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: An agricultural machine includes a disk blade assembly having a hub and a disk blade mounted to the hub. The hub has a perimeter. The disk blade is deflectable by ground forces in an area outside of the hub. A scraper assembly includes a mount, a scraper blade, and a hinge pivotally interconnecting the scraper blade with the mount. The hinge has an axis of rotation which passes through a point generally at or near a bottom of the hub perimeter, and generally coincident with the disk blade.

Abstract: A ripper plough for soil tillage includes a body having an upper mounting attachment end, a lower soil engaging end, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposed sides. A ploughshare support extends outwardly from the body from the leading edge toward the trailing edge at a plough angle of between 40 degrees and 55 degrees and extends outwardly and downwardly relative to the body at a thrust angle of between 40 degrees and 50 degrees. Ploughshares are mounted on the ploughshare support. The ploughshares have a length between a leading edge and a trailing edge of at least 1.5 feet and are spaced apart at the trailing edge by at least two feet, to provide an average lift angle of upward lift of between 10 degrees and 15 degrees.

Abstract: To dissipate hydraulic shock created by the bouncing of an implement mounted on a wheeled vehicle, such as a towed tillage implement or the bucket of a vehicle, such as a wheel loader, an electronic control valve, which supplies hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator that raises and lowers the implement, is actively controlled by an electronic controller. As the vehicle with an implement is transported at higher speeds, the implement tends to bounce creating pressure spikes in the hydraulic system that raises and lowers the implement. The pressure spikes are dissipated by actively generating random or cancelling hydraulic pulses in the hydraulic system.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an agricultural implement includes a first wing tool bar and a second wing tool bar on each lateral side of the implement. The first wing tool bar and the second wing tool bar are configured to rotate from a working position to a transport position. The first wing tool bar and the second wing tool bar each include a respective tool frame configured to rotate upwardly from a working position to a transport position. In addition, the second wing tool bar is configured to articulate with respect to the first wing tool bar during transport. A fold-away frame section is rotatably coupled to the first wing tool frame and configured to rotate out of a plane formed by the first and second wing tool frames to avoid contact between the tool frames during transport.

Abstract: A forwardly folding agricultural implement frame includes a tongue having a forward section and a rearward section telescopically extendable relative to the forward section. A carriage having support wheels is mounted on the forward tongue section. Left and right wings are pivotally connected to the rearward tongue section and foldable between a field position wherein the wings are generally perpendicular to the tongue and a transport position wherein the wings are generally parallel to the tongue. During the folding process, the carriage remains generally centered under the frame such that the majority of the weight of the implement is carried by the wheels and not shifted forwardly to the tractor drawbar.

Abstract: The present device is generally a stabilizer bracket for small to mid-sized skid steer vehicles used to grade earth using a dozer blade in conjunction with remote grade control equipment (such as laser automation or other automated leveling system). The device is most suited to skid steer vehicles capable of using a variety of interchangeable front end accessories in addition to a dozer blade.

Abstract: A beach cleaner having a grate-like frame is formed with multiple longitudinal members. Each of the longitudinal members is provided with a plurality of sand pins projecting downward therefrom, and the frame is provided at its front end with the tow portion. The beach cleaner can be towed by a towing vehicle to generate on a sand area, while the sand pins scrape and collect waste scattered on the sand. The sand pins are detachably attached to the longitudinal members. The beach cleaner also includes a weight mount member, enabling the amount of burying the sand pins in a sand area to be optimized to enhance waste collection performance.

Abstract: A pitch plow and a method of controlling an elevation of a cutting edge of a pitch plow having a frame and a shank that is pivotally mounted to the frame, with the shank defining a cutting edge includes a control system that controls an elevation of the cutting edge. The control system includes a hydraulic control between the shank and the frame to pivotally adjust the shank and an electronic control to control the hydraulic actuator. The electronic control includes a processor and first and second sensors. The processor produces an output that adjusts the hydraulic control in a manner that controls the elevation of the cutting edge. The first sensor may measure GNS location and provides a GNS location input to the processor. The second sensor may measure orientation of said shank and provides a shank orientation input to the processor.

Abstract: An active control method to control the vibrations of an articulated arm consisting of a plurality of segments articulated with respect to each other, by means of an electronic controller, comprising the following steps: a) construction of a modal model of the articulated arm starting from experimental data or from structural models; b) assignation of gains of electronic controller; c) multiplication of gains by the difference between the reference modal coordinates and those calculated through the modal model starting from directly measured quantities, in order to determine the control forces to be applied to the arm, or to at least part of the relative segments; d) evaluation of the modal coordinates by means of a states estimator; e) comparison between measurements estimated using the modal coordinates and real measurements and correction of the estimate, so that the estimate converges on real values.

Abstract: An engine load control device is adapted to a working vehicle in which output of an engine is transmitted to drive wheels and to hydraulic actuators including a working equipment hydraulic actuator via a plurality of variable capacity hydraulic pumps. The control device includes an engine speed detection unit that detects an engine speed, an instruction content detection unit that detects contents of instructions of a speed instruction device, a hydraulic pump load detection unit that detects load of at least one load detection hydraulic pump among the variable capacity hydraulic pumps, and an absorption torque control unit. The absorption torque control unit controls absorption torque of at least one control hydraulic pump other than the load detection hydraulic pump based on detection results of the engine speed detection unit, the instruction content detection unit, and the hydraulic pump load detection unit.

Abstract: A manually operated device or tool for manipulating or working the earth or soil. A preferred embodiment possesses an elongated digging rod having an adjustable handle assembly configured to quickly locate and fasten to a plurality of predetermined set points located on the elongated digging rod. The apparatus compensates for the incremental deepening of a hole as the digging activity progresses so to enable a user to better maintain a preferred, upright, working posture. This is accomplished by adjusting the elongated digging rod, given a substantially constant handle assembly height, to consecutively lower settings corresponding to the increasing hole depth.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for a work vehicle with a detachable implement provided with a hydraulic actuator, comprising: a control valve and a link mechanism for operatively connecting the control valve to an operating lever, both the control valve and link mechanism being disposed beneath a driver seat of the work vehicle; and a locking lever configured to be switched between a locked position for holding the operating lever in a neutral position, and a lock-releasing position for releasing the hold on the operating lever, wherein the locking lever is disposed between the driver seat and a rear fender positioned laterally of the driver seat.

Abstract: A fluted farming disc comprising a plate having a peripheral cutting edge and a central portion, and a plurality of waves extending radially inwardly from the cutting edge and forming a plurality of crests and a plurality of valleys, with the plurality of crests extending radially beyond the plurality of valleys in a manner to define a radially toothed cutting edge.

Abstract: A motor grader is equipped with a circle drive arrangement including a variable displacement motor capable of operating at a high speed for driving the circle at a high speed, as when the blade is elevated above the ground and the grader is turning around for reversing the operation of the blade, and capable of operating at a high torque for driving the circle to change the angle of operation of the blade relative to the grader frame when the blade is in ground contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to machinery having multiple hydraulically actuated functions and, more particularly, to a control system for using a single proportional valve to control multiple hydraulically actuated functions on a piece of machinery such as a tractor or front-end wheel loader.

Abstract: A graphical grade indicator for use in earth moving operations has an improved, variable resolution and a substantially unlimited range. This grade indicator results in a more accurate indication of the position of a cutting blade relative to the desired grade and, as a result, allows a machine operator to more accurately control grading operations. In one embodiment, a graphical grade indicator has a graphical scale with a substantially unlimited range and various indications indicating a desired grade level and at least a first undesirable grade level. When the cutting blade deviates from the desired grade level, a first indication is provided indicating, illustratively, the direction and magnitude of movement of the cutting blade repositioning necessary to achieve the desired grade. The resolution of the graphical scale can be changed in order to provide a desired degree of accuracy in grading operations.

Abstract: A road grader having the components or assemblies of a rear counterweight, lights and a bumper. This rear frame should consist of few individual parts, render possible a simple assembly for the rear counterpoise weight and offer sufficient options for building on different pieces of rear-mounted equipment. That is achieved if the bumper and the rear counterweight consist of a rear end plate vertically aligned and extending across the entire width of the grader, which represents the rearmost part of the rear frame and onto which the lighting is attached in the region of its outer ends.

Abstract: A safety locking device 18 for a quick hitch/coupler 10 of an earth working machine. The safety locking device 18 has a locking element 21 which is biased into a locking position to automatically lock a front pin of an implement when it is engaged in the hook 14 of the coupler 10. The safety locking device 18 has an hydraulic operable mechanism to move the locking element 21 to an unlocking position. The hydraulic supply to the safety locking device 18 is independent of the hydraulic supply to a locking mechanism 16 of the coupler 10.

Abstract: A sectored disc assembly, removable disc sector, and method of replacing a disc sector are disclosed for use with a soil opener that uses a disc assembly to open the soil prior to injection of a fertilizer or seed into the ground. The sectored disc assembly includes a rotatable hub and a plurality of disc sectors cooperatively forming a substantially continuous disc around the hub. Connectors, such as bolts, secure each of the disc sectors to the hub. The disc sector includes a body with radially inner and outer margins and side margins that are configured for continuous abutment with adjacent side margins of other disc sectors. The method of replacing a disc sector includes removing the connector securing the disc sector to the hub, moving the disc sector radially outwardly away from the hub, placing a replacement disc sector into contact with the hub, and inserting the connector.