Abstract: An agricultural sprayer is provided, having a plurality of wheels. By providing six wheels, a narrow overall wheel width may be maintained to allow for use of the sprayer in post-emergent crop spray applications. By providing six wheels, a greater amount of fluid may be provided on the vehicle without increasing soil compaction. By providing low soil compaction and a high fluid capacity, the applicator may be utilized in both pre-emergent and post-emergent situations, and may be utilized on wet or soft ground, where standard applicators may not be utilized.

Abstract: A ground engaging agricultural toolbar for accommodating uneven terrain. The toolbar is provided with a plurality of long arms with multiple articulations, actuated and controlled by hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic cylinders may be actuated to fold the toolbar for transport and to prevent the toolbar from becoming damaged as it moves across uneven terrain. The toolbar may also be actuated to anticipated variations in the terrain, to further prevent potential damage to the machine.

Abstract: An agricultural implement connection assembly. The assembly has a plurality of hooked tongues secured to a four bar parallel linkage associated with an agricultural implement. The tongues are designed to fit into mating engagement with a similar plurality of grooves defined by a frame coupled to an agricultural vehicle. Hydraulic lines from the agricultural vehicle are coupled to the agricultural implement to lift the agricultural implement into mating engagement with the grooves and then lowered until the hooks engage cleats provided at the tops of the grooves. A locking pin assembly is provided through the groove frames and tongues to secure the tongues within the grooves. The locking mechanism has a spring actuated bias system which maintains the locking pins out of engagement with the tongues for attachment and detachment, and also biases the locking pins into engagement with the tongue during transport, storage and use of the agricultural implement.

Abstract: A wheel support assembly comprising a leg coupled to a wheel and rotatably coupled within a journal, wherein the end of the leg opposite the wheel is provided with a lateral planar surface, and a base plate is provided over the journal with a collar secured to the base plate and having a substantially flat surface is secured around the inner leg with the substantially flat surface provided over the planar surface. The wheel support assembly is also provided with a spring secured to a spring plate and means for rotating the base plate relative to the spring plate.

Abstract: An automatic depth adjusting control system and method for controlling the vertical position of a pair of corn detasseling devices adjustably mounted on a farm implement for removing tassels from two adjacent rows of corn plants. The control system includes a parallel link system for supporting the corn detasseling devices, a hydraulic cylinder connected to the parallel link system for controlling the vertical movement thereof to raise and lower the pair of corn detasseling devices, and a crop sensing unit positioned forwardly of each of the detasseling devices for detecting the height of the corn plants in a corresponding corn row. Each crop sensing unit provides for the transmission of either a raise signal or a lower signal, in response to the height of the corn plants in an associated row, to electrical circuitry and then hydraulic circuitry for actuating the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A crop height sensing assembly for use in a control system that automatically adjusts the depth or vertical elevation of a mechanical corn detasseling device in response to the height of a corn plant having a tassel with adjacent leaf portions. The detasseling device is adjustably carried on a portable frame for movement along a corn plant row, and the control system includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly for raising and lowering the detasseling device, and circuitry for actuating the cylinder assembly. The crop sensing assembly includes a rock shaft extended tranversely of the portable frame, a support for the sensing assembly carried on the frame forwardly of the detasseling device for movement therewith, a plurality of dependent sensor rods axially spaced on the rock shaft and rockable therewith in response to contact with the corn plant leaf portions, and a signal assembly responsive to the rockable movement of the shaft to produce a sensing signal for operating the actuating circuitry.