Triple-fold agricultural implement with narrow and low transport profile

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9596800-B2
Application number	US-201414523272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2014
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A triple-fold agricultural implement includes a center frame section, and a plurality of wing sections positioned on opposite lateral sides of the center frame section. The plurality of wing sections include an inner wing section, a middle wing section and an outer wing section. Each outer wing section may be folded approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective middle wing section. Each middle wing section may be folded approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective inner wing section. Each inner wing section may be folded approximately 90° laterally inward and over the center frame section, whereby each of the plurality of wing sections when in a folded state are in a transport position lying above the center frame section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A triple-fold agricultural implement, comprising:
a center frame section; and
a plurality of wing sections positioned on opposite lateral sides of the center frame section, said plurality of wing sections including an inner wing section, a middle wing section and an outer wing section, each said outer wing section being configured to fold approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective said middle wing section, each said middle wing section being configured to fold approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective said inner wing section, and each said inner wing section being configured to fold approximately 90° laterally inward and over said center frame section, whereby each of said plurality of wing sections when in a folded state are in a transport position lying above said center frame section,
wherein each of said plurality of wing sections has a vertically offset pivot axis allowing said outer wing sections, said middle wing sections and an inner wing sections to stack together in a horizontally arranged stack over the center frame section when in the folded state,
wherein each said middle wing section has a pivot axis that is vertically higher than a pivot axis of an adjacent said outer wing section or inner wing section, when in a unfolded state.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of wing sections includes a shank frame, a plurality of shanks extending downwardly from a respective said shank frame, and a height corresponding to said shank frame and said plurality of shanks when in an unfolded state, and wherein each of the plurality of wing sections lie laterally adjacent to each other to define a width of the implement when in the folded state.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each said outer wing section is sandwiched between a respective said middle wing section and said inner wing section, when in the folded state.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of wing sections includes a rear auxiliary tillage implement, each said rear auxiliary tillage implement being positioned at a predetermined location so as not to interfere with folding of the respective said wing section.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein each said rear auxiliary tillage implement includes a rolling basket.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of wing sections includes at least one lift wheel, each said lift wheel being positioned at a predetermined location so as not to interfere with folding of the respective said wing section.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural implement when in a folded state is in a transport position with an overall frontal profile having dimensions of no greater than approximately 20 feet wide by 14 feet high.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein said agricultural implement is a field cultivator.

9. A method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement from an operating position to a transport position, the implement including a center frame section and a plurality of wings sections, with a pair of inner wing sections, a pair of middle wing sections and a pair of outer wing sections, said method comprising the steps of:
folding each said outer wing section approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective said middle wing section;
folding each said middle wing section approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective said inner wing section, and
folding each said inner wing section approximately 90° laterally inward and over said center frame section, whereby each of said plurality of wing sections when in a folded state are in a transport position lying above said center frame section,
wherein each of said plurality of wing sections has a vertically offset pivot axis allowing said outer wing sections, said middle wing sections and an inner wing sections to stack together in a horizontally arranged stack over the center frame section when in the folded state, and
wherein each said middle wing section has a pivot axis that is vertically higher than a pivot axis of an adjacent said outer wing section or inner wing section, when in a unfolded state.

10. The method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of wing sections includes a shank frame, a plurality of shanks extending downwardly from a respective said shank frame, and a height corresponding to said shank frame and said plurality of shanks when in an unfolded state, and wherein each of the plurality of wing sections lie laterally adjacent to each other to define a width of the implement when in the folded state.

11. The method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement of claim 9 , wherein each said outer wing section is sandwiched between a respective said middle wing section and said inner wing section, when in the folded state.

12. The method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement of claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of wing sections includes a rear auxiliary tillage implement, each said rear auxiliary tillage implement being positioned at a predetermined location so as not to interfere with folding of the respective said wing section.

13. The method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement of claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of wing sections includes at least one lift wheel, each said lift wheel being positioned at a predetermined location so as not to interfere with folding of the respective said wing section.

14. The method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement of claim 9 , wherein the agricultural implement when in a folded state is in a transport position with an overall frontal profile having dimensions of no greater than approximately 20 feet wide by 14 feet high.

15. The method of folding a triple-fold agricultural implement of claim 9 , wherein said agricultural implement is a field cultivator.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Sudbrink Matthew R
• Knobloch Dean A

Classifications

• A01B73/044 Primary

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

• A01B73/046 Primary

  each folding frame part being foldable in itself · CPC title