Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"GROUND WORKING IMPLEMENTS AND WING FOLD MECHANISMS THEREFORE"
BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in ground working implements which include at least
two sections pivotally connected together in side by side
endwise relationship and which furthermore require that one
section be lifted upwardly and over top dead center from
the field working position to the transport position and
vice versa.
It also relates to the wing fold mechanism to per-
mit this action to take place.
Conventionally, this movement is by hydraulic pis-
ton and cylinder assemblies which lifts the moving section
from the substantially horizontal field working position,
upwardly through 90 to a substantially vertical position
and then over top dead center to a lowered position which
is either substantially horizontal with the fixed section
or at an angle thereto depending upon design parameters.
Also required, particularly in relatively wide
ground working implements, is means to permit one section
to float relative to the other and this usually takes the
form of lost linkage or slotted linkage connection opera-
tively connected between the two sections. However, unforu-
nately, such slotted or lost linkage suffers from a severewhich
disadvantage particularly when used with a wing section/is
pivoted through more than 90 . As it passes over the center
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of gravity or top dead center, just in excess of 90 of
initial movement, gravity permits this section to free fall
until lost or slotted linkage retards the downwardly move-
ment whereupon the hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly
may lower section to the required transport position. A
similar free fall occurs when the piston and cylinder assemb-
ly extends to move the movable section from the transport
position back towards the ground working position.
It will be appreciated that due to the relatively
heavy weight of such sections in present day implements,
high impact forces occur at the end of the free fall move-
ment thus causing considerable strain to the linkage and
supporting structure which has to be strengthened consider-
ably in order to compensate for these impact forces. Further-
more, even with the strengthened structure, damage such as
wear and looseness can easily and often do occur after a
period of use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvan-
tages by a novel linkage connection between the sectionswhich preserves the floating action required during ground
working conditions but which eliminates completelyany free
fall of the movable wing section as it passes through 90
and over the center of gravity or top dead center in either
direction.
In accordance with the invention there is provided
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a wing fold mechanism for ground worlcing implements such ascultivators and the like which include a first section and
a second adjacent section, means pivotally connecting the
sections together along a substantially fore and aft hori-
zontal axis, means for moving one section relative to the
other section from a field working position to a transport
position and vice versa, said sections when in a field work-
ing position, being substantially in side by side endwise
relationship, one with the other, said sections when in a
transport position being folded relative to one another at
an angle in excess of 90, said means for moving said one
section relative to the other section including a hydraulic
piston and cylinder assembly on said other section and be-
1inkage
ing operatively connected to said one section and including/
operatively extending between said sections and said hydra-u-
lic piston and cylinder assembly, said linkage including
spring controlled loose linkage means for limiting the
floating relationship of said sections relative to one
another and for controlling the over center movement of
said one section relative to said other section when moving
from the field working position to the transport position
and vice versa.
In accordance with another aspect of the inven-
tion, there is provided a ground working implement compris-
ing in combination at least two adjacent sections, means
pivotally connecting said sections together along a substan-
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tially fore and aft horizontal axis, means for moving one
section relative to the other section from a field working
pOSitiOIl to a transport position and vice versa, said sec-
tions when in a field working position, being substantial-
ly in side by side endwise relationship, one with the other,
said sections when in a transport posltion being fold~
relative to one another at an angle in excess of 90 , said
means for moving said one section relative to the other sec-
tion including a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly on
said other section and being operatively connected to said
one section and including linkage operatively extending
between said sections and said hydraulic piston and cylin-
der assembly, said linkage including spring controlled
loose linkage means for limiting the floating relationship
of said sections relative to one another and for contro]l-
ing the over center movement of said one section relative
to said other section when moving from the field working
position to the transport position and vice versa.
Another advantage of the invention is that the
spring loaded pin connection in the loose li.nkage mechanism
permits controlled float to occur between adjacent sections
during ground working conditions with the spring a]ways tak-
ing up clearance and preventing severe vibration occurring
which of course adds to wear at the loose link connection
points.
A still further advantage of the invention is to
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provide a device of tne cnaracter herewithin described wnich
is simple in construction, economical in manllfacture and
otnerwise well suited to the purpose for whicn it is design-
ed.
With the foregoing, in view, and oLher advantages
as will become apparent to tnose skilledin the art to
wnicn this invention relates as this specification proceeds,
tne invention is herein described by reference to t;~e ac-
companying drawings forming a part hereor, wnich includes a
description of the best mode known to the applicant and of
the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the
present invention, in wnich:
D~SCRIPTIO~ OF ~HE DRAWI~S
Figure 1 is a partially exploded isometric view
of tne wing fold mechanism per se.
Figure 1~ is an isometric view of the spring as-
sembly per se.
Figure 2 is a partially schematic side elevation
of the wing fold mec:~anism incorporated in two adjacent
sections and shown as the transport movement is being initi-
ated.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but show-
in~ the sections just before the center of gravity passes
the pivot.
Figure h is a view similar to Figure 3 but snow-
ing the sections in the fully folded or transport position.
Figure 5 snows the wing fold mechanisrn extending
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between two adjacent sections in the substantially horizon-
tal ground working position.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but show-
ing the outer wing section pivoting below the plane of the
inner wing section.
In the drawings like characters of reference indi-
cate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention
in detail a reference should first be made to Figures 2
through 6 in which 10 illustrates one ground working imple-
ment section and 11 illustrates another adjacently connect-
ed ground working section. In these drawings, wing section
- 10 may take the form of an outer or movable wing section
and 11, an inner wing or a center section, the invention be-
ing usable in either location. It will also be appreciated
that the sections may carry ground working tools such as on
cultivators, cnisel plows or the like. In the section 10,
reference character 12 illustrates one longitudinally ex-
tending framc member and in the section 11, 13 illustrates
a corresponding longitudinally extending Erame member.
The remainder of the ground working implement struc-
ture is conven~ional and it is tnerefore not believed neces-
sary to illustrate same.
Lvleans collectively designated 14 are provided to
pivotally connect the two sections together by the adjacent
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ends thereof, and reerence to Figure 1 will show details
oE this structure.
~ pair of spaced and parallel lugs or plates lS
are secured as by welding or the like to the a~jacent end
16 of the other Erame member 13 and extend upwardly and out-
wardly t:nerefroln. Mating lugs or plates 17 are secured to
the adjacent end 18 OL the one fraMe member 12 anQ also ex-
tend upwardly and outwardly therefrom and are spaced so
that tney will slide between the lugs or plate 15 when as-
semblied in order that a pivot pin 19 may engage mating aper-
tures 20 and 21 respectively formed tnrough tne engaging
lugs t'nus forsnil.~ a horizontal ~ore and aft pivot between
the two sections as clearly shown.
A conventional hydraulic piston and cylinder as-
sembly collectively designated 22 is provided to move the
one section 10 relative to the other section 11, from a
Eield working position such as that illustrated in Figures
1 and S, to a transport position such as that illustrated
in Figure ~ and vice versa. The piston and cylinder assem-
bly includes a cylinder 23 pivotally mounted by means ofpkl 2~ to a lug 25 secured and extending upwardly from t'ne
upper surface of the frame member 13 o~ the other section 11.
In tnis partlcular embodimen-t, a stop mem~er 26 also extends
upwardly from -this frame member 13 and the anchor lug 25 may
be welded to the inner surface thereo~ as clearly shown in
Figure 1.
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A piston rod 27 extends and retracts from the cy-
and
linder 23/is actuated in a conventional manner (not illustrat-
ed) and the distal end 28 of tnis piston rod is pivotally
cotmected `cy rneans of a pivot pin 29, to adjacent the one
end 30 of a connector link collectively designated 31.
This connector linK, in this emDodimen~ consists of two
substantially elongated strips or plates 31 maintained in
spaced and parallel relationship by means of a transverse
brace 32 welded tnereto as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.
This connector link 31 is pivotally connected by
means of a pivot pin 33, adjacent the other end 34 thereof,
to braces 35 forming part of the aforementioned lugs 17 and
when in t'ne field working position, it will be observed
tnat tne piston and cylinder assembly 22 inclines upwardly
and outwardly towards the connector link 31 which also in-
clines upwardly and outwardly from its relevant section 10.
'rhe pin 33 engages through apertures 36 -Formed in tne braces
35 outboard and below the apertures 21 connecting lugs 17 to
lugs 15.
Control linkage means is provided collectively
designated 37, said contro:l linkage taking the forrn of a
pair of elongated plates or strips 38 eac-n pivotally con-
nected adjacent one end 39 t'nereof, one UpOTI the outer side
of each of tne lugs 15 extending 'rom the frame member 13.
Pivot pin 40 extends between apertures within adjacent the
ends 39 and througn corresponding apertures in the lugs or
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plates 15 inboard and below the aperture 20 receiving pins
19 .
These control links 38 are provided with closed end-
ed elongated slots 41 adjacent t'ne other ends 42 thereof in
alignment with the longitudinal axes of the plates 38.
Spring loaded means collectively designated 43 is
operatively connected between the control links 37 and the
connector links 31. This spring loaded means includes a
rod 44 having a cross pin 45 extending therethrough adjacent
one end 46 thereof with tne distal ends of the cross pin
extending transversely through bearing bosses 32A in each of
the connector links 31, whicn in turn bearingly engage with-
in the slots 41 in the control links 38.
A elongated slot 47 is formed within the rod 44
adjacent the other end 48 thereof, said slot being closed
ended and receiving a cross pivot connection 49 in the form
of a pin which rides freely in the slot 47. A compression
spring 50 surrounds the rod 44 and reacts between the cross
pin 45 and the lower pivot pin 49 (by means of shouldered
washer 49A) riding witnin slot 47 and normally urges the rod
upwardly so t'nat the lower end of slot 47 in rod 44, en-
gages the pin 49. Pin 49 is connected between the two con-
trol plates 38 by means of a nut and bolt assembly 51, said
connection being intermediate the ends 39 and 42 of these
control plates as clearly shown. This means that the spring
50 is normally urging the pin 45 towards the upper or outer
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ends 41A of the slots 41 in the control links.
In operation, reference should be made to Figures
2 through 6 with Figure 5 showing the two wing sections 10
and 11 in a ground working position with the spring loaded
pin 45 being situated intermediate the ends of the slots
41 thus permitting controlled float to occur between the
- sections with the compression springs 50 assisting in holding
up the end wing which tends to dip. The device preferably
is mounted adjacent the front corner of the sections as it
is this corner which tends to dip most and springs 50 counter-
act this dipping tendency rather than accentuating same.
Also tne device assists in preventing excessive vibration or
wear from occurring to the various linkage points.
It will be noted from Figure 6 that the outer sec-
tion 10 may drop at an angle due to uneven ground until the
pin 45 bottoms on the lower end of the slot 41. It will
also be appreciated that it can move upwardly by a similar
amount (not illustrated) thus giving the desired range of
float upwardly and downwardly between the two sections 10
and ll.
When it is desired to move tne section 10 to a
transport position relative to section 11, the piston and cy-
linder assembly 22 is retracted so that the piston rod 27
pulls on the connector links 31 and commences to lift the
section 10 pivoting around the connecting pivot pin 19 mov-
ing it in the direction of arrow 52 as illustrated in Figure 1.
It should be noted that the weight of the section 10 causes
the pin 45 to bottom in the slots 41 as clearly shown in
Figure 2. As the section 10 approaches the 90 mark or towards
the tcp dead center before the center of gravity of wing 10
passes over top dead center, the effect of the weight of
section 10 is reduced considerably because of tne approach-
ing vertical position thereof. This enables the compres-
sion spring S0 to force the pin 45 to the upper end 41A of
the slots 41 as clearly shown in Figure 3. Then as the sec-
tion lO moves over top dead center and the center of gravity
passes from the righthand side towards the lefthand side
(with respect to Figure 3), there is no free fall permitted
because the pin has shifted to the upper ends of the slots
45. Tne piston and cylinder assembly then takes the weight
of this section as it is lowered towards the transport posi-
tion illustrated in Figure 4 whereupon it rests upon the
upper end of the stop 26 in a position shown in Figure 4.
It will of course be appreciated, that depending upon de-
sign parameters,the section 10 may not lie exactly parallel
with the section 11 but may be at an upward angle relative
thereto. It should also be noted that the pin 45 is main-
tained at the upper end of slots 41 by springs 50 thus pre-
venting the pin from moving downwardly over center with re-
spect to a line extending through the connection of the
cylinder to bracket 2S and pivot pin 2g. If this occurred
then the system would lock-up.
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The same action takes place as the section 10 is
moved by the extension of the piston and cylinder 22, from
the transport position shown in Figure 4, towards the field
position snown in Figure 5. Once again the spring 50 takes
up the slack and prevents free fall from occurring as it
passes over the top dead center position towards the posi-
tion illustrated itl Figure 3 and then when the weight is
sufficient, the pressure of the spring is gradully overcome
so that the pin moves to the lowermost position of the slots
41 as clearly shown in Figure 2.
Since various mo.difications can be made in my in-
vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently wide-
ly different embodiments of same made within the spirit and
scope of the claims without departing from sllch spirit and
scope, it is intended tnat all matter contained in the ac-
companying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative
only and not in a limiting sense.
