Abstract: A tool carrier has a carrier frame and ground tools, and a front end of the carrier frame is connected to a wheel supported tool bar frame. A crank arm is pivotally attached to the tool bar frame about a crank axis oriented horizontally and perpendicular to an operating direction. A front end of the carrier frame is pivotally attached to the crank arm about a carrier axis parallel to the crank axis, and a hydraulic cylinder attached between the crank arm and the tool bar moves the tool carrier from an upward transport orientation to a rearward extending horizontal operating orientation, and maintains the tool carrier horizontal while moving it from a headland position above the ground to a working position where the tools penetrate the ground. When the tool carrier assembly is in the working position, the hydraulic cylinder exerts a downward bias force on the tool carrier.

Abstract: A forwardly folding tillage implement carries a number of ground engaging tools on a tool gang frame disposed to the rear of a carrier frame. A rockshaft is disposed between the carrier frame and the tool gang frame and is movable between four rotated positions about two axes of rotation. A control mechanism controls the relative angular position of the rockshaft. A support mechanism is disposed rearwardly of the axes of rotation to support the rear of the tool gang frame above the ground in the field working position. An abutment member restrains the relative rotation between the rockshaft and the tool gang frame to fully support the tool gang frame on the rockshaft upon rotation of the rockshaft.

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: A depth control system for controlling the working depth of an implement. The depth control system includes a monitor having an automatic mode of operation and a manual mode of operation wherein the automatic mode of operation provides preset, discrete working depth positions for the implement, and the manual mode of operation provides a continuous range of selectable positions. The monitor receives input signals from a position sensor mounted to the frame of the implement, and the position sensor includes a movable arm in sliding contact with an actuator arm mounted to a rock shaft of the implement whereby movement of the rock shaft and actuator arm causes the movable arm of the position sensor to move and provide different input signals to the monitor corresponding to the different positions of the rock shaft. The monitor provides an output signal to a hydraulic valve for controlling one or more hydraulic cylinders which actuate the rock shaft in movement to position the working depth of the implement.

Abstract: An apparatus for adapting a tool bar planting system to the front of an agricultural combine. The tool bar is secured to the front framework of the combine after the grain head has been removed. The tool bar includes folding extension arms that allow for various planting and transporting configurations. Planter seed units are attached to the tool bar and the extension units to complete the planting system. Seeds for the planter seed units are stored in the grain storage bin on the combine and delivered to the individual planter seed units by an air conveying system.

Abstract: An operable coulter frame is removably mounted on a farm implement of the type having a tool bar with foldable ends. The operable frame includes a central shaft rotatably mounted on the tool bar, and a pair of auxiliary shafts rotatably mounted on the foldable ends of the tool bar. The auxiliary shafts engage the central shaft when the tool bar and foldable ends are located in a coaxial operable position. A support bar is mounted to the central shaft, with auxiliary support bars mounted to the auxiliary shafts, for pivotal movement with the rotation of the associated shafts. Ground working tools are mounted on the support bars and movable between a lowered operable position located forwardly of the tool bar and tool bar ends, and an upper storage position raised above the tool bar and tool bar ends. A drive motor is mounted on the implement and connected to the central shaft to raise and lower the support bars.

Abstract: A ground-working implement for rotary field tilling or ice or snow-tending n ski slopes or the like which is drawn by a tractor or a tracked vehicle and which comprises a holder connected to the vehicle pendulously by a longitudinal beam which can be raised and lowered. The holder is connected to a rotary ground-loosening unit and a smoothing board by a four-point linkage whose cranks are dimensioned so that upon raising of the ground-loosening unit the orientation of the smoothing board remains largely unaltered thereby allowing the latter to be used for leveling the ground when the ground-loosening unit is in its raised or rest position.

Abstract: An apparatus for attachment to a vehicle, preferably a bulldozer, comprises a first arm having a ripper shank extending therefrom which is pivotally attached to a second arm. A second arm is mounted to a vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis so that when the first and second arms are in one orientation the ripper shank may be operated to move in a plane transverse to the direction of motion of the vehicle. The apparatus may be rotated to any angle such that the shank extends forwardly, or rearwardly, of the vehicle to engage objects. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second arms are pivotally mounted to a journal which extends through a mounting housing. A hydraulic cylinder engages one end of the journal at an eccentric location to cause the journal to rotate upon activation of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A grubbing plow mounted on two lower arms and an upper attachment point of a 3-point tractor hitch includes a frame having (1) a horizontal pivotal bar journaled at opposite ends thereof on the lower hitch arms; (2) an upper crank arm; and (3) a lower member. The pivot bar is pivotally mounted for rotational movement about a horizontal axis. The upper crank arm and lower member are aligned and oppositely directed from the pivot bar.A knife-edged, V-shaped blade is rigidly attached to the lower end of the lower member and lies in a plane perpendicular to the length of the lower member.A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the upper attachment point and the upper end of the upper crank arm for forcibly swinging the blade in an arc around the axis of the pivot bar to engage and remove roots encountered within said arc.A force transmitting member is pivotally mounted to the frame and extends from the frame for contacting the ground on the side of the frame opposite from which the blade extends.

Abstract: A grubbing plow mounted on two lower arms and an upper attachment point of a 3-point tractor hitch includes a frame having (1) a horizontal pivotal bar journaled at opposite ends thereof on the lower hitch arms; (2) an upper crank arm; and (3) a lower member. The pivot bar is pivotally mounted for rotational movement about a horizontal axis. The upper crank arm and lower member are aligned and oppositely directed from the pivot bar.A knife-edged, V-shaped blade is rigidly attached to the lower end of the lower member and lies in a plane perpendicular to the length of the lower member.A hydraulic cylinder is connected between the upper attachment point and the upper end of the upper crank arm for forcibly swinging the blade in an arc around the axis of the pivot bar to engage and remove roots encountered within said arc.

Abstract: A plurality of ground working sections such as cultivator sections, are flexibly connected together and operatively connected to a hitch pole assembly. Each section is supported upon a pair of castor wheels mounted on a fore and aft beam pivotally connected to the front and rear of the frame members. The sweeps or cultivators move in an arc via hydraulic or mechanically operated rock shafts and the depth control is by means of controlling the pivotal movement of the fore and aft beams. This also permits the penetration angle of the sweep or cultivator to be preset and maintained. For transport, the draw pole is raised and the implement is towed by one end thereof with the castor wheels automatically aligning with the direction of travel thus eliminating folding or raising of sections and permitting practically any length of cultivator or ground working implements to be assembled.

Abstract: Seed drill has a row of coulters which are raised and lowered by a beam positioned above the coulters and connected to the coulters by spring assemblies. The beam is journalled for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis and the spring assemblies are connected to the beam so that some exert reaction forces on the beam having clockwise moments about the beam's pivot axis, and others anticlockwise moments, whereby changes in loading of the coulters can be distributed between the coulters by angular movement of the beam about its pivot axis.

Abstract: A scarifier or ripper attachment for a tractor or like vehicle, comprising a support structure carrying a pivoted arm on the free end of which is a pivoted tool-carrying frame. The elevation of the arm is controlled by an hydraulic elevation actuator and the inclination of the tool with respect to the arm is controlled by an hydraulic attitude control actuator. The hydraulic circuit of the two actuators includes an auxiliary distributor having three positions in one of which the two actuators are connected in series so that one retracts when the other extends, and in the other two of which one or the other actuator is isolated so that the other can be controlled independently. The relative diameters of the two actuators are such that in the first position of the auxiliary distributor the tool is held in a fixed orientation in relation to the ground as the arm is turned through its full angle.