FOLDING FLEX TOOL BAR

摘要

FOLDING FLEX TOOL BAR A folding tool bar for agricultural implements and including a central section and outboard wing sections hingedly connected thereto for movement between extended operative lowered positions where they may follow rolling ground conditions and folded over-center raised positions to reduce transport width. Each wing section is actuated by a two-stage hydraulic cylinder on the central section which cooperates with a crank arm on such wing section during its first stage to apply torque to the crank arm through the medium of a draw link by a pulling action in tension, assisted by a powerful camming action, the two forces serving to raise the wing so that it barely clears the ground at a small angle on the order of 5.degree., thereby enabling the implement to perform a turnabout motion with the tools withdrawn from the ground but with the wing remaining unfolded. An abutment within the cylinder positively terminates the first stage of operation and determines the 5.degree. elevation of the wing so that the wing section is thus positively and firmly supported during the turnabout operation and thereafter, if desired, the first stage of cylinder operation may be discontinued to restore the wing to its ground-engaging position for working the next crop row. However, if over-center wing folding operations for transport purposes are desired, the second stage of each cylinder is employed. Conventional hydraulically operated markers at the outer ends of the wings, and also hydraulically operable assist wheels which are carried by the main tool bar section are caused to become effective at appropriate times under the control of novel hydraulic circuitry.