Patent ID: 8499538
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A hay rake comprising: a central frame; a wing assembly coupled to the central frame, the wing assembly including an arm coupled to the central frame, a wing supported by the arm, a plurality of hay raking wheels, and a plurality of pivoting arms, each of the pivoting arms coupling a respective hay raking wheel to the wing such that each of the hay raking wheels is pivotable with respect to the wing independently of each of the other hay raking wheels, wherein: the hay rake further includes at least two wheels attached to the central frame; the hay rake further includes a tow bar attached to the central frame and extending in a frontward direction from the central frame; the arm is coupled to the central frame by a pivot joint defining a pivot axis about which the wing assembly is rotatable with respect to the central frame, the arm being adjustable among multiple fixed lengths, the wing is coupled to an end of the arm opposite the pivot joint, the wing being adjustable among multiple fixed positions by rotating the wing with respect to the arm about a wing adjustment axis, wherein the only degree of freedom between the wing and the central frame is rotation about the pivot axis when the arm is in any one of its fixed lengths and the wing is in one of its fixed positions, and wherein the wing is arranged for mounting the plurality of hay raking wheels along a length of the wing; the wing assembly further includes an arm actuator mount fixedly coupled to the arm; the hay rake further includes a wing actuator having a first end coupled to the arm actuator mount and a second end coupled to the central frame, the actuator arranged to actuate the wing assembly between an outward position and an upward position; and the hay rake further includes a spring structure arranged to engage the wing assembly when the wing assembly is in the outward position so as to apply a spring force against downward rotation of the wing assembly about the arm pivot axis; wherein: