Abstract:
A bifold rake for forming a windrow of cut agricultural crop material includes a rear trolley ( 22 ) to which a pair of rake arms ( 30 ) are pivotably mounted, and a drawbar ( 44 ) extending forwardly from the rear trolley and adapted for interconnection with a two vehicle such as a tractor. Each rake arms ( 30 ) carries a series of rake members ( 32 ). An opening and closing mechanism ( 105 ) is interconnected between the drawbar and the rake arms, and includes front ( 110 ) and rear ( 106 ) operating arms located on each side of the drawbar and pivotably interconnected with each other and with one of the rake arms. The inner end of each front and rear operating arm is pivotably interconnected with a slidable arrangement associated with the drawbar. In one form, the slidable arrangement is a sleeve ( 102 ) that is slidably mounted to the drawbar for axial movement. In another form, the slidable arrangement is the form of a telescoping section of the drawbar which is capable of moving inwardly and outwardly relative to a receiver section of the drawbar. An extendible and retractable actuator assembly, such as a hydraulic cylinder assembly ( 104 ), is interconnected with the drawbar and at least one of the slidable arrangements for moving the front and rear arms together and apart so as to move the rake arms between open and closed positions. A splitter wheel rake assembly is interconnected between the drawbar and a hitch member, for directing crop material in opposite directions away from the center of the trolley to rake the crop material into a windrow. The splitter wheel rake assembly includes a frame arrangement having a pair of offset frame members, and a splitter rake member ( 78 ) mounted to each offset frame member. The splitter rake members are configured to direct the crop material in opposite directions. The splitter wheel rake assembly is selectively engageable with the drawbar.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/279,267, filed Mar. 28, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a bifold or V-type rake for forming cut crop material into a windrow, and more particularly to an internal opening and closing system and a splitter wheel arrangement for use in a rake of this type.  
           [0003]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a bifold or V-type rake includes a rear wheeled trolley adapted for movement along the ground, and a drawbar that extends forwardly from the rear trolley for connection to a towing vehicle such as a tractor or the like. A pair of rake arms extend forwardly from opposite sides of the trolley, and each rake arm is pivotably interconnected with the trolley for movement between an open, operative position and a closed, inoperative position for transport or storage. Each rake arm may include one or more ground-engaging wheels for supporting the rake arm forwardly of its pivotable interconnection with the trolley. Each rake arm includes a series of rake members, which may be in the form of rotatable finger wheel rakes, each of which is movable between an inoperative, raised position and a lowered, operative position in which the rake members are in engagement with the ground. An opening and closing mechanism is interconnected between the drawbar and each rake arm, for moving the rake arms between their operative, open positions and inoperative, closed positions.  
           [0004]    The opening and closing mechanism includes a pair of rear operating arms located one on each side of the drawbar, as well as a pair of front operating arms located one on each side of the drawbar. Each rear operating arm defines an outer end that is pivotably interconnected with an outer end defined by the front operating arm located on the same side of the drawbar. An actuator arm extends outwardly from the pivotable interconnection of each set of front and rear arms, and is engaged at its outer end with the rake arm.  
           [0005]    Each of the front and rear operating arms defines an inner end, each of which is pivotably mounted to a slidably movable arrangement that is guided for movement along an axis coincident with or parallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the drawbar. In one form, one or both of the slidably movable arrangements may be in the form of a sleeve or slider member that is slidably mounted to and guided on the drawbar. In another form, one or both of the slidably movable arrangements may be in the form of a telescoping portion of the drawbar. An extendible and retractable actuator assembly is interconnected between the drawbar and one of the slidably movable arrangements, for selectively imparting axial movement to one of the slidably movable arrangements relative to the drawbar. In one form, the rear operating arms are pivotably interconnected with a rear sleeve that is axially movable on a rear portion of the drawbar in response to operation of the extendible and retractable actuator assembly. The front operating arms are pivotably interconnected with a telescoping forward section of the drawbar, which is telescopingly movable from a forward end of the portion of the drawbar to which the extendible and retractable actuator assembly is secured. In this arrangement, retraction of the actuator assembly functions to move the sleeve forwardly on the drawbar, to pivot the rear operating arms outwardly and to cause the front operating arms to be drawn outwardly and the telescoping portion of the drawbar to be moved inwardly. This outward movement of the joint between each rear operating arm and front operating arm is operable to push the rake arm outwardly through the actuator arm, to attain the open position of the rake. Likewise, extension of the actuator assembly moves the sleeve rearwardly on the drawbar, to pivot the rear operating arms inwardly and to cause the front operating arms to be drawn inwardly and the telescoping portion of the drawbar to be moved outwardly. This inward movement of the joint between each rear operating arm and front operating arm causes the actuator arm to draw the associated rake arm inwardly to attain the inoperative, closed position of the rake.  
           [0006]    In another embodiment, the telescoping construction of the drawbar is eliminated, and each set of rear and front operating arms is pivotably interconnected with a sleeve or slider member which is guided for movement along an axis coincident with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drawbar. This embodiment functions similarly, in that retraction of the actuator assembly moves the rear inner ends of the rear and front operating arms together by movement of the sleeves or slider members toward each other on the drawbar, to move the joints between the rear and front operating arms outwardly to open the rake arms. Conversely, extension of the actuator assembly moves the inner ends of the rear and front operating arms apart by movement of the sleeves away from each other on the drawbar, to draw the joints between the rear and front operating arms inwardly to close the rake arms.  
           [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a splitter wheel drawbar mechanism is adapted for interconnection with a drawbar for interconnecting a bifold or V-type rake with a tow vehicle such as a tractor. The splitter wheel drawbar mechanism includes a front drawbar section adapted for releasable engagement with the tow vehicle hitch, and a rear drawbar section that extends rearwardly and is interconnected with the trolley of the rake. The splitter wheel drawbar mechanism includes a pair of splitter rake members, such as rake wheels, which are oriented at an angle to each other so as to direct crop material in opposite directions as the rake is moved on the ground. Each rake member is movable between an inoperative, raised position and an operative, lowered position. In a preferred form, the splitter wheel drawbar mechanism includes a series of angularly offset drawbar sections that are interconnected together between the front and rear sections of the splitter wheel drawbar mechanism, and each splitter rake member is supported by one of the angularly offset drawbar sections in a predetermined angular relationship therewith, such that the offset nature of the drawbar sections functions to orient the splitter rake members opposite each other. The splitter wheel drawbar assembly further includes a lifting and lower arrangement for moving the splitter rake members between their inoperative, raised position and operative, lowered position.  
           [0008]    While both aspects of the present invention can be incorporated together into a bifold or V-type rake to enhance operation, it is understood that the aspects of the invention may be utilized separately from each other or in combination with other rake features, and that each functions to enhance rake operation on its own.  
           [0009]    Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.  
         [0011]    In the drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bifold or V-rake incorporating the internal opening and closing mechanism of the present invention, showing the rake arms in an operative, open position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the rake of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view with reference to line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the rake arms in an inoperative, closed position for transport or storage;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2, showing the rake arms in the inoperative, closed position of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1, showing an alternative embodiment of an opening and closing mechanism for a bifold or V-rake in accordance with the present invention, showing the rake arms in an operative open position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the rake of FIG. 7, showing the rake arms in the operative open position;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing the rake arms in an inoperative, closed position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial top plan view, with reference to line  10 - 10  of FIG. 6, showing the splitter wheel drawbar mechanism in accordance with the present invention incorporated into the bifold or V-rake;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a partial isometric view showing the splitter wheel drawbar mechanism of FIG. 10;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the splitter wheel drawbar mechanism of FIGS. 10 and 11, showing the splitter rake members in an inoperative, raised position; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, showing the splitter rake members in an operative, lowered position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bifold or V-rake  20  includes a rear trolley or frame assembly  22  having a transverse rear frame member  24  and a pair of wheels  26  rotatably mounted to a pair of depending legs  25 , each of which extends downwardly from one of the ends of frame member  24 . A pair of rake arm assemblies  28  are pivotably mounted one to each leg  25  of rear frame assembly  22 . Each rake arm assembly  28  includes a rake arm  30  to which a series of rake members, in the form of finger wheel rakes  32 , are mounted. Finger wheel rakes  32  are mounted to each rake arm  30  via pivot arms  33  in a conventional manner. Each rake arm assembly  28  includes a conventional lifting and lowering mechanism for moving rake wheels  32  between a raised position for transport and a lowered position for engagement with the ground. Each rake arm  30  may have a front wheel  34  at its forward end, as well as an intermediate wheel  36  located approximately midway between the forward and rearward ends of rake arm  30 .  
         [0026]    In a manner as is known, each rake arm  30  is pivotably mounted to one of legs  25  via a rake arm mounting bracket assembly  38 , for providing pivoting movement of each rake arm  30  about a vertical pivot axis between open and closed positions. Each rake arm mounting bracket assembly  38  is mounted to one of legs  25  toward its lower end.  
         [0027]    A drawbar assembly  44  extends forwardly from rear frame assembly  22 . Drawbar assembly  44  includes a fixed rear section  46  and a sliding or telescoping forward section  48 . Rear drawbar section  46  is fixed at its rearward end to a drawbar mounting bracket assembly  50  mounted to rear frame member  24 . Rear drawbar section  46  is preferably in the form of an elongated tubular member which may be rectangular in cross-section and which defines an internal passage, although it is understood that any other satisfactory shape or configuration may be employed.  
         [0028]    Forward drawbar section  48  is mounted for sliding movement within the internal passage of rear drawbar section  46 . Forward drawbar section  48  also is preferably in the form of an elongated tubular member, having a cross-section which enables forward drawbar section  48  to fit within the internal passage of rear drawbar section  46 . A series of flat nylon bearings  52  (FIG. 3) are mounted within the internal passage of rear drawbar section  46 , and cooperate to slidably engage the external surfaces of forward drawbar section  48 , such that forward drawbar section  48  is slidably received within the passage defined by rear drawbar section  46 . In this manner, forward drawbar section  48  is slidably movable in a telescoping manner relative to rear drawbar section  46 , along coincident longitudinal axes defined by rear and forward draw bar sections  46 ,  48 , respectively.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 1, the forward end of forward drawbar section  48  includes a downwardly extending angled member  56  which extends between the front of an upper portion defined by forward drawbar section  48  and the rear end of a lower mounting section  58 . A ground wheel  60  is mounted to mounting section  58 , for supporting the front end of drawbar assembly  44 .  
         [0030]    A front splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  is located forwardly of mounting section  58 . Referring to FIGS. 2 and 10, 2plitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  includes a front section  64  having a pair of hitch engaging plates  65  at its forward end, and a rear section  66  pivotably engaged with mounting section  58  via a transverse pin  68 . Rear section  66  is located between a pair of side plates  69 , secured to mounting section  58  and extending forwardly therefrom, and pin  68  extends through aligned openings in side plates  69  and a transverse passage associated with rear section  66 , such that pin  68  defines a transverse pivot axis between mounting section  58  and splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62 . Front section  64  and rear section  66  extend along coincident longitudinal axes, which are coincident with the longitudinal axis of mounting section  58  and parallel to the longitudinal axes of rear and forward drawbar sections  46 ,  48 , respectively.  
         [0031]    Between front section  64  and rear section  66 , splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  includes front and rear oppositely angled offset frame members  70 ,  72 , respectively. An angled intermediate frame member  74  extends between the rear end of front offset frame member  70  and the forward end of rear offset frame member  72 . Angled intermediate frame member  74  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of front and rear offset frame members  70 ,  72 , respectively. A series of triangular gusset plates reinforce the connections of frame members  70 - 74 . With this construction, splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  defines a “zigzag” configuration when viewed from the top, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. A forward splitter rake wheel  76  is mounted to intermediate frame member  74 , and a rear splitter rake wheel  78  is mounted to rear offset frame member  72 . With this arrangement, forward splitter rake wheel  76  and rear splitter rake wheel  78  are substantially perpendicular to each other, and are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis or centerline of rake  20 . Splitter rake wheels  76 ,  78  clear crop material from the center of the path of rake  20 , and direct the crop material in opposite directions into the path of rake members  32  when rake  20  is pulled along the ground.  
         [0032]    Splitter rake wheels  76 ,  78  are pivotably mounted to frame members  74 ,  76  for movement between raised and lowered positions in a similar manner as rake wheels  32  mounted to rake arms  30 . As shown in FIGS.  11 - 13 , a pair of lifting and lowering cables  80 ,  82  are connected at one end to respective pivotable lifting and lowering arms  84 ,  86 , which are pivotably mounted to front and rear frame members  70 ,  72 , respectively. Forward and rear splitter rake wheels  76 ,  78 , respectively, are rotatably mounted to the outer ends of respective lifting and lowering arms  84 ,  86 . At the opposite end, cables  80 ,  82  are connected to the extendible and retractable rod of a lifting and lowering cylinder assembly  88  carried by front section  64  of splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62 . Cables  80 ,  82  extend through a lower set of guides  90  mounted to front offset frame member  70 , and a pair of elevated guides  92  mounted at the intersection of frame members  70  and  74  via an upstanding bar  94 . From the lower one of elevated guides  92 , cable  80  extends downwardly for connection to arm  84 , and cable  82  extends from the upper one of elevated guides  92  along angled intermediate frame member  74  and through a guide  96  mounted at the intersection of frame members  72  and  74  via an upstanding bar  98 . From guide  96 , cable  82  extends downwardly for connection to arm  86 .  
         [0033]    With the above-described arrangement, extension of the rod of cylinder assembly  88  introduces slack into cables  80 ,  82  to allow splitter rake wheels  76 ,  78  to be lowered by gravity into an operative position in engagement with the ground, as shown in FIG. 13. Retraction of the rod of cylinder assembly  88  tensions cables  80 ,  82  and functions to raise splitter rake wheels  76 ,  78  above the ground to an inoperative transport or storage position as shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a slider member or sleeve  102  is slidably mounted to rear drawbar section  46  at the rearward end of drawbar assembly  44 . Sleeve  102  defines an internal passage within which rear drawbar section  46  is received, and is slidably movable along rear drawbar section  46 . A hydraulic opening and closing cylinder assembly  104  has one of its ends fixed to rear drawbar section  46  forwardly of sleeve  102 , and has the other of its ends fixed to slider member  102 . In this manner, sleeve  102  is movable along rear drawbar section  46  in response to extension and retraction of the rod of cylinder assembly  104 .  
         [0035]    An opening and closing mechanism  105  is interposed between drawbar assembly  44  and rake arms  30  for moving rake arms  30  between open and closed positions in response to operation of cylinder assembly  104  and movement of sleeve  102 . Opening and closing mechanism  105  has a symmetrical, mirror image construction, and includes a pair of rear operating arms  106 , a pair of joints  108 , a pair of front operating arms  110  and a pair of links or actuator arms  112 .  
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  4 , each rear operating arm  106  has a bifurcated construction and is mounted at its inner, rearward end to slider member  102  for movement about a vertical pivot axis. At its opposite outer, forward end, each rear operating arm  106  is connected to a joint  108  for movement about a vertical pivot axis. Each front operating arm  110  is connected at its outer, rearward end to joint  108  for movement about a vertical pivot axis, and is connected at its inner, forward end to forward drawbar section  48  for movement about a vertical pivot axis. An outwardly extending link or actuator arm  112  extends from each joint  108  and is connected at its outer end to one of rake arms  30  for movement about a vertical pivot axis.  
         [0037]    With reference to FIG. 4, each joint  108  is connected to its associated rear arm  106  via a pivot pin  114  that defines a vertical axis pivot connection between the inner end of actuator arm  112  and the outer, forward end of rear arm  106 . A pivot pin  116  is connected between the outer, rearward end of each front operating arm  110  and the inner end of its associated actuator arm  112 , and defines a vertical axis pivot connection therebetween.  
         [0038]    In operation, rake arms  30  of rake  20  are moved between an open position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a closed position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as follows. When rake arms  30  are closed for transport as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rod of cylinder assembly  104  is fully extended such that sleeve  102  is located in its rearwardmost position on drawbar assembly  44 . In this position of sleeve  102 , the outer, forward ends of rear operating arms  106  are positioned inwardly to their fullest extent toward drawbar assembly  44 , which likewise places the outer, rearward ends of front operating arms  110  in their inwardmost position toward drawbar assembly  44  and causes maximum outward extension of telescoping front drawbar section  48  relative to fixed rear drawbar section  46 . Actuator arms  112  are located in their full inwardmost positions, such that each rake arm  30  extends in a forward-rearward direction substantially parallel to drawbar assembly  44 . If desired, a pair of conventional retainer arms may be connected between drawbar assembly  44  and rake arms  30  to maintain rake arms  30  in the closed position during transport. When rake arms  30  are closed in this manner, a minimum amount of overlap, shown at L 1  (FIG. 6), is provided between the rearward portion of forward drawbar section  48  and the forward portion of rear drawbar section  46 .  
         [0039]    To open rake arms  30 , the rod of cylinder assembly  104  is retracted so as to draw sleeve  102  forwardly on rear drawbar section  46 , which functions to move the inner, rearward end of each rear operating arm  106  forwardly. This functions to increase the angle between each rear arm  106  and drawbar assembly  44 , and to move the outer, forward end of each rear operating arm  106  outwardly away from drawbar assembly  44 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Due to the configuration of each joint  108  and the offset relationship between pivot connections  114  and  116 , this outward movement of the outer, forward end of each rear operating arm  106  simultaneously functions to draw the outer, rearward end of each front operating arm  110  outwardly, and to exert a rearward force at the pivot connection between forward drawbar section  48  and the inner end of each front operating arm  110 . This causes rearward movement of forward drawbar section  48  within rear drawbar section  46 , to retract or telescope forward drawbar section  48  into the internal passage defined by rear drawbar section  46 . This rearward movement of forward drawbar section  48  enables outward movement of the outer, rearward ends of front operating arms  110 . In addition, the outward movement of the outer, forward end of each rear operating arm  106  causes each actuator arm  112  to pivot outwardly due to the configuration of joint  108 , such that the combined movement of actuator arms  112  and rear and front operating arms  106 ,  110 , respectively, functions to apply an outward force to each rake arm  30  through actuator arm  112  to pivot each rake arm  30  about the pivot connection of rake arm  30  to bracket assembly  38 .  
         [0040]    When cylinder assembly  104  is fully retracted so as to place rake arms  30  in their open position, forward drawbar section  48  is retracted into the internal passage of rear drawbar section  46  to attain a maximum amount of overlap as shown at L 2  (FIG. 2), which reduces the overall length of drawbar assembly  44 . This shortening of drawbar assembly  44  functions to make rake  20  somewhat easier to handle and maneuver when being pulled in a field behind a tractor or the like so as to rake cut crop material.  
         [0041]    In an alternative construction as shown in FIGS.  7 - 9  wherein like reference characters are used to denote like parts and primed reference characters are used to denote modified parts, rake  20 ′ includes a drawbar assembly  44 ′ including a primary fixed-length drawbar member  118 , which may be in the form of a series of drawbar sections fixed together in an end-to-end relationship so as to define a fixed length. A downwardly angled member  56  extends from the front end of drawbar member  118  for connection to the hitch of the tow vehicle, which may be by means of splitter wheel rake assembly  62 . Sleeve  102  is slidably mounted toward the rearward end of drawbar member  118 , and rear operating arms  106  are pivotably mounted to rear sleeve  102  in the same manner as discussed previously. At its forward end, each rear operating arm  106  is connected to one of joints  108  as described above, and actuator arms  112  extend outwardly from joints  108 . Each actuator arm  112  is pivotably connected at its outer end to one of rake arms  30 . Front operating arms  110  extend forwardly from joints  108 , and each joint  108  has the same construction as described above. At its forward end, each front operating arm  110  is pivotably connected to a front slider member or sleeve  124  which is slidable relative to drawbar member  118  in the same manner as rear sleeve  102 . Actuating cylinder assembly  104  is fixed at one end to drawbar member  118 , and at its opposite end is mounted to rear sleeve  102 .  
         [0042]    With the alternative construction as shown and described, rake  20 ′ is moved from its closed position of FIG. 9, in which rake arms  30  extend substantially parallel to drawbar member  118 , to its open position of FIGS. 7 and 8 by retracting the rod of cylinder assembly  104 . Such movement of the rod of cylinder assembly  104  draws rear sleeve  102  forwardly on drawbar member  118  to move the outer ends of rear operating arms  106  outwardly and to draw the inner ends of front operating arms  110  rearwardly. In this version, such rearward movement of the inner ends of front operating arms  110  draws front sleeve  120  rearwardly on drawbar member  118 . In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 6 , the length of drawbar member  118  in the embodiment of FIGS.  7 - 9  remains constant and sleeves  102 ,  124  move toward and away from each other on drawbar member  118 . Actuator arms  112  function in the same manner as described above to push rake arms  30  outwardly and to cause pivoting movement about bracket assemblies  38 , to place rake  20 ′ in the open position of FIGS. 7 and 8. Subsequent extension of the rod of cylinder assembly  104  moves rear sleeve  102  rearwardly on drawbar member  118 , to pull the outer ends of rear operating arms  106  and front operating arms  110  inwardly. This causes forward sliding movement of front sleeve  124  along drawbar member  118 , and inward movement of rake arms  30  through actuator arms  112 .  
         [0043]    While the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, numerous variations are possible and are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. For example, and without limitation, in the telescoping drawbar version of FIGS.  1 - 6 , it is contemplated that operating cylinder assembly  104  may have one of its ends mounted to the extendible and retractable drawbar section for moving it inwardly and outwardly relative to the fixed drawbar section, rather than to the sleeve or slider member as shown and described. Further, it is contemplated that the sleeve or slider member could be located at the forward end of the drawbar assembly and the telescoping drawbar construction provided at the rearward end, with the extendible rod of the actuator assembly being engaged with either the sleeve or the telescoping drawbar section. It is also possible that the sleeve or slider member could be eliminated and that a dual telescoping drawbar construction could be provided, such that an extendible and retractable drawbar section is located both at the forward end and the rearward end of the drawbar assembly. In this version, both the front and rear operating arms are pivotably mounted to one of the extendible and retractable drawbar sections. This construction provides an even shorter overall length for the drawbar assembly when the operating cylinder assembly is retracted and rake arms  30  are positioned in their operative open position.  
         [0044]    In both versions, the operating device for the opening and closing mechanism is described as hydraulic cylinder assembly  104 . It should be understood that any other type of movable operating device may be employed, such as a linear actuator, a rodless cylinder assembly, a manual or motor-operated screw-type mechanism, or the like. Further, while the rakes mounted to rake arms  30  are illustrated as finger wheel rakes, it is understood that rake arms  30  may carry any other type of raking devices such as basket-style rakes, tedder-type rakes, etc.  
         [0045]    In addition, the configuration of joint  108  is representative of any number of three-way pivoting joint arrangements which could be employed in the opening and closing system of the present invention. Any other types of joint configuration could function with the present invention, so long as the joint configuration provides pivoting movement of the outer ends of rear operating arms  106  relative to front operating arms  110 , as well as incorporating the capability to push rakes arms  30  outwardly in response to a decrease in the angle defined between each rear operating arm  106  and its associated front operating arm  110 .  
         [0046]    It is also understood that the rake arm supporting wheels, such as  34 ,  36 , may be eliminated in rakes having a lesser number of rake wheels in which the rake arms can be cantilevered forwardly from the rake trolley. It is also understood that other types of ground-engaging rake arm supporting arrangements may be employed in place of the ground-engaging wheels such as  34 ,  36 .  
         [0047]    Further, while rake  20  has been illustrated as including front splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62 , it is understood that rake  20  may be used without splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  or with a differently configured splitter-type arrangement for moving crop material sideways away from the center of the rake. It is also understood that splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  may be used in conjunction with a different type of rake than rake  20  having the illustrated details and configurations, and that splitter wheel drawbar assembly  62  may be used in combination with any type of bifold rake having a central drawbar.  
         [0048]    Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.