The V-rake has an elongated tow beam with a front end adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle and a back end fixed to a back section, the back section is supported by a wheel assembly, which may be a set of tandem wheels. The V-rake further includes first and second rake booms each having a front end and a back end pivotally connected to the back section such that the front ends of the booms can be swung between a transport position and an operating position. The front end of each boom has at least one castor wheel for support. The back section is further adapted to controllably change the distance between the back ends of the booms to adjust the width of a resulting windrow. A number of rake wheels are mounted on each of the rake booms on the side of the boom nearest to the tow beam, wherein the rake wheels are adapted to move vertically with respect to the rake boom using a compression spring mechanism. The rake wheel includes a center disk, an outer ring and tines passing through the outer ring with the ends of the tines individually fixed to the center disk, and may further include a windguard.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wheel rakes and more particularly to V-rakes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

V-rakes have been found to be an effective farm implement for gathering cut agricultural materials into windrows. The V-rake generally includes a primary frame, with a front end adapted to be hitched to a tractor and a back end. A pair of rake arms, which are pivotally connected at the back end of the primary frame, are controlled such that they may be positioned adjacent the primary frame in a closed or traveling position or extended in the form of a V in the opened or raking position. The V-rake is supported by a number of rolling wheels mounted on the primary frame and on the rake arms. Further, each rake arm includes a number of rake wheels, which may be raised when the V-rake is in the traveling position, and lowered when the V-rake is in the raking position.

In addition to the description of the basic rakes, these references also describe a variety of rake wheels, as well as control mechanisms for opening and closing the rakes, for raising and lowering the rake wheels, and for adjusting the rake to vary the width of the windrows.

Though these rakes have been in use for some time, it has been found that they do not always satisfy the needs of farmers and ranchers in view of their inherent complexity of operation and their weaknesses. This is particularly true where the rake wheels and the spring assemblies for controlling the height of the rake wheels are concerned. It has also been found that existing mechanisms for adjusting the width of the windrow produced by the rake are ponderous.

As an example, prior art rake wheel assemblies include a center disk with a hub opening and bolt holes by which the rake wheel assembly is attached to a hub. The rake wheel assembly further includes an outer ring with a series of holes equally spaced around its circumference for receiving rake teeth or tines. One end of each tine slides through one of the holes in the outer ring, while plates that are fixed to the center disk by bolts each sandwich the other end of a number of tines. When one of the tines in this rake wheel assembly has to be replaced, the retainer plate has to be removed. When the retainer plate is removed, all of the tines held by the plate become loose and can then fall out of the rake wheel assembly. This process can be very inconvenient, particularly in the field when the rake wheel assembly is in a vertical position.

Further, it has been found that the material being raked has a tendency to wrap itself on the rake wheel assembly due to the spacing between the tines. Attempts have been made to remedy this situation by attaching a piece of hard plastic to the tines on the outside of the rake wheel assembly, however this is not found to be fully satisfactory.

Therefore there is a need for an improved, reliable and easy to operate V-rake.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a V-rake that has an elongated tow beam with a front end adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle and a back end fixed to a back section, the back section is supported by a wheel assembly. The V-rake further includes first and second rake booms each having a front end and a back end pivotally connected to the back section such that the front ends of the booms can be swung between a transport position wherein the rake booms are generally parallel to the tow beam and an operating position wherein the booms are positioned at a predetermined angle to the tow beam, using a control mechanism. The front end of each boom has at least one castor wheel for support. A number of rake wheels are mounted on each of the rake booms on the side of the boom nearest to the tow beam, wherein the rake wheels are adapted to move vertically with respect to the rake boom. The back section is further adapted to controllably change the distance between the back ends of the booms.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the back section comprises first and second vertical beams each having lower and upper ends and a mechanism connected between the first and second vertical beams that is adapted to change the distance between the first and second vertical beams.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the back section comprises first and second vertical beams each having lower and upper ends, the rake booms being pivotally connected to, the vertical beams between their lower and upper ends, a first horizontal beam has one end fixed to the upper end of the first vertical beam and a second horizontal beam has one end fixed to the upper end of the second vertical beam such that the other ends of the horizontal beams are positioned end to end, and a third horizontal beam positioned adjacent the first and second horizontal beams, the tow beam being fixed substantially to the center of the third horizontal beam. The back section further includes a control mechanism connected between the third beam and the first and second beams to move the first and second beams in a direction parallel to the third beam to change the distance between the first and second vertical beams.

In accordance with an alternate aspect of the invention, the back section comprises first and second vertical beams each having lower and upper ends, a horizontal beam is fixed between the upper ends of the first and second vertical beams, and first and second pivot boxes, which each have a predetermined width between one side and another side of the pivot box. The one side of the first pivot box is pivotally connected to the first vertical beam between the lower and upper ends and the first rake boom is pivotally connected to the other side of first pivot box; similarly the one side of the second pivot box is pivotally connected to the second vertical beam between the lower and upper ends and the second rake boom is pivotally connected to the other side of second pivot box. A pivot box control mechanism is adapted to move the other sides of the pivot boxes towards and away from one another to change the distance between the back ends of the booms. The pivot box control mechanism may comprise a horizontal control beam fixed between the first and second vertical beams and-below the horizontal beam, a sleeve slidably mounted on the horizontal control beam, first and second linkages pivotally connected between the sleeve and the other sides of the of the pivot boxes and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the sleeve and the tow beam to control the movement of the sleeve along the horizontal control beam.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the back section wheel assembly includes a first wheel rotatably fixed to the lower end of the first vertical beam and a second wheel rotatably fixed to the lower end of the second vertical beam. Alternately, the wheel assembly may include a first set of tandem wheels pivotally fixed to the lower end of the first vertical beam and a second set of tandem wheels pivotally fixed to the lower end of the second vertical beam. Each set of tandem wheels has a wheel carriage and a pair of wheels mounted by axles onto the carriage such that the wheels are in parallel and staggered front to back relative to one another, wherein the front wheel is positioned on the inside of the V-rake and the back wheel is positioned on the outside of the V-rake. The carriage is pivotally fixed to the vertical beam at a pivot point, wherein a distance between the pivot point and the axle of the front wheel is greater than a distance between the pivot point and the axle of the back wheel.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the rake wheels are connected to the rake booms by rake wheel arms, which are controlled by spring assemblies that permit the wheels to move vertically with respect to the rake boom.

In accordance with a specific aspect of the invention, the spring assembly comprises a compression spring having first and second ends, a plug fixed to the first end of the spring, an insert fixed to the second end of the spring, the insert has an arm extending from it. A rod that has a first end and a second end is positioned within the compression spring wherein the first end is fixed to the plug and the second end extends out of the second end of the spring through the insert, such that the insert slides freely on the rod. The second end of the rod is adapted to be connected to a mechanism to control its movement. The spring assembly further includes an arm that has first and second ends, the first end is fixed to the rake wheel arm and the second end is pivotally connected to the insert arm, whereby the compression spring permits the rake wheel to move vertically to follow a terrain contour.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the rake wheel comprises a center disk having a predetermined radius and adapted to be mounted on a hub, a number of rake tines and an outer ring having a substantially greater radius then the center disk and having holes at least equal to the number of rake tines. The holes In the outer ring are spaced about and passing radially through the outer ring, whereby each of the tines is positioned in a hole in the outer ring with one end of each tine fixed to the center disk. The center disk may have holes at least equal in number to the rake tines spaced about its periphery for receiving fasteners to individually fix the tines to the center disk.

In accordance with a further specific aspect of the invention, the rake wheel includes a windguard positioned between the center disk and the outer ring. The windguard consists of an annulus having an outer radius approximately equal to the radius of the outer ring and an inner radius smaller then the radius of the center ring so as to overlap with the center ring. The inner periphery of the annulus has holes that match with the holes in the center disk, and the outer periphery of the annulus has tabs with holes that match with some of the holes in the outer ring, the tabs are substantially perpendicular to the surface of the annulus, whereby rake tines are located in the outer ring holes and matching tab holes. The windguard may be made from a light gauge galvanized metal with stamped indentations.

Aspects and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A V-rake has a pair of rake wheel booms on which rake wheels are mounted, and the size of the V-rake is normally identified by the number of rake wheels that are mounted on the rake wheel booms. For instance, an 8-wheel rake has four rake wheels on each boom, a 10-wheel rake has five rake wheels on each boom, and so on. In order to simplify the manufacturing process for V-rakes while at the same time providing a variety of V-rake sizes, V-rakes having 8, 12 and 16 rake wheels use the same main boom as the V-rakes having 10, 14, and 18 rake wheels, however the booms are each lengthened by a boom extension on which one rake wheel is mounted. However, this type of modular construction is described by way of example only, and other boom arrangements are within the scope of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, three V-rake arrangements, namely V-rake10, V-rake110, and V-rake210, will be described.FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a top view of V-rake10, which is a 14-wheel rake, in the open or operating position and in the closed or transport position, respectively andFIG. 3illustrates a side view of V-rake10. However, in order to simplify the drawing,.the rake wheels are not shown onFIG. 3.FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate top views of an open V-rake110, which is a 16-wheel rake. The V-rake booms inFIG. 4are positioned to form a wide windrow and the V-rake booms inFIG. 5are positioned to form a narrow windrow.FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate top views of V-rake210, which is an 18-wheel rake. The V-rake booms inFIG. 6are positioned to form a wide windrow and the V-rake booms inFIG. 7are positioned to form a narrow windrow.FIG. 8illustrates a closed 18-wheel rake in top view, andFIGS. 9 and 10illustrate the 18-wheel rake in side view with and without the rake wheels respectively. In order to maintain clarity in the description of the various V-rakes, components common to all of the V-rakes with be identified by the same reference numbers.

V-rake10,110and210includes a frame structure11having a tow beam12fixed at the back end to a back section13. The tow beam12includes a main beam section14and a goose neck section15, which is terminated by a hitch tongue16. The main beam section14and the goose neck section15may be made from a single square or rectangular beam, or as shown inFIGS. 3 and 9, the main beam section14with the goose neck section15may be made from a beam17and a truss support18which are connected together by truss plates19in order to strengthen the tow beam12without adding undue weight.

The back section13, two embodiments of which will be described in detail in conjunction withFIGS. 19 to 23, is supported by a pair of wheel assemblies21,22. Further, the V-rake10,110,210includes rake booms23,24that are pivotally connected to the rear section13, which permits the booms23,24to pivot in a horizontal plane so that the V-rake10,110,210may be opened and closed. Rake wheels25and26are mounted on the inside of the rake booms23and24respectively using wheel arms27and28.

V-rake10inFIGS. 1 to 3, which is a 14-wheel rake includes booms23,24of the type that may also be used for a 12-wheel rake, but that is extended in length using single wheel rake boom extensions31,32. The V-rake110inFIGS. 4 and 5, which is a 16-wheel rake includes booms23,24without any extensions. However in view of the length of the booms23,24in V-rake110, which can cause stresses in the booms23,24as the V-rake110tries to follow the contour of the terrain, the booms23,24may be be made up of sections23A,23B and sections24A,24B, which are hinged together using knuckle hinges100. Six rake wheels are mounted on each of the main boom sections23A,24A, while two rake wheels are mounted on each of the hinged boom sections23B,24B. The hinge100mechanism is described in greater detail in conjunction withFIGS. 14 and 15. V-rake210illustrated inFIGS. 6 to 10, is an 18-wheel rake which includes booms23,24having main boom sections23A,24A and hinged boom sections23B,24B as for V-rake110, however the booms23,24are extended in length using a single-wheel rake boom extension31,32.

The V-rake10,110,210would normally be supported by free wheeling wheels. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 9, the rear wheel assemblies21,22may be fixed to the rear section13to support the back of the V-rake10,110,210. In addition, the rake booms23,24are further extended by castor extensions33,34, on which are mounted castor wheels35,36. The castor extensions33,34project towards the front and inside of the V-rake10,110,210so that the castor wheels35,36are positioned in front of the rake wheels25,26to provide stability to the rake booms23,24. In V-rakes10,110, which are quite long, it is preferable to have a further set of castor wheels37,38mounted on the rake booms23,24using brackets39,40. With the addition of rake extensions31,32as in the V-rake210illustrated inFIG. 6, a further set of castor wheels37,38may be mounted on the hinged boom sections23B,24B in addition to the to the castor wheels37,38on the main boom sections23A,24A.

The castors37,38illustrated inFIGS. 11 and 12, may be mounted via a spindle41to the castor brackets39,40which are fixed to rake booms23,24, and/or to the the hinged boom sections23B,24B of the rake booms23,24, using wheel mounts52,53. Further, castors35,36may be mounted directly on the castor extensions33,34via a spindle41. However, it has been found that if the castors35,36,37,38are left to rotate freely about the spindle41axis, they become unstable when the V-rake10,110,210is moving at high speeds while being relocated. A braking mechanism43is therefore fixed to the spindle41. The braking mechanism43includes a brake disk45, which rotates with the spindle41, and lower and upper plates47,49positioned so as to rub against the disk45between them. The pressure of the plates47,49on the disk45is adjusted by a tightening screw51, which passes through the plates47,49into the castor extensions33,34(not shown) or the brackets39,40.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 10, in order to control the position of the booms23,24with respect to the tow beam12, a control mechanism61is connected to the booms23,24and slidably connected to the main beam section14. The control mechanism61includes riser arms63,64fixed to the booms23,24and shaped to slant upwardly and inwardly towards the center of the V-rake10,110,210. Using ball joints, pairs of scissor arms65,67and66,68are connected at one end to shafts69,70, which pass through riser arms63,64. The other ends of scissor arms65,66are connected using ball joints to a sleeve71that slides on the main beam section14, while the other ends of scissor arms67,68are connected using ball joints to a sleeve72that also slides on the main beam section14. A hydraulic cylinder73, which is fixed between sleeve71and the main beam section14, operates to move the sleeve71towards the back of the V-rake10,110,210to close the rake placing it in its transport position, or to move the sleeve71towards the front of the V-rake10,110,210to place the rake in its operating position. As sleeve71is moved back or forth, the sleeve72is also forced to move forth or back as well. Alternately, the cylinder may be connected between sleeve72and the main beam section14.

A number of rake wheels25,26are mounted on the inside of the rake booms23,24and their extensions31,32using wheel arms27,28which are pivotally connected to the rake booms23,24and their extensions31,32and controlled in height by springs assemblies81,82in conjunction with wheel lift rods83,84. Conventional rake wheels25,26may be used with the present V-rake10. Alternately rake wheels25,26in accordance with the present invention, which are described in conjunction withFIGS. 25 to 29, may also be used.

The spring assemblies81,82are connected to wheel lift rods83,84by clips85,86and the rods83,84are mounted on the booms23,24and extensions31,32using plastic grommets87,88so that the rods83,84may be moved linearly along the booms23,24and extensions31,32using wheel lift hydraulic cylinders89,90. A mechanical adjustment mechanism91,92, as shown inFIG. 13, may also be connected between the wheel lift hydraulic cylinders89,90and the booms23,24to assure the ideal operating weight of the wheels25,26with respect to the terrain surface. The adjustment mechanism91,92may consist of a threaded rod93passing through a bracket94fixed to the boom23,24with a nut95on the rod93on either side of the bracket94. Using the nuts95, the rod93may be adjusted longitudinally along the length of the boom23,24.

When the rake booms23,24include hinged boom sections23B,24B that are connected to the main boom sections23A,24A using knuckle hinges100, it is necessary to include two pivot points in both of the wheel lift rods83,84. One of the pivot points would be located in the rods83,84at a point just above the knuckle100axis when the rake wheels25,26are lowered in their operating position and the other of the pivot points would be located in the rods83,84at a point just above the knuckle100axis when the rake wheels25,26are raised for their transport position.

Alternately, as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, the wheel lift rods83,84may be slidably terminated in a bracket101,102at the front end of the rake boom sections23A,24A at the knuckle hinge100. Additional wheel lift rods103,104may be used to control the rake wheels25,26that are connected to the hinged boom sections23B,24B and the boom extensions31,32. The positioning of rods103,104will be controlled by a similar mechanism as rods83,84. Wheel lift hydraulic cylinders89,90are connected between rods103,104and a mechanical adjustment mechanism91,92. The adjustment mechanism91,92may consist of a threaded rod93passing through a bracket94fixed to the arm23B,24B with a nut95on the rod93on either side of the bracket94. Using the nuts95, the rod93may be adjusted longitudinally along the length of the arm103,104.

In view of the weight of the rake wheels25,26used in wheel rakes10,110,210, a spring assembly81,82is required for each rake wheel25,26to maintain a predetermined ideal wheel weight on the ground surface to prevent the rake wheel25,26from digging into the ground. The spring assembly81,82also has the function of assisting a wheel25,26to rise over bumps or rocks on the ground surface, as well as to prevent a wheel25,26from abruptly dropping into a depression in the ground surface. Further, the spring assemblies81,82operate in conjunction with wheel lift rods83,84to move the wheels25,26between their operating and transport positions.

Either the tension spring assembly181shown inFIGS. 16 and 17or the compression spring assembly281shown inFIG. 18may be used as the spring assembly81for the V-rakes10,110,210illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 10. Spring assembly181,281is attached between the wheel arm27and the wheel lift rod83,103on the left side of the V-rake10,110,210. The spring assembly182,282between the wheel arm28and wheel lift rod84,104on the right side of the V-rake10,110,210is constructed similarly to, but as a mirror image of, the left side spring assembly181,281, and operates in a similar manner.

Making reference toFIGS. 16 and 17, the tension spring assembly181is mounted between the wheel arm27, which is connected to the rake wheel25at one end and which pivots using a pin121that is attached to the rake boom23, or an extension31. The tension spring assembly181is further connected to the wheel lift rod83,103using a clip85. A tension spring122is mounted on a rod123using plastic inserts124,125, which screw into the ends of the spring122, such that the rod123can move freely through the inserts124,125. One end of the rod123is threaded and is screwed into a yoke126that connects to the clip85. This permits the height of each wheel25to be adjusted individually. A stopper127is fixed to the rod123a predetermined distance from the yoke126allowing the plastic insert124to slide on the rod123between the stopper127and the yoke126. This will permit a wheel25to rise when it moves over a bump. The other end of the rod123extends out of the end of the spring122somewhat at the plastic insert125. However, a stopper128is placed at the end of rod123such that the plastic insert125will not slide past the end of the rod123. This is required so that there is a limit to the distance that a wheel25may drop as it passes over a depression. An arm129, which is fixed in length, connects the wheel lift arm27to the plastic insert125. The arm129preferably has a yoke or clevis130, which is pivotally connected to the plastic insert125using pins131. The base132of the clevis130is in the form of a shaft that is able to turn in a cylinder133and is fixed therein so that there will be no longitudinal movement. Cylinder133is fixed to the wheel lift arm27.

In operation, the wheel25is lowered by moving the wheel lift rod83,103in the direction of arrow134W, placing the spring mechanism181in the working position shown inFIGS. 16 and 17, where just sufficient tension remains on the spring122to permit the wheel to be turned by the surface of the ground. In this position, if the wheel25moves over a bump, tension is released by the lifting wheel25; if the wheel goes over a depression, tension is increased by the dropping wheel25. To lift the wheel25to the transport position, the wheel lift rod83is moved in the direction of arrow134T, placing more tension on the spring122to lift the wheel25.

Making reference toFIG. 18, the compression spring assembly281is mounted between the wheel arm27, which is connected to the rake wheel25at one end and which pivots using a pin141that is attached to the rake boom23or an extension31. The compression spring assembly281is further connected to the wheel lift rod83,103using a clip85. A compression spring142is mounted on a rod143using an insert144having a plastic lining at one end and a fixed plug145at the other end. Insert144is designed to permit it to slide freely on the rod143. One end of the rod143is fixed to a yoke146that connects to the clip85. The insert144has an arm147extending from one side and curved through an angle of approximately 70 degrees. It is pivotally connected to an arm148that is perpendicular and fixed the wheel arm27.

In operation, the wheel25is lowered by moving the wheel lift rod83in the direction of arrow149W, placing the spring mechanism281in the working position shown inFIG. 18, where just sufficient compression remains on the spring142to permit the wheel to be turned by the surface of the ground. In this position, if the wheel25moves over a bump, compression is released by the lifting wheel25; if the wheel goes over a depression, compression is increased by the dropping wheel25. To lift the wheel25to the transport position, the wheel lift rod73is moved in the direction of arrow149T, placing more compression on the spring142to lift the wheel25.

In the V-rake10,110,210, the cut agricultural material in a field is raked towards the center of the rake to form a windrow. As it is desirable to have windrows of different widths depending on factors such as the type of equipment that will be gathering the material and/or the yield of the material to be gathered, the V-rake10,110,210, in accordance with the present invention, has a back section13adapted to adjust the distance between the rake wheel assemblies21,22at the back of the V-rake10,110,210.FIG. 19illustrates a mechanically adjusted back section113whileFIGS. 20 to 22illustrate a hydraulically adjusted back section213. Though any one of these back sections113,213can be used with any one of the V-rakes10,110,210, V-rake10is illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3with a back section113and V-rakes110and210are illustrated inFIGS. 4 to 10with a back section213.

The back section113, as shown in detail inFIG. 19, includes a first horizontal beam150that is fixed at the center of the beam150to the tow beam12. The back section113further includes two vertical beams151and152, each fixed to second horizontal beams153,154, which abut at the center of the rear section113. U-shaped channels155,156which are fixed to the first horizontal beam150, hold the second horizontal beams153,154in close proximity to the first horizontal beam150, yet permitting the second horizontal beams153,154to extend outward from the center. The back section113further includes oppositely threaded rods159,160with ends fixed to devises161,162that connect to brackets163,164. Brackets163,164are fixed to the second horizontal beams153,154. A pipe157having inner opposite threads is screwed onto the rods159,160. A ratchet158is used to rotate the pipe157, thereby moving the rods159,160into or out of the pipe157resulting in the vertical sections151,152being moved inward or outward from the center of the V-rake10to adjust the width of the windrow formed by the V-rake10.

Wheel assemblies21,22each include single wheels165and166mounted on spindles167,168. The spindles167,168are welded to flanges169,170that are fixed to the ends of the vertical beams151,152.

Brackets171,172are located approximately midway up the vertical beams151,152so that the rake booms23,24may be connected to the back section113using 4-way knuckle joints173,174. The knuckle joints173,174permit the booms23,24to pivot in the horizontal direction so that the V-rake10may be opened and closed, as well as to pivot in the vertical direction to permit the booms23,24to follow the contour of the terrain without placing undue stress on the connection between the booms23,24and the back section113.

The back section213illustrated inFIG. 20 to 23is basically a U-frame comprising first and second horizontal beams250,251with their ends fixed to two vertical beams253,254. As shown inFIGS. 22, the main beam section14of tow beam12is fixed to the back section213, with the beam17being connected to the first horizontal beam250and the truss support18being connected to the second horizontal beam251, which is vertically spaced from the first horizontal beam250. Further a pair of braces255,256are connected between the beam17by an adjustable bracket257and the second horizontal beam251at fixed brackets259,260.

The rake booms23,24are attached to the vertical beams253,254using pivot boxes261,262of the type shown inFIG. 21. The pivot boxes261,262are attached to the vertical beams by brackets263,264where they are permitted to pivot about vertical axes265,266. The rake booms23,24are connected to the other end of the pivot boxes261,262by pins267,268such that they are able to pivot about the axis of pins267,268relative to the pivot boxes261,262. As can be seen inFIG. 23, the booms23,24may pivot into an open or closed position about pins267,268, and in addition, the pivot boxes261,262may be pivoted about axes265,266to move the back ends of the rake booms23,24either closer together or further apart, without changing the relative positions of the rake wheel assemblies21,22. The rake wheel assemblies21,22follow in the same track all of the time.

In the present embodiment, the positioning of the pivot boxes261,262is hydraulically controlled. The structure269for implementing the control function is best shown inFIGS. 22 and 23. Structure269includes a horizontal beam270, which is held at the center of the back section213below horizontal beam251and in between vertical beams253,254, by an arm271, which is fixed to the horizontal beam25.0. A sleeve272is mounted on the horizontal beam270such that it is free to slide along the beam270. The beam270may include a clevis273for receiving a pin274in the sleeve272, which would limit the distance of travel of the sleeve272. Further, a hydraulic cylinder275has one end pivotally connected to the sleeve272and the other end connected to a truss plate19, in order to control the movement of the sleeve272. To control the position of the rake booms23,24, linkages277,278are pivotally connected between the sleeve272and the pivot boxes261,262respectively.

In operation, when the sleeve272is in its forward position, the position shown inFIG. 23, the back ends of the booms23,24are the furthest apart, which would result in a wide windrow. Alternately, when the sleeve272is in its furthest rearward position, linkages277,278bring the ends of booms23,24closer together, which would result in a narrow windrow. It is noted that the windrow width can therefore be adjusted without changing the distance between the back wheel assemblies21,22. Also, the hydraulic cylinder275may be controlled to obtain a windrow width anywhere in between the extremes of a narrow and a wide windrow.

FIGS. 4 and 6illustrate examples of V-rakes110,210in their operating position with the booms23,24positioned to provide the widest possible windrow, whileFIGS. 5 and 7illustrate examples of V-rakes110,210in their operating position with the booms23,24positioned to provide the narrowest possible windrow. It is to be noted that, since fixed riser arms63,64represent pivot points at shafts69,70for rake booms23,24, the opening or the distance between the ends of booms23,24at the front of an open V-rake110,210, is greater when the back ends of booms23,24are closer together, then when the back ends of booms23,24are further apart. In other words, the swath covered by a V-rake110,210that is producing narrow windrows is greater then the swath covered by a V-rake110,210that is producing a wide windrow.

In addition, as shown inFIG. 8for the transport position, the back ends of booms23,24, which are as apart from one another that they can be, are still within the wheels assemblies21,22. Therefore, the wheel assemblies21,22dictate the overall width of the V-rake10,110,210in transport position. It is further noted that the booms23,24may be brought closer together, both at the back and the front of the V-rake10,110,210. In order to stabilize the V-rake10,110,210further while in transport, a pair of transport arms105,106may be pinned between the tow beam gooseneck section15and the castor extensions33,34.

As shown inFIG. 20, the back wheel assemblies21,22are fixed to the lower ends of vertical beams253,254. However, as shown inFIGS. 20,23and24, rather then having single wheels, each assembly21,22includes a pair of tandem wheels281,283and282,284; wheels281,282being the outer wheels and wheels283,284being the inner wheels. In addition, the wheels281,283and282,284, are mounted on a carriage285,286which is pivotally connected to the ends of vertical beam253,254. The carriage285,286is constructed such that the outer wheels281,282are positioned towards the back of the back section213, whereas the inner wheels283,284are positioned towards the front of the back section213. This arrangement has the advantage that wheels283,284are located close to, but behind the back rake wheels25,26whether the V-rake110,210is positioned to produce wide windrows as shown inFIG. 23, or narrow windrows. This arrangement prevents the wheels283,284from running over material in the windrow as it settles with the passing of the last rake wheels25,26. Since, the back wheels281,282are further apart, they also will not run over the settled windrow.

Further, as shown inFIG. 24, the distance “A” between back wheel281,282spindle mount291and the pivot mount293for the carriage285,286is shorter than the distance “B” between front wheel283,285spindle mount295and the pivot mount293for the carriage285,286. In this way, less ground pressure is applied to the front wheels283,284, which tend to float, preventing them from being pressed into the ground in rough fields.

Rake wheel assemblies300,310in accordance with the present invention are illustrated inFIGS. 25 and 26. Wheel assembly300inFIG. 25is identical to wheel assembly310inFIG. 26except that one is a mirror image of the other. These wheel rake assemblies300,310are for use on the left and the right sides respectively of the wheel rake10,110,210. The rake wheel assembly300,310includes a center disk311having a predetermined radius and holes312substantially equally spaced around its outer edge or periphery, and an outer ring313having an equal number of substantially equally spaced holes314around its periphery. The ring313has a substantially rectangular cross-section with the larger side facing the center of the ring313. The center disk311is adapted to be mounted on a hub200, as shown inFIG. 17. The hub200, which passes through an opening323in the center disk311, includes a flange on which are located bolts that pass through holes324to be fastened with nuts in a conventional manner.

Rake tines315, which may take on various conventional shapes such as the Z-shape that is illustrated, slide through the holes314in the outer ring313of the rake wheel assembly300,310and are bolted to the heavier center disk311. A loop316is formed into the end of the rake tine315to accept a bolt317. Holes312are preferably square holes for receiving carriage bolts317that will be prevented from turning when corresponding nuts are tightened. A bolt317is placed in each hole312to receive the loop316of a single tine315and is fixed in place by a nut. The loop316wraps around the bolt317to prevent the tine315from jarring loose under heavy raking conditions. One feature of the rake wheel assembly300,310is that rake tines315are individually fixed to the center disk311of the rake wheel assembly300,310. This feature simplifies assembling the rake wheel assembly300,310and also the replacement of a tine315.

Another feature of the rake wheel assembly300,310in accordance with the present invention is an integrated windguard318. The windguard318is an annulus or disk319made from a light gauge galvanized metal. The radius of an outer periphery330of the annulus319is substantially equal to the inner radius of the outer ring313and an inner radius331of the annulus319is smaller than the radius of the center disk311. The windguard318further has tabs320equally spaced around the periphery of the annulus319. The tabs320are substantially perpendicular to the surface of the annulus319and fit inside the outer ring313of the rake wheel assembly300,310. The tabs320further have holes321that line up with the holes314in the outer ring313. In this particular embodiment, there is a tab320adjacent every second hole314in the outer ring313; however, tabs320may be located at every hole314or even less frequently such as at every fourth hole314.

The annulus319further includes holes around its inner periphery such that the holes match the holes312in the center disk311. In this way, the windguard318is attached to the center disk311of the rake wheel assembly300,310by the same bolts317that hold the rake tines315to the center disk311. To add rigidity to the annulus319, indentations322are stamped into it.

FIGS. 27 to 29show the assembly procedure for the rake wheel assembly300,310. The first step is to align the center disk311, windguard318, and outer ring313in the 12:00 o'clock position as shown. InFIGS. 27 and 28, a straight rod325is used as a reference. When in the 12:00 o'clock position, the rod325will pass over the bolt hole loop316on the tine315. In this position, the rake tine315must pass through the outer ring313two holes314to the left of the rod325. This gives the orientation of the tine315on the rake wheel assembly300,310. If the rake wheel assemblies300,310are to be used on a “V” style rake, both left and right rake wheel assemblies300,310are required. Assembling both rake wheel assemblies300,310is the same except that the first tine315must pass through a hole314two holes314to the right of vertical rod325for the opposite rake wheel assembly300,310, as shown inFIG. 28. The rake wheel assemblies300,310illustrated inFIGS. 26 and 27would be used on the right side of a “V” style rake and the rake wheel assemblies300,310illustrates inFIGS. 26 and 28would be used on the left side of a “V” style rake.

FIG. 29illustrates how the remaining tines315are bolted in side by side to complete the rake wheel assembly300,310. With this method, the windguard318is securely attached to the rake wheel assembly300,310with no welding or painting required. Because the windguard318is integrated into the rake wheel assembly300,330, the windguard318adds strength and durability to the rake wheel assembly300,330.

Because the windguard318gives the front of the rake wheel assembly300,310a smooth surface, the raked material has nothing to catch onto and therefore it will not wrap, and the windguard318prevents the raked material from wrapping on the rake wheel assembly300,310in windy conditions.

While the invention has been described according to what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it must be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent structures and functions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, the invention as defined in the claims must be accorded the broadest possible interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.