Agco Corporation

Roger L Meek

Nelson J Palen

Dennis L Lewallen

Bradley A Stewart

An agricultural implement frame having at least one beam welded to additional components is formed by cutting the beam into a first tube member and a second tube member having an overlaying portion formed by overlaying ends of the first and second tube members. Each overlaying end has an overlaying wall and a base wall connected by opposing interface side walls. The laser cut forms interface surfaces in the interface side walls. The cut forms a plurality of interlocking load transfer teeth in the interface surfaces. Micro tabs are left uncut in the interface side walls to keep the first and second tube members aligned. The beam is then welded to other components of the implement frame. The micro tabs are broken to separate the first and second tube members so the frame may be folded. When joined, the interface surfaces contact and the interlocking load transfer teeth mesh.

Method for making a tube joint in an agricultural implement frame

A hydraulically-operated implement has a hydraulic system with a hose and a coupler connecting the hose to a mating port on a tractor. A docking station is mounted on the implement receives the coupler on the free end of the hose when disconnected from the tractor. The docking station includes a station body having a coupler receiving portion and a leakage collection portion. The coupler receiving portion has a primary side with at least one circular bore and the leakage collection portion contains a drain opening. A retention device positioned on the inner periphery of each of the circular bores receives the coupler. The drain opening is sealed with a drain plug and the docking station has an inside bulkhead parallel with the primary side of the station body. The bulkhead has a circular hole formed therein aligned with the at least one cylindrical bore in the primary side.

Docking station

A forwardly folding agricultural implement frame includes a tongue having a forward section and a rearward section telescopically extendable relative to the forward section. A carriage having support wheels is mounted on the forward tongue section. Left and right wings are pivotally connected to the rearward tongue section and foldable between a field position wherein the wings are generally perpendicular to the tongue and a transport position wherein the wings are generally parallel to the tongue. During the folding process, the carriage remains generally centered under the frame such that the majority of the weight of the implement is carried by the wheels and not shifted forwardly to the tractor drawbar.

Growing community of inventors

Beloit, KS, United States of America

Roger L Meek