Harvesters – Horse rakes – Side delivery
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-06
2001-12-18
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Horse rakes
Side delivery
C056S375000, C056S367000, C056SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330785
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wheel rakes such as shown in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/812,234 include a series of rake arms pivotally mounted to a main frame member.
FIG. 1
(prior art) herein shows this rake to include a coil spring extending between upstanding posts on the actuation rod and the rake arms such that when the rake arms are lifted off the ground the coil spring is placed in tension. A chain extends through the coil spring to limit the pivoting of the rake arm and to protect the spring such as when the rake wheel encounters a depression in the field.
This spring arrangement works satisfactorily except that it is vulnerable to breakage and the spring taking a set upon being stretched beyond an acceptable limit.
What is needed is a spring type connection between the actuation rod and the lift arms that will not be subject to spring breakage or malfunction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The spring assembly of this invention allows for the conventional spring assembly to be replaced without other modification to the rake and thereby provide a substantially improved lifting mechanism for the rake wheels.
The lifting of the rake wheels occurs through a coil spring being place in compression rather than tension. In the preferred embodiment, a rod extends from an upstanding element on the rake arm and is received in a sleeve which is connected through linkages to the actuating rod. A coil spring is placed between the sleeve and the free end of the spring rod whereupon operation of the actuating rod causes a compressive force to be applied to the coil spring in turn applying tension to the spring rod which lifts the rake wheel. It is thus seen that the coil spring is protected from breakage and still performs its cushioned lifting function.
Another feature of this invention is that protection against damage caused by the rake wheel being unintendedly raised is provided. The linkage between the actuating rod and the sleeve allows for tension forces only being applied to it such as in a chain, thus, should the rake wheel be inadvertently raised through the wheel hitting a bump, the linkage will simply pivot allowing the rake wheel to freely pivot upwardly thereby avoiding damage to the spring assembly and actuating rod.
While the preferred embodiment of this invention has the spring assembly on top of the main frame, it would be possible to mount it on the bottomside and thereby place the coil spring between the sleeve and the spring rod end connected to the rake arm. It is seen that in either arrangement the lifting forces are transmitted through the coil spring by placing the coil spring in compression rather than tension.
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Rowse Dan D.
Rowse Ron A.
Petravick Meredith C.
Will Thomas B.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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