Abstract: An agricultural planter includes a frame and left and right wings pivotally attached to respective ends of the frame, all of which have a plurality of spaced row units. Each wing includes a forward bar pivotally coupled to the frame for forward folding for transport and an aft bar having row units attached thereto. Each aft bar is aligned parallel with and is pivotally coupled to its associated forward bar by at least one pair of first and second non-parallel coupling arms. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to the forward bar and to one of the pivoting arms raises the associated aft bar with row units above the soil to a first elevated position to facilitate turning the planter. Further extension of the hydraulic cylinder causes additional elevation, and substantial rotation of the aft bar and row unit combination to provide a low and narrow planter profile for transport and storage.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides systems and methods for adjusting tension in a harrowing chain. The system includes a tension adjustment assembly, and the tension adjustment assembly includes a slider assembly. A first end of the slider assembly is coupled to a first end of the harrowing chain, and the slider assembly is configured to slide horizontally. The tension adjustment assembly also includes a compression plate that is configured to apply a compression force to a first spring, which is configured to apply a spring force to the slider assembly. A height adjustment assembly is also coupled to the slider assembly. The height adjustment assembly is configured to vertically adjust the first end of the harrowing chain.

Abstract: The transversely extending frame of a machine has a number of hingedly interconnected frame sections that may be raised and lowered by lift cylinders to convert the machine between a wide-spread working position and a folded-up transport position. Two lift cylinders for raising and lowering inner wing frame sections relative to the central main frame section are anchored at their inner ends to a hydraulically operated holding cylinder that effectively adjusts the positions of the anchor points of the lift cylinder in a lateral sense. Thus, when the holding cylinder is fully contracted, the inner wing frame sections may be lowered by their lift cylinders until the lift cylinders are fully extended, but the outer ends of the inner wing frame sections remain tilted upwardly to a certain extent. Thus, outer wing frame sections connected to the outer ends of the inner wing frame sections also remain slightly lifted off the ground until fully unfolded from the inner wing frame sections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for covering landfill includes a deployer suspended below the bucket of a loader. A roll of film is disposed on the deployer and uncoiled to deploy a film covering on the landfill surface as the loader driven across the surface. Periodically, the bucket, containing a ballast material, is manipulated, allowing ballast material to be disposed on the film to hold the deployed film in place. In a preferred embodiment, the deployer includes a mandrel mounted between two flanges for supporting a roll of film. The deployer is preferably attached to the bucket by chains or wire rope in such a manner so as to allow full operation of bucket while the deployer is attached. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sprayer to apply a fluid.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, having ground engaging tools mounted on subframes that are movable through hydraulic actuators between raised transport and lowered working positions, is provided with a hydraulic circuit in which the actuators are connected in parallel with one another within a grouping of the actuators. The positioning of the ground engaging tools into a lowered working position closes the hydraulic circuit for the group of actuators. The subframes are arranged to float over ground undulations to maintain a common working depth for the ground engaging tools. The vertical movement of any one of the actuators in the common group will force a displacement of a corresponding amount of hydraulic fluid, which will then be shared by all of the remaining actuators in the corresponding group. A depth averaging control for the ground engaging tools and a mechanical headland stop apparatus are also provided for the agricultural implement.

Abstract: A stack folding implement has a transverse frame that includes a center section and two opposite wing sections half as wide as the center section. Each of the wing sections is connected in a four bar linkage relationship with the center section so that as the wings are lifted by cylinders coupled with the linkages, the wing sections stay generally level and upright, causing the wing sections to come into stacked relationship with the center section directly above the latter and beside one another. In order to reduce the overall height of the stack-folded machine the linkage for each wing section is connected to the wing adjacent the inner end of the wing so that the wing is supported in a cantilever manner. The main lifting link of the linkage is designed to swing through an arc greater than 90.degree. to permit the wing sections to settle down close to the center section in their final positions of rest.

Abstract: A folding frame assembly is provided for supporting soil-cultivating equipment. The folding frame supports the soil-cultivators in a working position in which each cultivator is in contact with the field surface and a transport position in which each cultivator is not touching the field surface and the main wheels support most of the weight of the folding frame. The main wheels are retractable and can be moved from the transport position to an intermediate position for working the field surface. The folding frame assembly includes a support frame, a main frame, and two wing frames. The wing frames are pivotally connected to the main frame and the main frame is pivotally connected to the support frame. Hydraulic cylinders can be used to fold the wing frames and the main frames to their respective positions to that the folding frame assembly is in the transport position or unfold the main and wing frames so that the folding frame assembly is in the working position.

Abstract: An agricultural implement such as a planter has wing sections which, when folded for transport, are stacked side-by-side above a center section. Improvements include structure which reduces bending moments about the pivot connections between a guide link forming part of a four-bar linkage which stacks the wings, and the wing frame. A drive train for the row unit meters is also placed in the transport position without disconnecting the drive shafts.

Abstract: An improved frame for a drawn agricultural implement, such as a planter, includes a telescoping main frame. The main wheel set is mounted to a sliding carriage to support the central main frame, and may be moved between a forward and a rear position. As the main frame extends, the wing sections fold forwardly. When the wing sections in the illustrated embodiment are completely folded, hydraulic cylinders slide the main wheel set forwardly so that the down load on the hitch is reduced for road transport. Conversely, during the unfold cycle, the hydraulic cylinders return the wheel set to the rear position, and the wings are then extended (i.e., unfolded) for field use.

Abstract: A floating wing apparatus for toolbars which allows each wing to ride smoothly over terraced or rolling terrain, thereby providing a continuous, even contact between the implements carried thereon and the ground. Upper and lower pivot arms extend from the central section of the toolbar to the inner end of each wing section to form a parallelogram linkage which maintains the wing sections in a substantially horizontal orientation at all times, whether in the raised or lowered position. The upper pivot arm is pivotally connected to a pivot post, which is in turn pivotally connected to the central section. When working the land, this pivot post allows the wing sections and their attached implements to float or ride over uneven, rolling terrain. When the implements must be raised above the ground as during turning at the end of a field or when the wings are raised to the retracted position, the pivot posts are locked to a vertical position by means of hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, such as a row crop planter, has a main carrier frame drawn by a tractor and including support wheels. Individual row units are mounted on a lift frame. The carrier frame includes a cornered lift post which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. A cornered sleeve or collar in the form of a tube is mounted to the lift frame for vertical sliding motion on the lift post. A lift hydraulic cylinder couples the lift frame to the carrier frame for setting the lift frame in (i) a use position wherein the row units are lowered to engage the soil; (ii) an intermediate, raised position wherein the row units are disengaged, for negotiating end turns; or (iii) a fully raised position wherein the lift frame and row units may be rotated from a transverse position to a longitudinal position, to narrow the implement for road travel.

Abstract: A tractor having a frame supported by ground-engaging drive wheels, a tool bar carried by the tractor and on which various implements may be mounted, the tool bar being universally mounted on the frame whereby the implement may be raised above or lowered to the ground, and can follow the contour of the ground, a power unit also mounted on the tool bar so as to have a direct driving connection to the implement not affected by the universal "floating" movement of the implement and tool bar, and a driving connection between the power unit and the drive wheels, of a type not affected by the relative movability of the tool bar and tractor frame, in order that both the implement and the tractor may be driven by a single power unit. Mechanism is also provided for pivoting the tool bar to elevate the implement above the ground when desired, for supporting the tool bar while implements are changed, and for holding the implement firmly against the ground when required.

Abstract: A folding tool carrier to be attached to a tractor and to carry an array of cultivating tools or implements. The carrier includes three bars forming a central section and a wing section at each side of the central section. Each wing section is connected to the central section by inner and outer swing arms to function as a parallelogram when the wings are lifted and retracted above the central section. The central section, the wings and the arms, are placed in a common vertical transverse plane to provide for a compact unit which may be carried immediately behind a tractor.To accomplish this, the inner arms are above and the outer arms are below the central and wing sections when the wing sections are extended. A comparatively short crown bar is mounted upon and above the central section and an inner swing arm is pivotally attached to each end of this crown bar to pivotally connect with the inner end of the adjacent wing section.

Abstract: The invention provides a folding wing disc harrow wherein a hydraulic operating mechanism is provided for folding and unfolding the wings through an arc of more than 180.degree. through the positive bidirectional linear movement of the plunger of a double acting hydraulic cylinder cooperating with the wing to which it is connected, for said folding and unfolding operations, and which mechanism allows a limited angular free floating motion of the wing above and below the horizontal "unfolded" or "working" position when the hydraulic control valve is set accordingly. The connection of the hydraulic piston rod with the wing is so organized that the straight line motion of the piston rod is enabled to fold and unfold the wing through an arc well in excess of 180.degree. and is organized to allow a limited free floating action of the wing for following the soil surface variations.The ability of the present invention to swing the wing through 180.degree.