GB1379505A - Hay-making machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1379505 Haymaking machines W REBER 9 May 1972 [14 May 1971 3 Aug 1971 23 Nov 1971] 21552/72 Heading A1F Each rotary rake head of a hay making machine has a plurality of radial arms 2 carrying tines 1 which can be moved between a tedding position (Fig. 1) and a windrowing position (Fig. 2) in which the tines 1 are inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation and the diameter of the circular trajectory of the tines 1 is reduced. The arms 2 may be moved by rotation about respective axes, or by transposition to an alternative fixing point on the associated hub 4 or each arm may comprise a four point linkage whose geometry is altered to move the arm in to either one of the two positions. In a first embodiment (Figs. 1 and 2) the arms 2 are rotatably mounted in the associated hub 4 and are rotated about associated axes X-Y, between the tedding and windrowing positions either individually when a respective spring biased locking piece 3 is released (Figs. 5 and 6 not shown) or simultaneously by means of a bevel gear located in the hub 4 (Fig. 14 not shown). The arms 2 are articulated about a spindle 9 (Fig. 9) and the outer parts of the arms are biased by respective springs 10 so that in the tedding position the forks cannot be deflected contrary to the direction of rotation due to the abutment 13 whilst when windrowing (Figs. 11 and 12) the forks can yield upwards about the spindles 9 when encountering ground obstacles. This mounting also permits the tools to be retracted to reduce the effective width and increase ground clearance of the machine during transportation. The springs may have guards (Fig. 12 not shown) to prevent entanglement with the crop or they may be partially mounted inside the arm 2. The axis of rotation V-W of the rake heads is adjusted to accommodate the selected operative position by a peg 20 which locks bar 21 in either aperture 22 or 23 in the chassis plate 24. In a second embodiment (Figs. 16-23 not shown) the two operative positions are attained by means of two alternative fixing points on the hubs 4 for each of the arms 2. In a third embodiment (Fig. 24 not shown) each arm 2 comprises a four point linkage, one of whose pivots connects the arm to the associated hub, which is locked into place by means of a diagonal cross piece. Swathe plates may be mounted on the machine which are upwardly pivotable into a transport position.