Abstract: A stowage latch assembly for an auger includes a hopper for holding granular material and an auger barrel which is swingably movable in an auger-stowing path from a hopper-unloading position, where the auger barrel extends outwardly from the hopper, to an auger-stowage position, where the auger is positioned adjacent a sidewall of the hopper. An auger-latching support assembly is provided, which includes a gate member openable for receiving the auger barrel when the barrel is moved from the hopper-unloading position to the auger-stowage position. The gate member is locked in a closed position when the auger is in the stowage position.

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: A gravity box grain cart has an auger assembly for conveying granular material. The auger assembly includes an auger with an axis and a helical flight along the axis, with the auger having a feed end, a discharge end and a central auger section therebetween. A cylindrical auger tube surrounds at least the central auger section, and the feed end of the auger extends outwardly from the tube. A sump for granular material is connected to the auger tube and surrounds the feed end of the auger. The auger, auger tube and sump are pivotable about approximately the feed end of the auger in approximately a first plane. The auger, auger tube and sump are further pivotable about approximately the feed end of the auger in a second plane approximately perpendicular to the first plane. The sump has a diameter through the axis of the auger which is about perpendicular to the second plane, and which is at least about 40-100% larger than the diameter of the auger tube.

Abstract: A transport wagon includes convertible support brackets for alternatively carrying different pieces of farm equipment, such as a grain platform or a corn header. Each convertible support bracket has a first support member pivotally connected to a second support member. The first support member has a support surface and can move between a first position for supporting part of an article to be carried and a second position for allowing the second support member, which has a support surface, to support part of a different article to be carried. The brackets can be slidably mounted on the frame of the transport cart. The brackets can be moved to one position for transporting a first article such as a grain platform. The brackets also can be moved to a second position for transporting a second article such as a corn header.

Abstract: A soil manipulation device is provided for closing a groove in soil formed by a soil tiller shank. The device includes a frame connected to a rear portion of the tiller shank and a pair of rotatable coulter blades mounted on the frame for engaging soil behind the tiller shank. The coulter blades are positioned on opposite sides of the groove so as to close the groove in the soil behind the tiller shank. The coulter blades are selectively movable and positionable in directions toward and away from each other so as to vary the distance between the coulter blades. The coulter blades also are selectively movable and positionable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the frame, so as to permit variation in depth of coulter blade penetration into the soil.

Abstract: A coulter fertilizer applicator for use with a frame adapted to be moved over soil to be tilled and fertilized includes a linkage arm connected to the frame, and a coulter wheel secured to the linkage arm to form a seedbed in the soil. Included is a fertilizer tine formed of a single spring element having a forward end secured to the linkage arm. The single spring element further includes a free end opposite the forward end which is in the plane of rotation of the coulter wheel and adjacent the top surface of the soil. A fertilizer dispenser is attached to the single spring element adjacent the free end for applying fertilizer within the seedbed.

Abstract: A conservation tillage tool, including a main frame and a rear frame pivotally mounted on the main frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The main frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the main frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the main frame to move the latter between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A tongue and hitch unit connect the main frame to a prime mover, and a leveling mechanism operably interconnects the main frame, ground wheels and tongue for maintaining the main frame level at any of its positions. A spring-cushioned linkage operably interconnects one of the implements at the front of the main frame with one of the implements mounted on the rear frame for simultaneously raising and lowering those two implements between transport and working positions.

Abstract: A lift auger and hopper extension assembly for use with a no-till or like seeder drill having an elongated seed hopper mounted laterally across the seeder drill. The assembly comprises a lift auger unit mounted on the seeder drill for movement about horizontal and vertical axes and movable on a slide mechanism from a storage position parallel alongside the seed hopper to a fill position with a fill hopper adjacent the ground and a spout unit poised above the center of the seed hopper, and the associated hopper extension mounted on top of the seed hopper for receiving and distributing an even flow of grain from the spout unit toward both ends of the seed hopper.

Abstract: A coulter blade assembly for use with a farm implement, which assembly comprises a first coulter unit, a second coulter unit, and a third coulter unit, all units mounted to the implement in a triangular arrangement in plan; with the first coulter unit being a lead unit, the second coulter unit trailing and to one side of the lead unit, and the third coulter unit trailing and placed to an opposite side of the second coulter unit for forming with said other coulter units a seedbed, and a substance applicator mounted on the third coulter unit for applying the substance onto the seedbed, and optionally a second substance applicator mounted on the second coulter unit for applying another substance onto the seedbed separated laterally from the other substances. The invention includes further a process of preparing a seedbed by moving and rotating implements such as coulter blades into the ground in a particular triangular relationship in conjunction with one or more substance applications concurrently therewith.

Abstract: A pair of coulter units arranged in a staggered relationship, each coulter unit having an upstanding shank of a height to place the shanks below a tool bar, a single, relatively flat plate disposed on a diagonal to support both shanks, and a single upstanding support member secured to the plate for mounting on the tool bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combine header transport having a wheeled chassis with front and rear axle units, at least one longitudinally extended rail interconnecting the axle units, and a second rail spaced transversely from the first rail to support the combine header during transport, the improvement comprising interconnecting at least one end of the first rail to one of the axles in a manner to allow the one axle to oscillate relative to the first rail thereby allowing the wheels to be more evenly loaded when the unit is traversing uneven roads.

Abstract: A seedbed preparation apparatus attachable to existing seed planting devices comprising a coulter cart. The apparatus is designed to lessen the number of passes required to prepare and plant a field. Fertilizer delivery is provided to the soil raised by the coulter wheels. The fertilizer injector nozzles are secured to flexible mounting devices to permit the nozzle to move in accordance with the terrain preventing clogging or stoppage of the nozzles.

Abstract: A suspension system for a cart having a pair of longitudinally aligned, oscillating wheel support units pivotally mounted fore and aft within a frame assembly on each side of the cart, a pair of longitudinally aligned wheels mounted on each support unit, the frame assemblies pivotally mounted in transverse alignment centrally of the cart for movement with the wheel support units in a vertical plane, all three pivotal mountings on each side of the part having horizontal axes disposed transversely of the cart, with the load of the cart distributed on each side to a quartet of wheels and with each pair of wheel support units oscillatable independently of each other and independent of the pivotal movement of their respective frame assembly.

Abstract: A conservation tillage tool including a frame disposed to support a number of soil working implements in sequence. The frame is supported by ground wheels attached to the rear section of the frame. The wheels are movable with respect to the rear section of the frame to move the frame between a raised transport position and a number of lowered working positions. A hitch attached to a tractor supports the front section of the frame, and a pivotally attached tongue interconnects the front section and the hitch. A leveling mechanism interconnects the rear section, the front section and the pivotally attached tongue. The leveling mechanism is a four-bar linkage that applies a force at the pivotal connection of the tongue to the front section as the wheels move to raise or lower the rear section thereby maintaining the frame substantially level with respect to the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping round hay bales includes a load supporting frame having means for mounting to a three-point hitch and a generally horizontally extending dispenser arm. An elongated spindle is rotatably mounted on the frame for engagement with a round hay bale along its longitudinal axis. A spinner plate is also rotatably mounted on the frame coaxially with the spindle and includes prongs for engaging an end of the hay bale. A hydraulic motor is provided for rotating the spinner plate which in turn rotates the hay bale on the spindle. The motor also moves a sheet material dispenser assembly along the dispenser arm at a predetermined rate to helically wrap the material on the exterior of the bale.

Abstract: A portable, self-unloading cart (12) for handling granular material is disclosed, which cart (12) has a fixed, single auger tube (63) with a recessed end (68) connected to a hopper (22) for drawing material from below the hopper sump (23), and with a modified frame (24) providing for the remainder of the auger tube (63) extending both forwardly and sidewardly of the hopper (22) in an angular relation with the hopper (22), and with the auger tube (63) having pivoted sections enabling an upper section (69) in use to be extended rearwardly alongside the hopper (22) during transport, the discharge end (73) remaining disposed within the confines of the hopper and frame length.

Abstract: A one pass seedbed preparation device having two fluted coulter assemblies per seedbed. The coulter assemblies are attachable to existing seed planting apparatus at their bias spring housings and are offset to provide self-cleaning action. Fertilizer delivery is then provided to an area surrounding the seedbed raised by the coulter wheels. The fertilizer may be delivered by a knife-blade cultivator, an injector or a rolling-disc drive.