88  and are coupled at their rear ends to beam sections  50  and  70  of the beams  44  and  64  respectively. Rear couplings  90  and  92  of pull bars  84  and  86  are in the nature of ball swivels so that each of the pull bars  84 ,  86  can twist and cant to a limited extent relative to its corresponding wing section as may be necessary to accommodate changes in terrain experienced by wing sections  14  and  16  during operations. 
   Each of the gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  includes a turret  94  at its upper end that is connected to the outer end of the corresponding beam section  50  or  70  by an upright pivot  96 . A swing cylinder  98  connected between each turret  94  and the corresponding beam section  50  or  70  is operable to rotate turret  94  about the axis of pivot  96  for the purpose of shifting the gauge wheel assembly  54  or  74  between an inboard position as illustrated in FIG.  1  and an outboard position as illustrated in FIG.  2 . Each gauge wheel assembly  54 ,  74  further includes a wheel arm  100  in the nature of a four-bar linkage connected at one end to turret  94  and at the other end to a bracket  102  that supports a ground wheel  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, ground wheel  104  is in the nature of a set of dual wheels, although a single wheel could be utilized. A lift cylinder  106  comprises a further part of each gauge wheel assembly  54 ,  74  and is connected between turret  94  and bracket  102  for the purpose of raising and lowering wheel  104  to thus adjust the working depth of the openers carried by the machine or to place the machine in an elevated position for transport purposes. 
   Each of the wheels  104  is in the nature of a castor wheel that responds to ground forces so as to cause the wheel to self-align with the direction of travel of the machine. To this end, each castor wheel  104  includes an upright pivot  108  defining an axis about which wheel  104  swivels during self-aligning action. Each pivot  108  is journaled by the bracket  102 , and a circular, horizontally disposed plate  110  is fixed to pivot  108  below bracket  102  for rotation with wheel  104  and pivot  108  during the self-aligning action. Circular plate  110  has a notch  112  in its outer periphery as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7  and  8 , for a purpose to be subsequently described, and also has a beveled hole  114  as shown in  FIG. 5  whose purpose will also be subsequently described. 
   When the machine is in its field operating mode as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  are preferably mechanically retained in their inboard positions on the front side of beams  44  and  64  as illustrated in those figures. Preferably, wheels  104  of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  are also releaseably mechanically locked in their straight-ahead positions as illustrated in those figures. To this end, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each gauge wheel assembly is provided with a manual latch  114  on the turret  94  that can be engaged with a catch  116  on the adjacent beam  44  or  64  when the gauge wheel assembly is in its inboard position. On the opposite side of each turret  94 , a similar latch  118  is provided for manual engagement with a corresponding catch (not shown) on the outer end of the corresponding beam for retaining the gauge wheel assembly in its outboard position for transport as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 11  for example. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the latches and catches  114 - 118  may take a variety of different forms. 
   In order to lock each castor wheel  104  in a -ahead position during field operations, each gauge wheel assembly  54 ,  74  is provided with a locking mechanism broadly denoted by the numeral  120  and mounted on the bracket  102  at the lower end of wheel arm  100 . As shown in detail in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7  and  8 , each locking mechanism  120  includes as a primary component a locking bar  122  that is adapted to be matingly received within the notch  112  in the edge of plate  110  when wheel  104  is at the proper angle with respect to wheel arm  100 . In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , wheel  104  is in such a rotative position relative to wheel arm  100  that notch  112  is not in position to receive locking bar  122 , but when wheel  104  is in a position as illustrated in  FIG. 9  relative to arm  100 , notch  112  will be lined up with locking bar  122  and the bar will be received within notch  112  to prevent rotation of wheel  104  relative to arm  100 . 
   In order to carry out this function, locking bar  122  is secured at its upper end by a transverse pivot  124  to a pair of forwardly projecting mounting lugs  126  on bracket  102 . Locking bar  122  is thus swingable toward and away from the peripheral edge of circular plate  110  as may be seen by comparing the positions of locking bar  122  in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . A pair of short pins  128  project laterally from locking bar  122  intermediate its opposite ends and are received within respective arcuate slots  130  in a pair of generally L-shaped, laterally spaced apart crank plates  132 . The crank plates  132  are attached to the lugs  126  by the same pivot  124  that pivotally mounts locking bar  122  to lugs  126 . A hydraulic cylinder  134  is connected between the outer ends of crank plates  132  and a pair of mounting ears  136  on bracket  102  for the purpose of operating crank plates  132  to lock and unlock locking bar  122 . 
   Notch  112  is not always in registration with locking bar  122  when cylinder  134  is actuated to swing bar  122  inwardly toward the periphery of circular plate  110 . At those times, bar  122  will simply engage the edge of plate  110  and rest in that position due to the pin and slot connection between bar  122  and crank plates  132  afforded by pins  128  and slots  130 . However, to assure that bar  122  snaps into notch  112  when those two components are properly aligned, a relief spring  136  is provided on a cross member  138  between crank plates  132  that yieldably biases locking bar  122  radially inwardly toward plate  110 . 
   It is also desirable to have the castor wheels  104  maintained in a straight-ahead position aligned with the path of travel of the machine when wing sections  14  and  16  are in their folded positions as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 11 . To this end, the beveled hole  114  in plate  110  is so located that when wheel  104  is in its angled position relative to arm  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , hole  114  will be in registration with a spring-loaded detent pin  140  projecting downwardly from bracket  102 . When engaged within hole  114 , detent pin  140  is capable of retaining wheel  104  in its straight-ahead position relative to arm  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  during normal roading conditions. However, the spring (not shown) associated with pin  140  is of such strength that when wing sections  14  and  16  are swung out from their folded positions of  FIG. 11  toward their field positions of  FIG. 9 , the ground forces operating against wheels  104  are able to overcome the spring force associated with detent pin  140  and swivel the wheels  104 . During such action, detent pin  140  merely bears against the top surface of plate  110  and remains in that relationship until the fully folded position of  FIG. 11  is once again obtained. 
   OPERATION 
   During field operations the implement  10  is in its wide-spread condition as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 9  wherein wing sections  14  and  16  project laterally outwardly from center section  12  in aligned relationship therewith. In a preferred embodiment, manually releaseable locks of any suitable design, such as locks  142  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) between frame  18  and inboard sections  48  and  68  of beams  44  and  64  respectively, are used to maintain beams  44  and  64  in their field positions. Thus, when the tractor moves forwardly to impose a draft force on pull bars  84  and  86 , tool beams  44  and  64  do not fold forwardly but instead transfer a portion of such draft force to center section  12  such that the entire machine  10  advances. As variations in ground contour are encountered, the three sections can flex relative to one another about fore-and-aft pivots  52  and  72 , and the ball swivels  90  and  92  at the rear of pull bars  84  and  86  accommodate such floating action notwithstanding the fact that pull bars  84  and  86  remain essentially in the same horizontal plane at all times. 
   When wing sections  14  and  16  are in their field positions, gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  are disposed in their inboard or inwardly swung positions on the front side of beams  44  and  64  so as to place wheels  104  in the best position to sense changes in ground contour for the openers of the sections. It will be noted that wheels  104  are generally axially aligned with wheels  34  and  36  of center section  12  at this time, which facilitates turn around at the end of the field and otherwise. 
   When the wing sections  14  and  16  are in their field operating positions, the gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  are latched in their inboard positions by the inboard latches  114 . These take the load off swing cylinders  98 , which would otherwise need to hold gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  in their proper positions. In a preferred embodiment, the latches  114  are manually latched and unlatched, although it is certainly within the principles of the present invention to have such latches remotely actuable by hydraulic cylinders or the like. Also at this time, locking bar mechanisms  120  are in their latched conditions of  FIG. 8  so that castor wheels  104  are effectively locked in their straight-ahead positions generally in line with the path of travel of the machine. 
   When the operator desires to place the machine into its transport mode, all of the hydraulic cylinders for the various ground wheels are first extended to raise the tools completely out of the ground and into a position that provides good ground clearance. He then manually releases locks  142  for beams  44  and  64 , and the latches  114  for the gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74 . By then extending the hydraulic cylinders  134  associated with locking bar mechanisms  120 , castor wheels  104  of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  are enabled to swivel in response to ground forces as the machine is folded into its folded condition. 
   To commence folding, swing cylinders  60  and  80  are extended, which simultaneously extends swing cylinders  98  for gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74 . In this regard, in a preferred embodiment the swing cylinder  60  is connected in master-slave relationship with the swing cylinder  98  of gauge wheel assembly  54 , the cylinder  60  being the master and the cylinder  98  being the slave. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment, the swing cylinder  80  is the master of swing cylinder  98 , although the two masters  60  and  80  are connected in parallel to one another. Thus, as wing sections  14  and  16  start to fold forwardly, the wheel arms  100  of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  begin to swing toward their outboard positions, all as represented by the partially folded machine illustrated in FIG.  10 . It will be appreciated that as wing sections  14  and  16  are swinging inwardly at this time, castor wheels  100  of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  are reacting to ground forces and are swiveling about the axes of their pivots  108  to align themselves with the path of swinging travel of wing sections  14  and  16 . 
   Once the machine has been fully folded as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 11 , wing sections  14  and  16 , along with their beams  44  and  64 , extend generally parallel to the path of travel of the machine in closely spaced relationship to one another on opposite sides of the collapsed pull bars  84  and  86 . Gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  have arrived at their outboard positions projecting beyond the ends of their respective beams  44  and  64  and thus also project generally in the direction of travel of the machine. It will be recognized that wheel arms  100  swing through an arc that is somewhat less than 180° as they move from their inboard positions to their outboard positions and that, in their outboard positions, they project outwardly from the center line of the machine at an angle in the neighborhood of 30°. This places the castor wheels  100  further outboard of the center line of the machine than would be the case if arms  100  projected in axial alignment with the longitudinal axes of beams  44  and  64 , thereby providing greater clearance between gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  without sacrificing the narrow spacing between beams  44  and  64  at this time. 
   Once wing sections  14 ,  16  have been fully folded and gauge wheel assemblies  54 ,  74  are in their proper outboard locations, the operator may manually latch outboard latches  118  of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  to retain such assemblies in their outboard positions. In addition, he may manually lock a suitable latch  144  ( FIG. 11 ) between beams  44  and  64  using a handle  146 . Latch  144  thus retains wing sections  14  and  16  in their fully folded positions during over-the-road travel. Preferably, a pair of suitable bumpers  146  and  148  on the inside edges of pull bars  84  and  86  come into abutment with one another when pull bars  84 ,  86  are fully collapsed and lying alongside one another. 
   It is likely that when wing sections  14  and  16  have been fully folded into their folded positions, castor wheels  104  of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  will not yet be in their straight-ahead positions. However, once the tractor starts pulling forwardly on the folded machine, castor wheels  104  will react to the ground forces and self-align into the straight-ahead position. Once castor wheels  104  are in their straight-ahead positions, the detent pins  140  ( FIG. 5 ) will snap down into their respective beveled holes  114  to yieldably hold wheels  104  in their straight-ahead positions, thus obviating any tendency for the castor wheels to shimmy during over-the-road travel. Locking bar mechanisms  120  may remain in their unlatched conditions at this time. On the other hand, if cylinders  134  thereof are contracted for any reason, the locking bars  122  will merely engage the peripheral edge of their respective circular plates  110  without slipping into notches  112  because such notches will be out of position at this time. Relief springs  136  provide the ability for the locking bars  122  to simply ride against the edges of plates  110 . 
   To re-establish the machine in its field working position, the operator initially releases manual latch  144  for beams  44 ,  64  and latches  118  for gauge wheel assemblies  54 ,  74 . Thereupon, swing cylinders  60  and  80  are contracted to commence outward swinging of wing sections  14  and  16 , which simultaneously initiates swinging of gauge wheel assemblies  54  and  74  back toward their inboard positions. Once wing sections  14  and  16  have been swung fully to their field positions of  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the operator may engage inboard latches  114  of gauge wheel assemblies  54 ,  74  and likewise engage locks  142  for beams  44 ,  64 . Although castor wheels  104  may not be in their straight-ahead positions at this time, upon forward movement of the machine they will react to the ground forces and self-align into such positions. With the latching mechanism cylinders  134  contracted at this time and the locking bars  122  riding along the edge of circular plates  110 , bars  122  will eventually snap into notches  112  as notches  112  become aligned with bars  122 , hence positively locking castor wheels  104  in their straight-ahead positions. By lowering the machine down to the ground to re-engage the openers or other tools, the machine is ready to commence field operations. 
   The inventor(s) hereby state(s) his/their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.

Technology Category: 1