CA1036368A - Hay-making machines - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A hay-making machine has at least one rake member re-tatable about an upwardly inclined axis. The rake carries tines which are outwardly pivotable to a working position by the con-trifugal forces caused by rotation of the rake. The tines are pivotable onto a transport position solely by means of their deadweight.

Description

10;~6368 This invention relates to a hay-making machine with at least one rake member rotatable about an upwardly directed axis of rotation and compris-ing tines, which are outwardly pivotable by centrifugal forces exerted during rotation of the rake member.
Devices of the kind set forth employ additional means, for example, springs for moving the tines either into a transport position or into a working position.
According to the present invention there is provided a hay-making machine comprising at least one rake member rotatable therein about an upward-ly directed axis of rotation, a plurality of tines pivotally mounted on said rake member to be pivotable laterally outwardly of said axis to a working position by centrifugal forces generated by rotation of said rake member at an operative speed, and pivotable inwardly under only their dead-weight to a transport position when the rotational speed of the rake member decreases from the operative speed, the machine having a smaller width when the tines ;~
are in the transport position than when the tines are in working position.
Por a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into eect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a hay-making machine embodying the inven-tion.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the central pa~t of a rake member.
Fig. 4 shows on an enlarged scale the connection of a support for the tines with the arm of the rake member.
Fig. 5 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow V in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation in the direction of the arrow VI
in Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation taken on the line VII-VII in Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of a hay-making machine embodying the invention in the transport position.
Fig. 9 illustrates a second possibility of fastening an _ I _ 1 . .

1036~68 arm of the rake member to the central part of said rake member.
Figure 10 shows a tine support having four tines.
Figure 11 illustrates a third possibility of fastening an arm to the central part of the rake member.
Figure 12 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a hay-making machine in accordance with the invention.
Figure 13 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line XIV-XIV
in Figure 13.
Figure 15 illustrates on an enlarged scale the connection of an arm with the central part of the rake member and the connection of a tine support.
Figure 16 is a plan view in the direction of the arrow XVI in Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on the line XVII-XVII in Figure 15.
Figure 18 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on the line XVIII-XVIII in Figure 15.
Figure 19 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 12 in the transport position.
Figure 20 is a side elevation of a working position of another embodiment, in which the tine supports are pivotable relative to the arms.
Figure 21 illustrates on an enlarged scale the pivotal connection of a tine support.
Figure 22 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 20, the device bearing on the tine supports.
The construction shown in Figures 1 to 8 is that of a hay-making machine comprising a frame having an at least substantially horizontal frame beam 1, extending transversely of the direction of movement A of the device.
The frame 1 is tubular and preferably has a circular cross-section. The ends of the frame beam 1 are secured by means of connecting beams 2 extending in the direction of movement A to a foremost frame beam 4 of a protective .. . . . . . ..
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~036368 part 3. The frame beam 1 is connected with a frame beam 5 of the protective part 3 by means of connecting beams 6, which are in line with the connecting beams 2, viewed in plan (see Figure 1) The beams 4 and 5 of the protective part 3 are located slightly above the frame beam 1. Near the ends of the ;--frame beam 1 within the connecting beams 2 struts 7 are arranged on the frame beam so that, viewed in plan, they are converging and are secured to the foremost beam 4. To the ends of the frame beam 1 are secured vertical plates 8, extending in downward direction. Between the lower ends of the plates 8 a tubular frame beam 9 extends parallel to the frame beam 1. The ends of the frame beam 1 are provided with gear boxes 10 in each of which a down-wardly extending shaft 11 is fastened. Each shaft 11 has a straight portion ;~
12A extending from its fastening point in the gear box 10 and terminating in ;
a bracket-shaped portion 13, the limbs of which are at least substantially horizontal (Figure 3), the lower limb 14 forming a rotary shaft for a rotatable supporting member formed by a ground wheel 15. A rake member 12 is rotatably arranged on each shaft 11. For this purpose a support 16 holding a bearing 17 is fastened at a given distance about the bracket-shaped portion 13 to the straight portion 12A of the shaft 11. The portion 12A
is furthermore surrounded by a sleeve 18 bearing on the bearing 17, the top end of said sleeve holding a second bearing 19. The portion 12A is surround-ed between the bearing 19 and the gear box 10 by a sleev~ 20. By means of the bearings 17 and 19 a sleeve 21 is rotatably arranged and this sleeve is provided at its top end with a ring 22 extending at least substantially at ~-~
right angles to the longitudinal centre line of the portion 12A, said ring having fastened to it by bolts 23 a toothed rim 24. Near the lower end the sleeve is provided with a ring 25 joining the circumference of the sleeve and having secured to it by means of bolts 25A a supporting ring 26, (Figure 3). The sleeve 21 and the supporting ring 26 constitute a central part of a rake member 12. By means of the bolts 25A eight tags 27 are secured to the lower side of the supporting ring 26 at equal distances from one another. The tags 27 comprise a straight portion 28 inclined downwardly away from the fastening area of the bolts 25A and terminating in a portion 29 - - . .
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1036;~68 parallel to the supporting ring 26. Between the supporting ring 26 and the portion 29 of a tag 27 a sleeve 31 is arranged by means of a pin 39 so as to be freely rotatable. The longitudinal centre line a of the pin 30 is parallel to the portion 12A, the longitudinal centre line of which b con-stitutes the rotary axis of the rake member. The sleeve 31 is fastened to a tubular arm 32. The pin 30 is held by a head on the supporting ring 26 and is secured in place at its lower end by means of a locking pin 34.
Between the supporting ring 26 and the ring 22 supports 35 are arranged at equal distances from one another. The supports 35 extend away from the ring 22 in a downwardly inclined direction. The sleeve 31 is provided with an inwardly projecting extension 36, which is adapted to bear on a pin forming a stop 37 passed through a hole in the supporting ring 26 and adapted to be displaced against spring force in its axial direction so that the lower end of the pin can be moved out of the reach of the extension 36, in which position the pin can be secured against rotation.
As will be apparent from Figures 2 and 4 the arm 32 has two portions 33 and 38, provided at their proximal ends with a fork 39 and 40 respectively, the prongs of which cxtend upwardly. The prongs of the fork 40 are pivotally arranged by means of a pin 41 between the prongs of fork 39. The longitudinal centre ~s .

1~36368 .
line c of the pin 41, which affords the pivotal joint between the two portions 33 and 38, crosses the longitudinal centre line d of the pin 30 at least substantially at ',right angles. ~he portion 33 of the arm 32 arranged on the supporting ring 26 is straight and the portion 38 is kinked near the centre so that the longitu-dinal centre lines of the resultant two portions are at an obtuse angle to each other on the top side. At the end remote ~rom the ~ork 40 the portion 38 has a fork 42, the pro~gs of which are located one above the other. On the distal sides of the prongs tags 4~ and 44 bear on said prongs and are arranged on a support 45. ~he tags 43 and 44 are pivotable with respect to the fork 42 by means of a pin 44A. The longitudinal centre line d of the pin 44A extends upwardly. ~he topmost tag 44 is longer than the lower tag 43 and is provided with a pin 46, which is displaceable in its direction of length against spring force. ~he pin 46 can be inserted into one of two holes 46A provided in a sector-shaped plate 47 located beneath the tag 44 and on the top side of the portion 38. ~h0 support 45 i~ made from sheet material and shaped in the form of a br~cket, the limbs of the bracket being located one above the other.
It will be seen from ~igure 5 that the support 45 is con-nected with the tags 43 and 44 so that the limbs 48 of the bracket "
extend rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation ~
of a rake member 12. ~etween the limbs 48 the web of the bracket is provided on the side remote from the tags 43 and 44 by means of a bolt 50 with a pair of tines 51, which are formed by a single length of resilient material. ~he tines 51 comprise an ac-tive portion 525 which terminates through three coils 53 in a portion 54 located between the coils and secured in place by means of the bolt 50. ~he axis of the coils 53 is at least sub-stantially parallel to the pin 44A. It will be apparent from ~igure 4 that the active portions 52 of the tines are regularly , ~ . . . . .
., . ~ . . .
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curved throughout their length 80 that the tines extend downwards to their free ends.
Figure 5 shows that the active portions 52 of the tinea 51 are curved over a part away from the coils 53, after which they terminate in a straight portion, which is at least sub-stantially radial to the rotary shaft of the rake member 12 in the poeition shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 shows furthermore that the active portion 52 of the tines 51 i~ located outeide the limbs 48 of the support 45 and the longitudinal centre line of the ~traight portion i~ at an angle cr to the longitudinal centre line of the limbs 48, c~ being larger than 30 and preferably 45, ~o that the tine~ can satisfactorily attack the crop. At the end of ths~portion 33 of the arm 32, holding the fork 39, stops 55 are provided on the top and bottom sides, said stops being in-clined away from their fa~tening point on the portion and then bent over towarde one another to form supporting ~urface~ at their ende for holding the portion 38 of the arm 32 subsequent to its turn about the pin 41. For driving ea¢h of the rake membero 12 the lower, tubular beam 9 accommodates a shaft 56, which is ~ournalled near the centre of the support in a gear bax 57 and is held near theends of the beam 9 by bearings (not shown). Each of the ends of the shaft 56 projecting into the gear boxes 10 i~ provided with a bevel gear wheel 58, which is adapted to co-operate with the toothed rim 24 in the gear box. Inside the gear box 57 located near the centre of the beam 9 the shaft 56 is in driving connection by mean~ of a bevel gear wheel trans-mission with a ~haft 59, extending in the direction of movement A and projecting from the front side of the gear box and adapted to be coupled with the power take-off shaft of a tractor with the aid of an auxiliarly shaft 60.
. ~he ends of the foremost frame beam 4 of the protective part 3 are provided each with a fork 61, the prongs o~ which ; - 6 _ .. ..
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1036i~68 extend upwardly. The ends of the hindmost beam 5 of the protective part 3 are provided with a fork 62, the prong located on the rear side thereof being provided with a sector-shaped plate 63 ~Figure 6). Between the prong~ of the forks 61 and 62 connecting beams 64 extend in the direction of movement. With the protective part 3 are furthermore associated two part~ 65 having each a brack-et 66. The limbe 67 of the bracket 66 are diverging, wherea~ the conneoting part 68 extend~ at lea8t oub~tantially in the direction of movement. Between the limbs 67 connecting beam~ 69 and 69A
extend parallel to the connecting part 68. The ends of the foremost limbs 67 of the brackets 66, viewed in the direction of movement A, are each provided with a fork 70, the prongs of which are pivotally arranged by mean~ of a pin 71 between the prongs of the forks 61 at the ends of the foremo~t frame beam 4. The hind-~1 15~ J imost limb~ are provided with forks 72~ the prongs of which are pivotally arranged by mean~ of a pin 73 to the prongs of the forks 62 of the hindmo~t ~ ame beam 5. Tho longitudinal centre line~ of the pin~ 71 and T~ are in line with each other and extend in the direction of movement and they constitute a pivotal axis for the parts 65. The hindmo~t prong of the fork 72 bears on the plate 63 and is provided with a spring-controlled pin 74, which i8 displaceable in its direction of length and can be inserted into a hole in the limb and into one of two holes 75 in the plate 63 (Figure 6). With the aid of the pin 74 and the holes 75 the part 65 can be tilted down into the position indicated by broken lines in ~ig. 2. The shafts 11 project on the top side over a given distance from the gear boxes 10 and are surrounded at this place by a sleeve 76, which is held in place by means of a safety pin 77. The sleeve 76 is provided on the rear side, viewed in the direction of movement A, with tags 78 (Figure 3).
To the tags 78 are pivoted the prongs of a fork 80 by means of a pin 79, which extends at least æubstantially in a horizontal .

~036~68 direction and which crosses the rotary axi~ of a rake member 12 at least substantially at right angles. The fork 80 is secured to an arm 81, which extends rearwardly a~d which i8 provided with a guide member 82. ~he arm 81 can be fastened at two places by means of a flexible connecting member 83 and ear~ 84 to the hindmost frame beam 5 so that it can be moved into two positions by turning about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of a rake member. ~he guide member 82 comprises a support 85. The ~upport 85 has an upright portion 85 in operation, to which a plurality of parallel resilient bars 87 are secured. The part 86 terminatea in a part 88 at right angles to the former, which can stand on the ground in operation, which part is at least substantially parallel to the bars 87. The length of the part 88 is at least substantially equal to the length of the bars 87.
The support 85 is adapted to pivot about a pin 89, whioh extends in tha direction of length of the arm 81. The arm 81 is provided with an upright, ~ector-shaped plate 90, which is at least eubstan-tially normal to the pin 89. The ~upport 85 i~ provided with a strip 91 having a hole for pasoing a pin 92, ~he pin 92 may also be passed through one of two hole~ 93 in the plate 90 80 that a guide member ~an be moved by turning about the pin 89 from the working position into the tran~port position shown in Figure 8.
In this position the guide member 82 extends at least sub-stantially in a horizontal direction.
At the front, near the centre of the foremost frame beam 4 a trestle 94 is provided for the attachment to the three-point lifting device of a tractor. The top side of the trestle 94 i~ secured on the rear side by mean~ of a supporting beam 95 to the frame beam 1.
The hay-making machine depicted in the foregoing operates as follows:
In operation the implement is connected by mean~ of the trestle ... .
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-94 with the three-point lifting device of the tractor and the shaft 59 projecting from the front side of the gear box 57 is linked by means of the auxiliary shaft 60 to the power take-off shaft of the tractor 90 that from the power take-off shaft and via the transmission de3cribed above the rake members 12 can be rotated about the upright portions 12A of the shafts 11 in the dir-~tion indicated by the arrow B in Figure 1. When the rake members 12 are set rotating, the arm~ 32 provlded at the ends with the bracket-~haped support 45 for the tines 51, ~wing about the up-right longitudinal centre line a of the pin 30 into an at lea~t substantially radial po~ition shown in Fig. 1 under the action of centrifugal force. In this po~ition the arm~ 32 are capable of pivoting freely in at least one direction about the pin 30.
Againot a pivotal movement directed to the rear, viewed in the direction of rotation, a ~top 37 is provided, which i~ adapted to co-operate with the exten~ion 36 on the sleeve 31. In thi~ way in operation the arma 32 are prevented from swinging too far to the rear, when encountering heavy orop, which would be harmful to the raking effect. If de~ired, the ~top 37 may be di~placed in the longitudinal direction to put it out of the reach of the extension 36. In operation the lower limb 48 of the support 45 for the tine~ 51, which limb is at least substantially parallel to a tine, moves along the ground, whilst the portion 38 of an arm 32 can turn about the longitudinal centre line c of the pin 41 crossing the rotary axis of the rake member at right angles with respect to the portion 33 of the arm 32 coupled with the central part 80 that a satisfactory matching of the ground i~
ensured. ~he part of the portion 38 holding the support 45 then extends at least substantially in a horizontal direction (see Figure 4). When the support 45 for the tine~ 51 occupies the position shown in the Figures relatively to the arm 32, the active portions 52 of the tines 51 extend at least Rubstantially in a _ 9 _ .
, 10363~B
radial direction and the implement can then be employed for tedding, the crop displaced by the tines being moved between the rake members to the rear and spread. If it is desired to form swaths with the aid of the guide members 82, the position of the tines 51 can be varied. The support 45 can be moved, subsequent to the setting of the pin 46, by turning about the longitudinal centre line d o* the pin 44A, into a position in which the tines are in a ~lightly dragging po~ition with respect to the direction o~ rotation B. In order to form a swath the guide membar~ 82 are a~ near as possible to one another. ~he position ~hown in Figure 1 may be employed for ~preading crop. Ihe protective part 3 provide~ in operation a saBisfactory protection against the -- high-speed rake members 12. ~ meana of the ground wheel arranged beneath each rake member the rake members can sati~factorily match the conditions of the ground ~o that in conjunction with the individual adaptability of the tine ~upport~ 45 an ideal run of the implement is ensured. In order to prevent in operation the eupport 45 of the tine~ and the portion 38 o~ the arm 32~ to which the tine ~upport i~ ~ecured~from turning to an exoe~ive extent, the ~topa 55 are provided for limiting the upward and downward turns of the portion 38. ~oreover, the lower stop 55 prevents the portions 38 from tilting completely downwards, when the im-plement i9 changed over to the transport position.
For moving the implement into a transport position, it can be lifted by means of the three-point lifting device, the arms 32 for the tines being then capable of turning about the pins 30 into the position shown in the Figures. ~hen the tiltable end parts 65 of the protective part 3 can be tilted downwards and locked in this position by means of the locking mechqanisms on the rear side comprising the spring-controlled pins ~*. In this position the parts 65 prevent, in transport, the tined arms 32 from swinging outwardly. When the implement is discoupled, it _ 10 --... . .

~036368 -~ ~
can bear on the tilted-down portions of the protective part.
As stated above, a tine or a group~of tines, in operation, ~n a~,5 is capable not only of turning about *-~h~ a, which is at least substantially parallel to the rotary axis b of the rake member 12, but also of turning about an axis c, which crosses the rotary axis of the rake member at least in this embodiment substantially at right angles. ~y means of the pivotal joint of an arm 32 and the central part of the rake member comprising the axis a a tine can be readily moved by centrifugal force into a working position.
When after lifting the implement the drive of bhe rake members is disengaged, the tines can turn under the action of their own weight about the axes a into the transport position.
~he implement of simple construction described above ensures a very effective operation, whilst the individual adap-tabilit~ of the tines ensures clean work.
~igure 9 shows an embodiment in which the supporting ring 26 is nearer the gea~ box 10. lhe shaft portion 12A may therefore be shorter and the bracket 13 ma~ be larger so that a larger ground wheel ~k may be arra~ged beneath the rake m7e~ber.
~igure 10 shows an embodiment in which the support465-for the tines is larger and two pairs of integral tines 98 are arranged by bolts 99 between the limbs 97. -Figure 11 shows an embodiment in which an arm 32 for the tines is coupled by means of a shaft 100 with the central part of the rake member, said shaft 100 crossing the rotary axis b of a rake member 12, viewed in a radial direction. It can thus be ensured that in operation an arm 32 readily deflects from an unevenness of the ground, when the stop 37 is removed.
~he implement shown in ~igs. 12 to 19 comprises a tubular frame beam 101, extending transversely of the direction of movement A and connected near the centre with an upwardly inclined frame beam 102, the front end of which is secured to .

~036368 a trestle 103 for the attachment to the three-point lift of a tractor. The front end of the beam 102, which~inclined to the right, viewed on plan and with respect to the direction of movement, ` away from its fastening area on the frame beam 101, i~ secured to the top ~ide of the three-point lift. Between the trestle 103 and the frame beam 102 a strut 104 i8 provided. The ends of the ~1 frame beam ~ are provided by melans of vertical platee 105 with gear boxes 106. The beam t~ and the gear boxes ac¢ommodate llke in the preceding embodiment a drive for rake members 107, which are adapted to rotate about the shafts 108 arranged in the gear boxes 106. The ~hafts 108 are fastened in the gear boxes in the same manner as the shafts 11 and the rake members 107 are adapted to rotate about the shaft~ 108 by mean~ of a similar central part. The longitudinal axes of the ~hafts 108 constitute the rotary axis of the rake member. The right-hand gear box 106, viewed in the direction of movement, comprises in this embodiment a bearing for a shaft 109, extending in the direction of movement A and adapted to co-operate by meane of a bevel gear wheel (not ~hown) with a toothed rim 24 of the drive of a rake member 107, said shaft being adapted to be coupled by means of an auxiliarly shaft 110 with the power take-off shaft of the tractor. In this embodiment the bottom side of the ~upporting ring 26 associated with the central part of the rake member is pro~rided at equal intervals with pairs of tags 111 (Figure 15). Between the tags 111 an arm 113 for tines 114 and 114A is arranged by means of a shaft 112, the longitudinal centre line e of which crosse~ the rotary axis of the rake member at right angles and extends in a tangential direction. Each arm 113 comprises two portionS115 and 116, which are at an angle to each other. The shorter portion 115 is located on the side of the pivotal joint with the central part, whereas the longer portion 116 is provided at a given distance from the free end with a ~upport 117 for the tines 114 ~036368 and 114A. lhc support 117 is arrangcd on the lower side of the portion 116 and comprises a straight portion 118, extending downwards away from its fastening point and terminating in a bent-over portion 119, which is parallel to the portion 116 of the arm 113 and has a length corresponding with the length of the portion 120 of the portion 116 located between the free end and the fastening point of the support (Figure 15).
From Figure 16 it will be apparent that the two portions 119 and 120 are bcnt over so that with respect to the direction of rotation B of the rake member they extend to the rear. The portion 118 of the support 117 is provided with a flange 121, which is secured in place by means of a pin 122 with respect to the support. Beneath the flange 121 and at a distance therefrom a supporting ring 122A is provided and held in place by means of a pin 123. Between the flange 121 and the supporting ring 122A are enclosed coiIs 124 surrounding the portion 118 and being associated with two integral tines 114 and 114A, whilst a connecting part 125 located between the coils 124 projects to one side. The part 125 is located in an opening 126 in a locking plate 127, which is adapted to pivot about a shaft 128 with respect to thc flange 121. The longitudinal ccntre lino o the pin 128 crosses the longitudinal centre line of the portion 118 at least substantially at right angles. The flange 121 is provided with two sleeve-like supports 129 arranged at a distance from each other and having a spring 130 arranged between them which surrounds the shaft 128 passed through the supports 129.
The spring 130 bears at one end on the locking plate 127 and by the other end on the flange 121 so that the locking plate 127 is held in the position shown in Figures 15 to 17. By means of the locking plate 127~ which has a second opening 131 (see Figure 17) the position of the tines 114 and 114A can be changed by turning the tines about an axis which coincides -with the longitudinal ccntre line of the straight portion 118 of the support 117, It will be sèen from Figure 17 that the opening 131 is wider than -the opening 126 because the projecting part 125, when inserted, occupies a slightly inclined position in said opening. The tines 114 and 114A comprise, .: . : . . . :
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viowcd on plan (Figure 16) a straight, active portion, which is bent down along a given curve, viewed from aside. The curve of the lower tine 114A
is sharper than that of the upper tine 114 (see Figure 15). Near the lower side a shaft 108 of a rake member 107 is kinked over a portion 132 SO that an angle B of at least 15 is formed between the longitudinal centre lines of the kinked portion and the further portion of said shaft. A housing 134 is arranged by means of bearings 133 around the kinked por~on 132J said housing being secured on the bottom side to the inner side of a dish 135.
The top side of the dish 135 is covered by a part 136, which is the mirror image of the dish 135 and joins the top side of the housing 134. In opera-tion the rake members can be driven by means of the drive described above via the auxiliary shaft llO by the power-take-off shaft of the tractor in the direction of the arrows B and under the action of centrifugal force the arms 113 turn about the shafts 112 and move the tines 114 and 114A to the working position shown in Figure 13. Then each rake member 107 bears on the ground by means of its supporting member formed by the rotatable dish 135 and the arms 113 for the tines 114 are in a position such that the portions 116, to which the supports 117 for the tines 114 and 114A are secured, extend at least substantially in a horizontal direction. In operation the bent-over portions of the supports 117 slide along the ground over part of a revolution of a rake member and ensure an effective matching of the ground for the tines 114 and 114A by turning about the axis e, which crosses the rotary axis of the rake member 107 at right angles. The lower tine having the more strongly curved active portion picks up the crop quite satisfactorily, particularly if the crop tends to stick.
Like in the preceding embodiment the position of the tines 114 and 114A can be adapted to the work to be effected. In the position of the tines shown in Figures 12 and 16, for example, the implement can be employed for tedding the crop, the crop being thrown to the rear between the rake members, where it is spread. When the tines are set in the position shown - -in broken lines by means of the locking plate 127, ~e projecting part between the coils being then located in the opening 131 of the locking plate . ' 127, the tincs are in dragging positions and suitable for the formation of a swath. For transporting the implement, it can be lifted by means of the three-point lift of the tractor and when the rotation of the rake members stops the arms will turn about the shafts 112 into the position shown in Figure 19. Thus the tines 114 are located on the inner side of the arms 113 and since the arms are kinked in the manner described above, the parts 116 to which the supports 117 for the tines are secured, extend at least sub-stantially in a vertical direction. In this way an ideal transportability is obtained. In order to put the implement again into operation, the rake members 107 being in the lifted position can be caused to rotate until the arms 113 holding the tines rotate about the shafts 112 into a radial or substantially radial position. Subsequently the implement can be lowered into the working position shown in Figure 13.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 20 to 22 the tined portion 137 of an arm 113 is shorter and by means of a shaft crossing the rotary axis of a rake member 107 and extending parallel to a shaft 112 pivoting an arm 113 to the central part, a tine support 138 is secured to the arm 113. In this embodiment a support 138 comprises an upper portion 139, which is bent over at right anglos with rcspect to thc portion 140 provided with the tines and extends at least substantially parallel to and opposite the dragging portion 141, which slides along the ground in operation. The -~
portion 137 of an arm 113 is arranged by means of a pin 141 between two tags 142 secured to the portion 139. The tags 142 are inclined downwardly away `~ :
from their fastening points and are proportioned so that the portion 139 of ;
the support 138, when being in line with the portion 137, bears on the end of the latter portion. In this way a stop is formed to prevent, in operation, ~ -. .
an excessive upward turn of a tine support 138 with respect to an arm 113.
When the implement is moved into the transport position, the arms and the tine supports 138 turn in the manner illustrated in ~igure 22, so that, when the implement is lowered, it arrives at a position in which it can bear on the supports 138 without a risk of damage of the tines. This facilitates storing of the implement in a position from which it can be ' ~ ` , . , :
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readily attached again to a tractor. Also this embodiment provides the possibility for the tines by turning about an axis crossing the rotary axis of the rake member under the action of centrifugal force during the rotation of the rake members to readily attain the working positlon, whereas when the implement is changed over to the transport position and the rotation of the rake members is stopped, the tines turn about said axes by their own weight so that the implement can be readily transported. In the trans-port position the arms 113 provi~e a protection against contact with the tines.

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Claims (4)

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

1. A hay-making machine comprising at least one rake member rotatable therein about an upwardly directed axis of rotation, a plurality of tines pivotally mounted on said rake member to be pivotable laterally outwardly of said axis to a working position by centrifugal forces generated by rotation of said rake member at an operative speed, ant pivotable inwardly under only their dead-weight to a transport position when the rotational speed of the rake member decreases from the operative speed, the machine having a smaller width when the tines are in the transport position than when the tines are in working position.

2. A hay-making machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tine is adapted to pivot about an axis crossing said axis of rotation of the rake member from said working position downwards into said transport position.

3. A hay-making machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a tine is secured to an arm having between its two ends a hinge, and one end of said arm is secured to a central part of the rake member,

4. A hay-making machine as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein in operation a tine is movably connected with a central part of the rake member by means of two pivotal shafts.