GB517070A - Improvements in or relating to swath turners, side rakes or like machines for turning or moving crops - Google Patents

Abstract

517,070. Haymaking. NICHOLSON, A. C. July 13, 1938, No. 20773. [Class 6 (iii)] In a swath-turner, side rake or like machine of the kind embodying at least two turning or raking heads each consisting of parallel end discs joined by a plurality of tine rods or bars, the axis of each end disc of at least one of the heads is displaceable to adapt the head to move the crop in either of two directions, without altering the direction of draught of the machine. In Fig. 1, a turning-head 7 of the usual construction is driven by gearing 8 from the offside wheel 6. On the near side of the machine, the turning head 10 is arranged to occupy either the full-line or dotted-line position, the discs 11, 11a being mounted on radius arms 31, 41 respectively, which, when the tine bars 39 are disconnected, may be swung about axes 24, 42 through an angle of approximately 180 degrees, after which the bars 39 are again connected. The head is driven from the near side wheel through gearing 12 ... 15, 28, 34, the pinion 28 being so arranged that, in one operative position of the head, it meshes with the wheel 14, and in the other operative position, it meshes with the wheel 15 and is thus driven in the opposite direction. Spring-pressed locking-pins are provided to hold the head in either of its positions. The tine bar connections to the discs 11, 11a each comprises a laterally projecting pin 44 pivotally carrying a bracket 45 having a vertically disposed socket portion 45a, which rotatably accommodates a pin 46. An upper part 46a of this pin is received within a hollow lug or boss 47 at the end of the time bar 39. which is locked to the part 46a by a slidable bolt 48 arranged to pass through aligned holes in the boss 47 and the part 46a. The bolt is slidably carried by a bracket 49 on the bar 39, and is retained in either its locking or release positions by a spring-pressed catch 51, 53. In a modification, the turning head is mounted on either one or other of two sets of being driven through gearing from the axle, in spaced shafts, the shafts adjacent the axle 5 opposite directions. The transverse members 9, 43 of the machine frame are preferably provided with articulated portions so as to enable the forward discs 11a of the heads, when the said discs are in the outermost positions, to follow the contour of the ground. The articulated parts of the members 9, 43 may be provided with castor wheels which may be adjustable in height. The articulation permits the overall width of the machine to be reduced for passage through narrow openings, the articulated parts being maintained raised by a connecting chain. Clutch means, or a disengageable ratchet connection between the wheels 6 and the axle 5. may be provided to permit the machine to be moved without operation of the heads. Specifications 8646/12, [CLass 6 (iii)], and 500,470, are referred to.