GB2210242A

GB2210242A - Rotary tedding machine

Info

Publication number: GB2210242A
Application number: GB8806381A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ulrich Wessel; Bernhard Eisenmann
Original assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Current assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Priority date: 1987-03-20
Filing date: 1988-03-17
Publication date: 1989-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-17
Also published as: FR2612362A1; CH674441A5; IT8819065A0; DK20188A; FR2612362B1; NL8703168A; DE3709097C2; ATA341887A; DK20188D0; JPS6463316A; GB2210242B; DE3709097A1; GB8806381D0; AT393344B

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary-type tedding machine or rotary tedder having a plurality of raking wheels which are mounted on supporting members, the supporting members of the raking wheels, which are disposed adjacent to the centre of the machine, being stationary and forming a machine frame together with a longitudinal supporting member, and the supporting members of the outer raking wheels are pivotally mounted so as to be vertically adjustable about pivotal axles which extend in the direction of travel. The upwardly pivotable raking wheels 3 are provided with protective plates 21, 22 (15, 16 Fig. 2 not shown) which are disposed in front of and/or behind the raking wheels and are pivotable with the raking wheels in such a manner that they retain their alignment in the pivotal plane. The outermost rake wheels 4 may be provided with guard rails comprising two pivotally interconnected rail halves. <IMAGE>

Description

RClARY WEDDING MACS LINE The invention relates to a rotary tedding machine or rotary tedder having a plurality of raking wheels which are mounted on supporting members, the supporting members of the raking wheels, which are disposed adjacent to the centre of the machine, being stationary (relative to the components displaceable relative thereto) and foning a machine frame together with a longitudinal supporting member, and the supporting members of the outer raking wheels are pivotally mounted so as to be vertically pivotable about pivotal axes or axles which extend in the direction of travel, and the supporting members are upwardly pivotable into a transportation position by means of hydraulic displaceulent or adjusting members.

Such rotary-type tedding machine, more especially rotary tedders, are manufactured as machines to be towed or as attachment machines. In order that the pennissible transportation width should not be exceeded, it is usual practice, in the case of towed niachines, for the outer raking wheels to be rearwardly pivoted through 900 and locked in this transportation position. In the case of attachment machines having four raking wheels, for example, each of the outer raking wheels is pivoted upwardly through 90 into the transportation position, whereupon the machine is raised and transported in this position.In order to obviate any risk of people being injured by the outwardly protruding tines of the outer raking wheels, it has already been proposed to rotate the outer raking wheels, which have been upwardly pivoted through 900, through an additional 1a0O about the axles of their driving shafts so that, in the transportation position, the tines of these raking wheels point inwardly towards the centre of tne machine. However, sucn a proposal requires a considerable number of canponent parts and, in the case of rotary-type tedding machines having an even greater working width, e.g. a machine having six raking wheels, it can only be realised with a considerable number of canponent parts.

In the case of attachuient machines, more especially, importance is increasingly being attached to the possibility of displacing or switching the machine into its working position and/or transportation position frown the tractor.

This possibility presupposes that the outer raking wheels can be switched into their transportation position by means of special adjusting members, e.g. hydraulic cylinders, and that the driving connection can be automatically re-establisned when the machine is switched into its working position. In addition, it must be ensured that there is no risk of people being injured when the machine is in its transportation position.

In consequence, it has already been proposed (in unpublished British Patent Specification No. 8722522), to provide such a rotary-type tedding machine with a plurality of raking wheels, so that the supporting members of the individual raking wheels - when viewed from the rear in the transportation position - fonn a pentagonal shape, the pivotal axes or axles being disposed in four corners, and so that the rotary heads of the two outermost raking wheels are disposed immediately opposite each other in the fifth corner, a nazard warning notice possibly being associated with each raking wheel which is upwardly pivotable into the transportation position in order to shield a portion of the outwardly protruding tine region of the raking wheels when they are in their transportation position.In such a case, the hazard warning notices are mounted on rigid longitudinal supporting inettibers which are firmly connected to the rotary heads of the raking wheels.

Ihe present invention seeks to improve such a rotary tedding machine so that there is absolutely no risk or mini,nal of people being injured by the outwardly protruding tines o.

the upwardly pivoted raking wheels, especially at eye level, even if the operator should forget to pivot the protective plates in the appropriate manner.

Assuming that a rotary-type tedding machine or the initially, more fully described type is used, this object is achieved in that the upwardly pivotable raking wheels are provided with protective plates, which are disposed in front of and/or behind the raking wheels - when viewed witty respect to the direction of travel - and are pivotable with the raking wheels in such a manner that they maintain their aliganent in the pivotal plane, and they cover the region of the tines of the associated raking wheels at least partially, when the machine is in its transportation position.

The protective plates are advantageously connected to the supporting menbers of the raking wheels through tne intermediary of a parallelogram-type linkage, wnereby they are mounted on the ends of an arm which extends through a retaining lug mounted on the rotary head of the associated raking wheel, and whereby one end of a transverse lever is mounted on the arm in the region of the retaining lug, the other end of the ar;n being pivotally connected to one end of a tension/tie rod, whereby the other end of the tension rod is pivotally disposed on the rotary head of the stationary inner raking wheel.

In such a case, through the two pivot points of the tension rod, the parallelogram forms the bearing point of the arm in the retaining lug and the pivot point of the supporting members for the pivotable raking wheel in the pivotal axle.

The end of the tension rod, which is pivotally mounted on the rotary head, is advantageously acted upon or biassed by a spring, whilst the front protective plates - when viewed with respect to the direction of travel - can be mounted on guard rails which are connected to the arms.

In the case where a tedding machine has six raking wheels, the protective plates are preferably associated with the respective central raking wheels of each machine half, the respective outer raking wheels being provided with guard rails which comprise two pivotally interconnected guard halves.

In such a case, each rail half can be connected, through the intermediary of a guide or control lever, to one end or an adjusting lever, which is pivotally mounted on the rotary head of the outer raking wheel so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane, the other end of the adjusting lever being pivotally mounted on a rod which is pivotally connected to the rotary head of the central raking wheel; when the machine is in its working position, in such a case, the adjusting lever and the rod are disposed in a plane above the plane of the rail halves.

This means that each outer rail half, upon the machitte being switched to its transportation position, is pivotable through a total of substantially 2700 so that, in this position, the two rail halves lie adjacent to each other in vertical planes to the direction of travel.

The rotary tedding machine of the invention is advantageous, in that, when a plurality of raking wheels are used and the respective central raKing wheel or each iacine halt is upwardly pivoted through approx. 9(to, the protective plates retain their spatial alignment and are also pivoted therewith, so that they cover the region of the tines of the associated raking wheels, at least partially, in this position, that is to say, they cover the region which is particularly dangerous at eye-level. 'The invention also provides the guard rails for the outermost raking wheels so that, during the pivotal movement into the transportation position, it is advantageous that these raking wheels cannot collide with one another in their uppermost, inciined position since, however, they hang downwardly parallel with and adjacent to one another, so that satisfactory remote-control fran the tractor seat is rendered possible.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is a schematic, rear view of an advantageous embodiment of a rotary tedding machine having six raking wheels; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of this machine.

In the rotary-type tedding machine (rotary tedder), which is schematically illustrated in the drawings and is provided with six raking wheels, inner raking wheels with respect to the centre of the machine - are each denoted by the reference numeral 2, central raking wheels are denoted by the reference numeral 3, and each outer raking wheel is denoted by the reference numeral 4. ilie machine is connectable to the three-point linkage of a tractor (not shin) through the intermediary of an attachment frame 5 at one end of the machine and, for this purpose, the machine has a central longitudinal supporting member 6 which is provided, at its front end, with a follower arrangetnent 7 whicn permits the machine to be laterally pivoted in the working position.

The direction of travel is denoted by A.

lile longitudinal supporting member 6 is connected at its rear end to the frame 6 of the rotary tedder and the drive of the raking wheels is effected through the intermediary of a power take-off shaft of the tractor (not shown), that is to say, through the intermediary. of single-gear transmission unit 23. Tubular supporting members 24 and 25 extend laterally fran the single-gear transmission unit 23, and rotary head 27 of the raking wheels 2 are mounted on the outer ends of the tubular supporting members 24 and 25.Each of these rotary heads 27 has a pivotal axle 28 extending horizontally in the direction of travel, and the pivotal axles 28 are retained in bearing bosses or arms 29 which are disposed in a yoke-like manner relative to each other.

Bearing yokes 30 are rotatably disposed on these pivotal axles 28, and additional, tubular supporting members 31 are disposed on the bearing yokes 30, the rotary heads 32 of the raking wheels 3 being mounted on the outer ends of the supporting members 31.

These rotary heads are also provided with pivotal axles 33, about which additional, outer, tubular supporting members 34 are pivotally disposed, the rotary head 35 of the outer raking wheels 4 being mounted on the outer ends of the tubular supporting members 34. A cross-beam 36, which is firmly connected to the longitudinal supporting member 6 and screwconnected to the rotary head 27 through the intermediary of securing brackets 37, extends parallel to the centrally disposed supporting members 24 and 25. Yoke-like bearings 38 are mounted on the securing brackets 37.

In the region of the pivotal axles 33, the tubular supporting members 34 have bearing plates 39, a hydraulic cylinder 40 and 41 being provided in each Illackline halt, which cylinders 40 and 41 are so disposed that they bridge the pivotal axles 28 and 33 of each machine tialf disposed therebelow.

In the Figures, the right half of the machine is illustrated in the working position, the raking wheels 2, 3 and 4 being supported on the ground through the intermediary of running wheels 42. 'The raking wheels are provided with resilient tines 43 which are mounted on tine supporting arms 44. In the respective lent-hand portion of the Figures, the machine is illustrated in its transportation position.

By operating the hydraulic cylinders 40 and 41, the outer supporting member 34 of the raking wheels 4 is initially raised and pivoted about the pivotal axles 53. After a predetermined pivotal angle, substantially through 450, has been traversed, the bearing yokes 30 of the supporting members 34 cane to abut against the rotary head 32, so that further pivotal movement is not possible. From this position, the raking wheels 3 and 4 - as interconnected units - are upwardly pivoted about the pivotal axles 28 until the transportation position, which is shown in the left hand side of the machine of Fig. 2, is attained. In such a case, the rotary heads 35 of the outer raking wheels assume a position in which they lie directly opposite each other so as to be adjacent to each other (the right-hand rotary head being indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1).

When the machine is in its transportation position, the supporting members 24, 25, 31 and 34 form a pentagon, and the pivotal axles 28 and 33 are disposed in the corners or the pentagon, the upper raking wheels 4, which are inwardly pivoted towards the centre of the machine, being situated in a region where there is no risk of injuring people.

To prevent people fran being injured by the outwardly protruding tines of the central raking wheels 3, which are upwardly pivoted substantially through 90 , the machine is provided with protective plates which are disposed in front of and/or behind the raking wheels - when viewed with respect to the direction of travel - and are pivotable with tne raking wheels.For this purpose, the protective plates 15, 16, 21 and 22 are connected to the supporting members of the raking wheels through the intermediary of a parallelogrllrtype linkage, the protective plates 21 and 22, for example, which are disposed at the back when viewed with respect to the direction of travel, being mounted on the ends of an arm which extends through a retaining lug 19 mounted on the rotary head 32 of the associated raking wheel 3. One end of a transverse lever 49 is mounted on the arm in the region of the retaining lug 19, the other end of the arm being pivotally connected tooneend of a tie or tension rod 48 and the other end of the tension rod being pivotally disposed on the rotary head 27 of the stationary inner raking wheel 2. In such a case, through the two pivot points of the tension rod 48, the parallelogram forms the bearing point of the anii 18 in the retaining lug 19 and the pivot point of the supporting member 31 for the pivotable raking wheel 3 in the pivotal axle 28.

The front protective plates 15 and 16 - when viewed with respect to the direction of travel - can be disposed on guard rails 10 which are firmly connected to the arms 18. In addition, the end of the tension rod 48, which is pivotally mounted on the rotary head 27, can be acted upon by a spring 5U.

Upon the central raking wheels 3 being upwardly pivoted substantially through 900, the protective plates illaintain their vertical position, i.e. their alignment, and move along a circular path upwardly and inwardly. In the transportation position, they are situated in the region of the tines of the central raking wheel and cover tne tines in the danger region both fran the front and fran the back, especially at eye-level.

A guard rail 9 is associated with the two inner stationary raking wheels 2, the rail being of a one-piece construction and being connected to the rotary head, for example, through the intermediary of longitudinal supporting members 12.

According to the invention, the outer raking wheels 4 are provided with a guard rail which comprises two pivotally interconnected rail halves 11 and 20. In such a case, the outer rail half 11 is pivotable through the intermediary of two horizontal pivotal axles 20' and 20", so that they are pivotable through a total of approx. 2700 during the upward pivotal movement into the transportation position, and, in consequence, as shown in Fig. 1, they lie in this position adjacent to each other in vertical planes when viewed with respect to the direction of travel.For this purpose, each outer rail half 11 is connected, through the intermediary of a guide lever 46, to one end of an adjusting lever 45, which is pivotally mounted on the rotary head 35 of the outer raking wheel 4 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane, the other end of the adjusting lever 45 being pivotally mounted on a rod 47 which is pivotally connected to the rotary head 32 of the central raking wheel. In such a case, when the machine is in its working position, the adjusting lever 45 and the rod 47 lie in a plane above the plane of the rail halves. The end of the rod 47, which is connected to the rotary head 32 of the central raking wheel, can thereby be acted upon by a spring 51 (spring biassed).

This arrangement of the outer guard rails prevents the raking wheels fran colliding with one another in their uppermost inclined position when such wheels pivot together.

Claims

ClAIMS'

1. A rotary tedding machine having a plurality of raking wheels which are mounted on supporting members, the supporting members of the raking wheels, which are disposed adjacent to the centre of the machine, being relatively stationary and forming a machine frame together with a longitudinal supporting member, and the supporting mianbers of the outer raking wheels are pivotally mounted so as to be vertically pivotable about pivotal axes or axles which extend in the direction of travel, and the supporting inembers are upwardly pivotable into a transportation position by means of hydraulic adjusting members, characterised in that the upwardly pivotable raking wheels are provided with protective plates which are disposed in front of and/or behind the raking wheels - when viewed with respect to the direction of travel - and are pivotable with the raking wheels in such a manner that they maintain their alignment in the pivotal plane, and they at least partially cover the region of the tines of the associated raking wheels when the machine is in its transportation position.

2. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective plates are connected to the supporting members of the raking wheels through the intermediary of a parallelogram- type linkage.

3. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective plates are mounted on the ends of an arm which extends through a retaining lug mounted on the rotary head of the associated raking wheel, wherein one end of a transverse lever is mounted on the arm in the region of the retaining lug, the other end of the ann being pivotally connected to one end of a tension rod, and wherein the other end of the tension rod is pivotally disposed on the rotary head of the stationary inner raking wheel.

4. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein, through the two pivot points of the tension rod, the paraiielograiri forms the bearing point of the arm in the retaining lug and the pivot point of the supporting member for the pivotable raking wheel in the pivotal axle.

5. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end of the tension rod, which is pivotally inounted on the rotary head, is acted upon by a spring or spring biassed.

o. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front protective plates - when viewed with respect to the direction of travel - are mounted on guard rails which are connected to the arms.

7. A tedding machine as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein, in the case where a machine has six raking wheels, the protective plates are associated with the respective, central raking wheels of each machine half, and wherein the respective outer raking wheels are provided with guard rails which comprise two pivotally interconnected rail halves.

8. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein each outer rail half is connected to one end of an adjusting lever which is pivotally mounted on the rotary head of the outer raking wheel so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane, the other end of the adjusting lever being pivotally mounted on a rod which is pivotally connected to the rotary head of the central raking wheel.

9. A tedding machine according to claitn 8, wherein, when the machine is in its worming position, the adjusting lever and the rod are disposed in a plane above the plane or the rail halves.

10. A tedding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the end of the rod, which is connected to the rotary head OL the central raking wheel, is acted upon by a spring.

11. A tedding machine as claimed in any of claims l.to 10, wherein each outer rail half, upon the machine being switched or displaced into its transportation position, is pivotable through a total of substantially 2700 so that, in this position, the two rail halves lie adjacent to each other in vertical planes when viewed with respect to the direction of travel.

12. A tedding machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompaning drawings.