System and apparatus for enabling raking and baling material in a single pass

An adjustable rake assembly for raking and baling material in a single pass is provided. In particular, a rake assembly is provided that includes a frame and two movable wings configured to be moved to at least one transport position, in which the wings are disposed proximate a main axial member of the frame in a folded arrangement. A rake assembly is also provided wherein at least one rake is configured to be moved with respect to the frame between a first position and a second position via a telescoping rake connection and a rotating rake connection. The position of the wings and/or rakes may be changed via a control system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a system, apparatus, and method for raking and baling material in a single pass.

BACKGROUND

When harvesting grain, a combine harvester (also known simply as a “combine”) may be used to separate grain from material-other-than-grain (“MOG”). Harvested grain is typically stored on the combine for subsequent handling, and MOG is typically ejected back onto the crop field.

In some cases, the MOG may be useful as feed for animals or as biofuel, among other things. Thus, once the crop has been harvested and the MOG is left on the field, a rake (e.g., a basket rake) may be moved through the field to rake and windrow the MOG. In the case of corn, for example, stover that is dispersed throughout the field may be raked and placed in windrows on the ground that can later be gathered and formed into bales of the material for subsequent use.

In other cases, crops such as switch grass, miscanthus, sugar cane, or other vegetative crops may be grown for use as biofuel. In such cases, the field may be mowed, raked, and windrowed, and the windrows of material (which, for example, may include the whole plant—both grain and MOG) may be baled for subsequent transport and processing.

In either scenario, raking the material into windrows and subsequently baling the material typically requires a dedicated tractor and operator for each machine, which may add to the expense and duration of the operations. In addition, depending on the size of the field, several passes may be required to address the entire area to be raked and baled.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system, apparatus, and method for combining the raking and baling operations such that the operations may occur during a single pass. In addition, there is a need for an improved mechanism for raking and baling a larger area while minimizing the complexity of transporting the equipment to the field location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the terms “material,” “crop,” “plants,” “crop material,” “cut material” and similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer generally to the plants that are cut, windrowed, baled, and/or otherwise processed through machines that are moved through the field, including grain and/or MOG. Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. The crop material may include all or parts of various types of plants such as, for example, corn, soybeans, canola, wheat, oat, rye, alfalfa, barley, rice, sunflowers, switch grass, miscanthus, and sugar cane, among other crops, and/or the MOG associated therewith. For example, in the case of sugarcane, fibrous matter known as bagasse that remains after the sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice may be cut, raked, windrowed, and baled for use as a biofuel and as a renewable resource in the manufacture of pulp and paper products and building materials.

In cases in which a crop (such as corn) is first harvested for its grain, a typical combine may be used that is configured to harvest, thresh, and clean the grain that is gathered from a crop field. For example, a header of the combine may be used to gather the grain from the planted crop, with different headers being specifically designed for specific types of crops. The harvested crop material, which may include both grain and MOG, may then proceed to a threshing area of the combine, where a threshing rotor may thresh the crop material against the inside surface of rotor concaves to separate the grain from the MOG.

The MOG typically is released out of the tail end of the rotor and is disposed onto the crop field, while the grain continues through the combine to be cleaned, tested, and/or stored for subsequent processing. Later, a rake (such as a basket rake) may be moved through the harvested field (e.g., pulled by a tractor) to fluff and redistribute the MOG in windrows on the ground in the wake of the rake's passage. The windrowed MOG may then be baled using a separate baler that is also moved through the field (e.g., pulled by another tractor). The baler may pick up the MOG from the ground, compact, form, and tie the MOG into bales, and then deposit the formed bales onto the ground as the baler moves down the field. Thus, in conventional raking and baling operations, two passes must be made using two different pieces of equipment (a rake and a baler) pulled by separately.

Similarly, in a case in which a crop (such as switch grass) is grown solely to be cut and baled for subsequent processing, the plant may be cut and shredded by one piece of machinery, then raked and windrowed onto the field by another piece of machinery, then picked up and baled by another, separate piece of machinery.

In either case, a rake may be used that is configured to rake and fluff the cut material from the field and to discharge the material back onto the field in uniform windrows that are ready for baling by a baler. For example, a piece of equipment such as a Generation2 Twinstar basket rake available from Northstar Attachments, LLC of Yakima, Wash. may be used to rake and windrow the material in preparation for baling.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide for a system, apparatus, and method for raking and baling material with a single pass of equipment through a field, thus saving time, labor, and cost. In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism for raking a wider plot of material and simplifying the transportation of the equipment to and from the field.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 1A, in general, a rake assembly10is provided that includes a frame20configured for supporting a pair of adjustable wings30that are configured to carry a plurality of rakes40. The wings30are movably attached to the frame and can be moved towards and away from the frame for configuring the rake assembly in a number of positions. The frame20may, for example, be configured in a T-shape, as depicted in the figures, with a main axial member22defining a front end12and a back end14of the rake assembly10, as well as a transverse member24fixedly attached to the main axial member proximate the back end.

A front coupler26may be provided at the front end12of the frame20for connecting to a tractor that is designed to pull the rake assembly10through a field (e.g., in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 1), and a back coupler28may be provided at the back end14for connecting to a baler. Each coupler26,28may be any type of coupler that is designed to connect to a corresponding coupler of the adjacent machinery. For example, the front coupler26may be designed to engage a tow hitch (e.g., a ball hitch) of the tractor pulling the rake assembly, and the back coupler28may be designed to engage a hitch of the baler.

In this regard, the front coupler26may include a power take-off (not shown) from the tractor, and the frame20may include a driveline80for transmitting the power from the tractor to parts of the rake assembly10, as well as to the baler15(e.g., via another power take-off81proximate the back coupler28), as shown inFIG. 8. The driveline80may include one or more rotatable shafts82connected in series via a U-joint shaft arrangement, which may be at least partially disposed within the main axial member22(part of which is removed inFIG. 8). For example, in the depicted embodiment, the driveline80includes three rotatable shafts82connected in series. Thus, the main axial member22may serve as a driveline shield. Power transmitted from the tractor via a power take-off near the front coupler26may thus be transferred both to the rake assembly10and/or to the baler as necessary via the driveline80and the power take-off81near the back coupler28, as well as other rotatable shafts, gears, belts, and/or couplings (which may not be shown in the figures). A close-up view of a rotatable shaft82of the driveline80near the front coupler26is shown inFIG. 8A, and a close-up view of the driveline with the power take-off81near the back coupler28is shown inFIG. 8B.

Referring toFIG. 6, the back coupler28may be configured to allow for easier alignment of the coupler with the corresponding hitch of the baler by providing several degrees of movement and adjustability. For example, the back coupler28may comprise a draw bar90that is received within a housing92. A bottom plate94of the housing92may define one or more guiding slots96, and the draw bar90may include protrusions97that are configured to be received within the slots96. The draw bar90may further include at least one hole (not shown) that is configured to align with a corresponding hole98of the housing92, such that when the protrusions97of the draw bar90are in a hitch position at a forwardmost location within the slots96(as shown inFIG. 6), a pin (not shown) may be passed through the hole98of the housing and the corresponding hole of the draw bar90to hold the draw bar in position with respect to the housing and the rest of the frame of the rake assembly.

Thus, to connect the baler to the back coupler28, the pin (not shown) is first removed from the hole98of the housing92to allow the draw bar90to be extended from within the housing and adjusted (e.g., to the left or right) to align the draw bar for connection to the hitch of the baler. Left and right adjustment of the draw bar90is possible because the protrusions97are allowed to float within the opening of the guiding slots96. Once the baler is connected to the draw bar90, the baler may be moved toward the rake assembly, and the inner surfaces of the guiding slots96can serve to guide the protrusions97to the hitch position shown inFIG. 6. At that point, the draw bar90is in position to be affixed to the housing92via re-insertion of the pin through the hole98.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 1B, the frame20of the rake assembly may be configured to support two wings30(one of which is shown inFIG. 1B) that are movable among different positions to configure the rake assembly10for accommodating various widths of plots to be raked, as well as to allow for road transport to and from the field, as described below. Each wing30may include multiple points of attachment to the frame20, where each point of attachment allows for the respective wing to be moved toward and away from the main axial member22of the frame20and to be maintained in various positions with respect to the main axial member.

For example, each wing30may be pivotally connected to the transverse member24of the frame20via a first linkage32. In addition to allowing an end of the wing30to rotate with respect to the transverse member24, the first linkage32may be slideably fixed to the transverse member, such as via a sleeve33that is configured to slide over a rod34(also shown inFIG. 1A). A first set of hydraulic cylinders35may be provided to move each sleeve33over the respective rod34to adjust a transverse position of the connected end of the wing30with respect to the main axial member22. In addition, a second set of hydraulic cylinders37may be provided, each hydraulic cylinder being pivotally attached to a respective wing30via a second linkage38at a location that is spaced from the respective linkage32. Thus, with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, the wings30may be moved between first and second field positions to allow for different spans (e.g., widths) of the field to be raked and baled with each pass of the rake assembly10.

InFIG. 2, for example, the linkages32are disposed at an outermost position (e.g., spaced at a maximum distance from the main axial member22) via the first hydraulic cylinders35and the sleeves33(shown inFIG. 1A). The second hydraulic cylinders37are also in an extended position, resulting in a distance dl between the front end12of the frame20and each of the forwardmost rakes40. By comparison, inFIG. 3, the linkages32are moved in closer to the main axial member22via the hydraulic cylinders35. As a result, the distance d2between the front end12and each of the forwardmost rakes40, d2, is greater than the distance d1inFIG. 2. Thus, inFIG. 3, a greater width of the field may be raked and baled in a single pass than, for example, inFIG. 2. Additional views of the first and second linkages32,38and the respective first and second hydraulic cylinders35and37are shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

As noted above with reference toFIG. 1, each wing30may comprise multiple rakes40configured to rake material from the field and form windrows for pick up and baling by a baler (not shown) attached to the back coupler28at the back end14of the rake assembly20. For example, in the depicted embodiment, two rakes40are attached to each wing30in a staggered configuration. Such a staggered configuration, in which the longitudinal axis of each rake is offset (e.g., not aligned) from the other rake on the same wing30, may optimize the flow of raked material in the direction of the main axial member22of the frame20for creating windrows that can be picked up and baled more efficiently by the baler.

Turning now toFIG. 7, in some embodiments the wings30may be movable from a field position (e.g., the first field position ofFIG. 2or the second field position ofFIG. 3) to a transport position, in which the wings and the attached rakes40are in a folded configuration and the overall width w of the rake assembly10is minimized to allow for road transport of the rake assembly. Actuation of the multiple sets of hydraulic cylinders as described below may, for example, draw the wings30in from an extended, field position shown inFIG. 1to a contracted, transport position in which the forwardmost rakes40are raised to a position above the rearwardmost rakes to provide a shorter length l for road transport, as shown inFIG. 7. In addition, the first set of hydraulic cylinders35may also be actuated to adjust the width w of the rake assembly10further by moving the folded wings30closer to the main axial member22, if necessary.

In this regard, and with reference toFIGS. 1B,9, and10, each wing30may include a main wing section50and a wing extension55that are movable with respect to each other. In embodiments including two rakes40attached to each wing30, for example, each rearwardmost rake may be attached to a respective main wing section50via one or more first connections52(FIG. 10), and each forwardmost rake may be attached to the wing extension55via one or more second connections57(FIG. 9). In some embodiments, the first connections52may be fixed, such that the corresponding rakes are not moveable with respect to the main wing sections50to which they are attached. In other embodiments, however, the position of the rake40attached to the main wing section50may be adjustable with respect to the main wing section (e.g., an angle of tilt, elevation, or distance with respect to the main wing section50may be adjustable).

To effect the movement of the forwardmost rakes40from the field positions ofFIGS. 1-3to the transport position ofFIG. 7, third and fourth sets of hydraulic cylinders60,70and corresponding linkages65,75may be provided. It is noted that some of the rakes40are not shown inFIGS. 7,9, and10to allow certain components of the rake assembly to be illustrated for purposes of explanation.

With reference toFIG. 9, the third hydraulic cylinders60may be configured to move each wing extension55from the extended position (shown inFIGS. 1 and 9) to a retracted position (shown inFIG. 10) via linkages62. The linkages62may thus be configured to rotate (e.g., about 180°) to move the wings30from the position shown inFIG. 9to the position shown inFIG. 10. In addition, the fourth hydraulic cylinders70, which may form part of the second connections57described above, may be extended to raise the forwardmost rakes40to a position that is disposed farther from the ground (e.g., higher up) than the rearwardmost rakes40. Thus, the second connections57may include hinge connections proximate their attachment points to the wing extensions55. In other words, as the fourth hydraulic cylinders70are extended, the second connections57may be moved from the relatively horizontal position shown inFIG. 9to the relatively vertical position shown inFIG. 10(e.g., via rotation about the hinge connections of about 110°).

Referring toFIG. 1, once the third and fourth hydraulic cylinders60,70have been actuated to translate the respective forwardmost rake rearwardly (e.g., toward the back end14of the frame20shown inFIG. 1) and, at the same time, raise the rake to a position above the rearwardmost rake, the second hydraulic cylinders37may be actuated to move the folded wings30closer to the main axial member20to achieve the transport position. Thus, actuation of the first, second, third, and/or fourth hydraulic cylinders35,37,60,70together may serve to move the rake assembly from the expanded field position ofFIG. 1to the compact transport position ofFIG. 7.

In some embodiments, a control system100(illustrated inFIG. 11) may be provided to allow an operator to actuate selected hydraulic cylinders (e.g., via actuators110shown inFIG. 11) to move the wings30and wing components (e.g., the main wing sections50and the wing extensions55) to various positions to achieve a desired configuration of the rake assembly. For example, the control system may be used to move the rake assembly10from a field position (e.g., shown inFIGS. 1,2, and3) to a transport position (FIG. 7) to allow for easier transportation of the equipment to a field to be raked. The operator may also use the control system to expand the wings30to one of several possible field positions for conducting a raking and baling operation, such as one of the first field position (FIG. 2) and the second field position (FIG. 3) or a position therebetween.

Moreover, one or more position sensors120(shown inFIG. 11) may be provided to detect the position of the hydraulic cylinders and/or the associated linkages in each configuration of the rake assembly10, such that the detected positions may be used as inputs to the control system in subsequent operations to re-configure the rake assembly to a position that was found to be desirable or produced optimal results in a past raking operation. For example, the operator, upon conducting a raking and baling operation, may decide that the configuration of the rake assembly10used for that particular operation produced excellent results for the particular field (e.g., provided good field coverage or completed the operation in an optimal number of passes). The operator may then interact with the control system to record the particular configuration of the rake assembly, such as by storing the particular positions detected by the position sensors for that specific raking and baling operation in a memory of the control system or a memory in communication with the control system. The settings may be associated with an identifier for later reference, such as a date, the name of the operator, or the name of the field that was raked and baled.

The operator may then change the configuration of the rake assembly from the position or settings used to perform the raking and baling operation to another configuration, such as by using the control system to configure the rake assembly for transport. However, upon later returning to the field for another raking and baling operation (such as during the following crop harvest), the operator may find the original position settings that were recorded and may use these settings as inputs to the control system, such that the previous configuration of the rake assembly that was found to be desirable may automatically be replicated for repeat performance.

A schematic illustration of the control system100, hydraulic system actuators110, and position sensors120is provided inFIG. 11. In some cases, the control system100may include or be embodied by a processor, such as a micro-controller. The control system100may be located at the rake assembly or may be remote from the rake assembly, such as when the control system is part of a control panel that is on board the tractor pulling the rake assembly or located elsewhere. In cases where the control system is remotely located, the control system may be in communication with the position sensors and/or the hydraulic system actuators via a wireless network, such as the Internet.

As noted above the structures and components depicted in the figures have been simplified for clarity and ease of explanation. As such, some of the rakes, fasteners, hinge pins, connectors, cables, sensors, etc., although described above, may not be shown in the figures.

FIG. 12shows a perspective view of a rake assembly10in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. For clarity sake only one side of the rake assembly10is shown in the figure; however, it is understood that in practice the rake assembly10ofFIG. 12would include two sides. As with the embodiments described above, rake assembly10of the depicted embodiment includes a frame20configured for supporting a pair of adjustable wings30that are configured to carry a plurality of rakes40,41. The wings30are movably attached to the frame and can be moved towards and away from the frame for configuring the rake assembly in a number of positions. The frame20may, for example, be configured in a T-shape, as depicted in the figures, with a main axial member22defining a front end12and a back end14of the rake assembly10, as well as a transverse member24fixedly attached to the main axial member22proximate the back end14.

A front coupler26may be provided at the front end12of the frame20for connecting to a tractor that is designed to pull the rake assembly10through a field, and a back coupler28may be provided at the back end14for connecting to a baler. Each coupler26,28may be any type of coupler that is designed to connect to a corresponding coupler of the adjacent machinery. For example, the front coupler26may be designed to engage a tow hitch (e.g., a ball hitch) of the tractor pulling the rake assembly, and the back coupler28may be designed to engage a hitch of the baler.

In this regard, as noted above the front coupler26may include a power take-off (not shown) from the tractor, and the frame20may include a driveline for transmitting the power from the tractor to parts of the rake assembly10, as well as to the baler (e.g., via another power take-off proximate the back coupler28).

The frame20of the rake assembly10of the depicted embodiment may be configured to support two wings30(one of which is shown inFIG. 12) that are movable among different positions to configure the rake assembly10for accommodating various widths of plots to be raked, as well as to allow for road transport to and from the field, as described below. Each wing30may include multiple points of attachment to the frame20, where each point of attachment allows for the respective wing to be moved toward and away from the main axial member22of the frame20and to be maintained in various positions with respect to the main axial member.

In the depicted embodiment, for example, each wing30may be pivotally connected to the transverse member24of the frame20via a first linkage32, thus allowing the wing30to rotate with respect to the transverse member24. A first set of hydraulic cylinders35may be provided to adjust a transverse position of the connected end of the wing30with respect to the main axial member22. In addition, a second set of hydraulic cylinders37may be provided, each hydraulic cylinder being pivotally attached to a respective wing30via a second linkage38at a location that is spaced from the respective linkage32. Thus, the wings30may be moved between first and second field positions to allow for different spans (e.g., widths) of the field to be raked and baled with each pass of the rake assembly10.

In the depicted embodiment, a first rake40and a second rake41may be located on the wing30. In various embodiments, the second rake41may be located rearwardly from the first rake40and on a frame member that is configured to move and/or be adjustable in an axial direction via a telescoping rake connection77. In addition, in the depicted embodiment the portion of the wing30that carries the second rake41may be rotatable about a rotating rake connection79(which in some embodiments may extend a length behind the second rake41) such that, for transport, the second rake41may be rotated upward about an axis parallel to the supporting frame member. As such, in the depicted embodiment a transport position may be created by rotating the second rake41upward from a position where the plane of the second rake41is perpendicular to the ground to a position where the plane of the second rake41is parallel to ground; retracting the second rake along the telescoping rake connection77so that the second rake41nests with the first rake40and is located above the first rake40; and rotating the portion of the wings30carrying the first rake40(and now second rake41) inward from an extended, field position, toward the main axial member22.

It should further be noted that in still other embodiments, both the first and second rakes40,41may connect to the frame20via a telescoping connection and/or a rotating connection.

Thus, as described above and depicted in the figures, embodiments of the present invention provide a rake assembly having an increased swath (e.g., via a raking swath of up to over 50 ft.) using a four-basket design, which allows for larger fields to be raked using fewer passes of the rake. At the same time, embodiments of the rake assembly have a frame geometry that allows the rake to be placed in a compact transport arrangement, making the rake assembly easier to move to and between fields. In addition, embodiments of the present invention also allow the rake to be used alone or to be coupled to a baler in series by providing a driveline that is capable of transferring power from the tractor to the baler using the structural members of the rake. The robustness and structural integrity of the frame is such that the additional load of pulling a baler behind the rake is supportable when the rake and baler are used in series pulled by a single tractor.

In addition, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, although only some of the configurations of the rake assembly (field positions and transport positions) are shown, numerous other configurations may be possible to accommodate different crops, field conditions, and/or transport conditions. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.