Patent ID: 6715275
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A rake wheel adapted freely rotate in a direction of rotation resulting from contact with the ground when the rake wheel is towed along the ground in a direction of travel, the rake wheel comprising:a center hub having an axis of rotation including tine attachment places forming a tine attachment circle thereon; an annular tine support band having a radial width and a plurality of openings therein; a plurality of tines disposed from a first end at the respective attachment place on the center hub to a terminating end in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hub, said tines extending outwardly from said first end from the tine attachment places on the center hub, past the tine support band to the terminating ends for contacting the ground, each of said tines including an inner segment operatively attached to the center hub, an intermediate segment and an outer segment, said outer segment being disposed radially outside of said annular support band; and wherein at least one portion of the outer segment of each respective tine is a curved segment, said at least one portion being spaced outwardly from the annular support band by a distance of at least the radial width of the annular tine support band; wherein the entire outer segment and intermediate segment of each respective tine includes no parts which are curved in more than one direction, when in a non-stressed condition; and wherein substantially all of the outer segment of each of the tines is disposed in front of a radial line that passes through the axis of rotation of the rake wheel and the respective attachment place for the respective tine with respect to the rotational movement of the tine in a raking direction.