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 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 coulter chisel tillage tool includes a mounting apparatus for attaching a disc gang to a rockshaft. A bracket extends radially from the rockshaft and is connected to one end of a spring having its other end positioned in a retainer cup. The retainer cup is attached to one end of a rod which extends longitudinally through the spring and through an aperture formed in the mounting bracket with the other end of the rod rotatably attached to a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly includes a pair of bearing caps which rotatably engage the rockshaft and are positioned between a pair of plates which are maintained together by bolts. One of the bolts also extends through a yoke of a disc gang for rotatably mounting the disc gang for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The spring and bracket assembly permits the disc gang to rotate about the rockshaft when an obstacle is struck during normal operation.

Abstract: A system for actuating a plurality of farm implements includes a frame adapted to be connected between a tractor and a first farm implement such as a drill. A tool frame, adapted to be connected to one or more additional farm implements, is pivotally suspended beneath the frame by front and rear support linkages. The rear support linkages are also connected with a linkage which raises and lowers the grain drills on the drill. An hydraulic actuator is connected to the front support linkage to move the tool frame and the drill between a transport position and a working position. Adjustment means are provided at the connection between the rear support linkage and the linkage to the drill for determining the transport height of the drill, the spring tension on the grain drills, and the height of the rear of the tool frame with respect to the front of the tool frame.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn plow is carried at its left front end on a tractor via vertically shiftable hitch means and at its right front end on a furrow wheel linkage means providing for raising and lowering of the frame among transport, open-up plowing and normal plowing positions. The hitch means and furrow wheel linkage include separate hydraulic motors of the two-way type, and these are connected hydraulically in series, with provision for re-phasing, to insure substantial leveling of the frame during raising and lowering movement of the frame. Provision is made in the connection of the hitch motor to the hitch means for enabling limited retrograde movement of the hitch motor piston to a position covering the re-phase port after the hitch motor has extended to fully raise the frame. Further provision is made in the furrow wheel linkage enabling lowering of the frame to either open-up plowing position or normal plowing position by retraction strokes of the same length of the furrow wheel motor.

Abstract: A tractor-drawn plow is carried at its left front end on a tractor via vertically shiftable hitch means and at its right front end on a furrow wheel linkage means providing for raising and lowering of the frame among transport, open-up plowing and normal plowing positions. The hitch means and furrow wheel linkage include separate hydraulic motors of the two-way type, and these are connected hydraulically in series, with provision for re-phasing, to insure substantial leveling of the frame during raising and lowering movement of the frame. Provision is made in the connection of the hitch motor to the hitch means for enabling limited retrograde movement of the hitch motor piston to a position covering the re-phase port after the hitch motor has extended to fully raise the frame. Further provision is made in the furrow wheel linkage enabling lowering of the frame to either open-up plowing position or normal plowing position by retraction strokes of the same length of the furrow wheel motor.

Abstract: A land wheel assembly including dual wheels pivotally mounted on a vertically positionable arm of an implement such as a plow. When the arm is lowered and the plow is in the transport position the wheels can rock in a castering fashion about a pivotal axis having a substantial vertical component so that as the implement is turned around a corner, the wheels caster to reduce tire scuffing and stresses in the assembly. When the arm is raised to lower the implement to the ground-working position, the pivotal axis shifts, approaching a generally horizontal attitude and allowing the wheels to pivot up and down with respect to each other about the axis to provide an even plowing depth and reduce stresses throughout the assembly on uneven ground.

Abstract: An earthworking tool suspension system composed of a pair of vertically disposed and fore-and-aft extending four bar linkages in which the coupler link of the front linkage is the base link of the rear linkage, the tool standard has an upper part that is pivotally connected to the lower link of the front linkage and the coupler link of the second linkage, and the part serves as the lower link of the rear four bar linkage. A biasing means is provided and is connected to both four bar linkages. The front four bar linkage permits the tool to float vertically with little change in attitude. The two four bar linkages in series permit the tool to rotate and rise relative to the main frame of the implement, when the tool strikes an obstruction requiring such action.