Patent ID: 6449936
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: A01D,A01F

Abstract:
In an agricultural implement including a main frame and a pick-up mounted to a forward portion of the main frame for elevating a windrow of crop and moving it to the rear for further processing, the improvement comprising: said pick-up including a pick-up frame supporting a tine reel for revolving about a transverse rotation axis; a pivotal mounting coupling said pick-up frame to said main frame for floating vertically about a transverse pivot axis; a float spring assembly coupled between said main frame and said pick-up frame in such relationship to said pivot axis that the float spring assembly acts along a line of action extending substantially perpendicular to a line of centers passing through said rotation axis and said pivot axis so as to counterbalance a major portion of the weight of said pick-up throughout an entire range of float movement of said pick-up; said float spring assembly including a spring and a link, with said spring being operatively coupled between said main frame and said link; and a pivot assembly connecting a lower end of said link to a lower rear location of said pick-up frame, whereby said pivot assembly is located in a relatively clean working environment.