Implement with forward folding wing frames

Abstract

An implement has right and left pivotally attached tool bar frames movable from an operating position extending laterally to a transport position extending forward from the connecting pivot axis. Right and left hitch arms are pivotally attached about vertical axes at rear ends to spaced apart locations the right and left tool bar frames and extend forward and inward when the tool bar frame is in the operating position. A hitch frame is pivotally attached at right and left rear portions thereof to front ends of the hitch arms about vertical axes. When the tool bar frame is in the transport position, the rear end of the hitch frame is forward of the right and left tool bar frames, and the front end of the hitch frame, attachable to a tractor, is a desired clearance distance forward of the right and left tool bar frames.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An implement apparatus comprising:
 a tool bar frame mounted on tool bar wheels for travel along a ground surface in an operating travel direction, the tool bar frame comprising a right tool bar frame and a left tool bar frame pivotally attached to the right tool bar frame about a substantially vertical center frame axis such that the tool bar frame is movable from an operating position, where the right and left tool bar frames are oriented substantially perpendicular to the operating travel direction, to a transport position where the right and left tool bar frames are substantially aligned with the operating travel direction and extend forward from the center frame axis;   a plurality of carrier frames attached at front ends thereof to the tool bar frame such that the carrier frames are laterally spaced along a width of the tool bar frame, and such that the carrier frames are movable from an operating position extending rearward from the tool bar frame to a transport position extending upward from the tool bar frame;   wherein a carrier wheel is mounted to a rear portion of each carrier frame, and a plurality of ground engaging tools is mounted to each carrier frame;   wherein the tool bar wheels and carrier wheels are caster wheels pivotally mounted to the corresponding tool bar frame and carrier frames about vertical caster axes; and   wherein when the tool bar frame is in the operating position the tool bar wheels are substantially free to pivot about their respective caster axes and the carrier wheels are secured to resist pivoting about their respective caster axes away from a forward orientation rolling in the operating travel direction;   wherein when the tool bar frame moves from the operating position toward the transport position the tool bar wheels and carrier wheels are substantially free to pivot about their respective caster axes; and   when the tool bar frame is in the transport position, selected tool bar wheels are locked to prevent pivoting about their respective caster axes away from the forward orientation rolling in the operating travel direction.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the selected tool bar wheels are the rearmost tool bar wheels when the tool bar frame is in the transport position. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein each caster wheel is pivotally mounted to the corresponding frame by a wheel shaft extending through a shaft aperture in the corresponding frame and rotatable in the shaft aperture such that the wheel shaft provides the corresponding vertical caster axis. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein each carrier wheel is secured to resist pivoting about the respective caster axis by a carrier wheel securing mechanism comprising:
 a substantially horizontal catch plate fixed to the corresponding wheel shaft, the catch plate defining a catch recess in a curved outer periphery thereof; 
 a catch roller movably mounted to the carrier frame and configured, when in a catch mode, to roll along the outer periphery of the catch plate when the corresponding carrier wheel pivots about the caster axis thereof; 
 a catch roller activator operative to move the catch roller to the catch mode by exerting a bias force on the catch roller toward the outer periphery of the catch plate, and operative to move the catch roller to a release mode by moving the catch roller away from the outer periphery of the catch plate; 
 wherein the catch plate and catch roller are configured such that when the catch roller is in the catch mode and the wheel shaft rotates in the shaft aperture to a location where the catch roller is aligned with the catch recess, the catch roller is forced into the catch recess where the corresponding carrier wheel is in the forward orientation and the catch roller in the catch recess resists further rotation of the wheel shaft in the shaft aperture. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the catch recess comprises a center portion configured to conform to an outer surface of a portion of the catch roller, and lateral portions on each side of the center portion, and wherein the center portion has a center depth greater than a lateral depth of the lateral portions such that the bias force forces the catch roller into the deeper center portion of the catch recess where the corresponding carrier frame wheel is in the forward orientation, and wherein a first rotational release force exerted on the wheel shaft will move the catch roller to the lateral portion corresponding to the direction of the first release force. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the center depth is greater than the lateral depth by a distance that is less than one half of a diameter of the catch roller. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the lateral portions comprise side edges sloping from the center portion to the outer periphery of the catch plate such that a second rotational release force exerted on the wheel shaft that is greater than the first rotational release force will move the catch roller up the side edges to the outer periphery of the catch plate. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the catch roller activator comprises a spring operative to move the catch roller to the catch mode by exerting the bias force on the catch roller, and an extendable actuator operative to move the catch roller to the release mode by moving the catch roller away from the outer periphery of the catch plate against the bias force. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the selected tool bar wheels are locked to prevent pivoting about their respective caster axes by a tool bar wheel locking mechanism comprising:
 a substantially horizontal lock plate fixed to the corresponding wheel shaft, the lock plate defining a lock slot in an outer periphery thereof; 
 a lock roller movably mounted to the tool bar frame and configured, when in a lock mode, to roll along the outer periphery of the lock plate when the corresponding selected tool bar wheel pivots about the caster axis thereof; 
 a lock roller activator operative to move the lock roller to the lock mode by exerting a bias force on the lock roller toward the outer periphery of the lock plate, and operative to move the lock roller to a release mode by moving the lock roller away from the outer periphery of the lock plate; 
 wherein the lock plate and lock roller are configured such that when the lock roller is in the lock mode and the tool bar wheel shaft rotates in the shaft aperture to a location where the lock roller is aligned with the lock slot, the lock roller is forced into the lock slot and prevents further rotation of the tool bar wheel shaft in the shaft aperture. 
 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the lock slot has a width substantially equal to a diameter of the lock roller, and a depth substantially equal to or greater than a length of the lock roller. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the lock plate is mounted to a top of the corresponding wheel shaft and a wall extends upward from the outer periphery thereof and defines the lock slot, and wherein the lock roller is inside the wall and configured to roll along an inner surface of the wall when in the lock mode such that when the wheel shaft rotates in the shaft aperture to a location where the lock roller is aligned with the lock slot, the lock roller is forced into the lock slot and prevents further rotation of the wheel shaft in the shaft aperture. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  comprising a lock arm pivotally attached to the tool bar frame and wherein the lock roller is rotatably mounted to an outer end of the lock arm, and lock roller activator comprises an extendable actuator attached between the tool bar frame and the lock arm and operative to move the lock roller to the release mode by moving the lock roller to an open area above the lock plate removed from the walls, and operative to move the lock roller to the lock mode by exerting the bias force on the lock arm to force the lock roller against the inner surface of the wall. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the lock roller activator comprises a coil spring with an inner end bearing against a spring plate extending from the tool bar frame, and a spring shaft extending through the spring from an outer end thereof to the inner end thereof and through a shaft hole in the spring plate and attached to a stop member that is larger than the shaft hole, and wherein the extendable actuator is attached to the stop member such that when the extendable actuator is extended the stop member bears against the spring plate and the lock roller is moved to the release mode, and when the extendable actuator is retracted the stop member moves away from the spring plate, the spring exerts the bias force on the extendable actuator and the lock roller is moved to the lock mode. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the tool bar wheels include selected tool bar wheels that are locked when the tool bar frame is in the transport position and unselected tool bar wheels, and wherein the wheel shaft of each unselected tool bar wheel is connected to a damping mechanism when the tool bar frame is in the transport position, the damping mechanism operative to resist pivoting of the wheel shafts of the unselected tool bar wheels. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the damping mechanism comprises:
 a crank extending laterally from the corresponding wheel shaft; 
 a hydraulic cylinder comprising a barrel with first and second end caps on corresponding first and second ends of the barrel and sealing the barrel, a piston inside the barrel, and a piston shaft extending through the first end cap, a first port in the barrel adjacent the first end cap, a second port in the barrel adjacent the second end cap, a conduit connecting the first and second ports, and a valve mechanism in the conduit; 
 wherein the barrel and conduit are filled with hydraulic fluid and an outer end of the piston shaft is connected to the crank; 
 wherein pivoting of the wheel shaft in a first direction moves the piston toward the first port and forces hydraulic fluid out of the first port and through the conduit and valve mechanism and into the second port; and pivoting of the wheel shaft in a second direction moves the piston toward the second port and forces hydraulic fluid out of the second port and through the conduit and valve mechanism and into the first port; and 
 wherein when the tool bar frame is in the transport position the valve mechanism is activated to restrict flow through the conduit, and when the tool bar frame is in the operating position the valve mechanism is activated to allow substantially unrestricted flow through the conduit.