Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDING TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITH WING LOCK FOR AN IMPLEMENT
This invention is in the field of agricultural implements and in particular
systems for
folding such implements for transport.
BACKGROUND
As farm 512e5 have increased over the years, agricultural implements have
necessarily
increased in size as well. Wider implements have been generally preferred as
being more
efficient for covering the increased areas, as opposed to using a plurality of
smaller
implements. Each implement also requires a relatively skilled operator, and
same are not
readily available in the sparsely populated rural areas.
Modern farms also typically include land that is scattered over a considerable
area,
requiring that implements be transported from one field to the next on public
roads. In
order to do so safely while allowing other traffic to pass, and in order move
under
overhead utility lines, it is generally considered that an implement in
transport position
should be no more than about 25 to 26 feet wide, and about 18 to 19 feet high.
In order to achieve this folded transport size in conventional implements
comprising a
center section and wing sections that fold vertically above the center
section, implement
size has been limited to about 64 feet. One typical configuration for folding
a five
section implement for transport is illustrated in United States Patent Numbers
6,220,366
to Noonan et al. and 6,089,329 to Smith. The implement comprises a center
section, an
inner wing pivotally attached to each side of the center section, and an outer
wing
pivotally attached to outer ends of the inner wings. The outer wings are
folded over to lie
substantially flat above the inner wings, and then the inner wings are raised
to an upright
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orientation such that the outer wings extend downward from the ends of the
inner wings
and between the inner wings. The inner wings in the Noonan implement are
oriented
substantially vertical, while those in the Smith implement lean somewhat
inwards.
~Jnited Slates Patent Number 6,092,609 to Jeffrey et al. illustrates an
alternate
configuration for folding a five section implement for transport where the
outer wings are
folded substantially vertical to the ends of the inner wings, and the inner
wings are raised
to a substantially vertical orientation with the outer wings oriented
substantially
horizontally and aligned end-to end.
The above implements provide 5 separate independent sections when working in
the
field. Each inner wing can pivot up and down with respect to the center
section, and each
outer wing can pivot up and down with respect to each inner wing. Such
flexibility
improves the ability of the implement to flex and follow ground contours to
better
maintain an even depth for the ground engaging tools typically mounted on the
implement.
Such flexibility is not always required or provided, as for example in the
implements
illustrated in United States Patent Number 6,684,962 to Lewallen and United
States
Patent Number 6,761,228 to Dobson et al. 'The Lewallen and Dobson implements
provide a three section implement when in the field working position, with a
center
section, and rigid right and left wing sections pivotable up and down with
respect to the
center section. In order to reduce the transport height however, instead of
simply raising
the wing sections to an upright orientation, each wing section folds for
transport. As
result, the Lewallen implement in transport has a five section transport
configuration
similar to that of the Jeffrey et al., while the Dobson implement has a five
section
transport configuration similar to that of Noonan et al. and Smith.
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In the field position, the outer and inner wings of Lewallen and lJobson are
locked
together by linkage mechanisms such that they act as a single wing. The
linkages are
configured such that reduced force is required to be exerted by the hydraulic
transport
cylinders in order to maintain the inner and outer wings in alignment.
Implements wider than 64 feet are known where the implement is folded
horizontally
rearward or forward such that the wing sections trail behind or ahead of the
center
section, however such alternate configurations have their own design problems.
For
example it is typically required to pivot the rear end of the implement upward
before
pivoting the wings rearward or forward. Maneuvering the lengthy implement, and
attaching air seeder carts and the like are problematic as well with such a
departure from
typical vertical wing lift designs.
SUNiNIARY OF TIDE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for folding
agricultural and
like implements for transport that overcomes problems in the prior art.
'The present invention provides, in a first embodiment, an agricultural
implement
apparatus movable from a field position to a transport position. T'he
apparatus comprises
a center section, right and left inner foldable wings, right and left outer
foldable wings,
and right and left foldable wing extensions oriented substantially
horizontally when in the
field position. When in the transport position, the center section is oriented
substantially
horizontally; the right and left inner wings extend substantially vertically
from right and
left ends of the center section; the right and left outer wings extend
downward and inward
from upper ends of the right and left inner wings such that lower ends of the
right and left
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outer wings are adjacent to each other; and the right and left wing extensions
extend
downward and outward from the lower ends of the right and left outer wings
toward
corresponding right and left ends of the center section.
The present invention provides, in a second embodiment, an agricultural
implement
apparatus supported on wheels for movement along the ground in an operating
travel
direction. The apparatus comprises a center section, and an inner wing
pivotally attached
at an inner end thereof to one end of the center section about an inner wing
axis oriented
substantially horizontally and in alignment with the operating travel
direction. An outer
1U wing is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the
inner wing about
an outer wing axis oriented substantially parallel to the inner wing axis, and
a wing
extension is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the
outer wing
about a wing extension axis oriented substantially parallel to the inner wing
axis. The
apparatus is movable from a field position, where the center section inner
wing, outer
wing, and wing extension are oriented substantially horizontally, to a folded
transport
position. The apparatus is moved to the folded transport position by pivoting
the wing
extension upward about the wing extension axis, and by pivoting the outer wing
upward
about the outer wing axis to a position extending upward and inward over the
inner wing
such that the wing extension axis is located above a mid-portion of the inner
wing, and
the wing extension extends substantially toward the inner pivot axis such that
the wing
extension, outer wing, and inner wing form a triangle configuration. The inner
wing is
then pivoted upward about the inner wing axis to an upright orientation
wherein an apex
of the triangle configuration is above a central portion of the center
section.
The present invention provides, in a third embodiment, a wing locking and
folding
apparatus operative to maintain an implement wing extension in alignment with
an
implement wing when in a field position, and operative to fold the wing
extension
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upward to a transport position. The apparatus comprises an inner link pivotahy
attached
at an inner end thereof to the wing at a first pivot location above a wing
frame. An outer
link is pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to the wing extension above
a wing
extension frame at a second pivot location below the first pivot location, and
pivotally
attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the inner link at a third
pivot location
below the second pivot location. An extendable transport hydraulic cylinder is
pivotally
attached at an inner end thereof to the outer wing at a fourth pivot location
above the first
pivot location, and is pivotally attached to the inner link at a fifth pivot
location above the
first pivot location. A stop is mounted on the wing below the inner link such
that when in
the field position, the inner link rests on the stop. The outer link has a
length that is
adjustable, and the alignment of the wing and wing extension is maintained by
orienting
tire stop and the outer link such that an upward force on the wing extension
transmits a
force through the outer link to urge the inner link downward against the stop,
and such
that the wing extension and wing are maintained in alignment against an upward
force on
IS the wing extension without exerting a force on the transport hydraulic
cylinder.
The triangular configuration of the folded wing extensions and outer wings
uses more of
the available space between the upright inner wings to accommodate a longer
length of
implement in the space. The wing locking and folding apparatus over-centers to
maintain
the alignment of the wing extension and wing against an upward force on the
wing
extension without requiring any force to be exerted by the transport actuator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred
embodiments
are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best
understood in
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conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are Labeled with like numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of an agricultural implement apparatus
of
the invention with all wings in the field position;
Fig. 2 is rear view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with the wing extensions and
outer
wings folded to their transport positions;
Fig. 3 is rear view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the transport position;
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the wing locking and folding apparatus of the
embodiment
of Fig. 1 with the outer wing and wing extension in the field position;
Fig. 5 is a top view of the wing locking and folding apparatus of Fig. 4 with
the
outer wing and wing extension in the feeld position;
Fig. 6 is a rear view of the wing locking and folding apparatus of Fig. 4 with
the
wing extension raised to its transport position;
Fig. 7 is a rear view of the wing locking and folding apparatus of Fig. 4 with
the
wing extension raised to the point where the locking mechanism over-centers;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the wing locking and folding apparatus of Fig.
4
with the outer wing and wing extension in the field position
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Figs. 9 - 11 illustrate alternate embodiments of the wing locking and folding
apparatus of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
Figs. 1 - 3 illustrate an agricultural implement apparatus 1 of the present
invention
movable from a f eld position illustrated in Fig. 1 to a transport position
illustrated in Fig.
3. The apparatus 1 comprises a center section 3, right and left inner foldable
wings 5R,
5L, right and left outer foldable wings '7R, 7L, and right and left foldable
wing extensions
9R, 9L oriented substantially horizontally when in the field position
illustrated in Fig. 1.
In the transport position illustrated in Fig. 3, the center section 3 is
oriented substantially
horizontally; the right and left inner wings 5R, 5L extend substantially
vertically from
right and left ends of the center section 3; the right and left outer wings
'7R, 7L extend
downward and inward from upper ends of the right and left inner wings 5R, 5L
such that
lower ends of the right and left outer wings 7R, 7L are adjacxnt to each
other; and the
right and left wing extensions 9R, 9L extend downward and outward from the
lower ends
of the right and left outer wings 7R, 7L toward corresponding to right and
left ends of the
center section 3 such that in the illustrated embodiment lower ends of right
and left outer
wings 7R, 7L are located above and in proximity to right and left ends of the
center
section 3.
The illustrated implement apparatus 1 provides a compact transport
configuration by
orienting the wing extensions 9 and outer wings 7 in a triangular
configuration above the
inner wings 5, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The geometry is such that a greater
length of
implement is accommodated between the upright inner wings SR, 5L when in the
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transport position of Fig. 3. The triangular configuration utilizes more of
the room
between the upright inner wings SR, SL than in prior art implements. The
illustrated
embodiment also retains a desirable symmetry between right and left portions
of the
implement apparatus 1.
The illustrated air drill implement apparatus t is supported on fmnt wheels 11
and packer
wheels 13 for movement along the ground in the field position in an operating
travel
direction T, which direction is indicated in Figs. 5 and 8. In the transport
position the
center section 3 is supported on front wheels l I and rear transport wheels
15.
The inner wings 5 are pivotally attached at inner ends thereof to
corresponding right and
left ends of the center section 3 about inner wing axes IWA oriented
substantially
horizontally and in alignment with the operating travel direction. The outer
wings 7 are
pivotally attached at inner ends thereof to outer ends of the corresponding
inner wings 5
about outer wing axes OWA oriented substantially parallel to the inner wing
axes 1WA.
The wing extensions 9 are pivotally attached at inner ends thereof to outer
ends of the
corresponding outer wings 7 about wing extension axes WEA oriented
substantially
parallel to the inner wing axes IWA.
The apparatus 1 is moved to the folded transport position by pivoting the wing
extensions
9 upward about the wing extension axes W1A, and by pivoting the outer wings 7
upward
about the outer wing axis OWA to a position, as illustrated in Fig. 2,
extending upward
and inward over the inner wings 5 such that each wing extension axis WEA is
located
above a mid-portion of the corresponding inner wing 5 and the wing extensions
9 extend
2S generally toward the inner pivot axis IWA. The wing extensions 9, outer
wings 7, and
inner wings 5 thus form right and left triangle configurations as illustrated
in Fig.2. The
inner wings 5 are then pivoted upward about the inner wing axis IWA to an
upright
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orientation wherein an apex of each triangle configuration is above a central
portion of
the center section 3 and the apexes are adjacent to each other, and the
apparatus 1 is then
in the transport position illustrated in Fig. 3.
While embodiments are contemplated wherein each wing and wing extension 5, 7,
9 can
pivot independently in the field position with respect to the next, providing
a seven
section implement when in the field position, in the illustrated embodiment
the wing
extensions 9 and outer wings 7 are locked into alignment by a wing locking and
folding
apparatus 20 when in the field position such that pivotal movement about the
wing
extension axis WEA is prevented. When in the field position then, the
apparatus I
provides a five section implement that is contemplated to be satisfactory for
field
conditions such as normally encountered.
The illustrated implement is an air drill, and the five field working sections
comprise
twenty furrow openers I9 on the center section 3, seventeen furrow openers on
each inner
wing 5, and eighteen furrow openers on each combination of the outer wing 7
(ten furrow
openers) and wing extension 9 (eight furrow openers). The furrow openers 19
are thus
fairly evenly distributed between each working section of the implement
apparatus 1 as is
desirable to provide consistency in operation across the width of the
implement. The
illustrated implement apparatus 1 has ninety furrow openers on ten inch
spacings, for a
working implement width of 75 feet. In the folded transport position of Fig. 3
the
implement has a height of 18 feet, 11 inches and a width of 23 feet, 7 inches,
which
dimensions are within the desired maximum height and width ranges for
transport.
Figs. 4 - 8 illustrate the wing locking and folding apparatus 20 used to
maintain the wing
extension 9 and outer wing 7 in alignment in the field position. The wing
locking and
folding apparatus 20 comprises an extendable transport actuator 21 and a lock
mechanism
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23. The extendable transport actuator 21 is illustrated as a hydraulic
cylinder operated by
fluid pressure from the implement towing tractor, and is pivotally attached at
an inner end
thereof to the outer wing 7 and pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to
the lock
mechanism 23 connected to the wing extension 9. The transport hydraulic
cylinder 21 is
operative to pivot the wing extension 9 upward about the wing extension axis
WEA to
the transport position illustrated in Fig. 6, and is operative to pivot the
wing extension 9
downward about the wing extension axis WEA to the field position illustrated
in Fig. 4.
The lock mechanism 23 is operative to lock the wing extension 9 and outer wing
7 into
alignment when in the field position.
The illustrated lock mechanism 23 is an over-centering lock mechanism
configured such
that, when in the field position, the wing extension 9 and outer wing 7 are
maintained in
alignment by the over-centering lock mechanism 23 such that an upward force on
the
wing extension 9 exerts no force on the transport hydraulic cylinder 21. The
lock
mechanism 23 comprises an inner link 25 pivotally attached at an inner end
thereof to the
outer wing 7 at a first pivot location Pl above the wing frame 27. An outer
wing bracket
29 is attached to the wing frame 27 to provide an elevated location for
attachment of the
transport hydraulic cylinder 21 and inner link 25. An outer link 31 is
pivotally attached
at an outer end thereof to the wing extension 9 above the wing extension frame
33 at a
second pivot location P2, and is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to
an outer end
of the inner link 25 at a third pivot location P3 located below a line L
joining the first and
second pivot locations Pl, P2. A wing extension bracket 35 is attached to the
wing
extension frame 33 to provide an elevated location for attachment of the outer
link 31.
The transport hydraulic cylinder 21 is operative to raise the wing extension 9
with respect
to the outer wing 7 about the wing extension axis WEA when the transport
hydraulic
cylinder 21 is retracted. In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 4 the
transport hydraulic
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cylinder 21 is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to the outer wing
bracket 29 at a
fourth pivot location P4 above the first pivot location P1, and is pivotally
attached to the
inner link 25 at a fifth pivot location P5 above the first pivot location Pl.
A stop 37 is
mounted on the outer wing 7 below the inner link 25 such that when in the
field position,
the inner link 25 rests on the stop 37.
With pivot locations oriented as described above, the outer link 31 is
oriented sloping
downward from the outer end to the inner end. The outer link 31 has a length
that is
adjustable, and the alignment of the outer wing 7 and wing extension 9 is
maintained by
IO orienting the stop 37 and the outer link 31 such that an upward force on
the wing
extension 9 transmits a force through the outer link 31 to urge the inner link
25
downward against the stop 37, Some alignment adjustments could also be
accomplished
by adjusting the location of the top of the stop 37.
Fig. 7 illustrates the wing extension 9 at the point of over-centering where
the outer link
31 is substantially horizontal and the pivot locations PI, P2, and P3 are
aligned. At this
position it can be seen that the bottom of the inner link 25 is slightly above
the stop 37.
When the bottom of the inner link 25 moves down into contact with the stop 37,
the pivot
location P3 moves below the tine between pivot locations Pl and P2 and the
outer link 31
is orientcd downward from the outer end at P2 to the inner end at P3. Upward
force on
the wing extension 9 will then exert a downward force on the inner link 25.
In the illustrated embodiment, there is at substantially all times an upward
force on the
wing extension because while rear packer wheels 13 support a rear end of the
outer wing,
there is no front wheel 11 on the outer wing 7, but only on the wing extension
9. The
front portion of the outer wing 7 is thus supported by the front wheel 11 on
the wing
extension 9 when in the field position. In implements such as cultivators
which have no
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packer wheels, the outer wing will have no wheels at all mounted thereon, and
will be
totally supported by wheels on the wing extension. In such an implement, there
will be
substantially only an upward force on the wing extension, since ground
engaging tools on
the outer wing will tend to draw the outer wing into the ground, and this
movement will
be resisted by the wheel exerting an upward force on the wing extension.
As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8, in order to more securely fix the wing
extension 9 in
alignment with the outer wing 7, the illustrated embodiment comprises front
and rear
transport actuators 21F, 21R and corresponding front and rear locking
mechanisms 23F,
23R. The implement apparatus 1 provides a compact transport position for an
agricultural implement. An over-centering wing lock mechanism 23 is provided
that
removes force on the transport hydraulic cylinder 21 due to upward forces on
the wing
extension 9.
Further alternate configurations of the locking mechanism are illustrated in
Figs. 9 - 11.
Fig. 9 schematically illustrates an alternate over-centering lock mechanism
123
comprising an inner link 125 pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to the
outer wing
at a first pivot location Pl above the wing frame 127 on outer wing bracket
129. Outer
link 131 is pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to the wing extension
above the
wing extension frame 133 to wing extension bracket 135 at a second pivot
location P2,
and is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the inner
link 125 at a
third pivot location P3 located below the line L joining the first and second
pivot
locations Pl, P2. The transport hydraulic cylinder 121 is pivotally attached
at an inner
end thereof to the outer wing bracket 129 at a fourth pivot location P4 above
the first
pivot location P1, and is pivotally attached to the inner link 125 at a fifth
pivot location
PS above the first pivot Location Pl. The transport hydraulic cylinder 121 is
retracted to
pivot the wing extension 109 upward about the wing extension axis WEA. The
stop 137
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is mounted on the wing frame 127 below the inner link 125 such that when in
the field
position, the inner link 125 rests on the stop 137.
Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an alternate over-centering lock mechanism
223
S comprising an inner link 225 pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to
the outer wing
at a first pivot location P1 above the wing frame 227 on outer wing bracket
229. Outer
fink 231 is pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to the wing extension
above the
wing extension frame 233 to wing extension bracket 235 at a second pivot
location P2,
and is pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the inner
link 22S at a
third pivot location P3 located below the line L joining the first and second
pivot
locations Pl, P2. The transport hydraulic cylinder 221 is pivotally attached
at an inner
end thereof to the outer wing bracket 229 at a fourth pivot location P4 above
the first
pivot location Pl, and is pivotally attached to the inner link 225 at a fifth
pivot location
PS above the first pivot location Pl. The transport hydraulic cylinder 221 is
retracted to
pivot the wing extension 209 upward about the wing extension axis WEA. The
stop 237
is mounted on the wing frame 227 below the inner link 22S such that when in
the field
position, the inner link 225 rests on the stop 237.
Fig. 11 schematically illustrates a further alternate over-centering lock
mechanism 323
where the transport hydraulic cylinder 321 is extended to pivot the wing
extension 309
upward about the wing extension axis WEA. The lock mechanism 323 comprises an
inner link 32S pivotally attached at an inner end thereof to the outer wing at
a first pivot
location Pl above the wing frame 327 on outer wing bracket 329. Outer link 331
is
pivotally attached at an outer end thereof to the wing extension above the
wing extension
frame 333 to wing extension bracket 335 at a second pivot location P2, and is
pivotally
attached at an inner end thereof to an outer end of the inner link 325 at a
third pivot
location P3 located below the line L joining the first and second pivot
locations Pl, P2.
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The transport hydraulic cylinder 321 is pivotally attached at an inner end
thereof to the
outer wing bracket 329 at a fourth pivot location P4 below the first pivot
location Pl, and
is pivotally attached to the inner link 325 at a fifth pivot location PS below
the first pivot
location P1. The stop 337 is mounted on the wing frame 327 below the inner
link 325
such that when in the field position, the inner link 325 rests on the stop
337.
The inner and outer links, stop, and transport hydraulic cylinder can thus be
oriented in a
multitude of ways. The over-centering lock mechanism comprises inner and outer
links
that over center in the field position. One or the other of them hits a stop
when in the
field position, and one or the other of tktem is driven by the transport
hydraulic cylinder.
Either one of the links or the stop can be made adjustable to align the wing
and wing
extension, and the location of the transport hydraulic cylinder, which link It
drives, and
whether it pulls or pushes is widely variable.
Thus the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those
skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation
shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or
modifications in
structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
