Harvesters – Combined rakes and tedders – Revolving rake
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-08-14
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Combined rakes and tedders
Revolving rake
C056S370000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272826
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hay rake for raking and stacking forage. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for positioning the towed hay rake in a lower working position and an upper maneuvering and transport position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Towed rotary hay rakes for raking and stacking forage with both mechanical and hydraulic hoisting, or positioning, apparatuses currently exist. Such rakes typically consist of a rotary gearbox which rotates a set of rake arms positioned like spokes of a wheel about a common axis, a towbar to affix the rake to a tractor, and a wheeled support structure below the gearbox to support the gearbox and facilitate movement of the rake. During operation, the rake arms typically sweep completely around the wheel base of the support structure.
As is well-known, a feature that these rotary hay rakes have in common is the ability to assume different positions. In particular, the rake arms, which have the function of raking the forage, can be lowered to a working position so that the tips of the rake arms contact the crop for the raking operation and can be raised to an upper position for maneuvering and transport on the roadway.
The currently known positioning systems, whether mechanical or hydraulic, have drawbacks, however. Specifically, those rotary hay rakes with mechanical hoisting apparatuses generally possess only a limited range of movement and are difficult to maneuver. Furthermore, the operator may be required to get off of the tractor which tows the hay rake in order to operate the hoisting apparatus. Other currently known rotary hay rakes have hydraulic hoisting apparatuses, but these apparatuses are not optimally mounted on the hay rake. Because of difficulties in transferring power from above the gearbox of the rotary hay rake to a mechanism located on the support frame below the gearbox, a known hydraulic lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the hay rake includes a hydraulic cylinder that is mounted underneath the gearbox. Such positioning, however, is inconvenient and undesirable because the underside of the gearbox is not easily accessible.
Another problem with currently known positioning devices, whether mechanically or hydraulically operated, is that they do not always position the hay rake, in particular the rake arms, in an orientation which is parallel to the ground, as is desirable for optimal functioning. Because the hay rake is attached to the towing tractor by means of a tow bar, the orientation of the tow bar with respect to the tractor and the hay rake can deleteriously affect the positioning of the hay rake. For example, the tow bar tends to vary the hay rake's longitudinal inclination according to the greater or lesser height at which the tow bar has been attached to the tractor and according to the greater or lesser length of the tow bar. Therefore, it may not be possible to position the hay rake, in particular the rake arms, in a parallel orientation to the ground.
Whereas fine adjustment apparatuses may be available for adjusting the longitudinal inclination of the hay rake to overcome the tow bar effects addressed above, these types of adjustment apparatuses have drawbacks as well. Although the apparatuses may be effective at leveling the hay rake's trim when the hay rake is in the lower work position, they are not able to adjust for variations in the hay rake's inclination, which cause it not to be positioned parallel to the ground, after the hay rake has been moved to the upper maneuvering and transport position.
The problems described above are solved by the rake positioning apparatus of the present invention, which provides for an improved mounting location for an actuator included in the positioning apparatus, e.g., an easily accessible hydraulic cylinder which is mounted above the gearbox of the hay rake, a means for maintaining the hay rake in a parallel orientation to the ground when it is in both the lower working position and the upper maneuvering and transport position, and the convenience and practicality of remote control which is typical of hydraulic controls, thus eliminating any need for the operator to get down from the tractor and approach the hay rake to operate it or adjust it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for positioning a rotary hay rake where the hay rake includes a gearbox with a central nonrotating part, a peripheral rotating part, and side-delivery rake arms attached to the peripheral rotating part is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes an actuator where the actuator is mounted above the gearbox. A support frame is mounted below the gearbox and is movable between a first lower position and a second upper position. A connecting member is disposed through a bore in the central nonrotating part of the gearbox and is coupled at its upper end to the actuator and at its lower end to the support frame. The support frame is movable to its second upper position in response to a force imparted to it by the actuator through the connecting member.
Additionally, the invention may include a tow bar assembly. The tow bar assembly has a rear extended part having a first end and a second end where the first end is connected to structure associated with the gearbox. A central extended part having a first end and a second end is connected to the second end of the rear extended part at its second end. The central extended part is moveable with respect to the rear extended part and the rear extended part is positionable at a first lower position and a second upper position as a result of movement of the central extended part.
A second actuator may be included in the tow bar assembly where the second actuator is attached at a first end to the rear extended part and is coupled to the central extended part at a second end. The rear extended part is positioned in its second upper position in response to a force imparted to the central extended member by the second actuator.
The invention also includes a rotary hay rake comprising the improved hay rake positioning apparatus and/or tow bar assembly.
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Menichetti Silvano
Petturiti Sauro
Kenyon & Kenyon
Kovács Arpád Fáb
Sitrex S.r.l.
Will Thomas B.
LandOfFree
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