Abstract: An implement has right and left pivotally attached tool bar frames movable from an operating position extending laterally to a transport position extending forward from the connecting pivot axis. Right and left hitch arms are pivotally attached about vertical axes at rear ends to spaced apart locations the right and left tool bar frames and extend forward and inward when the tool bar frame is in the operating position. A hitch frame is pivotally attached at right and left rear portions thereof to front ends of the hitch arms about vertical axes. When the tool bar frame is in the transport position, the rear end of the hitch frame is forward of the right and left tool bar frames, and the front end of the hitch frame, attachable to a tractor, is a desired clearance distance forward of the right and left tool bar frames.

Abstract: A tool carrier has a carrier frame and ground tools, and a front end of the carrier frame is connected to a wheel supported tool bar frame. A crank arm is pivotally attached to the tool bar frame about a crank axis oriented horizontally and perpendicular to an operating direction. A front end of the carrier frame is pivotally attached to the crank arm about a carrier axis parallel to the crank axis, and a hydraulic cylinder attached between the crank arm and the tool bar moves the tool carrier from an upward transport orientation to a rearward extending horizontal operating orientation, and maintains the tool carrier horizontal while moving it from a headland position above the ground to a working position where the tools penetrate the ground. When the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, the hydraulic cylinder exerts a downward bias force on the tool carrier.

Abstract: An implement has right and left pivotally attached tool bar frames movable from an operating position extending laterally to a transport position extending forward from the connecting pivot axis. Right and left hitch arms are pivotally attached about vertical axes at rear ends to spaced apart locations the right and left tool bar frames and extend forward and inward when the tool bar frame is in the operating position. A hitch frame is pivotally attached at right and left rear portions thereof to front ends of the hitch arms about vertical axes. When the tool bar frame is in the transport position, the rear end of the hitch frame is forward of the right and left tool bar frames, and the front end of the hitch frame, attachable to a tractor, is a desired clearance distance forward of the right and left tool bar frames.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of tanks supported on the frame and housing particulate, an unloading system, a lifting mechanism, and a positioning system. The unloading system includes a plurality of individual carriers, each of which corresponds to one or more of the tanks. Each of the carriers defines a discharge opening for dispensing particulate unloaded from one or more of the tanks. The carriers are mounted to the frame such that the carriers are supported independently of the tanks. The lifting mechanism includes a shiftable positioning rail that at least partially supports each of the carriers, with generally vertical shifting of the positioning rail simultaneously raising or lowering each of the discharge openings. The positioning system includes a plurality of positioning devices, with shifting of each of the positioning devices resulting in fore-and-aft shifting of the corresponding one or more of the discharge openings.

Abstract: An air seeder includes a header including an inlet connected to a first hose through which a mixture of air and particulate matter enters the header. The header also includes a plurality of exit ports through which the mixture of air and particulate matter exit the header. Additionally, the air seeder includes a valve associated with each one of the plurality of exit ports. The valve opens and closes to regulate the flow of the mixture of air and particulate matter out of an associated exit port while also regulating a flow of purging air through the associated exit port.

Abstract: An implement has right and left pivotally attached tool bar frames movable from an operating position extending laterally to a transport position extending forward from the connecting pivot axis. Right and left hitch arms are pivotally attached about vertical axes at rear ends to spaced apart locations the right and left tool bar frames and extend forward and inward when the tool bar frame is in the operating position. A hitch frame is pivotally attached at right and left rear portions thereof to front ends of the hitch arms about vertical axes. When the tool bar frame is in the transport position, the rear end of the hitch frame is forward of the right and left tool bar frames, and the front end of the hitch frame, attachable to a tractor, is a desired clearance distance forward of the right and left tool bar frames.

Abstract: A tool carrier has a carrier frame and ground tools, and a front end of the carrier frame is connected to a wheel supported tool bar frame. A crank arm is pivotally attached to the tool bar frame about a crank axis oriented horizontally and perpendicular to an operating direction. A front end of the carrier frame is pivotally attached to the crank arm about a carrier axis parallel to the crank axis, and a hydraulic cylinder attached between the crank arm and the tool bar moves the tool carrier from an upward transport orientation to a rearward extending horizontal operating orientation, and maintains the tool carrier horizontal while moving it from a headland position above the ground to a working position where the tools penetrate the ground. When the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, the hydraulic cylinder exerts a downward bias force on the tool carrier.

Abstract: A flexible cultivator implement frame includes a center section and two wing sections. The center section has a main portion and two side portions supported at opposing sides of the main portion for pivotal movement relative to the main portion about respective flexing axes. The flexing axes of the center section are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally outwardly relative to the forward working direction. Each wing section has an inner portion and an outer portion pivotally coupled to the inner portion about a respective flexing axis. The flexing axes of the wing sections are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally inwardly relative to the forward working direction so as to be oriented transversely to the flexing axes of the center section of the frame such that the flexible frame follows ground contours while minimizing undesirable stresses in and twisting of various pivots and frame members.

Abstract: A flexible cultivator implement frame includes a center section and two wing sections. The center section has a main portion and two side portions supported at opposing sides of the main portion for pivotal movement relative to the main portion about respective flexing axes. The flexing axes of the center section are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally outwardly relative to the forward working direction. Each wing section has an inner portion and an outer portion pivotally coupled to the inner portion about a respective flexing axis. The flexing axes of the wing sections are sloped to extend forwardly and laterally inwardly relative to the forward working direction so as to be oriented transversely to the flexing axes of the center section of the frame such that the flexible frame follows ground contours while minimizing undesirable stresses in and twisting of various pivots and frame members.

Abstract: Each wing of a rear folding implement has a wing frame supported on rear wheels for movement along the ground, and a forewing frame and wheel pivotally attached to the wing frame. A center ball joint pivotally connects right and left inner wings and a center wheel assembly supports the center ball joint. The wings extend laterally and the forewing frames are in a lowered position supported on their wheels when in the operating position. To move the wings into a transport position, the implement is towed forward and the wings pivot about the center ball joint to trail rearward and the forewing frames are moved upward to narrow the implement for transport. An air seeder cart hitch is rearward of and near the center ball joint in the operating position, and when the wings trail rearward the cart hitch is near rear ends of the trailing wings.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of tanks supported on the frame and housing particulate, an unloading system, a lifting mechanism, and a positioning system. The unloading system includes a plurality of individual carriers, each of which corresponds to one or more of the tanks. Each of the carriers defines a discharge opening for dispensing particulate unloaded from one or more of the tanks. The carriers are mounted to the frame such that the carriers are supported independently of the tanks. The lifting mechanism includes a shiftable positioning rail that at least partially supports each of the carriers, with generally vertical shifting of the positioning rail simultaneously raising or lowering each of the discharge openings. The positioning system includes a plurality of positioning devices, with shifting of each of the positioning devices resulting in fore-and-aft shifting of the corresponding one or more of the discharge openings.

Abstract: An air seeder includes a header including an inlet connected to a first hose through which a mixture of air and particulate matter enters the header. The header also includes a plurality of exit ports through which the mixture of air and particulate matter exit the header. Additionally, the air seeder includes a valve associated with each one of the plurality of exit ports. The valve opens and closes to regulate the flow of the mixture of air and particulate matter out of an associated exit port while also regulating a flow of purging air through the associated exit port.

Abstract: A method and system enables sectional control for an air seeding system of a farm implement by exposing a main header, or selected ports of the main header, to a purging air flow when product flow through the selected ports is stopped. A plenum of air is fluidly coupled to the main header and provides a purging air flow to any exit port of the main header that has been shut off from product flow. Valves are used to selectively flow couple the exit ports of the main header to the product flow and to the purging air flow.

Abstract: Each wing of a rear folding implement has a wing frame supported on rear wheels for movement along the ground, and a forewing frame and wheel pivotally attached to the wing frame. A center ball joint pivotally connects right and left inner wings and a center wheel assembly supports the center ball joint. The wings extend laterally and the forewing frames are in a lowered position supported on their wheels when in the operating position. To move the wings into a transport position, the implement is towed forward and the wings pivot about the center ball joint to trail rearward and the forewing frames are moved upward to narrow the implement for transport. An air seeder cart hitch is rearward of and near the center ball joint in the operating position, and when the wings trail rearward the cart hitch is near rear ends of the trailing wings.

Abstract: Each wing of a rear folding implement has a wing frame supported on rear wheels for movement along the ground, and a forewing frame and wheel pivotally attached to the wing frame. A center ball joint pivotally connects right and left inner wings and a center wheel assembly supports the center ball joint. The wings extend laterally and the forewing frames are in a lowered position supported on their wheels when in the operating position. To move the wings into a transport position, the implement is towed forward and the wings pivot about the center ball joint to trail rearward and the forewing frames are moved upward to narrow the implement for transport. An air seeder cart hitch is rearward of and near the center ball joint in the operating position, and when the wings trail rearward the cart hitch is near rear ends of the trailing wings.

Abstract: A method and system enables sectional control for an air seeding system of a farm implement by exposing a main header, or selected ports of the main header, to a purging air flow when product flow through the selected ports is stopped. A plenum of air is fluidly coupled to the main header and provides a purging air flow to any exit port of the main header that has been shut off from product flow. Valves are used to selectively flow couple the exit ports of the main header to the product flow and to the purging air flow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hopper for a seed metering system that has a series of individualized and independently controlled metering units. The hopper has a plurality of discharge openings that can be selectively opened and closed to expose an opening to a respective one of the plurality of metering units. Each seed metering unit is selectively driven by a common drive member, such as a drive shaft. When a seed metering unit is engaged with the drive member, the unit will meter granular material. On the other hand, when the seed metering unit is not engaged with the drive member, the metering unit will not meter granular material. Hence, the present invention provides a seed metering apparatus that provides effective sectional control.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hopper for a seed metering system that has a series of individualized and independently controlled metering units. The hopper has a plurality of discharge openings that can be selectively opened and closed to expose an opening to a respective one of the plurality of metering units. Each seed metering unit is selectively driven by a common drive member, such as a drive shaft. When a seed metering unit is engaged with the drive member, the unit will meter granular material. On the other hand, when the seed metering unit is not engaged with the drive member, the metering unit will not meter granular material. Hence, the present invention provides a seed metering apparatus that provides effective sectional control.

Abstract: A seed metering assembly for a farm implement has a meter roller that can be accessed and removed in a relatively quick manner. The seed metering assembly includes a fluted meter roller that is segmented into a number of discrete fluted sections. Each fluted section has an associated flow control member that is selectively operable to impede the flow of granular material from a seed hopper to its corresponding section of the fluted meter roller.

Abstract: A seed metering assembly for a farm implement has a meter roller that can be accessed and removed in a relatively quick manner. The seed metering assembly includes a fluted meter roller that is segmented into a number of discrete fluted sections. Each fluted section has an associated flow control member that is selectively operable to impede the flow of granular material from a seed hopper to its corresponding section of the fluted meter roller.