Abstract: A motor grader including a frame and a scarifier system coupled to the frame. The scarifier system includes a first pin member and second pin member both coupled to the frame and interconnected to one another. The scarifier system also includes a first and second arcuate drawbar arms in spaced relation and coupled to the first pin member and a carriage. An actuator is coupled to the first arcuate drawbar arm and the second pin member to rotate the carriage about a pivot axis of the first pin member.

Abstract: A caster wheel assembly includes a frame configured to pivotally couple to a tool bar, a sub-frame rotatably coupled to the frame, and a connecting linkage configured to control movement of the frame relative to the tool bar. The caster wheel assembly also includes a locking assembly, which includes a lock lever movably coupled to the frame, wherein the lock lever includes a locking element and a release element, a locking structure fixedly coupled to the sub-frame, and a driving element fixedly coupled to the connecting linkage. The locking element is configured to block rotation of the sub-frame relative to the frame while the locking element is engaged with the locking structure, and the driving element is configured to contact the release element as the connecting linkage moves the frame downwardly relative to the tool bar to drive the locking element to disengage the locking structure.

Abstract: A castor wheel support for a towed agricultural implement having a frame positioned parallel to the soil over which the implement is towed. Parallel links interconnect the castor support with the frame. The castor support has a spindle with a longitudinal axis A for supporting a castor mounting structure for pivoting movement. The castor mounting structure supports an axle hub assembly and a wheel. The axis A of the spindle is angled forward 3 degrees to minimize wobbling.

Abstract: A tillage implement has a main frame provided with power-actuated lift wheels at the rear of the frame and a pair of gauge wheels at the front of the frame. A linkage system connecting the rear wheels with the front wheels transmits the raising and lowering motion of the rear wheels to the front wheels so that the main frame remains level as it is raised and lowered by all of the wheels in unison. However, a coupling that uses an equalizing rocker bar between front and rear linkages of the linkage system permits either of the front wheels to be raised or lowered in a non-corresponding manner relative to the other front wheel as differences in terrain contour are experienced between the two front wheels. During such non-corresponding shifting of the front wheels relative to one another, movement of the two front wheels is in equal amounts but opposite directions to maintain both front wheels engaging the ground at all times and equally sharing the load.

Abstract: A lift support system for a wheel assembly that provides variable support for the wing frame section of a tillage implement above the soil. The lift support system includes a vertically oriented tube slidably connected to the wing frame section for movement along a vertical axis. A wheel axle assembly is pivotally connected to the lower end of the tube and provides a support for the axle assembly. Wheels are journaled on the axle assemblies. A locking assembly selectively locks the wheel assembly in place when the tube is in a position for field transport and field operation with the locking mechanism being disengageable when the wing section is in a transport position to permit castoring of the wheel assemblies.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a hitch boom to which a pair of wing booms is pivotably connected. The wing booms are designed to fold forward from an extended position to a transport position. The wing booms are supported above a surface by wheels that provide the aforementioned support when the wing booms are in an extended position as well as the transport position. Maintaining surface contact of the wheels in both positions reduces the load placed on the hitch to which the hitch boom is coupled as well as the hitch boom itself. Multi-link draft links are connected between the hitch boom and the wing booms to provide support for the wing booms when the wing booms are in the extended position. The relative length of the draft links dictates how far the hitch telescopes when the wing booms are folded to the stowed or transport position.

Abstract: A mounting assembly of a gauge wheel for an implement, such as an agricultural crop harvesting header, the mounting assembly including a king pin member rotatably mounted in a king pin bushing housing and having a wheel spindle projecting substantially horizontally from one side of a king pin shaft for rotatably mounting the gauge wheel. The rotational axis of the king pin shaft is tilted rearwardly and upwardly relative to the vertical and sideways and upwardly relative to the vertical in a direction opposite to the side of the projecting wheel spindle. Accordingly, when the gauge wheel enters a caster turn in a direction corresponding to the direction of projection of the wheel spindle the axis of the wheel spindle swings from a substantially transverse direction in relation to the straight ahead travel direction towards a rearwardly and downwardly inclined orientation.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the height of a frame of an agricultural implement relative to a groundsurface is described. A parallelogram frame is provided which includes a frame mounted member and a wheel mounting member parallel to the frame mounted member. The frame mounted member is secured in substantially vertical orientation to an end of a transverse support member of the frame of the agricultural implement. A stub axle is secured substantially perpendicularly to a face of the wheel mounting member remote from the transverse support member with a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on the stub axle. An expandable jack is mounted to the top of the transverse support member. Upon expansion of the jack a force is exerted upon an upper connecting member causing the parallelogram frame to pivot until a first end of the upper connecting member to which the end of the transverse support member is attached is raised relative to a second end of upper connecting member.

Abstract: Lift arms on a gang of implements support transport wheels which are movable from a raised field-working position to a lowered endwise towing position. Several of the wheels at the forward and aft ends of the towed gang of implements are fitted with castering pivots located adjacent the wheel hubs close to the wheel centerlines to lessen side loading and tire scuffing during turns. The castering wheels include a caster control assembly having at least four functions. First, a lock feature includes a spring-biased pin selectively engageable with the control assembly to secure the wheels in an in-line position to permit easy backing of the implements in the towing configuration. Second, a contact on the implement frame which engages the caster control assembly when the wheels are raised off the ground, cams the caster wheel to a preselected field-working position and prevents rocking of the wheel. Third, a bellevue washer on the caster control assembly limits shimmying of the wheel during transport.

Abstract: In general, the remote control of a caster wheel assembly on a farm implement such as a crop sprayer of the type including a boom rotatable between a transport position and a field position is a complicated operation. In the transport position, the wheel assembly should be fixed, i.e. non-castering and in the field position the wheel assembly should caster freely. A relatively simple apparatus for effecting caster wheel assembly control includes a frame mounted on the boom, a hydraulic cylinder on the frame, and a linkage connected to the piston rod of the cylinder and releasably connected to an arm on the shaft carrying the wheel assembly, whereby initial extension of the piston rod moves the wheel assembly to a turning position, full piston rod extension causes release and thus free castering of the wheel assembly in the field position, and retraction of the piston rod causes re-engagement of the wheel assembly by the linkage to lock the wheel assembly in the transport position.

Abstract: An implement hitch assembly serves to aggregate two machines. The machines are echeloned in the working position or in tandem in a transport position when moving from one field to another. The hitch includes a transverse draw bar, connected to a tractor. On the transverse draw bar, provision is made for a pull rod of a front farm machine, which is mounted thereon by a carriage. The hydraulic drive installed on the transverse draw bar is intended for moving the carriage along the transverse draw bar. A lever pivotably connected to the pull rod of the front farm machine carries an arcuate beam coupled therewith at the front end thereof by a pivot. The rear end of the arcuate beam rests on a support wheel with a suspension. On the vertical axis of the suspension there is mounted a clevis of a rear farm machine. The hydraulic drive connected with the pull rod of the front farm machine moves the latter along as it transfers both machines to one of the positions hereinabove identified.

Abstract: A pull type swather is provided with an adjustable hitch assembly for converting the swather as between a field position in which it is pulled widthwise by a tractor and a transport position in which it is pulled substantially lengthwise. The hitch assembly comprises a hitch pole pivotally connected to the swather frame, a telescopic assembly pivotally connected between the swather frame and the hitch pole and a hydraulic cylinder for extending and retracting the telescopic assembly so as to change the angle of the hitch pole as between the field and transport positions. The swather also includes pivotal wheel assemblies movable by separate hydraulic cylinders as between field and transport wheel positions. The respective hydraulic cylinders are connected in series in a hydraulic circuit for least-resistance sequence operation when converting the apparatus as between the field and transport configurations. The apparatus allows for effortless conversion as between the field and transport configurations.

Abstract: A multi-head swather for mounting on a tractor, and having a main frame including a front transverse member, a pair of side members and an intermediate transverse member each detachably connectable with the tractor. A front swather head is carried by the front transverse member and a mounting mechanism connects a side swather head to one of the side members for swinging movement between a laterally extending operative position and a trailing travel position. A rear frame structure is attachable to the tractor behind the main frame and provides a connection for a removable strut which extends forwardly to a connection on the side swather spaced outwardly of the mounting mechanism of the side swather arm.

Abstract: A spray cart which straddles a trailing implement hitch and supports a tank on two castering wheels and on the tractor hitch. The caster wheels have adjustable tread, and the caster wheel support structure provides additional strength to the tank support frame. A stabilizer bar is connected between the cart and the trailing implement to make them operate as a single unit. The cart serves to closely connect the trailing implement and the tractor and provide straight-line pull through the system.

Abstract: A pull-type swather or windrower which can be used either singly or in a duplex or tandem arrangement can be adjusted from a working position to a transport position by pivoting the hitch through 90.degree. and by unlocking the wheels so they turn through 90.degree. to move the swather at right angles to its working direction. The swather is mounted on two wheels inwardly of the ends of the swather and rearwardly of the drapers with the wheel remote from the hitch movable to a position forwardly of its working position so as to lie under the drapers and to balance the center of gravity so that the swather can be supported solely by the two wheels in the transport position. A rear or duplex swather can be attached to the front swather by a duplex hitch which provides steering movements of the rear swather in a direction opposite to the steering movements of the front swather so that the former properly tracks the latter in echelon relationship.

Abstract: A transportable trailing wide-swath wheel-supported implement such as a rock windrower is conveniently able to convert from wide-swath working mode to a transversely narrower folded mode for convenient transport of the implement. The folding elements are a drawbar and the wheel legs, each of these being pivotally attached to the implement frame about a substantially vertical pivotal axis. In working mode, the wheel legs and drawbar are extended at a relatively large acute angle or right angle to the frame whereas in transport mode they pivotally retract to assume relatively small acute angles to the frame. The wheel legs may be locked in either extended or retracted position. Between the drawbar and the frame is preferably pivotally connected a hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement, permitting the angle of the drawbar to the frame to be adjusted and controlled.

Abstract: A tool bar carrier for farming implements adapted to raise the tools carried by it and mounted on fully swiveling wheels. The bar is coupled flexibly and releasably to the pulling device, and the coupled wheels are capable of being locked in a straight forward position if desired.

Abstract: For an implement, a caster wheel assembly including a tubular member connected to reciprocate as the caster wheel swivels. An adjustable brake assembly resists movement of the tubular member to eliminate caster wheel wobble as the implement is transported. A plurality of caster wheel assemblies permit the implement to crab between the towing vehicle and a trailing implement. The brake assemblies provide convenient locking and control of selective wheels for the desired swivel action in numerous operating situations.

Abstract: A support assembly is provided for a castor wheel of an agricultural machine. This support assembly includes an arm rigid with the chassis of the machine and a wheel support member which is supported by the arm for rotation about a vertical axis. In order to facilitate steering of the machine when traversing across the line of maximum gradient on sloping ground, the wheel support assembly is provided with remotely controllable locking means for preventing rotation of the wheel support member, and thus of the castor wheel, about the said vertical axis. The locking means can take the form of a disk fast for rotation with the wheel support member and provided with a notch in its periphery, and a roller displaceable between a working position in which it engages in the notch to lock the wheel support member against rotation, and a rest position in which the roller is out of engagement with the disk.

Abstract: Hydraulic center and lock structure for the caster wheel of, for example, a tractor-drawn plow, operative on a centering element rigid with the standard of the caster wheel for forcibly centering the standard and ultimately locking the standard against turning about its axis when the caster wheel is in its straight-ahead position. The hydraulic device is bi-directionally operative for disengagement from the centering element to enable free castering of the wheel, as when the plow is raised for transport. The invention also provides two forms hydraulic control for coordinating the raising and lowering of the plow with unlocking and locking the caster wheel. In one form, the system provides for trapping fluid in the caster wheel cylinder in its straight-ahead position, with a separate valve operated manually to release the fluid when the plow is lowered to operating condition. In another form the valve that releases the trapped fluid is made responsive to a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A pivotal lock member (27) is secured to an earthworking apparatus (10) and a plurality of lock stations (28,29,30) are connected to a mounting assembly (21) which supports the earthworking apparatus (10) for rotation. The apparatus (10) can be rotated to a plurailty of angular positions and must be held against rotation in each position. The lock member (27) pivots in and out of engagement with the lock stations (28,29,30) to allow rotation or locking of the earthworking apparatus (10). The lock assembly (26) holds the earthworking apparatus (10) securely against rotary motion but allows some limited radial motion of the apparatus in a plane co-incident with a line of axial force generated by the operation of the earthworking tool (19).

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: A locking structure for a disk tiller or the like which simply and quickly secures the rear furrow wheel in either an operational or transport position. An elongated link is pivotally connected to the disk tiller frame. The link is received in a guide structure carried by the disk tiller frame and is reciprocably shifted to vary the angular position of the rear furrow wheel support arm relative to the disk tiller frame. A pair of horizontally spaced latching pins are carried adjacent the guide, are biased towards the link and are selectively and alternatively engageable with abutment surfaces on the link to secure it in either of two spaced reciprocable positions.

Abstract: A control wheel for an agricultural machine of the folding type in which the wings fold to trail behind a central section. The control wheel comprises a castor wheel coupled with tensioning devices which enable the wheel to track normally while folding or unfolding but to align itself in the direction of travel when folding is completed.

Abstract: An extendible, collapsible spray drawbar device is disclosed comprising a triangular shaped frame structure adapted at the forward apex end for pivotal attachment to a prime mover and having wheels at the rear base end, transverse spray bar elements pivotally mounted to and extending from the base of the frame structure, wheels pivotally mounted to the outer end of the spray bar element, extension bar elements hingedly mounted to the outer end of the spray bar elements, and support elements pivotally mounted at one end to the transverse spray bar element and pivotally mounted at the other end about a horizontal and vertical axis to a brace member transversely extending across the triangular shaped frame structure. During the spraying operation, the transverse spray bar elements and the extension bar elements extend linearly from the base of the triangular shaped frame structure.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided for locking the front furrow wheel of a plow when the plow frame is in its lowered plowing position. The latch mechanism is inoperative when the plow frame is raised to its transport position, thus permitting the castered furrow wheel support to freely rotate about the vertical spindle pivot axis. A latch is pivoted to the upper end of the vertical spindle about a horizontal axis and has a downwardly extending finger adapted to drop into a recess in a flat ramp on the upper link of a parallel lift linkage for the castered furrow wheel.

Abstract: An implement has at least one group of soil working members arranged in a row that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The group of members is carried on an elongated frame portion that is connected to an overlying supporting structure by parallelogram linkages. Fore and aft ground wheels on corresponding arms interconnect the wheels to beams of the structure and the arms for the front wheels form part of further parallelogram structures. A hydraulic piston assembly bridges each rear arm to an upper arm link of a further parallelogram linkage so that the arms can be pivoted and the supporting structure together with the frame portion with soil working members, are raised to a transport position. The wheels can each be adjusted about a vertical axis to support the implement, in part, during operation or entirely during transport. Respective coupling members are attached to the front and the side of the implement for towing same in either position.

Abstract: A transversely and linearly elongated tractionally supported tool-carrying frame for agricultural implements having caster wheels which are shiftable individually and vertically relative to the frame to move the latter, and consequently the tools, between raised inoperative and lower earth-working positions. A central tractor hitch on the frame enables the latter to be pulled in broadside fashion forwardly for earth-working purposes when the frame and tools are in their lowered earth-working positions, and a second tractor hitch at one end of the frame enables the latter to be pulled linearly sidewise for transport purposes when the frame and tools are raised. A salient feature of the invention resides in a novel arrangement for automatically latching one of the caster wheels against free caster trailing during such sidewise transport movement of the implement to thereby lend a stabilizing influence to the implement and inhibit side sway.