Deere + Company

John R Myers

Howard C Hadley

Vernon E Rettig

Ronald M Steilen

Marvin L Bigbee

Hitch structure for towing first and second implements forwardly one behind the other in a transport position and in a side-by-side relationship in a field-working position. The hitch structure includes an elongated rear hitch pivotally connected to a rear corner of the first implement by a 180 degree horizontally folding hinge and rockable by a rear hydraulic cylinder between a transport position wherein the rear hitch connector for the second implement is centered behind the first implement, and a field-working position wherein the connector is offset to one side of the first implement. A fore-and-aft extending forward hitch includes an aft end pivotally connected to the first implement at a location offset to the side of the implement and a forward connecting end attached to a towing vehicle. A forward hydraulic cylinder rocks the forward connecting end between a transport position, generally centered with respect to the first implement, and a field-working position wherein the forward connecting end is centrally positioned between the implements. A rear hitch brace is responsive to forward hitch movement to automatically move into and out of a latching support position as the implements are moved to and from the field-working position.

Two unit folding hitch structures

A fore-and-aft extending transport hitch frame carried on a pair of ground wheels supports the innermost ends of a pair of end wheel wing drills and tows a trailing end wheel drill between the wing drills. The wing drills are connected to rearwardly angled upright pivot structures on the hitch frame by hinged bracket structure which causes the innermost ends of the wing drills to lift as the drills are pivoted forwardly toward a transport position. The forward end of the hitch frame is lifted to raise the outboard ends of the wing drills for transport. During planting operations the ground wheels effectively act as the inboard end wheels for the wing drills. The wing drills can rock vertically about the bracket structure hinge for good flexibility in the field-working position.

Implement transport hitch

Three-point hitch structure for connecting an implement to a towing vehicle wherein the upper link is made variable by means of a hydraulic cylinder pinned to a plate to provide three pivot points. When the cylinder is retracted, the two components act as a fixed length link, with the middle pivot point maintained slightly off center with respect to the two outer pivot points by a stop member. When the cylinder is extended, the middle pivot moves away from the centerline joining the two outer pivot points to allow the overall length to either lengthen or shorten. The towed vehicle is therefore free to rock with respect to the hitch and includes gauge and stabilizing wheels to maintain the implement in proper relationship with the ground contour. The link cylinder is plumbed into the hitch lift circuit so that when the implement is raised to transport position, the upper link automatically becomes fixed length and when the implement is lowered to operating position, the link automatically returns to a variable length configuration.

Hitch structure with variable link

An implement hitch for ganging multiple implements and towing them forwardly in a field-working position and endwise in a transport position. Trusses extend between hitch assemblies on the implements to provide endwise spacing of the implements. Stabilizers extend rearwardly from the trusses to the front of the implements to maintain the proper fore-and-aft alignment while allowing the implements to move up and down freely over uneven terrain. A main beam pivotally connected to an outermost truss serves as a common link between a towing vehicle and the hitch assembly for both the field-working and transport positions. Transport wheel assemblies mounted near the rear of the implements are provided for raising and lowering the implements to and from the transport position. The inner transport wheel assemblies include means for automatically connecting the adjacent corners of adjacent implements together as they are raised. As the implements are lowered to the field-working position the adjacent corners are automatically disconnected so the implements can move vertically freely with respect to each other.

Growing community of inventors

Polk City, IA, United States of America

John R Myers