Folding sequence of entire agricultural tillage implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9516798-B2
Application number	US-201414528345-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

An agricultural tillage implement including a main frame section having a pull hitch tube extending in a travel direction is provided, including a tool bar coupled with and extending transverse to the pull hitch tube, and a plurality of wing sections pivotally coupled with the main frame section about generally vertical axes. Each of the plurality of wing sections have at least one pivoting wing front shank frame. A main shank frame straddles the pull hitch tube. The main shank frame, the pivoting wing front shank frames, and the wing sections articulate from an operating configuration to a transport configuration. A controller for controlling the agricultural tillage implement controls the sequence in which the parts articulate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural tillage implement, comprising:
a main frame section including a pull hitch tube extending in a travel direction, and a tool bar attached to and extending transverse to said pull hitch tube;
a main shank frame pivotally coupled with said tool bar, said main shank frame operable to pivot up and over said tool bar when in a transport configuration, said main shank frame further operable to pivot down and forward of said tool bar when in an operating configuration;
at least one wing section pivotally coupled with said main frame section, said at least one wing section operable to pivot forward about at least one generally vertical axis to a position adjacent to and generally parallel with said pull hitch tube when in said transport configuration, said at least one wing section operable to pivot outward about said at least one generally vertical axis to a position perpendicular to said pull hitch tube when in said operating configuration;
at least one wing front shank frame pivotally coupled with said at least one wing section, said at least one wing front shank frame operable to pivot to a generally vertical position when in said transport configuration, said at least one wing front shank frame operable to pivot to a generally horizontal position when in said operating configuration; and
a controller for controlling said main shank frame, said at least one wing section, and said at least one wing front shank frame, said controller operable to reconfigure the agricultural tillage implement from said operating configuration to said transport configuration by a folding sequence of steps, said folding sequence of steps comprising:
a first step of pivoting said main shank frame up and over said tool bar;
a second step of pivoting said at least one wing front shank frame to said generally vertical position; and
a third step of pivoting said at least one wing section forward about said at least one generally vertical axis to said position adjacent to and generally parallel with said pull hitch tube.

2. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein:
said controller is further operable to reconfigure the agricultural tillage implement from said transport configuration to said operating configuration by an unfolding sequence of steps, said unfolding sequence of steps comprising:
a first step of pivoting said at least one wing section about said at least one generally vertical axis to said position perpendicular to said pull hitch tube;
a second step of pivoting said at least one wing front shank frame to said generally horizontal position; and
a third step of pivoting said main shank frame down and forward of said tool bar.

3. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein:
said controller further comprises a sequence screen, said sequence screen presenting an operator of the agricultural tillage implement said folding sequence of steps, each of said folding sequence of steps being available for selection by said operator upon completion of the previous step.

4. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein:
said controller further comprises an automated control device, said automated control device initiating each of said folding sequence of steps in order upon completion of the previous step.

5. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one wing section rear auxiliary implement pivotally coupled with said at least one wing section, said at least one wing section rear auxiliary implement operable to pivot to a generally vertical position when in said transport configuration, said at least one wing section rear auxiliary implement operable to pivot to a generally horizontal position when in said operating configuration, said controller further operable to pivot said at least one wing section rear auxiliary implement to said generally vertical position during said second step of said folding sequence of steps.

6. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , wherein:
said at least one wing section further comprises at least one right wing section and at least one left wing section; and
said at least one wing front shank frame further comprises at least one right wing front shank frame and one left wing front shank frame.

7. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 6 , wherein:
said at least one right wing section further comprises a right inner wing section, a right middle wing section, and a right outer wing section;
said at least one left wing section further comprises a left inner wing section, a left middle wing section, and a left outer wing section;
said at least one right wing front shank frame further comprises a right inner wing front shank frame, a right middle wing front shank frame, and a right outer wing front shank frame;
said at least one left wing front shank frame further comprises a left inner wing front shank frame, a left middle wing front shank frame, and a left outer wing front shank frame; and
said controller is further operable to sequentially pivot said left and right outer wing front shank frames to said generally vertical position, said left and right middle wing front shank frames to said generally vertical position, and said left and right inner wing front shank frames to said generally vertical position during said second step of said folding sequence of steps.

8. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 further comprising:
a center shank sub-frame attached to and positioned below said pull hitch tube, said center shank sub-frame operable to raise in said transport configuration, said center shank sub-frame operable to lower in said operating configuration;
at least one rear lift wheel and a pull hitch attached to said main frame section, said at least one rear lift wheel and said pull hitch operable to raise said main frame section in said transport configuration, said at least one rear lift wheel and said pull hitch further operable to lower said main frame section in said operating configuration; and
said controller is further operable to raise said center shank sub-frame and operate said at least one rear lift wheel and said pull hitch to raise said main frame section prior to said first step in said folding sequence of steps.

9. The agricultural tillage implement of claim 1 , further comprising:
a crumbler basket of a main rear auxiliary implement pivotally attached to said main rear auxiliary implement, said crumbler basket operable to pivot to a raised position when in said transport configuration, said crumbler basket operable to pivot to a lowered position when in said operating configuration, said controller being further operable to pivot said crumbler basket of said main rear auxiliary implement to said raised position during said first step of said folding sequence of steps.

10. A system for reconfiguring an agricultural tillage implement from an operating configuration to a transport configuration, the agricultural implement having a main frame section, a tool bar attached to and extending transverse to a pull hitch tube of the main frame section, a main shank frame pivotally attached to the tool bar, at least one wing section pivotally coupled with the main frame section about at least one generally vertical axis, and at least one wing front shank frame pivotally coupled with the at least one wing section, comprising:
at least one main shank frame hydraulic cylinder connected to the main shank frame and operable to pivot the main shank frame up and over the tool bar;
at least one wing section hydraulic cylinder connected to the at least one wing section and operable to pivot the at least one wing section forward about the at least one generally v

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Sudbrink Matthew R
• Knobloch Dean A

Classifications

• A01B29/048 Primary

  Bar cage rollers · CPC title

• A01B73/044

  the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B73/065 Primary

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title