CA1212569A - Multiple section draw bar - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A drawbar having a boom with at least two pivotally connected sections which in a field position extend generally transversely of the direction in which the draw is drawn. Each section carries at least one first soil working device and at least one other second soil working device is trailed behind said first soil working device. The sections are pivotable in unison, about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction in which the drawbar is drawn, from said field position to a non-working position. In the non-working position the soil working devices are raised in order that the sections can be pivoted relatively to each other to a folded, transport position.

Description

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Thi~ invention iD concerned with an ~griculturnl drawbar ~ade up of at loast twc, sections which are ~ovable between n deployed, field or worklng position and a transport position.

Such drawbars are con~lonly used where large fields or areas are to be worked a~, for e~ample, ln the North Americ~n Prairlos ~nd provlde the sdvantage that in the deployed posltion large sw~ths of land nay be worked, while in the ~olded po~itlon, the drawbar nay be trnn~ported along relatlvely narrow roadw~ys to storage or to another arsa to be worked.

~ n such fnrming areas beneficinl r~sults can be achieved by performing nultiple faruing operntions, such as harrowing and packing, in a single operation. These re~ults include, inter alia, reduction in wind eroslon, evaporation and the number of pAs~es of equipment over the land. To thls end it is known with a non fDlding drawbar to couple two different soil working devices in tandem behind a tractor. With some conbinations of 80il working devices such as harrows and packers, transportation ha~ been a problem and in the pAst it has been neces~ary to trnnsport the packers separately from the drawbar or it ha~ been nece~nry to trail the pncker~ along the rondway.

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~, , 1~ 5$9 The prc~ent lnv~ntlon ~ek~ to provide a unit by which two dlf~oront typ~s of ~oll ~orklng d~vicon, particularly but not nec~ssarlly axeluDlvely, hnrrown nnd packerq, cny be eoupled ln tandem beblnd ~ tractor nnd ba ~ovod convenlontly in a tranffport po~itlon wlth the ~oll worklng devleao out of eontact with the ground.

Accordlng to tha pra~ant invantlon there 1~ provlded n drnwbnr co~pri-ing a boo~ having at laa~t two ~l~etlon~, ~hid saction~ having ~enn~ Sor ~upportlng at l~a~t one Sirst ooll working devlce, coupllng oeann for eonnuetlng ~aia boom to a tractor, ueans for plvoting ~aid ~actlon~ about a horlrontal a~l8 transver~e to th~ dlrectlon of travel of uaid drawbnr to ~ove naid firat ~oil worklng deviee froo a worklng positlon to a raisea, non-Yorking porition, and ~eans for plvotnlly eonneetlng second coil ~orking devleea to raspeetlv- 3setlon3 at loc~tlon~
~paced fro~ ~aid hori~ontnl a~is ~ueh thnt, upon ~o~e~ent of Jaid o0et~0~J to ~ovo ~ald Sirst ooil ~orking devlce to ~ald non-working p~ition ~eeond 8011 worklng davleao eonnected to said sectlons will b¢ lifted fro~ tha ground, at least two of ~nla ~ectlo~ b41ng plvotally eonn~cted to each other about a pivot a~i- whieh 1D gen~rally upright, when sai~ first ~oll worklng d~vieo io in ~aid non-working position, ~o as to be ~ovable about snld plvot a~l8 betwe~n n deployed attltude ln whlch sai~ n~etions llo tr~nsverse to the direction of travel and a folded, trDnsport po-ltion. Prcferably, the ~eans for pivotally oDnneeting the socond ~oll worklng aevices are dinpo~d to per~it the u~cond ,..

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~, aoil working devlce~ to b~ tr~iled behind the fir0t aoil working devicee ln thH working po~ltion.
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Mo~t danlrably, the boo~ comprlse~ a centro section and wing ~ections, each wing ~ection bolng pivotnlly connected to the centro oection nnd bning moYnble to a o~ded tr~nsport poaltion ln whlch it lles ~ub~t~ntially pnrDll~l to ~he dir~ction of er~v~l o~ th~ iopl~Qnt. The wlng ~ection~ ~y in fact co~pri~o two or ~ore pivot~lly lnterconnectod Dub~ection~
movnblo in unlnon to the foldsd trnnDport po~ition.

In one e~boal~ent of the lnv~ntion tho fir~t aoil working devlce~ comprise harrow~ nnd the eecond noil wor~ing device~ compri3~ packcr~, the harrou~ being ~aunted on frame ole~ent~ e~tendlng rearwaraly fro~ th~ boom and the packerA
having tongu~n plvotally connocee~ the cnd~ of tho frame element~ r~aot~ fro~ the boo~ by conn~cting ele~ent~ ao that as the boom in pivoted to movo the harrow~ to the non-working position, tho packer~ are llfted and hang su~pended fro~ the frame elemanta.

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Also nccording to the pre3ent invention there i~
provided a harrow and pncker drawbar co~pri~ing a boo~ hnving n centre aection and wing ~ectlons, each wing section having an inboard and an outbonrd and, torqe trans~itting universsl plvot ~aans connecting the inboard end of the wing ~ectlon to the centre oection, the centre ~ection and the wing ~ections each hAvlng a plurallty of fore find ait e~tending frane ele~ents, each fra~a ale~ent h~ving ~aana for supporting ~ harrow, a p~cker tongue pivotally ~ecured to cach fra~e ~le~ent ~nd adapted to trnil 3 packar behin~ ~sid fr~ne cle~entff, coupling ~enn~ for coupling ehe boom to a tractor, plvot neans for connecting aid centre ~ection to said coupling ne~n- for pivoting novenent about a genernlly hori~ontal a5i~ transverse to the direction of travel oi ~aid drawb~r, neans for pivoting uaid centre ~ection nnd with it ~id wing ~ectlon about ~aid generally hori ont~l a~is between n firat poYition, in which ~aid fra~e elenent~ are generally hori~ontal, and a ~econd po8ition i~ which ~aid fra~a ele~enta are generally upright, each ~aid tongue be$ng pivotally connected tO it8 aBaoCiated frane ele~ent nt a location sp~ced fron ~aia genarally hor$~ontal exi~, wheel ~ean~ supporting 88id boo~ in fir~t, ~econd nnd transp4rt po~itiona, relea~able n~ana anintaining 6aid ~ing ~ection3 qenerally tranbvex-e to the direction of travel o said drawbar, said raleas~ble ~ean~ being operable to ' por~it pivotAl ~ovecent in ~aid un$ver~1 pivot ~ean~ to enable ~nid uing section~ to pivot _5_ ~7 .

relative to said centre sectlon about a generAlly upright a~is fro~ the ~econd ponitlon to the trnn~port po~ltion.

So achieve co~pleta coverage of the worklng width of the drnwbar by the packero, evan ns the tractor and drawbar execute a turn, it iu proferred that the lateral end regions of adjacent packer~ overlap in the working or flrat position. To thi~ end ad~acent one~ of the pack~r~ are trailed At different dietances behind th~ traetor. ~hi8 ean be effectad by tbe ~xpediant of having the packer tongues connecte~ to the fra~e ele~ent~ by connecting ele~ent~ of which alternat~ ones are of a first length and the re~aining ones are of a secona and different length. Another e~pedi-nt ia to have alternate ones of tha fxa~e ele~ents o a first length and the remaining frame eleoents of a ~econd ana different length. ~08t preferably these two e~pedient~ are conbine~ with shorter packer tongues being connecte~ eo Jhort~r o~ of the fra~e elementR.

According eo further a~pect of the present ~nvention thor~ 1 J providad a ~rawbar adDpted to be drawn by a tractor acro~s the ground, ~aid arawbar comprl~lng a boo~ having at least two aection~, each of ~ait ~oction~ ~aving ~eans for ~upporting ~t l~a~t ono ir~t soil worklng deviceO coupling ~eDn3 for eonnecting 3ald boom to the trnctor and for parmitting plvotal ~ovcuent of eaeh of ~aid aection~ about a respec~ive a~i~ fro~ a firat poaitlon in which said fir~t ~oil working devlee~ ~re ~upported in an operative po~ition to a second po~itlon i~ which ~aid fir~t aoil working devlce~ are supportea in an inoperativa po~ltion, plvot neDns connecting aaia ~ctions for pivotal ~ove~ant fro~ a daployed po~itlon in whlch ~aid l"d2 ~ ~5!~

fir~t ~oil ~orking device~ are mnlntained in a worXing di~position rela~ive to one another to a folded position in which said firs~ ~oil working devicea ar~ not in a working dispoaition relative to one another ~nd connection means on each o~ naid sections pivotally to connect aecond ~oll working devices to reopective sections, aaia connection means being ~psced from said a~es whereby, upon pivotal ~ovement of said ~ection~ rom 0aid first po~ition to ~aid ~ccond pooition, : n~cond oil working de~ices pivotally connect0d to ~aid sections will be lifted from th2 ground to ~n inoperativl~ position.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a soil working implenent ndapted to be drawn ~cro~s the ground to perfor~ a cultivating operation, ~aid lcplecent including a ~awbar having a boo~ for~ed from at lea~t t~o rection~, each of oaid rections haYing first ~oil ~orking devicce ~ounted th~reon, coupling meana to connect ~id i~plement to n tractor and to peroit pivotal movement of each of ~aid ~ctions ~bout ~ re~pective a~i~ froc a first position in which said firat ~oil working devices are oupported in an operati~Q po~ition to ~ o~cond position in whicb ~sid flrst ~oil working aevices are ~upported in an inoperativ~ position, pivot nQ~ns connecting said s~ction~ for swinging move~ent from a deployQd pooition in which said firat ooil working deYice~ are ~aint~ined in A working position relative to on~ ~nother to a folded poaition, in whlch ssid fir~t ~oil working devices are not in a worklng diuposition relative to one another connection -6~-s~q~
means on each of said sections and spaced from said respective axes, second soil working devices being pivotally connected to said connection means whereby upon movement of said sections from said first to said second position, said second soil working devices are lifted from the ground to an inoperative position.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-sec~ion boom with pivotal connections between the sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially longer than the center section, said center section being generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer sections generally ~ransverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-working po~ition, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the field or working position, (f) a plurality of first soil working devices each attached to a said section by means of one or more of said frame members, -6b-(g) a plurality of second soil working devices each attached to said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said first soil working devices when in field or working position, (i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to said frame members about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the field or working position, (ii) said connecting means also including a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in the ield or working position, (h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of the said first soil working devices in the field or working position, to move said frame members between the working or field position in which said first soil working devices are in contact with the ground and a non-working position in which said first soil working devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same position relative to each other and the frame members, (i) said second soil working devices and said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said first soil working devices, in said non-working position, (ii) said pivotal connections between said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non--6c-~2~r. 5~9 working position so that said outer sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of t:ravel of the drawbar for transport.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a harrow and packer drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially longer than the center section, said center section being generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, ( c ) f irst coupling means for coupling the center section of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working or f ield position and in the non-working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the f ield or working position, -6d-~l 2 ~ 9 (f~ a plurality of harrows each attached to a said section by means of one or more of said frame members, (g) a plurality of packers each attached to said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said harrows when in field or working position, said connecting means having a length at least a substantial portion of the length of the frame members, (i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to said frame members about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the ~ield or working position, ~ii) said connecting means also including a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in the field or working position, (h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of the said harrows in the field or working position to move said frame members between the working or field position in which said harrows are in contact with the ground and a non-working position in which said harrows are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same position relative to each other and the frame members, ~i) said packers and said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said harrows, in said non-working position, -6e-lZ~r-~5~9 (ii) said pivotal connections between said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that said outer sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the harrow and packer drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the harrow and packer drawbar for transport.

According to still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:

(a) a boom having at least two sections pivotally connected together at adjacent ends thereof, said sections being transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when they are in working position r Ib) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c~ first coupling means for coupling a central portion of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer ends of the boom to the first coupling means and to retain the boom transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working position, -6f-te) a plurality of frarne members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the working position, each said frame member being capable of drawing and supporting a first soil working device attached to a said section by means of said frame mlember, to provide substantially complete coverage of the ground, (f) a plurality of connecting means each including ~i) a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to a respective frame member rearwardly thereof to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in working position, and (ii) a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when the frame member is in working position, said connecting means each being adapted to draw a second soil working device in working position and support it in non-working position, for substantially complete coverage of the ground, (g) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of said frame members in working position, to move said frame members between (i) the workiny position, in which first soil working -6g--devices a~tached thereto are in contact with the ground, and (ii) a non-working position in which said first soil working devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and generally in the same position relative to each other and the frame members, said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axes at the connections with their respective frame members, to be lifted thereby and raise second soil working devices from the ground to hang rearwardly of first soil working devices in said non-working position, said pivotal connections at adjacent ends of said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that the outer ends of said sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar for transport.

-6h-5~9 ~ preferred embodiment of the present invention i5 illu~trated in the accompanying ~drawings in which~

Figure I ifi a per~pective view of a drawbar accordinq to the pre~ent inventlon in field or worXing position with part~ removed in the intarests of clarity;

Pigure 2 i8 a detail o~ the ~tructure of Figure l;

Pigure 3 i8 a perspective view of the 6tructure in Figure 1 nhowing the drawbar in a non-working position and, again, with part~ removed in the interssts of clarity;

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Figure 4 is a rear view of a part of the structure in Figures 1 and 3, ~hown in the non-working position;

Figure 5 i8 a view sim~lar to Figure 4 showing the implement in a folded or transport po~ltion; and F~gure 6 shows a detail of the drawbar of Figures 1 to A preferred drawbar according to the present invention is illustrated, in ~he working or field position, in Figure 1.

The dr~wb~r conpri~e~ a cart at 10 of lnrgely conventional tructure having ~ hitch at 12 by whlch it ~ay be coupled to tractor the cart and hitch constltuting, a8 will be apparent fro~ the followlng ~cription, ~1ns by which the boo~ of the drawbar ~ny ba coupl~d to tha tr~ctor The cnrt ha~
ground-ang~glng ~heol~ 1~ and i~ connoct~d to ~ cantre uection 16 of n ar~ubar whlch compri~os ~hAt centre sectlon ~nd a pair of outboar~ wing rections 18 Th~ wlng ~ctiona ar~ connect~d to tho contre sectlon by thH hinge tructur~ lllu~trated in Figure 2, that ~ing~ rtructure con-tltuting n torque tran~itting ~ni~er~al plvot connectlng the wlng De~tions to the c~ntre section R~ferrlng to Figure 2, th~ centro section of the drawb~r~ ~n the working po8ition shown ln Figureh 1 and 2, ha~ ~ pair ~f downwardly ~nd outwar~ly ~xtendin~ bracket Ar~ 20 between which ~ pivot block 24 1- di~po~ed rhe pivot block co~prl~es perpen~lcul~r ~h~nnel~ 22 and 32 with ~ pin 26 being pa~sed through ohannel 22 and being engAged i~ bearings 28 of the brAcket~ 20 At thD inbcArd end of tho wlng ~ection, 1 e th~ end of th~ ~lng D~ctlon ~d~ac~nt to th~ cont~e uectlon, ~ U-~hapea hinge brack~t 29 i~ ~upport~d and i~ reinforced by fillets 30 Pivot pin 3~ upportod in channel 32 and ~tenda betwean the oppo~ed li~b- of the U-~haped brackot 29 to b~ r~ceived in b-~rlng~ 35 In thiu way the wing ~ections are univerHally hlnged to ~h~

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., cenere section in such a way that torque rotating the centre 6ection about a longitudinal ~Xi8 tr~n6verse to the dlrection of travel of the drawbar is trant3~itted to the wing sections.

Stay6 36 extend hetween anchor points 38 on the wing sections and anchor point~ 40 o a pivotally mounted, gener311y T-shaped, control or locking arm 42 o~ the cart 10.
Arm 42 is pivoted, a8 at 44, to move between the position~ ~hown in full llne and ln chain-dot line ln Figure 1. Latching mean6, vperable fro~ the tractor, retnin the arm 42 in the po~ition shown in full llne, tho6e l~tching mean6 co-operating with the base of the T-&haped arm. Release of arm 42 permits pivoting move~ent of the wing sections to the position shown in chain-dot Iine in Figure 3, thig in a manner degcribed more fully hereinafter.

Mounted at the distal or outboard ends of the wing sections of the boom are support wheelg 50 ~upported upon fixed axle means. Di6posed upon the wing ~ections intermediate their pivotal connection to the centre section and the wheels 50 are support wheels 52 which, in a manner described hereinafter, 6upport the wing sections in the non-working positions and during transportation, i.e. support the wing gections in the folded or transport position. The wheels 52 are mounted upon A fixed axle indlcated generally at 54.

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The centre sectlon of the drawbAr ia pivoted by plvota 70, to the ad~cent end of the cart 10 and ha~ a palr of spaced apart upstAn~ng bracket~ 74 rig~dly secured to it. A pair of pl~ton/cylinder unit0 82 e~tend between anchor points ~4 on the c~rt ~nd a pi~ot on the bracket~ 7~, actuation of the platon/cylinder unitn causing the centre section of the drswbnr and with it, the ~ing ~cctions of the drawbar, to be pivoted on plvoto 70 ~bout a ~ener~lly horl~ontal ~ri~ trnrsver~e to the direction of travel of the tractor to whlch the cart iJ
connected.

E~ch of the sections 16, 18 ha~ n plurnlity of gener~lly rect~ngulnr fra~es 90 constitutlng fraue ele2ents, the wing oections each having foux such ~ra~e~ and the centre section having t~o ~uch fra~e~. Suspended fro~ each of the fra~s are harrows 92 only on~ of which i~ illuntrated, in the interests of cl~rity. At the end of each fra~e el~ent re~ote fro~ the booo a connecting ele~ent 96 provides a connection to plvotally conn~ct a packer tongue to the fra~e. me connectlng eleoent~ 96 each conpri~e the ~tructure 96 which ~a generally V-shaped, the dirtal ends of th~ li~bs of the V bcing pivotally connected to the frane ~lc~ents gO n8 At 94. At the crotch of the V-shnped connecelng eleoents, the packer ele~ents, of known ~tructur- per ne ere connected by ~eans of packer tonguss 100 to the connectlng ele~ent~ ao nhown in Figure 6. At .

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the crotch of the connecting elements A clavi~ lOl is provided and u tarminal portion of the p~cker tongue hDs ~ clevis 102. A
p~ir of pi~ot plnu are di~posed between the arm~ o~ the clevi~e~
and provlde for plvoting novement: of the packers nbout a ~ertical axi~ and for pl~oting ~ovement about a hori~ontal A~i8 tran6verse to the direction of travel of the drawbar. The ter~inal portion of the packer tonguQ i~ rotntable about its own aYi~ i.a. about a generally hori~ontal a~i~ p~rallel to the dlrcction of traval of the drawbar ~o that the packer tongue i~
pivote~ to the connecting element for ~ovem~nt about thrQe ~utually perpendicular ~e~ and the univernal conn~ction between the connecting elecents and ~he packer tongue~ is non-torque transmitting. To prevent the connection between the connecting element~ and the packer tongues fro~ contacting the ground, the clevia 102 is e~tended ~8 at 104 to act as a stop co-operating wlth the ad~acent end of th~ connccting element. It is to be noted that alternate ones of the cross pieces acros~ ths drawbar are dispo~ed at A particular dintance from the dr~wbar ana the remainder of tho~e cros~ pieces ara diaposed ~t a lesser di~tance fron the drawbar section~. Putting it another way alternate ones of the frsmQ element~ have a first length while the re~aining fra~e elem2nt~ are of a lesser length. Si~ilarly, alternat~ one~ of the connecting e}e~ents 96 are of a firat length while the remaining connectlng element~ are of a ~econd or les~er length, the shorter conn~ctlng elacent~ being connected to the cro~ piec~ of shorter one~ of the fra~en nnd the longer connecting elenent~
being connected to longer onea of the fra~as.

Th~ frn~e 90 of the left hand drawb~r ~ection l~, a~
~i~wed ln ~igure 1, ne~re~t to the p~ot~l connectlon of th~t wing ~action to tha centre section of the drnwb~r has a long connecting ~la~ent and io ~e~urad to a long fra~e whers~ the ad~acent fr~e 90 of the c~ntro ~ctlon ha~ e ~hort connecting ele~ant. Further a long connectlng ~l~ent i~ provided on the fr~e 90 ~t the rlght h~nd end o~ the centre section, that fra~e lt~elf being a lony frame, while the ad~acent connecting ele~ent of the right hand wing fiection is ~hort and i~ connected to A
short fra~e. By thQ ~dop~ion of the alternating long ana short tongues it i~ pos~lble to overlap the end ~ections of ad~acent on~ of th~ packer ~le~ents o that as the packer~ are trailed bahind a tr~ctor, ~8 the tractor turn~ all of tha l~nd la covered oy the packer~ even an the tractor is turned.

In ~oving fro~ th~ ~orking po~ition ~hown in Figure 2 to the tran~port position ~hown in chain - dot line in Figure 3 and al~o i~ Figure 5, fir~ the pl~ton/cylinder unita 82 are opsrated ro thnt the boo~ ~ctions novc, in uniuon, wlth the frnce ~le~entD 90 to the poDltlon ~hown in full line in figurQ
3, i.e. thoy ~ove to A non-working positlon. In thin non-working posiSion the connecting elements which support the packers pivot to hang suspended as i8 particularly to be seen in Figure 3.

¦ In the upright position of the frame elements the wheels 52 are brought into contact with the ground and the latching means holding the control bar 42 i8 released.
Thereafter as the tractor is advanced the wing ~ections, being free of restraint by the stays 36 pivot about what are now substantially vertical axes, from the position shown in full line in Figure 3 to the transport position shown in chain-dot line in that Figure.

To move from the transport position to the working or - Eield position ths tractor is reversed so that the wing sections are moved to lie parallel to the centre section, i.e. the wing sections are moved to the position shown in full line in Figure 3. Upon reaching that position, the piston/cylinder units 84 are operated so that the packer unit~ come into contact with the ground and the wing section~ are supported by the wheels 50. At this point the tractor i~ slowly driven forward while the piseon/cylinder units 84 are operated to iower the frames and packers completely into the working position shown in Figure 1.

During the lowering of the ~rames Erom the poqition ~hown in full line in Figure 3 to that ~osltion in Figure 1 the -~4-control bar is lowered, undar gravity, and engages with the latchmeanfi to be held in the downward, ~wing section restr~ining po~ition.

It will be raeognized that the embcdiment here ~llustrated $s gubject to varioug ~odification~. For eYample, it is possible inatead of usinq a centre section and two wing 6ections to u&e ~imply two fiections which fold to adopt a 6ub6tantially V-ghaped coniiguxation in the transport position or a coniguration in which they lie parallel to the direction of travel. Additionally, the wing sections themselves may ~mprise two sections pivoted to each other to accommodate movements of the wing fiections over undulating ground. Additionally, while in this particular embcdiment there have ~een illustrated packers and harrows quite app~rently the present invention ifi not restrieted to these particular types of units.

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Claims (88)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A drawbar comprising a boom having at least two sections, said sections having means for supporting at least one first soil working device, coupling means for connecting said boom to a tractor, means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar to move said first soil working device from a working position to a raised, non-working position, and means for pivotally connecting second soil working devices to respective sections at locations spaced from said horizontal axis such that, upon movement of said sections to move said first soil working device to said non-working position, second soil working devices connected to said sections will be lifted from the ground, at least two of said sections being pivotally connected to each other about a pivot axis which, is generally upright when said first soil working device is in said non-working position, so as to be movable between a deployed attitude in which said sections lie transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar and a folded, transport position.

2. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally connecting the second soil working devices are disposed to permit the second working devices to be trailed behind the first working devices.

3. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said boom comprises a centre section and wing sections, each wing section being pivotally connected to the centre section said wing sections lying substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in said folded transport position.

4. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting at least one first working device comprises frame elements extending rearwardly from the sections and wherein a plurality of said second soil working devices is connected to said means for pivotally connecting said second soil working devices, each of said second soil working devices being a packer having a connecting element pivotally connected to said frame elements at a location remote from said horizontal axis.

5. A drawbar as claimed in claim 3 wherein each wing section includes at least two wheels, one of which is mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar with said first soil working devices in said working position and the other of which is mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the folded, transport position.

6. A drawbar as claimed in claim 1 wherein second soil working devices are connected to said means for pivotally connecting said second soil working devices, said second soil working devices comprising packer elements, there being at least one packer element to each of said sections, each packer element being connected to its respective section by a connecting element pivoted to its associated section at said locations about an axis which, in said working position, is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar.

7. A drawbar as claimed in claim 6 wherein each said packer element has a tongue, said tongue being pivotally connected to its respective said connecting element.

8. A drawbar as claimed in claim 7 wherein each packer element tongue is connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about two perpendicular axes one of which in said working position is generally vertical and the other of which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel.

9. A drawbar as claimed in claim 7 wherein each packer element tongue is connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes one of which is horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar.

10. A drawbar as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are provided for restricting relative movement of said connecting elements end packer element tongues about said one axis to prevent said tongue and connecting element contacting the ground.

11. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 6 wherein adjacent ones of the packer elements are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow the packer elements to cover completely the working width of the implement.

12. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 11 wherein alternates ones of said connecting elements have a first length and the remaining connecting elements are of a second and different length.

13. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 11 wherein each of said connecting elements is pivotally connected to an associated frame element, said frame element extending rearwardly from said boom sections, alternate ones of said frame elements being of a first length and the remaining ones of said frame elements being of a second and different length.

14. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 13 wherein alternate ones of said connecting elements are of a first length and the remaining ones of said connecting elements are of a second and different length, shorter connecting elements being connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

15. A harrow and packer drawbar comprising a boom having a centre section and wing sections, each wing section having an inboard and an outboard end, torque transmitting universal pivot means connecting the inboard end of the wing section to the centre section, the centre section and the wing sections each having a plurality of fore and aft extending frame elements, each frame element having means for supporting a harrow a packer tongue pivotally secured to each frame element and adapted to trail a packer behind said frame elements, coupling means for coupling the boom to a tractor, pivot means for connecting said centre section to said coupling means for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar, means for pivoting said centre section and with it said wing sections about said horizontal axis between a first position, in which said frame elements are generally horizontal, and a second position in which said frame elements are generally upright, each said tongue being pivotally connected to its associated frame element at a location spaced from said generally horizontal axis, wheel means supporting said boom in first, second and transport positions, releasable means maintaining said wing sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar, said releasable means being operable to permit pivotal movement in said universal pivot means to enable said wing sections to pivot relative to said centre section about a generally upright axis from the second position to the transport position.

16. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 15 wherein said wheel means comprises a pair of wheels on each wing section, one wheel of each wing section supporting the wing section in the first position and being rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in that position and the other wheel of each wing section supporting the wing section in the transport position and being rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar in the transport position.

17. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 15 wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated frame element by a connecting element, each packer tongue being connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about two perpendicular axes one of which, in said first position, is generally vertical and the other of which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel of said drawbar.

18. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 15 wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated frame element by a connecting element, each packer tongue being connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes one of which is horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar.

19. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 18 wherein means are provided for restricting relative movement of said connecting element and packer tongue about said one axis to prevent said tongue and connecting element contacting the ground.

20. A harrow and drawbar as claimed in Claim 15 wherein adjacent ones of the packer elements are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to permit the packer elements to cover completely the working width of the implement.

21. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in Claim 20 wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated frame element by a connecting element, alternate ones of said connecting elements having a first length and the remaining connecting elements being of a second and different length.

22. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in Claim 20 wherein each packer tongue is connected to its associated frame element by a connecting element, alternate ones of said connecting elements being of a first length and the remaining ones of said frame elements being of a second and different length.

23. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in Claim 22 wherein alternate ones of said connecting elements are of a first length and the remaining ones of said connecting elements are of a second and different length, shorter connecting elements being connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

24. A drawbar comprising a boom having transversely extending centre and wing sections, means for pivotally connecting the wing sections to the centre sections, means connecting the boom to a tractor for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the direction in which said drawbar is drawn by a tractor, each section having a plurality of rearwardly extending frame elements, said frame elements being secured at their forward ends to respecting ones of said sections and including pivot means remote from said generally horizontal axis for pivotally connecting first soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements, said frame elements each constituting means for supporting other soil working elements between said generally horizontal axis and said pivot means, and means for pivoting said boom about said generally horizontal axis to raise the trailing ends of said frame elements to non-working positions, said means pivotally connecting the wing sections to the centre section permitting the wing sections to be moved from said non-working position to a folded position in which the wing sections extend generally parallel to the direction in which said drawbar is trailed.

25. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 24 wherein said soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements are packers, each packer having a tongue connected to said pivot means, adjacent ones of the packers being trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow the packer elements to cover completely the working width of the implement.

26. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 25 wherein each said pivot means includes a connecting element, alternate ones of said frame elements being of a first length and the remaining ones of said frame elements being of a second and different length.

27. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 26 wherein alternate ones of said connecting elements are of a first length and the remaining ones of said connecting elements of a second and different length, shorter connecting elements being connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

28. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements are packers, each packer having a packer tongue connected to said pivot means by a connecting element, the packer tongue being connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about two perpendicular axes one of which in said non-working position is generally vertical and the other of which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar.

29. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 25 wherein said soil working implements to be trailed behind said frame elements are packers, each packer having a packer tongue connected to said pivot means by a connecting element, the tongue being connected to its associated connecting element for pivoting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes ones one of which is horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel of said drawbar.

30. A drawbar as claimed in Claim 29 wherein means are provided for restricting relative movement of said connecting element and packer tongue about said one axis to prevent said tongue and connecting element contacting the ground.

31. A drawbar adapted to be drawn by a tractor across the ground, said drawbar comprising a boom having at least two sections, each of said sections having means for supporting at least one first soil working device, coupling means for connecting said boom to the tractor and for permitting pivotal movement of each of said sections about a respective axis from a first position in which said first soil working devices are supported in an operative position to a second position in which said first soil working devices are supported in an inoperative position, pivot means connecting said sections for pivotal movement from a deployed position in which said first soil working devices are maintained in a working disposition relative to one another to a folded position in which said first soil working devices are not in a working disposition relative to one another and connection means one each of said sections pivotally to connected second soil working devices to respective sections, said connection means being spaced from said axes whereby, upon pivotal movement of said sections from said first position to said second position, second soil working devices pivotally connected to said sections will be lifted from the ground to an inoperative position.

32. A soil working implement adapted to be drawn across the ground to perform a cultivating operation, said implement including a drawbar having a boom formed from at least two sections, each of said sections having first soil working devices mounted thereon, coupling means to connect said implement to a tractor and to permit pivotal movement of each of said sections about a respective axis from a first position in which said first soil working devices are supported in an operative position to a second position in which said first soil working devices are supported in an inoperative position, pivot means connecting said sections for swinging movement from a deployed position in which said first soil working devices are maintained in a working disposition relative to one another to a folded position in which said first soil working devices are not in a working disposition relative to one another connection means on each of said sections, and spaced from said respective axes, second soil working devices being pivotally connected to said connection means whereby upon movement of said sections from said first to said second position, said second soil working device are lifted from the ground to an inoperative position.

33. A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially longer than the center section, said center section being generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the field or working position, (f) a plurality of first soil working devices each attached to a said section by means of one or more of said frame members, (g) a plurality of second soil working devices each attached to said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said first soil working devices when in field or working position, (i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to said frame members about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the field or working position, (ii) said connecting means also including a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in the field or working position, (h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of the said first soil working devices in the field or working position, to move said frame members between the working or field position in which said first soil working devices are in contact with the ground and a non-working position in which said first soil working devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same position relative to each other and the frame members, (i) said second soil working devices and said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said first soil working devices, in said non-working position, (ii) said pivotal connections between said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that said outer sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar for transport.

34. A drawbar as claimed in claim 33 wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the field or working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.

35. A drawbar as claimed in claim 34 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

36. A drawbar as claimed in claim 35 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

37. A drawbar as claimed in claim 36 wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said connecting means from contacting the ground.

38. A drawbar as claimed in claim 33 wherein adjacent ones of said second soil treating devices are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow said second soil treating devices to cover completely the working width of the drawbar.

39. A drawbar as claimed in claim 38 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

40. A drawbar as claimed in claim 38 wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

41. A drawbar as claimed in claim 40 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

42. A harrow and packer drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially longer than the center section, said center section being generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the field or working position, (f) a plurality of harrows each attached to a said section by means of one or more of said frame members, (g) a plurality of packers each attached to said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said harrows when in field or working position, (i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to said frame members about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the field or working position, (ii) said connecting means also including a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in the field or working position, (h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of the said harrows in the field or working position, to move said frame members between the working or field position in which said harrows are in contact with the ground and a non-working position in which said harrows are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same position relative to each other and the frame members, (i) said packers and said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said harrows, in said non-working position, (ii) said pivotal connections between said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that said outer sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the harrow and packer drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the harrow and packer drawbar for transport.

43. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 42 wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the field or working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.

44. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 43 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

45. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 44 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

46. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 45 wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said connecting means from contacting the ground.

47. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 42 wherein adjacent ones of said packers are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover completely the working width of the drawbar.

48. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 47 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

49. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 47 wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

50. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 49 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

51. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 42 wherein the said pivotal connection between the said sections is a torque-transmitting universal pivot.

52. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 51 wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the field or working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.

53. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 52 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

54. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 53 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

55. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 54 wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said connecting means from contacting the ground.

56. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 52 wherein adjacent ones of said packers are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover completely the working width of the drawbar.

57. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 56 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

58. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 56 wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

59. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 58 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially longer than the center section, said center section being generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the field or working position, (f) a plurality of first soil working devices each attached to a said section by means of one or more of said frame members, (g) a plurality of second soil working devices each attached to said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said first soil working devices when in field or working position said connecting means having a length at least a substantial portion of the length of the frame members, (i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to said frame members about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the field or working position, (ii) said connecting means also including a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in the field or working position, (h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis generally parallel to their length and forward of the said first soil working devices in the field or working positionto move said frame members between the working or field position in which said first soil working devices are in contact with the ground and a non-working position in which said first soil working devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same position relative to each other and the frame members, (i) said second soil working devices and said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be lifted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said first soil working devices, in said non-working position, (ii) said pivotal connections between said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that said outer sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar for transport.

61. A drawbar as claimed in claim 60 wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the field or working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.

62. A drawbar as claimed in claim 61 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about a second axis substantially spaced from the rearmost end of the frame members and generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

63. A drawbar as claimed in claim 62 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

64. A drawbar as claimed in claim 63 wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said connecting means from contacting the ground.

65. A drawbar as claimed in claim 61 wherein adjacent ones of said second soil treating devices are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow said second soil treating devices to cover completely the working width of the drawbar.

66. A drawbar as claimed in claim 65 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

67. A drawbar as claimed in claim 65 wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

68. A drawbar as claimed in claim 67 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

69. A harrow and packer drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a three-section boom with pivotal connections between the sections and in which the two outer sections are substantially longer than the center section, said center section being generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling the center section of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer sections to the said first coupling means and retain said outer sections generally transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working or field position and in the non-working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the field or working position, (f) a plurality of harrows each attached to a said section by means of one or more of said frame members, (g) a plurality of packers each attached to said frame members by a connecting means rearward of said harrows when in field or working position, said connecting means having a length at least a substantial portion of the length of the frame members, (i) each said connecting means including a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to said frame members about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the field or working position, (ii) said connecting means also including a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when in the field or working position, (h) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of the said harrows in the field or working position to move said frame members between the working or field position in which said harrows are in contact with the ground and a non-working position in which said harrows are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and in generally the same position relative to each other and the frame members, (i) said packers and said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axis to be lilted thereby from the ground and hang rearwardly of said harrows, in said non-working position, (ii) said pivotal connections between said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that said outer sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the harrow and packer drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the harrow and packer drawbar for transport.

70. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 69 wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the field or working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.

71. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 70 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

72. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 71 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

73. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 72 wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said connecting means from contacting the ground.

74. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 69 wherein adjacent ones of said packers are trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover completely the working width of the drawbar.

75. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 74 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

76. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 74 wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

77. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 76 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

78. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 77 wherein the said pivotal connection between the said sections is a torque-transmitting universal pivot.

79. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 78 wherein the wheel means include a pair of wheels connected to each of said outer sections one of which wheels is rotatable about an axis parallel to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the field or working position, the other of which wheels is rotatable about an axis transverse to the length of said section and supports said section out of contact with the ground in the non-working position and in the transport position.

80. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 79 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an second axis which is generally horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

81. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 80 wherein said connecting means also includes a further free pivotal connection about an third axis which is generally horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel when in the working or field position.

82. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 81 wherein said free pivotal connection about said third axis includes means for restricting relative movement to prevent said connecting means from contacting the ground.

83. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 78 wherein adjacent ones of said packers arc trailed at different distances behind the tractor to allow said packers to cover completely the working width of the drawbar.

84. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 83 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

85. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 83 wherein alternate ones of said frame members have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length.

86. A harrow and packer drawbar as claimed in claim 85 wherein alternate ones of said connecting means have a first length and the remaining ones are of a second and different length and the shorter connecting means are connected to shorter ones of said frame elements.

87. A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:

(a) a boom having at least two sections pivotally connected together at adjacent ends thereof, said sections being transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when they are in working position, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling a central portion of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer ends of the boom to the first coupling means and to retain the boom transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the working position, each said frame member being capable of drawing and supporting a first soil working device attached to a said section by means of said frame member, to provide substantially complete coverage of the ground, (f) a plurality of connecting means each including (i) a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to a respective frame member rearwardly thereof to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in working position, and (ii) a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when the frame member is in working position, said connecting means each being adapted to draw a second soil working device in working position and support it in non-working position, for substantially complete coverage of the ground, (g) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of said frame members in working position, to move said frame members between (i) the working position, in which first soil working devices attached thereto are in contact with the ground, and (ii) a non-working position in which said first soil working devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and generally in the same position relative to each other and the frame members, said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axes at the connections with their respective frame members, to be lifted thereby and raise second soil working devices from the ground to hang rearwardly of first soil working devices in said non-working position, said pivotal connections at adjacent ends of said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that the outer ends of said sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar for transport.

88. A drawbar adapted to be drawn across the ground comprising:
(a) a boom having at least two sections pivotally connected together at adjacent ends thereof, said sections being transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when they are in working position, (b) wheel means for supporting said sections out of contact with the ground, (c) first coupling means for coupling a central portion of the boom to a tractor, (d) releasable second coupling means to couple the outer ends of the boom to the first coupling means and to retain the boom transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar when in the working position, (e) a plurality of frame members attached to each said section and directed generally rearwardly of said sections when in the working position, each said frame member being capable of drawing and supporting a first soil working device attached to a said section by means of said frame member, to provide substantially complete coverage of the ground, (f) a plurality of connecting means each including (i) a rigid connecting member freely pivotally connected to a respective frame member rearwardly thereof to pivot about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in working position, and (ii) a further free pivotal connection about an axis which is vertical when the frame member is in working position, said connecting means each being adapted to draw a second soil working device in working position and support it in non-working position, for substantially complete coverage of the ground, said frame members and corresponding connecting means adjacent the pivotally connected boom sections being of different lengths so that adjacent second soil working devices attached thereto are trailed at different distances behind the tractor so as not to interfere one with the other upon folding of the boom sections, (g) means for pivoting said sections about a horizontal axis, generally parallel to their length and forward of said frame members in working position, to move said frame members between (i) the working position, in which first soil working devices attached thereto are in contact with the ground, and (ii) a non-working position in which said first soil working devices are in a raised substantially upright position out of contact with the ground and generally in the same position relative to each other and the frame members, said connecting means freely pivoting about said horizontal axes at the connections with their respective frame members, to be lifted thereby and raise second soil working devices from the ground to hang rearwardly of first soil working devices in said non-working position, said pivotal connections at adjacent ends of said sections including axes which are generally upright when in the non-working position so that the outer ends of said sections may pivot about said axes upon release of said releasable second coupling means from a position transverse to the direction of travel of the drawbar in the non-working position to a position generally parallel to the direction of travel of the drawbar for transport.