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. A cable extends from the lift assist mechanism to a toll bar lock apparatus to release the tool bar lock only when the lift assist mechanism has been positioned for proper support of the wing member during the pivotal movement of the tool bar from the intermediate position rearwardly into the working position. A hydraulic circuit controls the operation of the lift assist actuators and the tool bar actuators to effect a coordinated action between them so as to maintain proper support for the wing member during the pivotal movement of the tool bar.
Abstract:
Agricultural implement to be conveyed by a self propelled vehicle includes a structural frame and a substructure moveable between a raised position and a lowered position. The substructure has at least one ground engaging tool supported thereon so as to engage the ground when the substructure is moved to the lowered position. A fluid circuit is provided to control engagement of the tool with the ground. The fluid circuit includes a first check valve having a first side connectable to a source of pressurized fluid flow and a second side connected to a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder is operated between a retracted position and an extended position to move the substructure between the raised position and the lowered position, respectively. A second check valve is provided having a first side connected to drain and a second side connected to the fluid cylinder. A sensor assembly opens the second check valve when pressurized fluid flow is received by the first side of the first check valve. A pressure relief valve is connected between the first check valve and the fluid cylinder, the pressure relief valve having a relief port in fluid communication with the first side of the second check valve to direct pressurized fluid thereto when the pressurized fluid between the second side of the first check valve and the fluid cylinder exceeds a preselected pressure.
Abstract:
A hydraulic harrow lift including a cultivator assembly, a harrow assembly, and a pair of spaced linear harrow arms fixedly coupled at outboard ends thereof to the harrow assembly. The harrow arms further have inboard ends pivotally coupled to the cultivator. Further provided is a hydraulic harrow lift assembly including a hydraulic arm having a first orientation upon the receipt of a raise signal for raising the harrow assembly and a second orientation upon the receipt of a lower signal for lowering the harrow assembly.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for preparing sites for planting tree seedlings, and more particularly establishing mounds on the ground surface formed of soil scooped from the ground. The apparatus may be of the pull type having a pair of scoops and scoop operators for moving the scoop through a ground penetrating and mound depositing cycle. A control times the cycling of the operations so that the mounds formed during a constant movement in the forward direction are arranged in two lines and wherein the mounds in the two lines may be in a staggered relationship. The apparatus has rear wheels and a front towbar. Actuators are provided for moving the wheels up or down relating to the frame and also moving the towbar so that the height, as well as the fore and aft tilt, of the frame relative to the ground can be varied to control the depth of penetration of the scoops. The wheels also have actuators which allows adjustment of the tread of the wheels.
Abstract:
A partial width seeding attachment includes electronically controlled solenoids which activate hydraulic flow control valves connected to the hydraulic cylinders on respective implement sections. Switches in the tractor cab control the rockshaft of one or more selected sections independently of the other sections to raise the openers on the selected section or sections from contact with the soil. An electronically activated flow reversing valve is connected between the source of hydraulic fluid under pressure and the lift cylinder for each of the sections. Activation of a selected valve after the selective control valve on the tractor is moved to the normal field working position pressurizes the side of the cylinder that raises the openers on the section. The remaining cylinders operate normally to maintain preselected down pressure on the other openers. A master raise switch provides implement lift independent of the position of the individual rockshaft control switches. A latching relay connected to a momentary on switch prevents valve operation without manual switch movement after a power interruption.
Abstract:
A weight-balancing system for a farm implement, such as a disk harrow with foldable wings operated by wingfold cylinders, includes a selective control valve for controlling fluid communication to the head and rod ends of the wingfold cylinders. A pair of pressure-reducing/relieving valves permit individual adjustment of the pressures in both the head and rod ends to achieve the desired balance. In a preferred embodiment, a pilot-operated, two-position valve is connected between the rod ends and one of the pressure-responsive valves. The two-position valve is operated by pressure signals generated by a flow-responsive switching valve connected between the two-position valve and the selective control valve. The switching valve and the two-position valve cooperate to block the pressure-controlled outlet of the one pressure-responsive valve and the rod ends and to bypass return fluid flow from the rod ends to sump when the cylinders are being extended. Then, when cylinder motion stops and this return flow ends, the switching valve and the two-position valve are connected to the control pressure outlet of the one pressure-responsive valve to the rod ends to achieve the desired balance.
Abstract:
A device for adjusting the distance between soil working tools such as plow bodies (5) disposed beside each other and fitted to sleeves (7) movable along a bar (3). Slewing brackets (11, 14, 15) for defining the movements of the sleeves (7) along the bar (3) are arranged articulatedly between the sleeves (7) so that the relative movement between the two outermost sleeves on the bar is a (n-1), where a is the distance of the movement between two adjacent sleeves (7) and n is the number of sleeves. A hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is arranged to provide the motion of the sleeves (7) along the bar (3).
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 soil-smoothing or leveling tool, such as a harrow or press wheel gang, is rockably connected to the rear of the main frame of a tillage or seeding implement. The tool frame width is substantial compared to the width of the implement, and the height of the tool frame relative to the main frame is sensed to provide an accurate indication of the average depth of penetration across the width of the implement. The angle-sensing device operably connected to the drawbar of the trailing tool senses the angle between the main frame and the drawbar, and a control valve assembly responsive to the sensed angle controls the main frame lift system to maintain a preselected relationship between the tool and the main frame and thereby accurately control tillage or planting depth.
Abstract:
An agricultural tillage implement has a main frame provided with support wheels and carrying the first set of ground working tools. A first lift mechanism raises and lowers the main frame relative to the support wheels. A sub-frame, carrying a second set of ground working tools, is adjusted in height relative to the main frame by means of a second lift mechanism comprising a single rock shaft and four-bar linkage. Vertical frame extensions on the main frame and the sub-frame provide parallel links in the four-bar linkage to permit greater angular adjustment of the rock shaft and, hence, greater vertical adjustment of the sub-frame for a single rock shaft actuator.