Patent GB-1383631-A (GB)
Title: Implements for the displacement of crop lying on the ground
IPC: A01D78/10
Filed: 1971-12-03
Abstract: 1383631 Haymaking machines BRITISH LELY Ltd 3 Dec 1971 [20 Oct 1971] 56350/71 Heading A1F Each rake wheel 7 of an implement for the lateral displacement of crop lying on the ground rotates about an axis inclined to both the horizontal and the vertical and comprises spoke-like arms 13 each of which carry a guide 18, the guides 18 co-operating in supporting a ring-shaped member 19, whose angular position can be adjusted. Spring- mounted at the end of each arm 13 is a tine, or a pair of tines, and the system is so arranged that angular adjustment of the ring 19 alters the working inclination of the tines to the rake wheel. Each tine may, in different working positions, extend forwardly or rearwardly of a plane containing the axis of rotation of the rake Wheel and the pivot axis of the tine. Further springs may be provided so that when the rake wheel is not rotating the tines are retracted to an inoperative position; upon rotation of the rake wheel the tines extend to their working positions under the action of centrifugal force and the force of resistance of the air and the crop. Alternatively the action of the springs can be stronger than that of centrifugal force, but the retracted position of the tines can leave them sufficiently extended so as just to engage the crop. Each tine then extends in the crop-engaging part of each revolution of the rake wheel, but retracts during the rest of the revolution. In one embodiment (Figs. 2 and 3) the tines 15 are integrally formed from spring steel wire and have two coiled portions loosely wound on the end 14 of the arm 13 and integrally connected by a loop portion 17 (Fig. 3). A further weaker spring 28 adjustably attached to the loop portion 17 acts to retract the tines, with an adjustable strength, to the inoperative position shown by the broken lines in Figure 2. The loops 17 abut downward projections 23 on the ring member 19 to define the working positions of the tines. The tines are adjusted angularly by means of a pin 26 passing through a hole 24 in one of the guides 18 and any one of a set of holes 25 in the ring member 19. In another embodiment (Figs. 8 and 9, not shown) the projections 23 are omitted and the ring 19 has instead a downward projecting vertical limb (19A) with gaps (48) in it. The loop portions of the tines are much longer and are curved, and extend through the gaps (48). The ring 19 is locked by a spiral spring (51) one end of which is held in one of the guides 18 and the other end of which is held in one of a set of holes in the ring 19, for purposes of adjustment as before. The loop portions now abut the edges of the gaps (48) instead of the projections 23. No spring 28 is provided, but an extra hole (50) is provided in the ring 19 to allow the tines to be retracted manually by an extra large angular adjustment of the ring 19. In a further embodiment (Fig. 12) each tine is mounted singly at the end 76 of a tine support 74 pivotally mounted on a shaft 72 which is mounted on the guide 18 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. An arm 82 pivotally connects the opposite end of the tine support 74 to the ring 19, so that angular adjustment of the ring (by means of a locking pin 85 and a set of holes 86) effects adjustment of the working position of the tines. A spring 79 acts to retract the tines by pivoting the tine support 74 about its longitudinal axis, thus moving the tines upwards. A ring 87 is provided, as a strengthening member, and as a stop for the tines in their retracted position. An implement may comprise a contra-rotating pair of rake-wheels, as in Figure 11, where the beam 60 is pivotable relative to the beam 61 to reduce the effective width of the implement for transport, or as in Figure 1 (not shown) where the inclination of the rake wheels is adjustable about a horizontal axis by means of the crank (34). Or it may comprise a single rake wheel (Figures 6 and 7, not shown), in which case a vertical swath board (52) is mounted at the side of the implement on a transverse beam of adjustable length. The beam' is pivoted near its mid-point so that the swath board can be turned to an inoperative position where it rests on the implement's gearbox. In each case the implement is mounted on a pair of ground wheels, which in some cases are adjustable. Reference has been directed by the comptroller to Specification 1228808.