Balanced implement transport vehicle

• US 4,418,762 A
• Filed: 07/20/1981
• Issued: 12/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Western Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Page, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stouffer, Richard T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Honaker, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/285,141
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 172/311, 172/452, 172/456, 172/460, 172/458, 172/457, 172/446, 172/473, 172/501, 172/662, 172/776, 172/463, 172/468, 172/469, 172/470, 172/471
• US Class Current: 172/311
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/02 Folding frames

Abstract

A balanced implement transport includes a rotatable drawbar having a first plurality of spaced apart implement hitch frames, for connection to individual implements to be drawn over the surface of the ground disposed for rotation with the drawbar between a position generally parallel with the surface of the ground, and a raised, substantially vertical transport position; and a second plurality of spaced apart implement hitch frames, for connection to individual implements to be drawn over the surface of the ground, rotatably disposed on said drawbar, for adjustable positioning thereon between a position parallel to the first plurality of implement hitch frames and a position of greater than 90 angular degree displacement so that the centers of gravity of the first implement hitches may be disposed on one side of the drawbar and those of the second implement hitches are disposed on the other side of the drawbar. The implement hitches are suitably staggered and disposed to be operative with ground working implements attached at all times.

Claims

1. An implement drawbar and transport comprising in combination;

an elongated drawbar means;

dirigible support means adopted for connection to a prime mover and including means for rotatably mounting said drawbar for movement between working and transport positions and in lateral transverse relationship with the line of draft on said support means;

a first plurality of implement draft connection means mounted on said drawbar for rotation therewith for operation between a generally horizontal working position and a generally vertical transport position;

a second plurality of implement draft connection means rotatably mounted on said drawbar means for rotation therewith for operation between a generally horizontal working position, a balanced lifting position and a generally vertical transport position;

first means connected to said second plurality of implement draft means and second means connected to said drawbar means for, said first means independently rotating said second plurality of implement draft means with respect to said drawbar means and said second means rotating said drawbar means and disposing said first plurality of implement draft connection means in a balanced position with respect to said second plurality of draft connection means with said first and second pluralities of draft connection means being on either side of said drawbar as said drawbar is rotated between working and transport positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first and second pluralities of implement draft connection means are alternately disposed along the elongated drawbar.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the drawbar means includes foldable side sections.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the outer ends of the drawbar include rotatable support means engageable with the surface of the earth in a first earth working position and in a second transport position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the drawbar means includes foldable side sections.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the outer ends of the drawbar include rotatable support means engageable with the surface of the earth.

7. The method of lifting and transporting a plurality of earth working implements on a rotatable drawbar which comprises the steps of;

fixedly attaching one half of a plurality of earth working implements to a drawbar rotatable between working and transport positions;

adjustably, rotatively, rigidly attaching the other half of a plurality of earth working implements to said drawbar;

positioning said one half and said other half of said plurality of earth working implements on one side of said drawbar in the working position thereof;

rotating said other half of said plurality of earth working implements to a balancing position on the opposide side of said drawbar from said working position;

rotating said drawbar from said working to said transport position; and

thereby

rotating said one half of said plurality of earth working implements to a raised transport position on the same side of said drawbar as said working position while maintaining said other half of said plurality of earth working implements on the opposite side of said drawbar.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the balancing position of the one half of the implements is adjusted as the remaining implements are raised.