Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position.

Abstract: A marker assembly for use with an agricultural implement includes a marker wheel that may caster as needed to reduce loading of the marker assembly during deployment of the marker assembly, in response to variations in surface contour, and in response to changes in travel direction of the agricultural implement.

Abstract: A marker assembly includes a first linkage section interconnected to a second linkage section by a pivoting joint. The pivoting joint also includes a spring linkage that limits momentum in the second linkage section before a marking disc carried by the second linkage section engages the ground. The spring linkage may be comprised of a spring that is retained by a pair of washers within a housing or canister. A linkage rod passes through the canister and has a set of nuts that are sized to catch the washers. Thus, if the spring linkage is compressed or extended, the catch nuts press up against the washers thereby compressing the spring. By compressing the spring, a force is applied in the opposite direction as the momentum in the marker assembly, which reduces the collective momentum in the marker assembly during deployment.

Abstract: A marker assembly has a scalable frame that allows a user to set the width of the frame to provide flexibility in defining the width at which a marking furrow is made. The scalable frame includes multiple linkages interconnected to one another in a manner that allows the frame to be folded into a relatively compact configuration for storage and/or transport. An outer linkage has a telescoping member that allows a user to vary the spacing of a marking disc to vary the width at which a marking furrow is made in the ground.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position.

Abstract: A disc gang for use with an agricultural implement includes a pair of front and a pair of rear disc openers mounted to a carrier boom by a mounting arm that can be independently raised and lowered as desired. The front and rear disc openers are mounted such that the openers can oscillate in response to surface undulations independently of one another. Moreover, the disc openers of each pair are free to oscillate in response to surface contours independently of one another.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided with folding wing assemblies coupled to a central boom that provides a simplified arrangement for transporting the implement. The implement may include wing frames and row units that may be raised to allow the wing assemblies to fold rearwardly, into a compact, transport position. While being raised, prior to being folded rearwardly, the wing assemblies may be supported by the central boom, which is rigidly coupled to a central frame. The central boom is pivotally coupled to a hitch assembly.

Abstract: A particulate metering system includes a set of blocking members that can be independently controlled to block or allow the flow of particulate material to a roller assembly that collects the particulate material and releases the material to a series of distribution channels.

Abstract: A tillage apparatus including a frame having tillers, land wheels supporting the frame, and press wheels on the frame is disclosed. In one form, the frame has a forward section and a rearward section supporting the press wheels. The rearward section can pivot radially with respect to the direction of movement of the forward section. In another form, the frame includes a linkage assembly connected to the rearward section. An inner wheel support gang having press wheels is attached to a pivoting mounting bracket of the linkage assembly such that the inner wheel support gang can pivot vertically. In another form, the apparatus includes a weight transfer device including a linkage connecting a boom and the forward section. A biasing means pivotally connected to the forward section and to the linkage distributes weight from the boom to the forward section to the rearward section and to the press wheels.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for use with a farm implement is configured to move an implement frame between a first height corresponding to a planting position, a second height corresponding to a field transport position, a third height corresponding to a lock up position and a fourth height corresponding to a road transport position. At least one hydraulic cylinder is mounted to a rock shaft connected to the implement frame to move the implement frame between the first height, the second, the third height and the fourth height. At least one depth stop valve is in communication with the hydraulic cylinder. The depth stop valve includes a bypass configured to allow controlled movement of the hydraulic cylinder between the second position and the third positions.

Abstract: A steering connection assembly that interconnects an implement train comprising first and second detachable implements towed by a draw bar of a tow vehicle is provided. The first implement is pivotally attached at the draw bar so as to rotate about a first vertical axis, and the second implement is pivotally attached to the first implement. The steering connection assembly includes a drive linkage pivotally connected at a draw bar so as to rotate about a second vertical axis. A steering linkage interconnects a rearward end of the drive linkage to a wheel assembly in support of the frame of the second towed implement. In response to a turn of the tow vehicle, a hitch coupling member generates a turn signal communicated via the drive linkage so as to cause the steering linkage to steer the wheel assembly of the second implement in a direction opposite a turn direction of the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A steering connection assembly is provided that interconnects a towed implement with a tow vehicle. The steering connection assembly includes a tongue member having a forward end pivotally connected at the tow vehicle so as to rotate about a first vertical axis, and a rearward end fixed relative to the frame of the agricultural implement. A drive linkage has a forward end pivotally connected at the tow vehicle so as to rotate about a second vertical axis. A steering linkage interconnects the rearward end of the drive linkage to a series of caster wheel assemblies in support of the frame of the implement. In response to a turn of the tow vehicle, the drive linkage communicates a turn signal via rotation about the second vertical axis so as to cause the steering linkage to steer the caster wheel assembly in the turn direction of the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for use with a farm implement is configured to move an implement frame between a first height corresponding to a planting position, a second height corresponding to a field transport position, a third height corresponding to a lock up position and a fourth height corresponding to a road transport position. At least one hydraulic cylinder is mounted to a rock shaft connected to the implement frame to move the implement frame between the first height, the second, the third height and the fourth height. At least one depth stop valve is in communication with the hydraulic cylinder. The depth stop valve includes a bypass configured to allow controlled movement of the hydraulic cylinder between the second position and the third positions.

Abstract: A steering connection assembly that interconnects an implement train comprising first and second detachable implements towed by a draw bar of a tow vehicle is provided. The first implement is pivotally attached at the draw bar so as to rotate about a first vertical axis, and the second implement is pivotally attached to the first implement. The steering connection assembly includes a drive linkage pivotally connected at a draw bar so as to rotate about a second vertical axis. A steering linkage interconnects a rearward end of the drive linkage to a wheel assembly in support of the frame of the second towed implement. In response to a turn of the tow vehicle, a hitch coupling member generates a turn signal communicated via the drive linkage so as to cause the steering linkage to steer the wheel assembly of the second implement in a direction opposite a turn direction of the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A steering connection assembly is provided that interconnects a towed implement with a tow vehicle. The steering connection assembly includes a tongue member having a forward end pivotally connected at the tow vehicle so as to rotate about a first vertical axis, and a rearward end fixed relative to the frame of the agricultural implement. A drive linkage has a forward end pivotally connected at the tow vehicle so as to rotate about a second vertical axis. A steering linkage interconnects the rearward end of the drive linkage to a series of caster wheel assemblies in support of the frame of the implement. In response to a turn of the tow vehicle, the drive linkage communicates a turn signal via rotation about the second vertical axis so as to cause the steering linkage to steer the caster wheel assembly in the turn direction of the tow vehicle.

Abstract: An agricultural marker assembly is disclosed for use with a marker arm that extends from an agricultural vehicle wherein the vehicle moves along a primary travel direction during operation. The assembly includes an extension assembly including at least first and second members, each of the first and second members having first and second ends, the first member supported by the arm and extending generally in the direction opposite the primary travel direction, the second member supported by a first portion of the first member and extending at least in part away from the first portion of the first member along a trajectory lateral to the primary travel direction when the vehicle is moving in the primary travel direction. The assembly also includes a marker supported by the second member and separated from the first portion of the first member.

Abstract: A tillage apparatus including a frame having tillers, land wheels supporting the frame, and press wheels on the frame is disclosed. In one form, the frame has a forward section and a rearward section supporting the press wheels. The rearward section can pivot radially with respect to the direction of movement of the forward section. In another form, the frame includes a linkage assembly connected to the rearward section. An inner wheel support gang having press wheels is attached to a pivoting mounting bracket of the linkage assembly such that the inner wheel support gang can pivot vertically. In another form, the apparatus includes a weight transfer device including a linkage connecting a boom and the forward section. A biasing means pivotally connected to the forward section and to the linkage distributes weight from the boom to the forward section to the rearward section and to the press wheels.

Abstract: A frame for a tillage implement includes a pair of opposing frame sections pivotally connected to a central kingpost for a folding movement between a transversely extending working position and a longitudinally extending transport position. The frame sections have mounted thereto a number of tool sub-frames carrying ground engaging working tools. The tool sub-frames are pivotally movable relative to a rockshaft carried by the frame sections so as to be rotatable between a lowered operative position and a generally vertical raised non-working position. Depth control for the ground engaging tools is accomplished through the rotation of the rockshaft about its pivot lug. The frame sections are connected at the inner end to the kingpost so that the main frame members abut when placed in the working position. Each frame member is supported by a pair of wheel assemblies at the inner and distal ends respectively.