Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
WINGED AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural implement comprising a pair
of wing sections which are foldable relative to one another from a laterally
extending
working position to a trailing transport position, and more particularly the
present invention
relates to a winged agricultural implement having a novel bracing assembly for
selectively
bracing the wing sections in the working position.
BACKGROUND
Various agricultural implements are known to be provided with a center
section and a pair of wing sections which extend laterally outward from
opposing sides of
the center section in a working position, but which are foldable relative to
one another
from the working position to a trailing transport position to reduce overall
width of the
implement for transport.
A land roller implement is one common example of winged agricultural
implements, used for levelling land, pushing rocks down into the soil,
breaking up soil
mounds and clods, or packing seed for example. Similar to other winged
implements, it
is common to provide a brace assembly which is connected between the center
section
and the wing sections to provide additional support to retain the wing
sections in their
working orientation as the implement is advanced across an agricultural field.
United States Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008/0314605 by
Degelman et al and 2010/0307780 by Hulicsko disclose examples of land roller
implements comprising a center roller section and two wing sections carrying
two roller
section in each wing section. In each instance a brace structure is provided
which is
pivoted into a latched position using a linkage responsive to the folding of
the wing
sections into the working position. An additional latching mechanism must be
operated
into a latching arrangement however to retain the brace in the latched
position.
Furthermore, the linkage arrangement does not allow the brace to pivot
relative to the
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center frame section about an axis coincident with the floating axis of the
wing sections
relative to the center section, which places undesirable stresses on the
bracing assembly.
Canadian Patent Application No. 2,810,124 and US Patent Application no.
13/826,712 by Johan Redekop discloses another example of a land roller
implement
having a brace latched by a linkage similarly to Degelman at al and Hulicsko
noted above,
but with the pivot axis of the brace member relative to the main section being
relocated
to be coincident with the floating axis of the respective wing section.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0265699 by McCrea
et al discloses another example of a land roller implement including a brace
structure
which is pivotally supported on the wing section for pivoting into a latched
position
between a center roller section and two wing sections. No additional mechanism
is
provided which positively retains the brace in its latched position as the
wing sections are
pivotally floated relative the main section during forward movement across an
agricultural
field. Furthermore, the brace accordingly to McCrea et al similarly does not
allow the
brace to pivot relative to the center frame section about an axis coincident
with the floating
axis of the wing sections relative to the center section, which places
undesirable stresses
on the bracing assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a winged
agricultural implement arranged to be towed in a forward working direction by
a towing
vehicle, the implement comprising:
a center frame section arranged for connection to the towing vehicle;
a pair of wing frame sections having respective inner ends which are
pivotally coupled at laterally opposing sides of the center frame section for
movement
between a working position extending laterally outwardly in opposing
directions from the
center frame section and a transport position trailing rearwardly from the
center frame
section;
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at least one ground engagement member supported on each frame section
so as to be arranged to engage the ground as the implement is towed in the
forward
working direction;
a pair of brace members pivotally supported on the center frame section at
the laterally opposing sides respectively;
a first latching element supported on each brace member;
a second latching element supported on each wing section so as to be
arranged to be selectively engaged by the first latching element of a
respective one of the
brace members;
a pair of hydraulic actuators operatively connected between the center
frame section and respective ones of the brace members, each hydraulic
actuator being
operable in a respective longitudinal direction of the hydraulic actuator
between an
extended position and a retracted position, wherein:
the respective first and second latching elements are engaged to
retain the respective wing frame section in the working position in one of the
extended
position or the retracted position; and
the first latching element is released from the second latching
element such that the respective wing frame section is pivotal from the
working position
to the transport position in another one of the extended position or the
retracted position;
and
a pair of biasing linkages associated with the hydraulic actuators
respectively, wherein:
each biasing linkage is connected in series with the respective
hydraulic actuator between the center frame section and the respective brace
member;
each biasing linkage is operable between a first position and a
second position in which an overall effective length of the biasing linkage
and the
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hydraulic actuator between the center frame section and the respective brace
member is
longer in the second position than in the first position; and
each biasing linkage is biased from one of the first position or the
second position towards another one of the first position or the second
position in a
direction such that the respective brace member is biased towards the latched
position.
The connection of hydraulic actuators of the brace members using biasing
linkages as described herein, provides a simple structure which maintains
positive
pressure to retain the latching elements engaged in a latched position of the
brace
members, without requiring an additional latching mechanism to be operated
between
open and closed position. Accordingly the brace members can be pivoted with
the wing
sections through a large range of angles relative to the center section as the
implement
is advanced across an agricultural field, without concern of the bracing
members being
inadvertently released, despite the absence of any additional latching
mechanism.
Preferably each biasing linkage comprises a sliding element which is
linearly slidable between the first position and the second position of the
biasing linkage.
Preferably each biasing linkage is linearly slidable in the longitudinal
direction of the respective hydraulic actuator.
Preferably each brace member is in the latch position in the extended
position of the respective hydraulic actuator, and each biasing linkage is
biased from the
first position towards the second position thereof.
Preferably each biasing linkage includes a spring element which is oriented
to provide biasing force in the longitudinal direction of the respective
hydraulic actuator.
Preferably each biasing linkage is substantially centered between the first
and second positions in the latched position of the brace members when the
wing frame
sections are level with the center frame section at a common horizontal
elevation.
When each wing frame section is pivotal relative to the center frame section
in the working position thereof about a floating axis oriented generally in
the forward
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working direction, preferably each hydraulic actuator is arranged to be locked
in the
extended position in the latched position of the brace members as the wing
frame sections
are pivotally displaced relative the center section about the respective
floating axes.
Preferably the extended position of each hydraulic actuator corresponds to the
actuator
being fully extended.
Preferably each brace member is pivotal relative to the center frame
sections about a brace axis which is coaxial with the floating axis of the
respective wing
frame section. In this instance, each first latching element may be arranged
to engage
the respective second latching element non-rotatably in the latched position
of the
respective brace member.
Preferably one of the first latching element and the second latching element
comprises a pin and another one of the first latching element and the second
latching
element comprises a slot which receives the pin therein in the latched
position of each
brace member. In this instance, each pin is preferably retained in the
respective slot in
the latched position of the respective brace member solely by the biasing of
the respective
biasing linkage.
Each biasing linkage may comprise a housing element, a sliding element
which is supported for linear sliding movement relative to the housing
element, and a
spring element coupled between the housing element and the sliding element so
as to
provide biasing force to the sliding element in a direction of the linear
sliding movement,
the spring element being fully enclosed within the housing element.
Preferably each biasing linkage is mounted between the respective
hydraulic actuator and the center frame section.
When in the latched position, preferably each brace member comprises: i)
a front arm portion extending laterally outwardly from an inner end of the
front arm portion
pivotally coupled to the center frame section at a front side of the center
frame section; ii)
a rear arm portion extending laterally outwardly from an inner end of the rear
arm portion
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pivotally coupled to the center frame section at a rear side of the center
frame section;
and iii) at least one cross member joined between the front arm portion at a
front side of
the brace member and the rear arm portion at a rear side of the brace member.
In this instance the implement may further comprise a wear plate formed of
non-metallic material associated with each brace member in which the wear
plate is
mounted on one of the center frame section or the front arm portion of the
respective
brace member so as to be oriented transversely to the forward working
direction in
engagement between the center frame section and the front arm portion in the
latched
position.
In the illustrated embodiment said at least one ground engagement member
comprises a roller arranged to level ground such that the overall winged
agricultural
implement comprises a land roller implement.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of a winged
land roller implement according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1
illustrating a brace portion of the winged land roller implement;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the brace portion of the winged land roller
implement;
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the brace portion along the line 4-4
of
Figure 3 in a latched position;
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the brace portion according to Figure
4 in a released position;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 3; and
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Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a front corner of the central
frame portion of the implement.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a winged
agricultural implement generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The
implement 10 is
suited for use with a towing vehicle for being towed across an agricultural
field in a forward
working direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the implement comprises an
agricultural
land roller for rolling across the ground to level mounds, to push rocks down
into the
ground, and the like as it is towed across the field in the forward working
direction.
The implement 10 includes a center frame section 12 and two wing frame
sections 14 which are pivotally coupled at laterally opposing sides of the
center frame
section. The two wing frame sections 14 are each pivotal about an upright
pivot axis
between a working position (shown in solid line in Figure 1) in which the two
wing frame
sections extend laterally outward in opposing directions from the center frame
section so
as to span perpendicularly to the forward direction, and a transport position
(shown in
broken line in Figure 1) in which the two wing frame sections extend
rearwardly in a trailing
configuration relative to the center frame section.
Each frame section includes a front beam 16 extending horizontally across
the front side of the frame section, and a rear beam 18 spanning horizontally
at a rear of
the frame section parallel and spaced behind the front beam 16. Two end
members 20
extend in the forward direction at each of the laterally opposed sides of the
frame section
to connect between the ends of the front and rear beams respectively. Each
frame
section is thus generally rectangular in shape and extends in a perimeter
configuration
about a respective roller 22 rotatably supported therein about a respective
roller axis
oriented perpendicularly to the forward direction in the working position.
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The center frame section 12 more particularly includes hitching arms 24
which extend forwardly from the front beam 16 thereof for connection to the
towing
vehicle. At the rear side, a pair of wing connecting arms 26 extend rearwardly
from the
rear beam 18 in proximity to the laterally opposing sides of the center frame
section
respectively. A wing pivot connector is provided at the rear end of each wing
connector
arm 26 to locate the vertical pivot axis about which the winged frame sections
are pivotal
between working and transport positions.
Each wing frame section extends longitudinally between an inner end 28
pivotally coupled to the center frame section and opposing outer end 30. In
the transport
position, the wing frame sections extend rearward in their respective
longitudinal
directions from the inner end to the outer end. In the transport position, the
longitudinal
directions of the wing frame sections extend laterally outward from the inner
ends to the
outer ends such that the longitudinal direction of the wing frame sections are
perpendicular to the forward working direction in the working position.
The wing frame sections are also arranged for pivotal movement about
respective horizontal floating axes 32 respectively which are defined by the
wing pivot
connections at the rear end of the wing connector arms 26 of the center frame
section.
The floating axis of each wing frame section is located at the inner end of
the frame
section to be parallel to the forward working direction such that the outer
ends of the wing
frame sections are displaced upwardly and downwardly relative to the center
frame
section as the implement is towed across a field and variations in the ground
contours
cause the wing frame sections to pivot relative to the center frame section
about the
floating axes respectively.
In the working position, the wing frame sections 14 are latched relative to
the center frame section to retain the wing frame sections in the working
position and
prevent relative pivotal movement therebetween about the vertical pivot axes
while
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permitting the wing frame sections to continue to float for relative pivotal
movement about
the respective horizontal floating axes.
In some embodiments, auxiliary frame sections 34 may be hinged to the
outer ends of the two wing frame sections 14 in which the auxiliary frame
sections 34
have a similar configuration of a front beam, rear beam and end members
supporting a
roller therein. The auxiliary frame sections are pivotally coupled at their
inner ends to the
outer ends of the two wing frame sections 14 respectively for relative pivotal
movement
about a respective horizontal floating axis oriented in the forward working
direction when
the wing frame sections are latched in the working position. The outer
auxiliary frame
sections 34 are thus permitted to change in elevation and inclination relative
to the outer
frame sections as the implement is displaced over varying ground contours
similarly to
the two wing frame sections described above.
The two wing frame sections 14 are latched into the respective working
positions using a pair of brace members 36 associated with the two wing frame
sections
respectively. Each brace member is pivotally supported on the center frame
section
adjacent respective ones of the laterally opposing sides of the center frame
section. Each
brace member 36 is pivotal between a released position extending generally
upwardly
and disengaged from the respective wing section and a latched position in
latching
engagement with the respective wing frame section to retain the wing frame
section in
the working position.
In the latched position of the brace member 36, the brace member includes
a front arm portion 38, which extends generally horizontally outward from an
inner end 40
pivotally coupled on the center frame section at the front side thereof to an
outer end 42
projecting laterally outward beyond the end of the center frame section. The
inner end of
the frame portion includes a vertical plate integral with the remainder of the
front arm
portion which is perpendicular to the forward working direction and which
locates an
aperture therein through which a hinge pin 44 is received to define the
pivotal connection
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of the front arm portion to the center frame section. The hinge pin 44
projects forwardly
from the front beam of the center frame section and is retained at the forward
end by a
support plate 46 which is also fixed relative to the center frame section. The
plate forming
the inner end of the front arm portion 38 is thus received pivotally on the
hinge pin 44
between the front side of the front beam 16 and the support plate 46.
The brace member also includes a first rear arm portion 50 which similarly
extends horizontally and laterally outwardly from an inner end 52 pivotally
coupled at the
rear side of the center frame section towards an opposing outer end 54. The
rear arm
portion similarly is formed of an upright plate having an aperture at the
inner end thereof
which receives a pivot shaft 54 therethrough. The pivot shaft 54 projects
rearwardly from
the rear side of the center frame section parallel to the forward working
direction of the
implement. The inner end of the respective wing frame section may also be
engaged
with the pivot shaft 54 rearwardly of the brace member such that the pivot
shaft 54 also
partially defines the floating axis of the wing frame section relative to the
center frame
section. The inner ends of both the front arm portion and rear arm portion are
pivotal
relative to the center frame section about a respective brace axis of the
brace member
which is coaxial with the horizontal floating axis of the corresponding wing
section such
that the wing frame section 14 and the respective brace member are pivotal
together
about a common float axis as the implement is towed over varying ground
contours in the
forward working direction.
The brace member further includes a first cross member 56, which is
parallel to the working direction of the implement and which extends
rearwardly from the
outer end of the front arm portion 38 for connection to the corresponding
outer end of the
first rear arm portion 50. A second cross member 58 is joined to the first
cross member
56 at the front end thereof so that the second cross member also extends
rearwardly from
the outer end of the front arm portion but at a rearward inclination relative
to the first cross
member 56. The second cross member is thus spaced apart from the first cross
member
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at the rear end thereof while lying in a common plane with the front and rear
arm portions
respectively. The rear end of the second cross member 58 terminates in
proximity to the
rear side of the brace member. A second rear arm portion 60 is connected
laterally
between the rear ends of the first and second cross members at the rear side
of the brace
member.
A first latching element 62 is fixed on the rear side of the brace member
adjacent the outer end of the second arm portion 60. The first latching
element 62
comprises a vertical plate which is parallel to the forward working direction
in the latched
position. A slot 64 is formed in the plate which extends upwardly from a
bottom edge of
the plate so that the slot opens downwardly and such that a rear edge of the
vertical plate
forming the first latching element defines a hook portion 66.
A second latching element 68 is mounted on the front side of each wing
frame section for latching engagement with the respective one of the first
latching
elements 62. Each second latching element comprises a horizontal pin 70
supported
parallel and spaced forwardly from the front beam 16 of the respective frame
section as
supported by a pair of parallel mounting plates 72. The two mounting plates 72
are
mounted at laterally spaced positions at the front side of the front beam 16
to project
forwardly therefrom at laterally spaced positions. The pin 70 is coupled
between the two
mounting plates.
In the latched position, the pin 70 is received within the Slot 64 of the
first
latching element such that the hook portion 66 of the first latching element
is in turn
received downwardly through the space between the pin 70 and the front side of
the
corresponding front beam 16. The pin fits snugly into the respective slot 64
and the hook
portion fits snugly within the respective space between the pin 70 and the
front side of the
front beam 16 such that the latching connection between the first latching
element and
the second latching element forms a substantially non-rotatable latched
connection
therebetween. The second latching element remains latched upon the first
latching
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element solely by downward pressure applied to the brace member as described
in
further detail below. The slot 64 otherwise remains open at the bottom side
thereof in the
latched position such that subsequent releasing of the brace member from the
latched
position simply requires upward pivoting of the brace member about the
respective brace
axis.
The pivoting of the brace member between latched and released position is
controlled by a respective hydraulic actuator 74. Each hydraulic actuator
comprises a
piston received within a corresponding cylinder so as to be linearly
extendable in a
longitudinal direction from a retracted position to an extended position. In
the illustrated
embodiment, the piston end 76 is pivotally coupled to a corresponding lug 78
extending
upwardly from the front arm portion of the respective brace member in the
latched position
thereof.
The opposing cylinder end 80 of each actuator 74 is operatively connected
to the center frame section at a location spaced inwardly from the end member
at the
lateral side of the center frame section, as well as being spaced laterally
inward from the
brace axis of the respective brace member. When the hydraulic actuator is
fully extended
into the extended position, the brace member is pivoted downwardly and
laterally
outwardly into the latched position. Alternatively, when the actuator 74 is
fully retracted,
the corresponding brace member is pivoted upwardly and laterally inwardly
towards the
released position.
The cylinder end 80 of each actuator is coupled to the respective center
frame section by a respective biasing linkage 82. The linkage 82 is coupled in
series
between the actuator and the center frame section and is arranged to be varied
in length
in the longitudinal direction of the actuator for varying the overall combined
length of the
biasing linkage and actuator together even when the actuator remains locked in
the fully
extended position thereof as described in further detail below.
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Each biasing linkage 82 includes a housing element 84 comprising an
enclosed cylinder having a hollow interior. The housing element is mounted in
fixed
relation to the center frame section with a longitudinal axis of the cylinder
being aligned
with the longitudinal axis of the corresponding hydraulic actuator.
The biasing linkage 82 further includes a sliding element 86 comprising a
tie rod having a shaft portion which is slidably received through an opening
at the outer
end of the housing element 84. An internal end of the sliding element is
enlarged in
diameter o be greater in dimension than the opening through which the shaft
portion is
slidably received such that the internal end of the sliding element defines a
stop 88 which
retains the inner end of the sliding element within the housing element
throughout the
longitudinal displacement of the sliding element relative to the housing
element. The stop
88 also functions substantially as a piston relative to the housing element
84.
In this manner, the sliding element 86 is linearly extendable in length in the
longitudinal direction of the actuator between a first position of shortest
length to a second
position in which a sliding element is displaced outwardly from the housing
element by a
maximum displacement corresponding to a maximum overall length of the biasing
linkage.
The biasing linkage further includes a spring element 90 which is mounted
under compression between the inner end of the sliding element and the
terminal end of
the housing element 84. The spring element thus provides a biasing force which
acts in
the linear sliding direction of the biasing linkage and in the longitudinal
direction of the
associated actuator 74 to bias the biasing linkage from the first position to
the second
position. The biasing linkage is thus biased in the longitudinal direction
towards a position
corresponding to the overall effective length of the combined biasing linkage
and
hydraulic actuator being increased from the first position to the second
position of the
biasing linkage. The direction of biasing thus corresponds to a biasing force
acting in the
latching direction of the brace from the released position towards the latched
position
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thereof. The biasing force of the spring element 90 thus acts in a direction
to maintain
positive pressure on the second latching element to remain engaged with the
first latching
element.
When all of the frame sections are level with one another at a common
horizontal elevation such that the bottoms of all the rollers are coplanar
with one another
and the brace members are both in their latched positions with the respective
hydraulic
actuators in their fully extended conditions, the biasing linkage is arranged
such that the
sliding element 86 is at a centered position relative to the first and second
positions
thereof as shown in Figure 5. More particularly in this instance the biasing
linkage is
arranged such that the spring element is compressed by approximately half of
its overall
compression range.
From this center position any upward or downward deflection of the
respective wing sections relative to the center frame section causes the
biasing linkage
to either undergo further compression or less compression while maintaining
positive
biasing force to retain the second latching element engaged within the first
latching
element throughout the range of motion of the wing section relative to the
center frame
section. Accordingly no additional locking or latching element is required to
retain the
second latching element engaged within the first latching element.
More particularly upward deflection of either wing section relative to the
center frame section causes the overall length of the combined biasing linkage
and
hydraulic actuator to be shortened such that the spring element is further
compressed to
shorten the biasing linkage from the centered position towards the first
position.
Alternatively when one of the wing sections is deflected downwardly relative
to the center
frame section, the overall combined length of the hydraulic actuator in the
fully extended
position with the biasing linkage is increased such that the biasing linkage
is displaced
from the centered position to the second position while the spring element
continues to
apply biasing force in the latching direction.
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To minimize wear between the rear side of the front arm portion of each
brace member and the front side of the front beam of the center frame section
immediately
rearward thereof, an additional wear plate 92 can be provided in association
with each
brace member. More particularly, the wear plate comprises a flat panel of
plastic material
having a low coefficient of friction which is mounted in fixed relation
against the front
facing side of the front beam of the center frame section in proximity to the
outer end
thereof so as to be aligned with the brace member in the latched position
thereof. More
particularly, the wear plate is positioned in a lateral direction between the
brace axis of
the respective brace member and the corresponding one of the laterally
opposing sides
of the center frame section. In the latched position of the brace member, the
drag of the
wing frame sections as the implement is towed in the forward working direction
applies a
rearward force to the brace member which in turn results in the front arm
portion 48 being
pulled rearwardly against the front side of the corresponding front beam of
the center
frame section locating the wear plate thereon. The wear plate is thus engaged
under
compression between the front arm portion of the brace member and the center
frame
section in use. Additional support to the wear plate 92 is provided by a
metallic mounting
strip 94 fixed by welding to the front beam of the frame and extending about a
full
perimeter of the wear plate. The perimeter mounting strip 94 provides
peripheral support
to the wear plate to support against relative up and down movement and lateral
side-to-
side movement due to relative movement of the brace member relative to the
center frame
section in use.
When the wing frame sections are initially in the transport position and the
brace members are in the released position, the user initially pivots the wing
framed
sections into their respective working positions, typically by rearward
displacement of the
implement across the ground. Once the wing sections are in the working
position, the
hydraulic actuators are extended from their retracted position to their fully
extended
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position which results in the second latching elements being pivoted into the
first latching
elements into latching engagement therewith.
Typically, because the spring element of the corresponding biasing linkage
is biased towards the maximum length, the second latching element will
actually engage
within the first latching element before the actuator reaches its fully
extended position.
Continued extension of the actuator into its fully extended position thus
results in partial
compression of the biasing linkage towards the centered position thereof, for
example if
the wing sections are on horizontal level ground relative to the center frame
section. The
hydraulic actuators are then locked to remain in their fully extended
position.
As the implement is used during towing movement in the forward working
direction across the field, any upward and downward displacement of the wing
sections
relative to the center frame section causes the brace members to pivot about
the same
floating axis as the wing sections while the latching elements remain engaged
due to the
positive pressure applied by the biasing linkage 82.
In an alternative embodiment, the hydraulic actuators may be mounted in
an arrangement where retraction of the actuators causes the brace members to
be
pivoted into their latched position. In this instance, the biasing linkage is
arranged so that
the spring element instead provides a biasing force from the second position
of maximum
length towards the first position of minimum length. In either instance, the
biasing linkage
is oriented in a manner which provides biasing force in a direction which
corresponds to
the latching direction of the second latching elements being displaced from
the released
position to a latched position thereof to maintain positive latching pressure
throughout
floating movement of the wing frame section relative to the center frame
section.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the
spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope,
it is intended
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that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as
illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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