GB1218647A - Improvements in hay harvesters - Google Patents

Abstract

1,218,647. Hay harvesters. W. R. C. GEARY. 14 May, 1968 [15 May, 1967; 11 Dec., 1967], No. 22742/68. Heading A1F. [Also in Division B5] A hay harvester which is drawn along a previously cut swath comprises transverse rotatable winding means around which the swath is wound as the machine advances to form a roll, the winding means being vertically movable to conform to the diameter of the roll, and means being operable to withdraw the winding means from the finished roll. A wheeled frame 10 provided with a tractor hitch point 14 carries lifting arms 16 pivoted at their forward ends to a spindle 18 and connected at their free ends by a beam 20. The arms 16 carry brackets 29 to which long main arms 26 are pivotally connected by pins 28; a hydraulic cylinder unit 22, acting vertically on a bracket 24 carried by the beam 20, and a further hydraulic cylinder unit 32, acting on the arms 26 and supported by a sleeve 30 freely mounted on the spindle 18, respectively produce vertical and inward/ outward movement of the arms 26. A detachable freely rotatable swath winding device 34 is mounted at the end of one arm 26, the other arm supporting a driving disc 38, engageable with the device 34 when the arms 26 are swung inwards. A vertically adjustable sub-frame 42 pivoted on a spindle 43 and having skids 48 carries a driven swath pick up roller 50, the swath being compacted between the roller 50 and a second roller 54 as the machine advances. Twine 58 from reels 63, or protective sheet material, e.g. polythene, applied towards the end of the process from a roll 68 may be paid out beneath the swath as it is returned to the ground, strengthening it as it is finally picked up and reeled on to the device 34, attachment of the initial end of the swath to the winder being achieved by swinging the device 34 inwardly around the end of the swath. When the rolled swath 37 reaches the required diameter the device 34 is progressively withdrawn. In an alternative construction, Figs. 6-7 (not shown), only that arm 26 carrying the device 34 is directly operated by the hydraulic cylinder 32, an optional linkage (27) transmitting the movement to the other arm 26. Further, each arm 26 may be fitted with a similar driven swath engaging member, or stubs (72) may be provided for transporting completed rolls 37. For use as fodder, rolls 37 may be unwound, Fig. 8 (not shown), the twine being re-wound on to spools (73) for re-use.