Rearwardly folding agricultural implement

Abstract

This invention teaches an improved collapsible farm implement of the type having a wheeled frame or cart and right and left side elongated toolbars pivoted at their inboard ends about vertical axes relative to the frame so as to allow toolbar rotation rearward through approximately a quarter turn between a fully elevated field use position disposed crosswise to the path of implement travel and a road transit position disposed parallel to the path of implement travel. A wheeled truck assembly is mounted near the outboard end of each toolbar for providing rolling support of the latter, and each wheeled truck assembly can be rotated relative to the toolbar about an axis disposed substantially normal to the toolbar through approximately a quarter turn operable to steer the outboard end of the toolbar, upon appropriate forward or rearward implement movement, between the respective fully elevated field use and road transit positions. To provide a compact collapsed implement, each toolbar is pivoted or rotated approximately a quarter turn about a horizontal axis disposed substantially parallel to the toolbar so as to raise and lower tool elements carried on the toolbars between a lowered, operative field use position adjacent the ground and a fully elevated field use position disposed substantially normal to the ground. Partial toolbar rotation is utilized during normal field operation to raise tool elements clear of the ground for turning at the end of field passes. A power cylinder is used to steer each wheeled truck assembly and to rotate each toolbar for raising and lowering the tool elements, and a flow divider is used to admit equal volumes of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinders so that synchronized steering or tool element lift operation takes place.