Farm implement hinge restrictor
This invention relates to farm implements of the draft type having a central section and a pair of articulated wing sections which are moved from a laterally extended operating position to a trailing position, and more particularly, to an improved connection between portions of the wing section which functions to prevent excessive oscillation while trailing. 
     While trailing farm implements of the sectional tow type to and from operation sites, the articulated wings thereof tend to oscillate violently thereby damaging the implement and posing a danger to objects and persons in the near vicinity. To avoid these problems, oscillation prevention devices have been suggested, for example see U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,241. However, such arrangements have proven to be costly to manufacture, inconvenient to use, and/or detrimental to the implement&#39;s flexibility when used in the field. This invention avoids the noted difficulties by providing a unique connector between the implement wing sections which permits normal articulation in the operating position but substantially dampens oscillation in the trailing position without manual actuation or deactuation. 
     The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a spring loaded hinge mechanism between implement wing sections operable to resiliently inhibit oscillations thereof during trailing in the transport position; to provide such a hinge mechanism wherein articulated parallel plates are urged abuttingly together by resilient means for implement stability during trailing and normal articulation during use; to provide such a hinge mechanism wherein the resilient means urging said plates together is adjustable to accomodate various trailing and operating conditions; to provide such a hinge mechanism which is simple and rigid in design for improved safety and extended implement operating life; and to provide such a hinge mechanism which is economical to manufacture and particularly well adapted for the proposed use. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of an implement embodying this invention with tool supporting sections in an operating position. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the implement with wing sections trailing in a transport position. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the implement particularly showing an oscillation restrictor attached thereto. 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the implement wherein pivotally attached frame members thereof are disposed angularly in a first operational position. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the implement wherein said frame members are disposed angularly in a second operational position. 
    
    
     An example of an implement embodying the present invention is illustrated generally in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the reference numeral 1 as pulled by a tractor 2 shown by broken lines. The implement includes a conventional, triangular draw-bar 3 connected at the rear thereof to a central implement supporting section 4 which is mounted for powered movement with respect to the draw-bar 3 about a horizontal transverse axis by conventional means (not shown). FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, illustrate the central section 4 in a horizontal position for a normal operation and in a vertical position for transport. The width of the central section 4 is dictated by practical consideration such as the overall width of the tractor, the roadway, gates, etc. Tillage tools, for example, of the spring tooth type 5, are mounted on the central section 4 to engage the ground when in the operative position. Hinges 6 connect each end of the central section 4 to the inner ends of tillage tool carrying wing sections 7. In this embodiment, each of the wing sections 7 is formed of a pair of frames, the inner frame of each pair being designated 8 and the outer frame 9. An oscillation restrictor generally designated by the numeral 10, is connected between the inner frame 8 and the outer frame 9. 
     The outer ends of the frames 8 and 9 include forwardly projecting arms 11 to which journaled wheels 12 are attached. Similar arms 13, attached to the central section 4, support journaled wheels 14. The wheels 12 and 14 support the implement, including the central section 4 and the wing sections 7, when the sections are in the operative position. 
     Cables 15 extend from the tractor hitch portion of the draw-bar 3 to the outer frames 9 and provide support for said frames in the operative position. The cables 15 have a suitable release mechanism (not shown) which permits folding the wing sections for transport. 
     Each of the outboard frames 9, near the outer end thereof, has a forwardly projecting wheel mount 20 which supports a journaled wheel 21 thereon. The arrangement is such that, in the transport position as illustrated in FIG. 2, wheel 21 is in an extended position at a level lower than the adjacent wheel 12, whereby the wheels 21 will engage the ground and elevate wheels 12 away from ground contact. In the operative position as illustrated in FIG. 1, wheels 12 support the implement while wheels 21 swing, with the outer frames 9, away from ground contact. 
     In the representation of FIG. 2, horizontal structural members 25 are connected together in a spaced, parallel relation by structural cross members 26 forming the structure of the wing frames 8 and 9. The oscillation restrictor 10 is connected to adjacent ends of horizontal members 25 and functions to urge the frame pairs 8 and 9 to an in-line position. 
     The inner and outer frame members 8 and 9 are connected for flexible movement therebetween such that they readily conform to the underlying terrain during the operational mode. In the illustrated structure, frame members 8 and 9 are pivotally connected for swinging motion from an in-line position by a hinge assembly 30. A pair of spaced ears 31 are attached to and project from the end 32 of frame member 9 and include aligned transverse apertures 33 therethrough. The cooperating end 34 of frame member 8 is provided with a mating aperture through which a hinge pin 35 is disposed and retained. 
     The oscillation restrictor 10 comprises a fixed bracket 40 attached to the frame 8 adjacent the end 34 thereof, and a reciprocating bracket 41 pivotally attached to outer frame 9 adjacent to the end 32 thereof by a linkage mechanism 42. The fixed bracket 40 comprises a rigid faceplate 43 and a pair of spaced apart gussets or side walls 44 attached to and upstanding from inner frame 8. The fixed bracket 40 is attached to the inner frame 8 by suitable fastening means such as U-bolts (not shown), welding, or the like. The faceplate 43 includes a flat exterior surface 45 disposed adjacent to the pivotal joint 30 and which lies in a plane substantially parallel to the central axis of the hinge pin 35. The faceplate 43 includes an aperture 46 therethrough adapted for receiving resilient means 47 therein. 
     The reciprocating bracket 41 includes a faceplate 50 engaging fixed bracket faceplate 43, and a pair of braces 51 extending therefrom in a direction toward frame member 9. The faceplate 50 includes a flat surface 52 which mates with the surface 45 of the fixed bracket 40, a first or upper end edge 53, and a second or lower end edge 54. A support member, such as sleeve 55, is provided between and attached to the braces 51 adjacent an outwardly end 56 thereof. An aperture 57 is disposed through faceplate 50 and is in substantial alignment with aperture 46. 
     The linkage mechanism 42 has a first or upper end 60 pivotally attached to the reciprocating bracket 41 in a spaced relation to the plate 50 thereof, and a second or lower end 61 thereof pivotally attached to frame member 9 in a spaced relation to the pivotal joint 30. In the illustrated structure, linkage mechanism 42 comprises a pair of straps 62 disposed on either side of frame member 9 to facilitate equal load distribution. The upper ends 60 of the strap are provided with aligned, transverse apertures therethrough which mate with sleeve 55 and are connected by a pin 63 disposed and retained therein. Similarly, the lower end 61 of each strap 62 includes a transverse aperture 64 therethrough which mates with a pivot pin 65 disposed within the frame aperture 66. 
     The resilient means 47 urges the fixed and reciprocating bracket faces 45 and 52 abuttingly together to prevent excessive frame oscillation while trailing and is preferably precompressed. An elongated member such as a rod 68 is positioned through bracket apertures 46 and 57 having the left and right hand portions 69 and 70 respectively projecting therefrom. The elongated member 68 is sized in correspondence with bracket apertures 46 and 57 whereby a gap or an annular space 71 exists between said members such that the rod can pivot freely therein. In this examle, elongate example, right hand portion 69 is provided with a retainer such as a washer 72 and a bolt head 73 and the left hand portion 70 thereof impales an elongated, longitudinally resilient member such as helical compression spring 75. A washer 76 is disposed about the rod 68 between an interior surface 77 of faceplate 43 and an interior end 78 of the spring 75. The outermost rod end 79 is threaded and engaged by a spring retainer such as nut 80 and washer 81, which when rotated relative to the rod provide an adjustable compression preset for the oscillation restrictor. 
     When the farm implement is in the trailing position, the inner and outer frames 8 and 9 of each wing section are held in a stable, in-line relationship by the oscillation restrictor. The compression spring 75 urgingly maintains the abutment of faceplates 43 and 50 thereby restricting the oscillation of the wings. 
     When the farm implement is in the operating position the oscillation restrictor permits articulation between the frame members for readily conforming the same to the contour of the underlying terrain. As the frame members 8 and 9 are rotated into an inverted &#34;V&#34; relationship by ground undulations, the link mechanism transmits said swinging movement to the reciprocating bracket 41 and rotates the same about the lower edge 54 thereof relative to the fixed bracket faceplate 43. This rocking motion causes the divergence of retainer 23 and washer 76 thereby further compressing the precompressed spring member 75. As the ground terrain causes the frame members 8 and 9 to assume a V-shaped relationship, the reciprocating bracket 41 is rotated about the upper end edge 53 thereof relative to fixed bracket 40. Again, said rocking motion simply compresses the spring member 75 thereby allowing the free relative rotation of the frame members of each wing section and permitting normal tillage movement. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown, except insofar as limitations are included in the following claims.