Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02668238 2009-06-03
FOLDING LAND ROLLING IMPLEMENT
This invention is in the field of agricultural implements and in particular a
folding land
rolling and packing implements.
BACKGROUND
Land rollers or packers are used in agriculture to pack seed, level land, push
rocks down
into the soil, break up clods, and for like purposes. What are commonly called
land
rollers comprise a fairly large diameter cylindrical steel roller rotatably
mounted to a
frame such that the rotational axis of the roller is oriented perpendicular to
the operating
travel direction. Land packing implements comprise a packing element with a
generally
cylindrical shape that may be defined by a coil as in Fig. /2 of United States
Patent
Number 4,896,732 to Stark, or by a series of packer wheels mounted close
together on a
common shaft as in Fig. 1 of the Stark patent. For convenience both rollers
and packers
will be referred to hereafter as land rollers or land rolling implements.
These rollers have a relatively low draft since they are not engaging the soil
but simply
rolling over the soil. Thus it is possible for common agricultural tractors to
tow a very
wide implement. In order to follow the ground satisfactorily, and to allow the
implement
to be placed in a transport position, land rolling implement include a
plurality of roller
sections mounted on the frame of the implement, such as disclosed for example
in the
Stark patent, and in United States Patent Number 6,119,788 to Bernier.
In order to provide complete coverage of the field it is desirable to have the
roller
sections overlap each other. In the implement illustrated in Fig. 3 of Stark,
a center roller
section is mounted rearward of right and left wing roller sections. The
sections are
oriented such that the outer ends of the following center frame overlap the
inner ends of
the wing sections. Similarly in the implement disclosed in Fig. 3 of Bernier
the center
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section is mounted forward of the right and left wing roller sections. The
sections are
oriented such that the inner ends of the following wing sections overlap the
outer ends of
the center section. The wings fold into alignment with the travel direction
for transport.
To provide a wider implement, Stark also discloses in Figs. 12 - 17 a 5
section roller
implement. In this outer wing sections are added to the outer ends of the
inner wing
sections of Fig. 3 at a location rearward of the inner wings and with their
rotational axes
aligned generally with that of the center section. The 5 section implement is
shown in
transport as well with the outer and inner wing sections generally aligned in
the travel
direction and located side by side. As the width and number of sections
increases,
placing the sections in a transport position becomes problematic.
SUMMARY OF TIIE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide land rolling and packing
implements
that overcome problems in the prior art.
In a first embodiment the present invention provides a land roller implement
apparatus
comprising a center section comprising a frame, a hitch at a front end of the
center frame
adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle, and a center roller rotatably
mounted to the
center frame about a center miter axis oriented substantially perpendicular to
an operating
travel direction. The center frame also comprises right and left wing brackets
extending
rearward from corresponding right and left locations on the center frame. Each
wing
bracket is pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the center frame about
a bracket axis
oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the operating travel
direction. A
center wheel is movably mounted under each wing bracket A wing is pivotally
mounted
to each wing bracket about a substantially vertical transport axis and about a
pivot axis
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oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the wing roller axis,
each wing
comprising at least one wing frame and a wing roller rotatably mounted to the
at least one
wing frame about a wing roller axis. A bracket lock is operative when engaged
to lock
the wing bracket with respect to the bracket axis to prevent rotation of the
wing bracket
about the bracket axis. Right and left transport actuators are operative to
move right and
left center wheels down such that, when the transport locks are engaged, right
and left
wing brackets move up to a transport position. Right and left wing wheels are
movable
from a raised operating position above the ground to a lowered transport
position
supporting corresponding right and left wings above the ground. Right and left
wings are
movable from an operating position with the center and wing rollers resting on
the
ground, and extending laterally from corresponding right and left wing
brackets such that
the wing roller axes are substantially perpendicular to the operating travel
direction and
such that inner ends of right and left wing rollers are rearward of and
overlap
corresponding right and left ends of the center roller, to a transport
position with the
center and wing rollers supported above the ground and where the tight and
left wings
extend rearward from the corresponding right and left wing brackets such that
the wing
roller axes are substantially aligned with the operating travel direction.
hi a second embodiment the present invention provides a land roller implement
apparatus
comprising a center frame, a hitch at a front end of the center frame adapted
for
attachment to a towing vehicle, and a center roller rotatably mounted to the
muter frame
about a center roller rotational axis oriented substantially perpendicular to
an operating
travel direction. Center wheels are mounted on the center frame and are
movable from a
raised operating position to a lowered transport position supporting the
center roller
above the ground for movement in the operating travel direction. Right and
left wings
are pivotally mounted to corresponding right and left sides of the center
frame, each wing
comprising an inner wing frame pivotally mounted to a corresponding end of the
center
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frame, and an inner roller rotatably mounted to the inner wing frame about an
inner roller
axis, and an outer wing frame pivotally mounted, about a wing pivot axis
oriented
substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the inner roller axis, to a
corresponding
end of the inner wing frame, and an outer roller rotatably mounted to the
outer wing
frame about an outer roller axis. The inner and outer rollers are
substantially aligned and
adjacent ends of the inner and outer rollers are separated by a roller
spacing. An overlap
frame is attached to a rear portion of one of the inner and outer wing frames,
and an
overlap roller is rotatably mounted to the overlap frame about an overlap
roller axis. The
overlap roller is oriented to roil over the roller spacing. The right and left
wings are
movable from an operating position with the rollers resting on the ground,
where the right
and left wings extend laterally from the corresponding right and left ends of
the center
frame such that the inner, outer, and overlap roller axes are substantially
perpendicular to
the operating travel direction and such that inner ends of the right and left
inner rollers
are rearward of and overlap corresponding right and left ends of the center
roller, to a
transport position with the rollers supported above the ground where the right
and left
wings extend rearward from the corresponding right and left ends of the center
frame
such that the inner, outer, and overlap roller axes are substantially aligned
with the
operating travel direction. In the transport position right and left overlap
rollers are
laterally aligned with, and adjacent to, each other when moving in a
substantially straight
line in the operating travel direction. During a turn, the right and left
wings pivot with
respect to the center frame about substantially vertical transport pivot axes
such that a
distance between the right and left wings is reduced, and such that the right
and left
overlap rollers move forward and rearward to offset positions with respect to
each other
such that the right and left overlap rollers can move toward the corresponding
opposite
right and left wings.
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Thus the present invention provides an implement for rolling or packing a
field surface
that can be very wide while providing a compact transport width with the wings
aligned
behind the center section such that a width of the apparatus when in the
transport position
is substantially equal to a width of the center section. Where the implement
is a land
roller, the rollers are typically about 42 inches in diameter and the width
can be 85 feet
with a transport width of 12.5 feet which will allow same to be transported on
public
roads without pilot vehicles in many jurisdictions. The implement of the
invention
provides a plurality of sections that can move independently to follow ground
contours,
and moves readily between transport and field operating positions. It is
contemplated
that wider implements could have three, four, or more separate frames and
rollers in each
wing.
In transport the overlap rollers are close together and as is known in the art
when such a
winged implement makes a turn, the wings pivot and move closer to each other.
The
apparatus of the invention is configured so that to avoid contact with each
other the right
and left overlap rollers move forward and rearward to offset positions as one
side of the
center frame moves forward with respect to the other( side pulling one wing
forward with
respect to the other wing, and thus moving the overlap rollers to the offset
positions.
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
conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the
several
diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:
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Fig. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of an implement apparatus of the present
invention in the field operating position;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in an intermediate position
between
operating and transport positions;
Fig. 3 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the transport position
moving
straight in the operating travel direction;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the transport position
during a turn
showing how the overlap rollers move to offset positions with respect to each
other to
avoid contact;
Fig. 5 is a side view showing a wing of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the raised
transport
position;
Fig. 6 is a side view showing the wing of Fig. 5 in the lowered operating
position;
Fig. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating the attachment of the overlap
frame and
roller in the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is a schematic side view showing the wing bracket extending rearward
from the
center frame, the center wheel movably attached to the wing bracket, and the
transport
actuator in the transport position;
Fig. 9 is a schematic side view showing the wing bracket, center wheel, wing
bracket,
and transport actuator of Fig. 8 in the operating position.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ME ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Figs. 1 ¨9 illustrate an embodiment of a land roller implement apparatus l of
the present
invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a center section comprising a center
frame 3, a
hitch 5 at a front end of the center frame 3 adapted for attachment to a
towing vehicle,
and a center roller 7 rotatably mounted to the center frame 3 about a center
roller
rotational axis CRA oriented substantially perpendicular to an operating
travel direction
T. Center wheels 9 mounted on the center frame 3 are movable from a raised
operating
position to a lowered transport position supporting the center roller 7 above
the ground
for movement in the operating travel direction T.
Right and left wings I IR, !IL are pivotally mounted to corresponding right
and left sides
of the center frame 3. Each wing 11 comprises inner, outer, and extension,
wing frames.
The inner wing frame 13 is pivotally mounted to a corresponding side of the
center frame
3, and an inner roller 15 is rotatahly mounted to the inner wing frame 13
about an inner
roller axis IRA. In the illustrated apparatus 1 the inner wing frame 13 is
pivotally
mounted to the center frame 3 by a universal joint 14 such that the inner wing
frame 13
can pivot vrith respect to the center frame 3 both up and down about a
horizontal aids HA
to follow ground C011iolln, and forward and rearward about a vertical axis VA
to move
from transport to operating positions as described below. The center frame 3
comprises
rearward extending wing brackets 16 and the universal joint 14 is mounted on
the wing
bracket 16. Thus the inner ends of the right and left inner rollers 15 can be
located
rearward of and overlapping corresponding right and left ends of the center
roller 7.
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The vertical transport axis VA is located such that when the wings 11 pivot
rearward to
the transport position of Fig. 3, the wings 11 are inside the path of the
center section and
thus in transport the implement is only as wide as the center section.
The outer wing frame 17 is pivotally mounted, about a wing pivot axis WPA
oriented
substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the inner roller axis IRA, to
a
corresponding end of the inner wing frame 13, so the inner and outer wing
frames 13, 17
can pivot up and down about with respect to each other about the wing pivot
axis WPA to
follow ground contours. An outer roller 19 is rotatably mounted to the outer
wing frame
17 about an outer roller axis ORA. The inner and outer rollers 15, 19 are
substantially
aligned and adjacent ends of the inner and outer rollers IS, 19 are separated
by a roller
spacing RS, as best seen in Fig. 5. The spacing allows the ends of the rollers
to tilt
toward each other without touching.
An overlap frame 21 is attached to a rear portion of one of the inner and
crater wing
frames 13, 17 and extends alongside the other of the inner and outer wing
frames 13, 17.
Thus the overlap frame 21 is essentially an extension of the frame to which it
is attached,
which could be either of the adjacent frames. An overlap roller 23 is
rotatably mounted
to the overlap frame 21 about an overlap roller axis VRA is located and
oriented to roll
over the roller spacing RS.
It is contemplated that narrower embodiments of the invention will have just
the inner
and outer wing frames and rollers, however the drawings illustrate a wider
implement
with three frames and rollers in each wing 11. Thus the wings 11 further
comprise an
extension wing frame 25 pivotally mounted, about a wing pivot axis WPA, again
oriented
substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the outer roller axis ORA, to
a
corresponding end of the outer wing frame 19, and an extension roller 27
rotatably
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mounted to the extension wing frame 25 about an extension roller axis ERA. It
is
contemplated that each wing 11 could comprise four or even more sections if
desired.
The inner, outer, and extension rollers 15, 19,27 are substantially aligned.
Adjacent ends
of the outer and extension rollers 19, 27 are again separated by an extension
roller
spacing RS' which will typically be the same as the spacing RS between the
ends of the
inner and outer rollers 15, 19 but can be otherwise as well if conditions
warrant.
An extension overlap frame 29 is attached to a rear portion of one of the
outer and
extension wing frames 17, 25, and an extension overlap roller 31 is rotatably
mounted to
the extension overlap frame 29 about an extension overlap roller axis EVRA,
the
extension overlap roller 29 oriented to roll over the extension roller spacing
RS'.
The right and left wings I 1R, 1 IL are movable from an operating position,
illustrated in
Figs. 1 and 6 with the rollers 15, 19, 23,27, 31 resting on the ground, where
the right and
left wings 1IR, 11L extend laterally from the corresponding right and left
sides of the
center frame 3 such that the inner, outer, extension, and overlap roller axes
IRA, ORA,
ERA, VRA, EVRA are substantially perpendicular to the operating travel
direction and
such that inner ends of the right and left inner rollers 15 are rearward of
and overlap
corresponding right and left ends of the center roller 7, to a transport
position as
illustrated in Figs. 6 and 3 with the rollers 15, 19, 23, 27, 31 supported
above the ground
33 where the right and left wings I IR, I IL extend rearward froth the
corresponding right
and left sides of the center frame 3 such that the inner, outer, extension,
and overlap roller
axes IRA, ORA, ERA, VRA, EVRA are substantially aligned with the operating
travel
direction T.
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11
In the transport position right and left overlap and extension overlap rollers
23R,
23L 31R, 31L are laterally aligned with, and adjacent to, each other when
moving in a substantially straight line in the operating travel direction as
illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus the overlap rollers 23R, 23L 31R, 31L are close
together and is known in the art when such a winged implement makes a turn,
the wings pivot and move closer to each other. The apparatus 1 is configured
so
that to avoid contact with each other the right and left overlap rollers 23R,
23L
31R, 31L move forward and rearward to offset positions as one side of the
center frame 3 moves forward with respect to the other side pulling one wing
11
forward with respect to the other wing 11, and thus moving the overlap rollers
23R, 23L 31R, 31L to the offset positions.
During a turn as illustrated in Fig. 4 the right and left wings 11R, 11L pivot
with
respect to the center frame 3 about substantially vertical transport pivot
axes VA
such that a distance DW between the right and left wings as illustrated in
Fig. 3
is reduced to a lesser distance DW' as illustrated in Fig. 4. It can be seen
from
Fig. 3 that if the distance between the wings 11R, 11L is reduced, the right
overlap and extension overlap rollers 23R, 31R would contact the corresponding
left overlap and extension overlap rollers 23L, 31L however because of the
configuration of the apparatus 1, the right and left overlap and extension
overlap
rollers 23R, 31R 23L, 31L move forward and rearward to offset positions with
respect to each other as illustrated in Fig. 4 such that the right and left
overlap
and extension overlap rollers 23R, 31R 23L, 31L can move toward the
corresponding opposite right and left wings 11R, 11L beside the opposite
corresponding overlap roller. As the turn is completed the right and left
'wings
11R, 11L move to the position of Fig. 3 with distance DW between the wings,
and the overlap rollers again move to their adjacent positions which are
accommodated by the distance DW between the right and left wings 11R, 11L.
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12
As illustrated in Fig. 7, the overlap rollers 23, 31 have a diameter that is
substantially less than a diameter of the inner, outer, and extension rollers
15,
19, 27. The overlap frames 21, 29 are mounted about a pivot axis PA oriented
substantially parallel to a rotational axis RA of a corresponding roller
mounted
to the inner, outer, and extension wing frames 13, 17, 25 such that an
attached
overlap roller 23, 31 can move up over an obstruction. A lower stop 35 is
provided such that when a wing is raised to the transport position to raise
the
inner, outer, and extension rollers 15, 19, 27 up above the ground, the
attached
overlap rollers 23, 31 are also raised above the ground. A bias element, such
as
spring 37, is operative to exert a downward bias force BF on the overlap frame
21, 29, thereby transferring some weight from the larger heavier rollers to
the
smaller lighter overlap rollers to increase the force exerted thereby on the
ground.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate wing locks 41 operative to lock the inner, outer, and
extension wing frames 13, 17, 25 in an aligned position as illustrated in Fig.
6
where the inner and outer roller axes are substantially aligned. The
illustrated
wing locks 41 are provided by pivot arms 43. The pivot arms 43 are raised
when the apparatus 1 is in the operating position of Fig. 6 so that the inner,
outer, and extension wing frames 13, 17, 25 can pivot about the wing pivot
axes
WPA with respect to each other and the attached rollers can follow ground
contours. To place the wing frames 13, 17, 25 in an aligned position for
transport, the pivot arms 43 are moved down by hydraulic cylinders 45 such
that
tapered grooves 47 in the pivot arms 43 engage pins 49 in the adjacent frame
and as the pivot aim 43 is forced downward the pin 49 is forced along the
tapered groove to the bottom of the groove 47 where the wing frames 13, 17, 25
are in the aligned position. The wing frames 13, 17, 25 then form essentially
a
rigid structure that can be carried by a wing wheel 51 on the rear end and by
the
center wheels 9 at the front end.
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13
The illustrated apparatus 1 has a wing wheel 51 mounted at an outer location
on
the extension wing frame 27 that is movable from a raised operating position,
as
illustrated in Fig. 6, to a lowered transport position as illustrated in Fig.
5 where
the wing wheel 51 is operative to support the wing 11 for travel in the
operating
travel direction T. The illustrated wing wheel 51 is pivotally mounted to the
extension wing frame 27 about a substantially vertical wheel pivot axis. A
wheel actuator 55 is operative to pivot the wing wheel about the vertical
wheel
pivot axis, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
In the transport position of Fig. 3, the wings 11 are oriented in alignment
with
the operating travel direction T extending rearward, and the rotational plane
of
each wing wheel 51 is aligned with the corresponding wing 11 and with the
operating travel direction T. When a field location is reached, the actuators
55
are activated to pivot front edges of the wing wheels 51 outward, such that
the
front edge of the right wing wheel 51R moves to the right and the front edge
of
the left wing wheel 51L moves to the left. The apparatus 1 is moved forward as
the wing wheels 51 pivot, and the wings 11 are thus steered outward toward the
field position as illustrated in Fig. 2. Depending on the conditions and the
implement, the wings 11 will move out through about 65 to 80 degrees to extend
laterally from ends of the center frame 3 by simply steering the wing wheels
51.
When this orientation has been achieved, only a relatively small final force
urging the wings 11 forward relative to the center frame 3 is required to be
exerted to complete the movement of the wings 11 to a field position
perpendicular to the operating travel direction T as illustrated in Fig. 1. To
exert
this final force, the apparatus 1 can be stopped and moved a small distance
rearward to move the center frame 3 rearward relative to the wings 11, and
thus
urge the wings 11 forward relative to the center frame 3, and thereby finish
moving the wings 11 to the field position perpendicular to the operating
travel
direction. Braces or like fasteners can then be attached to maintain the
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wings in this full field position.
Alternatively, depending on the type of implement, the field conditions, and
like factors,
the wings 11 may have sufficient momentum that when forward movement of the
center
frame 3 is stopped, as by applying brakes of the towing tractor, momentum of
the wings
11 exerts the final force urging the wings 11 forward relative to the stopped
center frame
3 such that the wings 11 continue moving forward to the full field position
where they
may be fastened.
Once the apparatus 1 is in the operating position, the wing wheels 51 are
raised to the
transport position illustrated in Fig. 6. They may be returned to the
orientation where the
rotational plane of each wing wheel 51 is aligned with the corresponding wing
11, as
illustrated in Fig. 6. To move from the operating position of Fig. 1 to the
transport
position of Fig. 3 it is simply necessary to lower the wing wheels 51 to the
transport
position to raise the rollers 15, 19, 23, 27, 31 above the ground and then tow
the
apparatus 1 forward. The wings 11 will fall back to the transport position of
Fig. 3 with
the wing wheels 51 in this position.
The illustrated braces 61 are designed to lie closely adjacent the front edges
of the inner
wing frames 13 as illustrated in Fig. 3 to minimize the width of the apparatus
1 in the
transport position. The braces 61 include a rear member 63 pivotally connected
to the
outer wing frame 17 at one end and pivotally connected at the opposite end to
a front
member 65. The opposite end of the front member 65 is pivotally connected to
the center
frame 3. In the operating position of Fig. 1 the pivotal connection, a pin 67
or the like,
between the front and rear members is engaged in a transport bracket 69 fixed
to the
center frame 3 to brace the wings II in the operating position. To move to
transport
position the pin 67 is released and the braces 11 fall back to the transport
position of Fig.
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3.
The front member 65 is telescoping so that the length thereof can extend as
required to
make a turn as illustrated in Fig. 4. The telescoping front member 65 is
biased toward its
shortest length which is configured so that the pin 67 at the pivotal
connection between
the front and rear members engages the transport bracket 69 when the wings 11
move
forward to the operating position of Fig. 1.
In order to provide the inner wing roller 15 with increased independence of
movement
from the center roller 7, the wing brackets 16 can be configured as shown in
Figs. 8 and
9. Fig. 8 shows the transport position and Fig. 9 shows the operating
position. Each
wing bracket 16 is pivotally attached at a front end thereof to the center
frame 3 about a
bracket axis BA oriented substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the
operating
travel direction T. A center wheel 9 is movably mounted under each wing
bracket 16. A
wing 11 is pivotally mounted to each wing bracket 16 as described above about
vertical
and horizontal axes by a universal joint 14. A bracket lock 71 is operative
when engaged
to lock the wing bracket 16 with respect to the bracket axis BA to prevent
rotation of the
wing bracket about the bracket axis BA. The bracket lock 71 is moved to the
engaged
position of Fig. 8 or the disengaged position of Fig. 9 by a lock cylinder 73.
A transport actuator 75 is operative to move the center wheel 9 down such
that, when the
transport lock 71 is engaged, the wing bracket 16 moves up to a transport
position and
right and left wing brackets 16 raise the center roller 7 and inner ends of
the wings up to
transport position, while wing wheels raise the outer ends of the wings as
described
above, so that all rollers are above the ground and the wings can be moved to
the
transport position. The illustrated transport actuator 75 comprises an
extendable actuator
77 operative to move an over-centering link 79 connected between the center
wheel 9 and
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the wing bracket 16. As illustrated when in the transport position of Fig. 8,
the link 79 is
in a locked over-centered position which reduces stress on the actuator 77
during
transport.
Thus it can be seen that in the operating position of Fig. 9 the center wheel
9 is above the
ground and the transport lock 71 is disengaged so that the wing bracket 16 can
pivot
freely about the bracket axis BA. The rear end 16R of the wing bracket 16, and
thus the
inner end of the roller in the frame attached thereto can pivot freely up and
down
independent of the vertical position of the front end 16F of the wing bracket
16 and the
center roller 7. In the prior art the wing was typically attached to a fixed
location on the
center frame such that the center and wing moved up and down together at the
point
where same were attached. Ground following is thus unproved using the
pivotally
attached wing bracket 16, and stress on the implement is reduced.
Thus the present invention provides an implement for rolling or packing a
field surface
where the wings can be aligned behind the center section when in the transport
position,
such that a width of the apparatus when in the transport position is
substantially equal to a
width of the center section. The implement thus can be very wide while
providing a
compact transport width. The implement apparatus of the present invention
further
provides a plurality of sections that can move independently to follow ground
contours,
and moves readily between transport and field operating positions.
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
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structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within
the scope of
the claimed invention.
17
