Abstract: An agricultural planter is provided with hydraulically operated devices to effect the folding and unfolding of the planter support structure between operative and transport configurations. The planter includes a telescopic hitch apparatus that lengthens as the pivoted wing members are folded forwardly to position a transport lock mechanism for engagement with vertically oriented wing latch retainer bars mounted in a latch tower on the draw bar. A hitch latch mechanism is also provided to control the movement of the telescopic draw bar. A caster lock apparatus is also provided to control the castering action of a wheel device positioned near the ends of the wing members. In operation, the laterally extending tool bar is pivoted on a transverse axis to forwardly roll the tool bar toward an intermediate transport position.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, having a tool bar that is pivoted forwardly to initiate the conversion of the implement from a working position toward a transport position, including left and right wing members extending in opposing directions to respective distal ends, is provided with a lift assist mechanism to support the distal ends of the wing members as the tool bar is pivoted forwardly to an intermediate transport position. The lift assist mechanism includes a frame pivotally mounted to each respective wing member, a lift assist wheel providing ground-engaging support for the wing member, and a lift assist actuator that controls the pivoted movement of the lift assist mechanism to maintain the lift assist wheel in supporting contact with the ground until the tool bar has been rotated approximately 60 degrees from the lowered working position toward the raised intermediate transport position.

Abstract: The invention discloses an adjustable hitch for towing an air cart behind a cultivator or similar tillage device. The invention consists of a pivotable hitch which is connected to a pair of cultivator pivot arms pivotally mounted on the cultivator frame. The pivot arms are controlled by a pair of hydraulic cylinders. At the air cart end, the hitch has a pair of slides which are inserted into a pair of slots located on an offset air cart hitch. When the hydraulic cylinders move the cultivator pivot arms, the hitch pivots and allows the slides to move within the slots of the offset air cart hitch. The invention also has a pair of spring-biased, hydraulically actuated latches for securing the hitch in either the field or transport mode.

Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided with a forward folding tool bar that is pivotally mounted on the draw bar for rotation about a transverse pivot axis as part of the folding and unfolding of the tool bar. The tool bar is provided with a tower apparatus having a passageway therethrough for alignment with pivot linkages for providing a floating movement of the pivotally mounted wing members with the wing fold actuators forming a rigid link in the pivot linkages. An unfold finger is mounted on the draw bar where the tower mechanism would be positioned upon the rotation of the tool bar into an intermediate transport position such that the unfold finger is positionable within the passageway through the tower apparatus. The unfold finger is spring-biased and incorporates lost movement slots to allow the unfold finger to yield when the passageway is blocked as the tower apparatus is moved over the unfold finger.

Abstract: An agricultural planter is provided with hydraulically operated devices to effect the folding and unfolding of the planter support structure between operative and transport configurations. The planter includes a laterally extending tool bar that is pivoted about a transverse axis to forwardly roll the tool bar between a lowered field operating position and a raised transport position. The transverse pivot axis is located such that the first component of the pivotal movement of the tool bar from the field operating position is generally vertical, while a second component of the pivotal movement of the tool bar approaching the transport position is generally horizontal and forwardly of the first component. The headland position corresponds to a position in which the tool bar is raised sufficiently to move the planting units mounted thereon out of the ground to facilitate the turning of the implement at the end of the field.

Abstract: An agricultural planter is provided with wing members that fold forwardly from a laterally extending operating position to a compact transport position. The wing members are supported on wheel assemblies when in both the operating and transport positions. A transport lock mechanism is operable to secure the forwardly folded wing assemblies in the transport position against the draw bar. A latch tower having vertically oriented latch retainer bars permit the wing members to move vertically relative to the draw bar without disengaging the transport lock to allow the wing member wheel assemblies to follow ground undulations in the transport position. A wheel lock is also provided to convert the wheel assemblies between a forwardly fixed position used when the wing members are in the operating position and a castering position that enables the wing members to move into the transport position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agricultural cultivator frame having a center and two wing sections pivotally attached to the center section for rotation about horizontal axes in the direction of travel for movement between a substantially horizontal field or working position and a substantially vertical transport position. Support wheels are attached adjustably to the frame by a transverse rockshaft extending the width of the cultivator and controlling the elevation of the frame above ground level. The hitch is pivotally attached to the frame for automatic leveling. The rockshaft wing sections are connected to the rockshaft center section by a universal joint. The rockshaft wing sections are pivotally attached to the wing section for movement about multiple axes and provide for longitudinal displacement relative to the frame.

Abstract: A normally rigid planar framework for mounting a large number of ground working tools is made resilient to accommodate the torsional forces exerted on the rigid structural members of the framework as it passes over uneven ground and the tools are subjected to varying forces as they move through the ground. Resilience of the framework is achieved by having the structural members which are normally rigidly fastened together, fastened together instead by resilient fastening which permits torsional flexing between the rigid members so fastened. Additionally, rigid structural members of the framework which normally are pivotally connected to permit movement only around the pin axis of the pivotal connection, are resiliently pivotally connected so that slight rotation of the structural members can occur around the other two axes which intersect the pin axis of the respective pivotal connections at mutual right angles.

Abstract: A height adjusting mechanism for a framework that supports a multiplicity of ground working tools of an agricultural implement operating at variable depths of ground penetration is disclosed. The variability is acheived by rotation of framework supporting rock shafts pivoting around pivot points on wheel supported wheel frames, which in turn support the rock shafts; rotation causes the lateral spacing of the wheels to vary also. Additionally, flexibility of the framework optionally is provided by having certain fastenings and pivotal attachments between framework members in the form of resilient connections. The novel flexible framework is not critical to operation of the height adjusting mechanism, the latter being operable also with rigid framework.

Abstract: A ground working implement is disclosed, having a multiplicity of ground working tools mounted on a set of rigid bars which are maintained in substantially parallel relative position by pairs of rigid links flexibly fastened to the pairs of the rigid bars, with hydraulic cylinders attached diagonally between rigid links to control the elevation above ground of the rigid bars which are supported on normally parallel wheel axles mounted below and in front of the individual rigid bars. Operation of the hydraulic cylinders enables variation in the ground penetration of tools mounted on and beneath the rigid bars as the implement is drawn over the ground.

Abstract: A combination tool for punching and/or shearing metal has pivotally mounted punch and die set on one end of a working bed and a shear blade pivotally mounted on the other end of the bed, with an hydraulic ram centrally mounted above and between them to apply force to either or both simultaneously. Furthermore, both can easily and quickly be pivotally displaced to permit optional application of the hydraulic ram to pressing, braking, or forming operations on the bed under the ram, using auxiliary equipment.

Abstract: A ground working implement consisting of a hitch, a center section pivotally secured to the hitch for rotation about a transverse axis and a two part wing section pivotally secured to each side of the center section for rotation about a longitudinal axis, with the two parts joined on a diagonal axis, a transverse member across the central region of the hitch, a member pivotally secured between the wing section and the end of a bar such that the rotational movement of the wing parts about a diagonal axis, the rotation of the complete wing about a longitudinal axis, and the rotation of the hitch about a transverse axis, is permitted during ground cultivation, and when the wing section is raised vertically for transportation purposes, the hitch becomes rigid with the center section and movement about all axis is locked.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the depth of operation of a ground working tool on an agricultural apparatus comprises a strap which extends across a plurality of separate frame sections of the apparatus and incorporates a chain coupling which passes around a pulley wheel having an axis of rotation which is horizontal and transverse to the movement of the strap to communicate horizontal movement of the strap to vertical movement of a thrust bar. The thrust bar acts upon the axle of ground wheels so as to adjust the position of the ground wheels relative to the frame section. The ground working tool supported by the frame section is therefore adjusted relative to the ground to increase or decrease the depth of operation on the ground. The ground working tool can comprise an air seed boot and the frame of the apparatus can comprise a plurality of separate sections pivotally connected together to accommodate variations in the terrain.

Abstract: A seed boot for pneumatic seeder or fertilizer assemblies includes a seed or fertilizer tube having an attaching bolt extending therethrough adjacent the base thereof and just above the splitting or separating saddle. A forwardly extending crease is formed within the rear of the tube and extends into the tube above the bolt thus dividing the seed and/or fertilizer into two equal streams which clear the bolt and then engage the saddle well down the sides thereof so that the seed and/or fertilizer is deflected outwardly under the wings of the sweep thus reducing the possibility of the seed and/or fertilizer from bouncing up into loose soil and therefore being wasted.

Abstract: A deep tillage cultivator consists of a center section and at least two wing sections one upon each side hingedly secured to said center section. The sections are wheel supported along a transverse center line and by a hitch assembly extending from the center section. Also, castor wheel assemblies extend forwardly from the outer wing sections on each side of said center section. Flexible fore and aft connections are provided between adjacent sections with a universal joint type of connection being provided between the sections to permit better flexibility to wide cultivators. Structure is provided to stabilize the universal type hinge connection prior to folding the sections for transport purposes.

Abstract: An implement shank is pivotally attached to the frame of the implement and normally is maintained in the soil by a heavy duty coil spring reacting between the shank and a support extending from the frame. The spring mount and shank holder are connected together so that if the shank trips due to striking an obstruction, the connection moves towards an over center line and if the obstruction is maintained, the connection moves over the over center line. When it passes over center, it engages a leaf spring extending from the frame which returns the connection back over center when the obstruction is passed whereupon the coil spring returns the implement into the ground. The coil spring is attached to a resilient member extending from the frame so that the shock load is absorbed as the implement returns to the ground engaging position, particularly when this return is somewhat rapid due to the heavy duty nature of the coil spring.