MULTIPLE SECTION DRAW BAR

TIMON ARTICULE D'ATTELAGE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A drawbar having a boom with at least two pivotally
connected sections which in a field position extend generally
transversely of the direction in which the draw is drawn. Each
section carries at least one first soil working device and at
least one other second soil working device is trailed behind said
first soil working device. The sections are pivotable in unison,
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction in which the
drawbar is drawn, from said field position to a non-working
position. In the non-working position the soil working devices
are raised in order that the sections can be pivoted relatively
to each other to a folded, transport position.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A drawbar comprising a boom having at least two
sections, said sections having means for supporting at least one
first soil working device, coupling means for connecting said
boom to a tractor, means for pivoting said sections about a
horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said
drawbar to move said first soil working device from a working
position to a raised, non-working position, and means for
pivotally connecting second soil working devices to respective
sections at locations spaced from said horizontal axis such
that, upon movement of said sections to move said first soil
working device to said non-working position, second soil working
devices connected to said sections will be lifted from the
ground, at least two of said sections being pivotally connected
to each other about a pivot axis which, is generally upright
when said first soil working device is in said non-working
position, so as to be movable between a deployed attitude in
which said sections lie transverse to the direction of travel of
said drawbar and a folded, transport position.
2. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for
pivotally connecting the second soil working devices are
disposed to permit the second working devices to be trailed
behind the first working devices.








3. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boom
comprises a centre section and wing sections, each wing section
being pivotally connected to the centre section said wing
sections lying substantially parallel to the direction of travel
of the drawbar when in said folded transport position.


4. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for
supporting at least one first working device comprises frame
elements extending rearwardly from the sections and wherein a
plurality of said second soil working devices is connected to
said means for pivotally connecting said second soil working
devices, each of said second soil working devices being a packer
having a connecting element pivotally connected to said frame
elements at a location remote from said horizontal axis.


5. A drawbar as claimed in claim 3 wherein each wing
section includes at least two wheels, one of which is mounted
for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel
of said drawbar with said first soil working devices in said
working position and the other of which is mounted for rotation
about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar in the folded, transport position.


6. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein second soil
working devices are connected to said means for pivotally
connecting said second soil working devices, said second soil
working devices comprising packer elements, there being at least



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one packer element to each of said sections, each packer element
being connected to its respective section by a connecting
element pivoted to its associated section at said locations
about an axis which, in said working position, is generally
horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel of said
drawbar.


7. A drawbar as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said
packer element has a tongue, said tongue being pivotally
connected to its respective said connecting element.


8. A drawbar as claimed in claim 7 wherein each packer
element tongue is connected to its associated connecting element
for pivoting movement about two perpendicular axes one of which
in said working position is generally vertical and the other of
which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of
travel.


9. A drawbar as claimed in claim 7 wherein each packer
element tongue is connected to its associated connecting element
for pivoting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes
one of which is horizontal and transverse to the direction of
travel of the drawbar.


10. A drawbar as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are
provided for restricting relative movement of said connecting
elements end packer element tongues about said one axis to
prevent said tongue and connecting element contacting the
ground.

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11. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 6 wherein
adjacent ones of the packer elements are trailed at different
distances behind the tractor to allow the packer elements to
cover completely the working width of the implement.

12. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 11 wherein
alternates ones of said connecting elements have a first length
and the remaining connecting elements are of a second and
different length.

13. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 11 wherein each
of said connecting elements is pivotally connected to an
associated frame element, said frame element extending rearwardly
from said boom sections, alternate ones of said frame elements
being of a first length and the remaining ones of said frame
elements being of a second and different length.

14. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 13 wherein
alternate ones of said connecting elements are of a first length
and the remaining ones of said connecting elements are of a
second and different length, shorter connecting elements being
connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

15. A harrow and packer drawbar comprising a boom
having a centre section and wing sections, each wing section
having an inboard and an outboard end, torque transmitting
universal pivot means connecting the inboard end of the wing
section to the centre section, the centre section and the wing




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sections each having a plurality of fore and aft extending frame
elements, each frame element having means for supporting a
harrow a packer tongue pivotally secured to each frame element
and adapted to trail a packer behind said frame elements,
coupling means for coupling the boom to a tractor, pivot means
for connecting said centre section to said coupling means for
pivoting movement about a generally horizontal axis transverse
to the direction of travel of said drawbar, means for pivoting
said centre section and with it said wing sections about said
horizontal axis between a first position, in which said frame
elements are generally horizontal, and a second position in
which said frame elements are generally upright, each said
tongue being pivotally connected to its associated frame element
at a location spaced from said generally horizontal axis, wheel
means supporting said boom in first, second and transport
positions, releasable means maintaining said wing sections
generally transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar,
said releasable means being operable to permit pivotal movement
in said universal pivot means to enable said wing sections to
pivot relative to said centre section about a generally upright
axis from the second position to the transport position.


16. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 15
wherein said wheel means comprises a pair of wheels on each wing
section, one wheel of each wing section supporting the wing
section in the first position and being rotatable about an axis
transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in that
position and the other wheel of each wing section supporting the
wing section in the transport position and being rotatable


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about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of said
drawbar in the transport position.
17. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 15
wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated frame
element by a connecting element, each packer tongue being
connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting
movement about two perpendicular axes one of which, in said
first position, is generally vertical and the other of which is
generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel of
said drawbar.
18. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 15
wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated frame
element by a connecting element, each packer tongue being
connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting
movement about three mutually perpendicular axes one of which is
horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar.
19. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 18
wherein means are provided for restricting relative movement of
said connecting element and packer tongue about said one axis to
prevent said tongue and connecting element contacting the ground.





20. A harrow and drawbar as claimed in
Claim 15 wherein adjacent ones of the packer elements are trailed
at different distances behind the tractor to permit the packer elements
to cover completely the working width of the implement.




21

21. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in Claim
20 wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated
frame element by a connecting element, alternate ones of said
connecting elements having a first length and the remaining
connecting elements being of a second and different length.
22. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in Claim
20 wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated
frame element by a connecting element, alternate ones of said
connecting elements being of a first length and the remaining ones of
said frame elements being of a second and different length.
23. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in Claim
22 wherein alternate ones of said connecting elements are of a
first length and the remaining ones of said connecting elements
are of a second and different length, shorter connecting
elements being connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.
24. A drawbar comprising a boom having transversely
extending centre and wing sections, means for pivotally
connecting the wing sections to the centre sections, means
connecting the boom to a tractor for pivotal movement about a
generally horizontal axis transverse to the direction in which
said drawbar is drawn by a tractor, each section having a
plurality of rearwardly extending frame elements, said frame
elements being secured at their forward ends to respecting ones
of said sections and including pivot means remote from said


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generally horizontal axis for pivotally connecting first soil
working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements, said
frame elements each constituting means for supporting other soil
working elements between said generally horizontal axis and said
pivot means, and means for pivoting said boom about said
generally horizontal axis to raise the trailing ends of said frame
elements to non-working positions, said means pivotally connecting
the wing sections to the centre section permitting the wing
sections to be moved from said non-working position to a folded
position in which the wing sections extend generally parallel to
the direction in which said drawbar is trailed.
25. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 24 wherein said
soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements
are packers, each packer having a tongue connected to said pivot
means, adjacent ones of the packers being trailed at different
distances behind the tractor to allow the packer elements to cover
completely the working width of the implement.
26. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 25 wherein each
said pivot means includes a connecting element, alternate ones
of said frame elements being of a first length and the
remaining ones of said frame elements being of a second and
different length.
27. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 26 wherein
alternate ones of said connecting elements are of a first length
and the remaining ones of said connecting elements of a second


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and different length, shorter connecting elements being
connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.
28. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said
soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements
are packers, each packer having a packer tongue connected to said
pivot means by a connecting element, the packer tongue being
connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting
movement about two perpendicular axes one of which in said
non-working position is generally vertical and the other of
which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of
travel of the drawbar.
29. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said
soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements
are packers, each packer having a packer tongue connected to said
pivot means by a connecting element, the tongue being connected
to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about
three mutually perpendicular axes ones one of which is horizontal
and transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar.
30. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 29 wherein means
are provided for restricting relative movement of said connecting
element and packer tongue about said one axis to prevent said
tongue and connecting element contacting the ground.


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31. A drawbar adapted to be drawn by a tractor across the
ground, said drawbar comprising a boom having at least two
sections, each of said sections having means for supporting at
least one first soil working device, coupling means for
connecting said boom to the tractor and for permitting pivotal
movement of each of said sections about a respective axis from a
first position in which said first soil working devices are
supported in an operative position to a second position in which
said first soil working devices are supported in an inoperative
position, pivot means connecting said sections for pivotal
movement from a deployed position in which said first soil
working devices are maintained in a working disposition relative
to one another to a folded position in which said first soil
working devices are not in a working disposition relative to one
another and connection means one each of said sections pivotally
to connected second soil working devices to respective sections,
said connection means being spaced from said axes whereby, upon
pivotal movement of said sections from said first position to
said second position, second soil working devices pivotally
connected to said sections will be lifted from the ground to an
inoperative position.
32. A soil working implement adapted to be drawn across the
ground to perform a cultivating operation, said implement
including a drawbar having a boom formed from at least two
sections, each of said sections having first soil working
devices mounted thereon, coupling means to connect said
implement to a tractor and to permit pivotal movement of each of
said sections about a respective axis from a first position



in which said first soil working devices are supported in an
operative position to a second position in which said first soil
working devices are supported in an inoperative position, pivot
means connecting said sections for swinging movement from a
deployed position in which said first soil working devices are
maintained in a working disposition relative to one another to a
folded position in which said first soil working devices are not
in a working disposition relative to one another connection
means on each of said sections, and spaced from said respective
axes, second soil working devices being pivotally connected to
said connection means whereby upon movement of said sections
from said first to said second position, said second soil
working device are lifted from the ground to an inoperative
position.

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33. A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground
comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the
sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially
longer than the center section, said center section being
generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar,
(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with
the ground,
(c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the
boom to a tractor,
(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer
sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-
working position,
(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section
and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the
field or working position,
(f) a plurality of first soil working devices each attached to a
said section by means of one or more of said frame members,
(g) a plurality of second soil working devices each attached to
said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said first
soil working devices when in field or working position,
(i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting
member freely pivotally connected to said frame members
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of

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travel of the drawbar in the field or working position,
(ii) said connecting means also including a further free
pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in
the field or working position,
(h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of the said first
soil working devices in the field or working position, to move
said frame members between the working or field position in which
said first soil working devices are in contact with the ground
and a non-working position in which said first soil working
devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of
contact with the ground and in generally the same position
relative to each other and the frame members,
(i) said second soil working devices and said connecting
means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be
lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said
first soil working devices, in said non-working position,
(ii) said pivotal connections between said sections
including axes which are generally upright when in the non-
working position so that said outer sections may pivot about
said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling
means from a position transverse to the direction of travel
of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position
generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar
for transport.

34. A drawbar as claimed in claim 33 wherein the wheel means
include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections

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one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the
length of said section and supports said section out of contact
with the ground in the field or working position, the other of
which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length
of said section and supports said section out of contact with the
ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.



35. A drawbar as claimed in claim 34 wherein said
connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection
about an second axis which is generally horizontal and parallel
to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.


36. A drawbar as claimed in claim 35 wherein said connecting
means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an
third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the
direction of travel when in the working or field position.


37. A drawbar as claimed in claim 36 wherein said free pivotal
connection about said third axis includes means for restricting
relative movement to prevent said connecting means from
contacting the ground.


38. A drawbar as claimed in claim 33 wherein adjacent
ones of said second soil treating devices are trailed at
different distances behind the tractor to allow said second soil
treating devices to cover completely the working width of the
drawbar.



39. A drawbar as claimed in claim 38 wherein alternate ones of
said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones


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are of a second and different length.

40. A drawbar as claimed in claim 38 wherein alternate ones of
said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are
of a second and different length.

41. A drawbar as claimed in claim 40 wherein alternate ones of
said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones
are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting
means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

42. A harrow and packer drawbar adapted to be drawn across
the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the
sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially
longer than the center section, said center section being
generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar,
(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with
the ground,
(c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the
boom to a tractor,
(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer
sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-
working position,
(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section
and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the
field or working position,



(f) a plurality of harrows each attached to a said section by
means of one or more of said frame members,
(g) a plurality of packers each attached to said frame members
by a connecting means rearward of said harrows when in field or
working position,
(i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting
member freely pivotally connected to said frame members
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of
travel of the drawbar in the field or working position,
(ii) said connecting means also including a further free
pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in
the field or working position,
(h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of the said
harrows in the field or working position, to move said frame
members between the working or field position in which said
harrows are in contact with the ground and a non-working position
in which said harrows are in a raised substantially upright
position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same
position relative to each other and the frame members,
(i) said packers and said connecting means freely pivoting
about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the
ground and hang rearwardly of said harrows, in said non-
working position,
(ii) said pivotal connections between said sections
including axes which are generally upright when in the non-
working position so that said outer sections may pivot about

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said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling
means from a position transverse to the direction of travel
of the harrow and packer drawbar in the non-working position
to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel
of the harrow and packer drawbar for transport.


43. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 42 wherein
the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of
said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an
axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said
section out of contact with the ground in the field or working
position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis
transverse to the length of said section and supports said
section out of contact with the ground in the non-working
position and in the transport position.


44. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 43
wherein said connecting means also includes a further free
pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally
horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the
working or field position.


45. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 44 wherein
said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal
connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and
transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or
field position.


46. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 45 wherein

said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes


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means for restricting relative movement to prevent said
connecting means from contacting the ground.


47. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 42
wherein adjacent ones of said packers are trailed at different
distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover
completely the working width of the drawbar.


48. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 47 wherein
alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and
the remaining ones are of a second and different length.


49. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 47 wherein
alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the
remaining ones are of a second and different length.


50. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 49 wherein
alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and
the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the
shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said
frame elements.


51. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 42 wherein
the said pivotal connection between the said sections is a
torque-transmitting universal pivot.


52. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 51 wherein

the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of
said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an
axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said


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section out of contact with the ground in the field or working
position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis
transverse to the length of said section and supports said
section out of contact with the ground in the non-working
position and in the transport position.


53. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 52
wherein said connecting means also includes a further free
pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally
horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the
working or field position.


54. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 53 wherein
said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal
connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and
transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or
field position.


55. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 54 wherein
said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes
means for restricting relative movement to prevent said
connecting means from contacting the ground.


56. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 52
wherein adjacent ones of said packers are trailed at different
distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover
completely the working width of the drawbar.



57. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 56 wherein
alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and



34

the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

58. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 56 wherein
alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the
remaining ones are of a second and different length.

59. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 58 wherein
alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and
the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the
shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said
frame elements.

A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground
comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the
sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially
longer than the center section, said center section being
generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar,
(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with
the ground,
(c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the
boom to a tractor,
(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer
sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-
working position,
(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section
and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the



field or working position,
(f) a plurality of first soil working devices each attached to a
said section by means of one or more of said frame members,
(g) a plurality of second soil working devices each attached to
said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said first
soil working devices when in field or working position said
connecting means having a length at least a substantial portion
of the length of the frame members,
(i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting
member freely pivotally connected to said frame members
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of
travel of the drawbar in the field or working position,
(ii) said connecting means also including a further free
pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in
the field or working position,
(h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis
generally parallel to their length and forward of the said first
soil working devices in the field or working positionto move said
frame members between the working or field position in which said
first soil working devices are in contact with the ground and a
non-working position in which said first soil working devices are
in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with
the ground and in generally the same position relative to each
other and the frame members,
(i) said second soil working devices and said connecting
means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be
lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said

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first soil working devices, in said non-working position,
(ii) said pivotal connections between said sections
including axes which are generally upright when in the non-
working position so that said outer sections may pivot about
said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling
means from a position transverse to the direction of travel
of the drawbar in the non working position to a position
generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar
for transport.


61. A drawbar as claimed in claim 60 wherein the wheel means
include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections
one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the
length of said section and supports said section out of contact
with the ground in the field or working position, the other of
which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length
of said section and supports said section out of contact with the
ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.


62. A drawbar as claimed in claim 61 wherein said
connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection
about a second axis substantially spaced from the rearmost end of
the frame members and generally horizontal and parallel to the
direction of travel when in the working or field position.


63. A drawbar as claimed in claim 62 wherein said connecting
means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an
third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the
direction of travel when in the working or field position.


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64. A drawbar as claimed in claim 63 wherein said free pivotal
connection about said third axis includes means for restricting
relative movement to prevent said connecting means from
contacting the ground.


65. A drawbar as claimed in claim 61 wherein adjacent
ones of said second soil treating devices are trailed at
different distances behind the tractor to allow said second soil
treating devices to cover completely the working width of the
drawbar.


66. A drawbar as claimed in claim 65 wherein alternate ones of
said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones
are of a second and different length.


67. A drawbar as claimed in claim 65 wherein alternate ones of
said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are
of a second and different length.


68. A drawbar as claimed in claim 67 wherein alternate ones of
said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones
are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting
means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.


69. A harrow and packer drawbar adapted to be drawn across
the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the
sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially
longer than the center section, said center section being
generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar,


38

(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with
the ground,
(c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the
boom to a tractor,
(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer
sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-
working position,
(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section
and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the
field or working position,
(f) a plurality of harrows each attached to a said section by
means of one or more of said frame members,
(g) a plurality of packers each attached to said frame members
by a connecting means rearward of said harrows when in field or
working position, said connecting means having a length at least
a substantial portion of the length of the frame members,
(i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting
member freely pivotally connected to said frame members
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of
travel of the drawbar in the field or working position,
(ii) said connecting means also including a further free
pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in
the field or working position,
(h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of the said

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harrows in the field or working position to move said frame
members between the working or field position in which said
harrows are in contact with the ground and a non-working position
in which said harrows are in a raised substantially upright
position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same
position relative to each other and the frame members,
(i) said packers and said connecting means freely pivoting
about said horizontal axis to be lilted thereby from the
ground and hang rearwardly of said harrows, in said non-
working position,
(ii) said pivotal connections between said sections
including axes which are generally upright when in the non-
working position so that said outer sections may pivot about
said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling
means from a position transverse to the direction of travel
of the harrow and packer drawbar in the non-working position
to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel
of the harrow and packer drawbar for transport.

70. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 69 wherein
the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of
said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an
axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said
section out of contact with the ground in the field or working
position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis
transverse to the length of said section and supports said
section out of contact with the ground in the non-working
position and in the transport position.



71. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 70
wherein said connecting means also includes a further free
pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally
horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the
working or field position.


72. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 71 wherein
said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal
connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and
transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or
field position.


73. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 72
wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis
includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said
connecting means from contacting the ground.


74. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 69
wherein adjacent ones of said packers are trailed at different
distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover
completely the working width of the drawbar.


75. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 74
wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first
length and the remaining ones are of a second and different
length.


76. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 74
wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length
and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.


41

77. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 76
wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first
length and the remaining ones are of a second and different
length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter
ones of said frame elements.


78. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 77 wherein
the said pivotal connection between the said sections is a
torque-transmitting universal pivot.


79. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 78
wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to
each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable
about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports
said section out of contact with the ground in the field or
working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an
axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said
section out of contact with the ground in the non-working
position and in the transport position.


80. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim
79 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free
pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally
horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the
working or field position.


81. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 80
wherein said connecting means also includes a further free
pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally



42


horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the
working or field position.




82. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 81
wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis
includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said
connecting means from contacting the ground.


83. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 78
wherein adjacent ones of said packers arc trailed at
different distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to
cover completely the working width of the drawbar.


84. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 83
wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first
length and the remaining ones are of a second and different
length.


85. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 83
wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length
and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.


86. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 85
wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first
length and the remaining ones are of a second and different
length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter
ones of said frame elements.


87. A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground



43

comprising:

(a) a boom having at least two sections pivotally
connected together at adjacent ends thereof, said sections
being transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when
they are in working position,

(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact
with the ground,

(c) first coupling means for coupling a central portion of
the boom to a tractor,

(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
ends of the boom to the first coupling means and to retain the
boom transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in
the working position,

(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said
section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when
in the working position, each said frame member being capable of
drawing and supporting a first soil working device attached to a
said section by means of said frame member, to provide
substantially complete coverage of the ground,
(f) a plurality of connecting means each including

(i) a rigid connecting member freely pivotally
connected to a respective frame member rearwardly
thereof to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to
the direction of travel of the drawbar in working


44

position, and
(ii) a further free pivotal connection about an axis
which is vertical when the frame member is in working
position,
said connecting means each being adapted to draw a second soil
working device in working position and support it in non-working
position, for substantially complete coverage of the ground,
(g) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of said frame
members in working position, to move said frame members between
(i) the working position, in which first soil working
devices attached thereto are in contact with the
ground, and
(ii) a non-working position in which said first soil
working devices are in a raised substantially upright
position out of contact with the ground and generally
in the same position relative to each other and the
frame members,
said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axes
at the connections with their respective frame members, to be
lifted thereby and raise second soil working devices from the
ground to hang rearwardly of first soil working devices in said
non-working position, said pivotal connections at adjacent ends
of said sections including axes which are generally upright when
in the non-working position so that the outer ends of said




sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said
releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to
the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working
position to a position generally parallel to the direction of
travel of the drawbar for transport.

88. A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground
comprising:
(a) a boom having at least two sections pivotally
connected together at adjacent ends thereof, said sections
being transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when
they are in working position,

(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact
with the ground,

(c) first coupling means for coupling a central portion of
the boom to a tractor,

(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
ends of the boom to the first coupling means and to retain the
boom transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in
the working position,

(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said
section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when
in the working position, each said frame member being capable of
drawing and supporting a first soil working device attached to a
said section by means of said frame member, to provide

46

substantially complete coverage of the ground,
(f) a plurality of connecting means each including
(i) a rigid connecting member freely pivotally
connected to a respective frame member rearwardly
thereof to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to
the direction of travel of the drawbar in working
position, and


(ii) a further free pivotal connection about an axis
which is vertical when the frame member is in working
position,


said connecting means each being adapted to draw a second soil
working device in working position and support it in non-working
position, for substantially complete coverage of the ground, said
frame members and corresponding connecting means adjacent the
pivotally connected boom sections being of different lengths so
that adjacent second soil working devices attached thereto are
trailed at different distances behind the tractor so as not to
interfere one with the other upon folding of the boom sections,


(g) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of said frame
members in working position, to move said frame members between


(i) the working position, in which first soil working
devices attached thereto are in contact with the

ground, and



47

(ii) a non-working position in which said first soil
working devices are in a raised substantially upright
position out of contact with the ground and generally
in the same position relative to each other and the
frame members,

said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axes
at the connections with their respective frame members, to be
lifted thereby and raise second soil working devices from the
ground to hang rearwardly of first soil working devices in said
non-working position, said pivotal connections at adjacent ends
of said sections including axes which are generally upright when
in the non-working position so that the outer ends of said
sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said
releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to
the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working
position to a position generally parallel to the direction of
travel of the drawbar for transport.




48

Description

~2~ 9

.

Thi~ invention iD concerned with an ~griculturnl
drawbar ~ade up of at loast twc, sections which are ~ovable
between n deployed, field or worklng position and a transport
position.


Such drawbars are con~lonly used where large fields or
areas are to be worked a~, for e~ample, ln the North Americ~n
Prairlos ~nd provlde the sdvantage that in the deployed posltion
large sw~ths of land nay be worked, while in the ~olded
po~itlon, the drawbar nay be trnn~ported along relatlvely narrow
roadw~ys to storage or to another arsa to be worked.


~ n such fnrming areas beneficinl r~sults can be
achieved by performing nultiple faruing operntions, such as
harrowing and packing, in a single operation. These re~ults
include, inter alia, reduction in wind eroslon, evaporation and
the number of pAs~es of equipment over the land. To thls end it
is known with a non fDlding drawbar to couple two different soil
working devices in tandem behind a tractor. With some
conbinations of 80il working devices such as harrows and
packers, transportation ha~ been a problem and in the pAst it
has been neces~ary to trnnsport the packers separately from the
drawbar or it ha~ been nece~nry to trail the pncker~ along the
rondway.




.. .
~.
--2--

~,


,

1~ 5$9


The prc~ent lnv~ntlon ~ek~ to provide a unit by which
two dlf~oront typ~s of ~oll ~orklng d~vicon, particularly but
not nec~ssarlly axeluDlvely, hnrrown nnd packerq, cny be eoupled
ln tandem beblnd ~ tractor nnd ba ~ovod convenlontly in a
tranffport po~itlon wlth the ~oll worklng devleao out of eontact
with the ground.


Accordlng to tha pra~ant invantlon there 1~ provlded n
drnwbnr co~pri-ing a boo~ having at laa~t two ~l~etlon~, ~hid
saction~ having ~enn~ Sor ~upportlng at l~a~t one Sirst ooll
working devlce, coupllng oeann for eonnuetlng ~aia boom to a
tractor, ueans for plvoting ~aid ~actlon~ about a horlrontal
a~l8 transver~e to th~ dlrectlon of travel of uaid drawbnr to
~ove naid firat ~oil worklng deviee froo a worklng positlon to a
raisea, non-Yorking porition, and ~eans for plvotnlly eonneetlng
second coil ~orking devleea to raspeetlv- 3setlon3 at loc~tlon~
~paced fro~ ~aid hori~ontnl a~is ~ueh thnt, upon ~o~e~ent of
Jaid o0et~0~J to ~ovo ~ald Sirst ooil ~orking devlce to ~ald
non-working p~ition ~eeond 8011 worklng davleao eonnected to
said sectlons will b¢ lifted fro~ tha ground, at least two of
~nla ~ectlo~ b41ng plvotally eonn~cted to each other about a
pivot a~i- whieh 1D gen~rally upright, when sai~ first ~oll
worklng d~vieo io in ~aid non-working position, ~o as to be
~ovable about snld plvot a~l8 betwe~n n deployed attltude ln
whlch sai~ n~etions llo tr~nsverse to the direction of travel
and a folded, trDnsport po-ltion. Prcferably, the ~eans for
pivotally oDnneeting the socond ~oll worklng aevices are
dinpo~d to per~it the u~cond
,..

-3-


. -. .- .
..


~21Z~
~,

aoil working devlce~ to b~ tr~iled behind the fir0t aoil working

devicee ln thH working po~ltion.
.
Mo~t danlrably, the boo~ comprlse~ a centro section and
wing ~ections, each wing ~ection bolng pivotnlly connected to
the centro oection nnd bning moYnble to a o~ded tr~nsport
poaltion ln whlch it lles ~ub~t~ntially pnrDll~l to ~he
dir~ction of er~v~l o~ th~ iopl~Qnt. The wlng ~ection~ ~y in
fact co~pri~o two or ~ore pivot~lly lnterconnectod Dub~ection~
movnblo in unlnon to the foldsd trnnDport po~ition.


In one e~boal~ent of the lnv~ntion tho fir~t aoil
working devlce~ comprise harrow~ nnd the eecond noil wor~ing
device~ compri3~ packcr~, the harrou~ being ~aunted on frame
ole~ent~ e~tendlng rearwaraly fro~ th~ boom and the packerA
having tongu~n plvotally connocee~ the cnd~ of tho frame
element~ r~aot~ fro~ the boo~ by conn~cting ele~ent~ ao that as
the boom in pivoted to movo the harrow~ to the non-working
position, tho packer~ are llfted and hang su~pended fro~ the
frame elemanta.




.,

'~,
,,'.~ .
. ~.


5'~


Also nccording to the pre3ent invention there i~
provided a harrow and pncker drawbar co~pri~ing a boo~ hnving n
centre aection and wing ~ectlons, each wing section having an
inboard and an outbonrd and, torqe trans~itting universsl plvot
~aans connecting the inboard end of the wing ~ectlon to the
centre oection, the centre ~ection and the wing ~ections each
hAvlng a plurallty of fore find ait e~tending frane ele~ents,
each fra~a ale~ent h~ving ~aana for supporting ~ harrow, a
p~cker tongue pivotally ~ecured to cach fra~e ~le~ent ~nd
adapted to trnil 3 packar behin~ ~sid fr~ne cle~entff, coupling
~enn~ for coupling ehe boom to a tractor, plvot neans for
connecting aid centre ~ection to said coupling ne~n- for
pivoting novenent about a genernlly hori~ontal a5i~ transverse
to the direction of travel oi ~aid drawb~r, neans for pivoting
uaid centre ~ection nnd with it ~id wing ~ectlon about ~aid
generally hori ont~l a~is between n firat poYition, in which
~aid fra~e elenent~ are generally hori~ontal, and a ~econd
po8ition i~ which ~aid fra~a ele~enta are generally upright,
each ~aid tongue be$ng pivotally connected tO it8 aBaoCiated
frane ele~ent nt a location sp~ced fron ~aia genarally
hor$~ontal exi~, wheel ~ean~ supporting 88id boo~ in fir~t,
~econd nnd transp4rt po~itiona, relea~able n~ana anintaining
6aid ~ing ~ection3 qenerally tranbvex-e to the direction of
travel o said drawbar, said raleas~ble ~ean~ being operable to
' por~it pivotAl ~ovecent in ~aid un$ver~1 pivot ~ean~ to enable
~nid uing section~ to pivot

_5_

~7



.



relative to said centre sectlon about a generAlly upright a~is
fro~ the ~econd ponitlon to the trnn~port po~ltion.


So achieve co~pleta coverage of the worklng width of
the drnwbar by the packero, evan ns the tractor and drawbar
execute a turn, it iu proferred that the lateral end regions of
adjacent packer~ overlap in the working or flrat position. To
thi~ end ad~acent one~ of the pack~r~ are trailed At different
dietances behind th~ traetor. ~hi8 ean be effectad by tbe
~xpediant of having the packer tongues connecte~ to the fra~e
ele~ent~ by connecting ele~ent~ of which alternat~ ones are of a
first length and the re~aining ones are of a secona and
different length. Another e~pedi-nt ia to have alternate ones
of tha fxa~e ele~ents o a first length and the remaining frame
eleoents of a ~econd ana different length. ~08t preferably
these two e~pedient~ are conbine~ with shorter packer tongues
being connecte~ eo Jhort~r o~ of the fra~e elementR.


According eo further a~pect of the present ~nvention
thor~ 1 J providad a ~rawbar adDpted to be drawn by a tractor
acro~s the ground, ~aid arawbar comprl~lng a boo~ having at
least two aection~, each of ~ait ~oction~ ~aving ~eans for
~upporting ~t l~a~t ono ir~t soil worklng deviceO coupling
~eDn3 for eonnecting 3ald boom to the trnctor and for parmitting
plvotal ~ovcuent of eaeh of ~aid aection~ about a respec~ive
a~i~ fro~ a firat poaitlon in which said fir~t ~oil working
devlee~ ~re ~upported in an operative po~ition to a second
po~itlon i~ which ~aid fir~t aoil working devlce~ are supportea
in an inoperativa po~ltion, plvot neDns connecting aaia ~ctions

for pivotal ~ove~ant fro~ a daployed po~itlon in whlch ~aid

-6-

l"d2 ~ ~5!~



fir~t ~oil ~orking device~ are mnlntained in a worXing
di~position rela~ive to one another to a folded position in
which said firs~ ~oil working devicea ar~ not in a working
dispoaition relative to one another ~nd connection means on each
o~ naid sections pivotally to connect aecond ~oll working
devices to reopective sections, aaia connection means being
~psced from said a~es whereby, upon pivotal ~ovement of said
~ection~ rom 0aid first po~ition to ~aid ~ccond pooition,
: n~cond oil working de~ices pivotally connect0d to ~aid sections
will be lifted from th2 ground to ~n inoperativl~ position.


According to yet another aspect of the present
invention there is provided a soil working implenent ndapted to
be drawn ~cro~s the ground to perfor~ a cultivating operation,
~aid lcplecent including a ~awbar having a boo~ for~ed from at
lea~t t~o rection~, each of oaid rections haYing first ~oil
~orking devicce ~ounted th~reon, coupling meana to connect ~id
i~plement to n tractor and to peroit pivotal movement of each of
~aid ~ctions ~bout ~ re~pective a~i~ froc a first position in
which said firat ~oil working devices are oupported in an
operati~Q po~ition to ~ o~cond position in whicb ~sid flrst ~oil
working aevices are ~upported in an inoperativ~ position, pivot
nQ~ns connecting said s~ction~ for swinging move~ent from a
deployQd pooition in which said firat ooil working deYice~ are
~aint~ined in A working position relative to on~ ~nother to a
folded poaition, in whlch ssid fir~t ~oil working devices are
not in a worklng diuposition relative to one another connection



-6~-

s~q~
means on each of said sections and spaced from said respective
axes, second soil working devices being pivotally connected to
said connection means whereby upon movement of said sections from
said first to said second position, said second soil working
devices are lifted from the ground to an inoperative position.

According to still another aspect of the present
invention there is provided a drawbar adapted to be drawn across
the ground comprising:
(a) a three-sec~ion boom with pivotal connections between the
sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially
longer than the center section, said center section being
generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar,
(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with
the ground,
(c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the
boom to a tractor,
(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer
sections generally ~ransverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-
working po~ition,
(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section
and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the
field or working position,
(f) a plurality of first soil working devices each attached to a
said section by means of one or more of said frame members,
-6b-

(g) a plurality of second soil working devices each attached to
said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said first
soil working devices when in field or working position,
(i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting
member freely pivotally connected to said frame members
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of
travel of the drawbar in the field or working position,
(ii) said connecting means also including a further free
pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in
the ield or working position,
(h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of the said first
soil working devices in the field or working position, to move
said frame members between the working or field position in which
said first soil working devices are in contact with the ground
and a non-working position in which said first soil working
devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of
contact with the ground and in generally the same position
relative to each other and the frame members,
(i) said second soil working devices and said connecting
means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be
lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said
first soil working devices, in said non-working position,
(ii) said pivotal connections between said sections
including axes which are generally upright when in the non-

-6c-

~2~r. 5~9
working position so that said outer sections may pivot about
said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling
means from a position transverse to the direction of travel
of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position
generally parallel to the direction of t:ravel of the drawbar
for transport.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a harrow and packer drawbar adapted to be drawn
across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the
sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially
longer than the center section, said center section being
generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar,
(b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with
the ground,
( c ) f irst coupling means for coupling the center section of the
boom to a tractor,
(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer
sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the
drawbar when in the working or f ield position and in the non-
working position,
(e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section
and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the
f ield or working position,
-6d-

~l 2 ~ 9

(f~ a plurality of harrows each attached to a said section by
means of one or more of said frame members,
(g) a plurality of packers each attached to said frame members
by a connecting means rearward of said harrows when in field or
working position, said connecting means having a length at least
a substantial portion of the length of the frame members,
(i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting
member freely pivotally connected to said frame members
about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of
travel of the drawbar in the ~ield or working position,
~ii) said connecting means also including a further free
pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in
the field or working position,
(h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of the said
harrows in the field or working position to move said frame
members between the working or field position in which said
harrows are in contact with the ground and a non-working position
in which said harrows are in a raised substantially upright
position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same
position relative to each other and the frame members,
~i) said packers and said connecting means freely pivoting
about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the
ground and hang rearwardly of said harrows, in said non-
working position,

-6e-

lZ~r-~5~9
(ii) said pivotal connections between said sections
including axes which are generally upright when in the non-
working position so that said outer sections may pivot about
said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling
means from a position transverse to the direction of travel
of the harrow and packer drawbar in the non-working position
to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel
of the harrow and packer drawbar for transport.

According to still another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground
comprising:

(a) a boom having at least two sections pivotally
connected together at adjacent ends thereof, said sections
being transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when
they are in working position r

Ib) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact
with the ground,

(c~ first coupling means for coupling a central portion of
the boom to a tractor,

(d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer
ends of the boom to the first coupling means and to retain the
boom transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in
the working position,
-6f-

te) a plurality of frarne members attached to each said
section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when
in the working position, each said frame member being capable of
drawing and supporting a first soil working device attached to a
said section by means of said frame mlember, to provide
substantially complete coverage of the ground,

(f) a plurality of connecting means each including

~i) a rigid connecting member freely pivotally
connected to a respective frame member rearwardly
thereof to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to
the direction of travel of the drawbar in working
position, and

(ii) a further free pivotal connection about an axis
which is vertical when the frame member is in working
position,

said connecting means each being adapted to draw a second soil
working device in working position and support it in non-working
position, for substantially complete coverage of the ground,

(g) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis,
generally parallel to their length and forward of said frame
members in working position, to move said frame members between

(i) the workiny position, in which first soil working

-6g-


-

devices a~tached thereto are in contact with the
ground, and


(ii) a non-working position in which said first soil
working devices are in a raised substantially upright
position out of contact with the ground and generally
in the same position relative to each other and the
frame members,


said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axes
at the connections with their respective frame members, to be
lifted thereby and raise second soil working devices from the
ground to hang rearwardly of first soil working devices in said
non-working position, said pivotal connections at adjacent ends
of said sections including axes which are generally upright when
in the non-working position so that the outer ends of said
sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said
releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to
the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working
position to a position generally parallel to the direction of
travel of the drawbar for transport.




-6h-

5~9




~ preferred embodiment of the present invention i5
illu~trated in the accompanying ~drawings in which~


Figure I ifi a per~pective view of a drawbar accordinq
to the pre~ent inventlon in field or worXing position
with part~ removed in the intarests of clarity;


Pigure 2 i8 a detail o~ the ~tructure of Figure l;


Pigure 3 i8 a perspective view of the 6tructure in
Figure 1 nhowing the drawbar in a non-working position
and, again, with part~ removed in the interssts of
clarity;


.
Figure 4 is a rear view of a part of the structure in
Figures 1 and 3, ~hown in the non-working position;


Figure 5 i8 a view sim~lar to Figure 4 showing the
implement in a folded or transport po~ltion; and


F~gure 6 shows a detail of the drawbar of Figures 1 to




A preferred drawbar according to the present invention
is illustrated, in ~he working or field position, in Figure 1.





The dr~wb~r conpri~e~ a cart at 10 of lnrgely conventional
tructure having ~ hitch at 12 by whlch it ~ay be coupled to
tractor the cart and hitch constltuting, a8 will be apparent
fro~ the followlng ~cription, ~1ns by which the boo~ of the
drawbar ~ny ba coupl~d to tha tr~ctor The cnrt ha~
ground-ang~glng ~heol~ 1~ and i~ connoct~d to ~ cantre uection
16 of n ar~ubar whlch compri~os ~hAt centre sectlon ~nd a pair
of outboar~ wing rections 18 Th~ wlng ~ctiona ar~ connect~d
to tho contre sectlon by thH hinge tructur~ lllu~trated in
Figure 2, that ~ing~ rtructure con-tltuting n torque
tran~itting ~ni~er~al plvot connectlng the wlng De~tions to the
c~ntre section R~ferrlng to Figure 2, th~ centro section of
the drawb~r~ ~n the working po8ition shown ln Figureh 1 and 2,
ha~ ~ pair ~f downwardly ~nd outwar~ly ~xtendin~ bracket Ar~ 20
between which ~ pivot block 24 1- di~po~ed rhe pivot block
co~prl~es perpen~lcul~r ~h~nnel~ 22 and 32 with ~ pin 26 being
pa~sed through ohannel 22 and being engAged i~ bearings 28 of
the brAcket~ 20


At thD inbcArd end of tho wlng ~ection, 1 e th~ end of
th~ ~lng D~ctlon ~d~ac~nt to th~ cont~e uectlon, ~ U-~hapea
hinge brack~t 29 i~ ~upport~d and i~ reinforced by fillets 30
Pivot pin 3~ upportod in channel 32 and ~tenda betwean the
oppo~ed li~b- of the U-~haped brackot 29 to b~ r~ceived in
b-~rlng~ 35 In thiu way the wing ~ections are univerHally
hlnged to ~h~


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.
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cenere section in such a way that torque rotating the centre
6ection about a longitudinal ~Xi8 tr~n6verse to the dlrection of
travel of the drawbar is trant3~itted to the wing sections.


Stay6 36 extend hetween anchor points 38 on the wing
sections and anchor point~ 40 o a pivotally mounted,
gener311y T-shaped, control or locking arm 42 o~ the cart 10.
Arm 42 is pivoted, a8 at 44, to move between the position~ ~hown
in full llne and ln chain-dot line ln Figure 1. Latching mean6,
vperable fro~ the tractor, retnin the arm 42 in the po~ition
shown in full llne, tho6e l~tching mean6 co-operating with the
base of the T-&haped arm. Release of arm 42 permits pivoting
move~ent of the wing sections to the position shown in chain-dot
Iine in Figure 3, thig in a manner degcribed more fully
hereinafter.


Mounted at the distal or outboard ends of the wing
sections of the boom are support wheelg 50 ~upported upon fixed
axle means. Di6posed upon the wing ~ections intermediate their
pivotal connection to the centre section and the wheels 50 are
support wheels 52 which, in a manner described hereinafter,
6upport the wing sections in the non-working positions and during
transportation, i.e. support the wing gections in the folded or
transport position. The wheels 52 are mounted upon A fixed axle
indlcated generally at 54.


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~Lz~



The centre sectlon of the drawbAr ia pivoted by plvota
70, to the ad~cent end of the cart 10 and ha~ a palr of spaced
apart upstAn~ng bracket~ 74 rig~dly secured to it. A pair of
pl~ton/cylinder unit0 82 e~tend between anchor points ~4 on the
c~rt ~nd a pi~ot on the bracket~ 7~, actuation of the
platon/cylinder unitn causing the centre section of the drswbnr
and with it, the ~ing ~cctions of the drawbar, to be pivoted on
plvoto 70 ~bout a ~ener~lly horl~ontal ~ri~ trnrsver~e to the
direction of travel of the tractor to whlch the cart iJ
connected.


E~ch of the sections 16, 18 ha~ n plurnlity of
gener~lly rect~ngulnr fra~es 90 constitutlng fraue ele2ents, the
wing oections each having foux such ~ra~e~ and the centre
section having t~o ~uch fra~e~. Suspended fro~ each of the
fra~s are harrows 92 only on~ of which i~ illuntrated, in the
interests of cl~rity. At the end of each fra~e el~ent re~ote
fro~ the booo a connecting ele~ent 96 provides a connection to
plvotally conn~ct a packer tongue to the fra~e. me connectlng
eleoent~ 96 each conpri~e the ~tructure 96 which ~a generally
V-shaped, the dirtal ends of th~ li~bs of the V bcing pivotally
connected to the frane ~lc~ents gO n8 At 94. At the crotch of
the V-shnped connecelng eleoents, the packer ele~ents, of known
~tructur- per ne ere connected by ~eans of packer tonguss 100 to
the connectlng ele~ent~ ao nhown in Figure 6. At


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the crotch of the connecting elements A clavi~ lOl is provided
and u tarminal portion of the p~cker tongue hDs ~ clevis 102. A
p~ir of pi~ot plnu are di~posed between the arm~ o~ the clevi~e~
and provlde for plvoting novement: of the packers nbout a
~ertical axi~ and for pl~oting ~ovement about a hori~ontal A~i8
tran6verse to the direction of travel of the drawbar. The
ter~inal portion of the packer tonguQ i~ rotntable about its own
aYi~ i.a. about a generally hori~ontal a~i~ p~rallel to the
dlrcction of traval of the drawbar ~o that the packer tongue i~
pivote~ to the connecting element for ~ovem~nt about thrQe
~utually perpendicular ~e~ and the univernal conn~ction between
the connecting elecents and ~he packer tongue~ is non-torque
transmitting. To prevent the connection between the connecting
element~ and the packer tongues fro~ contacting the ground, the
clevia 102 is e~tended ~8 at 104 to act as a stop co-operating
wlth the ad~acent end of th~ connccting element. It is to be
noted that alternate ones of the cross pieces acros~ ths drawbar
are dispo~ed at A particular dintance from the dr~wbar ana the
remainder of tho~e cros~ pieces ara diaposed ~t a lesser
di~tance fron the drawbar section~. Putting it another way
alternate ones of the frsmQ element~ have a first length while
the re~aining fra~e elem2nt~ are of a lesser length. Si~ilarly,
alternat~ one~ of the connecting e}e~ents 96 are of a firat
length while the remaining connectlng element~ are of a ~econd
or les~er length, the shorter




conn~ctlng elacent~ being connected to the cro~ piec~ of
shorter one~ of the fra~en nnd the longer connecting elenent~
being connected to longer onea of the fra~as.


Th~ frn~e 90 of the left hand drawb~r ~ection l~, a~
~i~wed ln ~igure 1, ne~re~t to the p~ot~l connectlon of th~t
wing ~action to tha centre section of the drnwb~r has a long
connecting ~la~ent and io ~e~urad to a long fra~e whers~ the
ad~acent fr~e 90 of the c~ntro ~ctlon ha~ e ~hort connecting
ele~ant. Further a long connectlng ~l~ent i~ provided on the
fr~e 90 ~t the rlght h~nd end o~ the centre section, that fra~e
lt~elf being a lony frame, while the ad~acent connecting ele~ent
of the right hand wing fiection is ~hort and i~ connected to A
short fra~e. By thQ ~dop~ion of the alternating long ana short
tongues it i~ pos~lble to overlap the end ~ections of ad~acent
on~ of th~ packer ~le~ents o that as the packer~ are trailed
bahind a tr~ctor, ~8 the tractor turn~ all of tha l~nd la
covered oy the packer~ even an the tractor is turned.


In ~oving fro~ th~ ~orking po~ition ~hown in Figure 2
to the tran~port position ~hown in chain - dot line in Figure 3
and al~o i~ Figure 5, fir~ the pl~ton/cylinder unita 82 are
opsrated ro thnt the boo~ ~ctions novc, in uniuon, wlth the
frnce ~le~entD 90 to the poDltlon ~hown in full line in figurQ
3, i.e. thoy ~ove to A non-working positlon. In thin non-working



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posiSion the connecting elements which support the packers pivot
to hang suspended as i8 particularly to be seen in Figure 3.


¦ In the upright position of the frame elements the
wheels 52 are brought into contact with the ground and the
latching means holding the control bar 42 i8 released.
Thereafter as the tractor is advanced the wing ~ections, being
free of restraint by the stays 36 pivot about what are now
substantially vertical axes, from the position shown in full line
in Figure 3 to the transport position shown in chain-dot line in
that Figure.


To move from the transport position to the working or
- Eield position ths tractor is reversed so that the wing sections
are moved to lie parallel to the centre section, i.e. the wing
sections are moved to the position shown in full line in Figure
3. Upon reaching that position, the piston/cylinder units 84 are
operated so that the packer unit~ come into contact with the
ground and the wing section~ are supported by the wheels 50. At
this point the tractor i~ slowly driven forward while the
piseon/cylinder units 84 are operated to iower the frames and
packers completely into the working position shown in Figure 1.


During the lowering of the ~rames Erom the poqition

~hown in full line in Figure 3 to that ~osltion in Figure 1 the




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control bar is lowered, undar gravity, and engages with the latchmeanfi to be held in the downward, ~wing section restr~ining
po~ition.


It will be raeognized that the embcdiment here
~llustrated $s gubject to varioug ~odification~. For eYample, it
is possible inatead of usinq a centre section and two wing
6ections to u&e ~imply two fiections which fold to adopt a
6ub6tantially V-ghaped coniiguxation in the transport position or
a coniguration in which they lie parallel to the direction of
travel. Additionally, the wing sections themselves may ~mprise
two sections pivoted to each other to accommodate movements of
the wing fiections over undulating ground. Additionally, while
in this particular embcdiment there have ~een illustrated packers
and harrows quite app~rently the present invention ifi not
restrieted to these particular types of units.

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