Abstract: A forwardly-foldable agricultural implement includes a center frame supported by wheels and extending generally transverse to the direction of travel, and a pair of wing sections. Each wing section has an intermediate portion pivotally connected to the center frame by a foldable frame and being supported by a wheel. The foldable frame includes a pair of elongated wing support members having one end connected to the center frame and another end connected to the respective wing section. The foldable frame also includes a pair of hitch arms with one end connected to a two-direction pivot knuckle on a three-point tractor hitch and another end pivotally connected to the respective wing section and its wing support member. This structure provides a method of changing a foldable implement between a wide, field operating configuration and a narrower, road transport configuration without the necessity of a telescopic tongue member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quick hitch guidance system which allows an operator to maintain proper alignment with a farm implement while towing it behind a tractor. The device includes an exterior inverted U-shaped frame with an external quick hitch coupling element. Within the frame there is attached a double rod hydraulic cylinder which operatively moves internal linkage within the frame so that the distance between the device and the tractor is increased on one side and decreased on the other thereby steering the implement into proper alignment. The implement moves independent of the tractor so that as the tractor deviates laterally from alignment with the crop rows, the position of the implement is corrected and aligned with the rows to prevent crop damage.

Abstract: The present invention is bifold field marker. The marker utilizes a marking disc mounted on the distal end of an arm. This arm is coupled to a mounting bracket which, in turn, is connected to an implement's tool bar. The arm is articulated at a central knuckle to allow the marker to fold. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the mounting bracket and the arm to push or pull the arm about a main pin or hinge. When the arm is in an extended horizontal position, the main pin or hinge on the mounting bracket is oriented at an angle both from the direction of travel and from the ground. This allows the hydraulic cylinder to pivot the arm about the main pin's axis and fold both sections of the arm simultaneously to a point where the marker is positioned in a compact orientation along the side of the implement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quick hitch guidance system which allows an operator to maintain proper alignment with a farm implement while towing it behind a tractor. The device includes an exterior inverted U-shaped frame with an external quick hitch coupling element. Within the frame there is attached a double rod hydraulic cylinder which operatively moves internal linkage within the frame so that the distance between the device and the tractor is increased on one side and decreased on the other thereby steering the implement into proper alignment. The implement moves independent of the tractor so that as the tractor deviates laterally from alignment with the crop rows, the position of the implement is corrected and aligned with the rows to prevent crop damage.

Abstract: The present invention is a bifold field marker. The marker utilizes a marking disc mounted on the distal end of an arm. This arm is coupled to a mounting bracket which, in turn, is connected to an implement's tool bar. The arm is articulated at a central knuckle to allow the marker to fold. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the mounting bracket and the arm to push or pull the arm about a main pin or hinge. The main pin or hinge on the mounting bracket is oriented at a 45 degree angle in both the horizontal and vertical planes. This allows the hydraulic cylinder to pivot the arm about the 45 degree axis and fold the arm simultaneously until the marker is positioned in a compact orientation along the side of the implement.

Abstract: A steering probe for controlling the steering of an agricultural vehicle along a path corresponding to a crop row includes a yoke pivotally mounted to the vehicle and having arms extending downwardly on opposite sides of the crop row. The yoke is pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. A sensor is connected to the probe adjacent its pivotal mounting to the vehicle, and senses the rotational position of the yoke. The lower ends of the yoke engage the opposite sides of the crop row, and the yoke pivots from its neutral position about the pivotal axis whenever the vehicle becomes misaligned with the crop row. The sensor senses the rotation of the yoke and causes the vehicle to be steered to compensate for the misalignment with the crop row.

Abstract: A guide rod assembly is mounted on the front end of a tractor with the guide rods closely adjacent the front wheels and the crop rows to transmit steering signals to a steering guidance system. The pair of guide rods pivot from a downwardly extending parallel position upwardly toward a raised closed collapsed transport position. When the guide rods reach a horizontal position, continued upward movement by the lift arms cause the guide rods to pivot inwardly toward each other to a collapsed transport position eliminating interference with the steerable tractor front wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for uprooting and shredding cotton plants after harvest includes a below ground cutting blade having a forward cutting edge inclined rearwardly and to one side of the implement, which blade cooperates with an oppositely inclined above ground trash bar to uproot cotton plants and deposit them on the ground transversely of the direction of travel of the apparatus.

Abstract: A tractor front end hitch comprising a main frame removably secured to the front end of a tractor and having a pair of lower lift arms pivotally secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom for connection to the implement. A pair of upper lift arms are pivotally secured at their rearward ends to the main frame and extend forwardly therefrom above the lower lift arms. A length adjustable float arm assembly is pivotally connected at its upper end to the forward end of each of the upper lift arms and is pivotally connected at its lower end to one of the lower lift arms rearwardly of the forward end thereof. Each of the float arm assemblies has a clevis element at the lower end which is provided with an elongated slot to permit the associated lift arm to vertically move or float relative to the upper lift arm associated therewith. A float stop pin is removably insertable into the slot in the clevis element to limit the float.

Abstract: A 180.degree. folding tool bar for an agricultural implement is described including a main frame having wing sections pivotally mounted on the ends of the main frame which are movable between field and transport positions. A hydraulic cylinder is positioned within the main frame at each end thereof and has one end connected to the main frame. The rod end of each of the hydraulic cylinders is connected to one end of a wheeled carriage with the other end of the wheeled carriage being pivotally connected to the inner end portion of the associated wing section. The inner end of the carriage has a horizontally disposed slot which receives the rod end of the hyraulic cylinder to enable the wing section to float relative to the main frame when in the field position.

Abstract: In a row crop implement having an elongated tool bar, a steerable coulter disc, a row follower mechanism connected to the tool bar, and a device for steering the coulter disc in response to movement of the row follower mechanism, an apparatus for synchronizing the steering disc and row follower mechanism. A first mechanism is provided for moving the row follower mechanism to a neutral position corresponding to a transversely aligned position for the tool bar relative to the crop rows. A second mechanism is provided for disabling and enabling the steering device and a third mechanism is provided for steering the disc, while the steering device is disabled, to a position for straight ahead movement of the implement whereby upon enablement of the steering device, the row follower mechanism and coulter disc are disposed in synchronized relation.

Abstract: A precision steering apparatus, affixed to the tool bar of a row crop cultivator, includes a pair of transversely spaced and pivotally mounted coulter discs and a steering mechanism for pivotally moving the coulter discs in unison. A furrow follower mechanism detects lateral drifting of the cultivator implement relative to a guide furrow formed in the ground parallel to the rows of crops. The furrow follower mechanism is operatively connected to a power assist apparatus actuatable to pivot the guide coulters and thereby steer the implement back to its correct transverse position relative to the guide furrow.

Abstract: Water-holding and retaining cavities are formed in furrows with the cavities being staggered between adjacent rows. An arm spring biased downwardly carries a hub having spikes in planes laterally spaced apart with the spikes around the hub being staggered between the planes. Each spike is concave longitudinally and in transverse cross section and is secured to opposite sides of a disc mounting plate by a pair of clamping elements one of which is integrally connected to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A farm implement tool bar includes a main frame section having a wing section pivotally connected thereto and operated by a hydraulic cylinder located in a passageway in the main frame. The pivotal connection between the hydraulic cylinder and the wing section includes a lost motion connection to allow the wing section to float above and below the horizontal when the wing section is in its extended position. Cooperating lock members on the cylinder and wing section engage when the wing section is pivoted from the extended position to an angular position to limit pivotal movement of the wing section independently of the cylinder.

Abstract: The spaced apart arms of a forklift vehicle are slidably received in sleeves mounted on the lower ends of spaced apart legs carried on a cross member. Upwardly facing hooks are provided on each of the legs and cross member for detachable engagement with hitch pins on a three-point mounted implement. A U-shaped stop having a cross member and perpendicular legs is pivotally connected through the free ends of the legs to the outer ends of the mounting sleeves opposite the hooks and is pivotal from a horizontal position for engagement with the standard of a forklift vehicle to an upstanding inoperative position.

Abstract: A cutting blade is carried on a shaft rotatable about an axis positioned adjacent a row crop. The blade extends across the longitudinal centerline of the row and cuts plants as the machine moves forward until a sensing means registering on forwardly positioned plants actuates the knife and causes it to rotate rearwardly along the row and away from the next plant in the row to be retained. The rotation continues until a knife portion is now positioned on the front side of the plant to be retained and a portion of the knife extends rearwardly along the side opposite the axis of rotation of the blade. The machine continuing to move forward will again clear plants from the row until the sensing means actuates the blade to rotate again thereby causing predetermined plants to be retained while plants inbetween are thinned out.

Abstract: A farm implement tool bar includes a hollow main frame and oppositely extending wing sections pivotal between horizontal and vertical positions. A hydraulic cylinder is connected to a mounting assembly including upper and lower mounting plates interconnected at their inner ends by a vertical post. The mounting plates are secured to the top and bottom walls of the main frame and the inner end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the vertical post. The outer end of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected to an ear on the wing section. The lower adjacent edges of the main frame and wing section include sleeves adapted to register with each other for receiving a bolt to lock the wing section in its lowered position. A transport brace may be provided with its opposite ends movably secured to the main frame and wing section across the hinge. The transport brace includes telescopic sections which allow the wing section to be moved between the raised and lowered positions.