Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus for selectively inverting one or more windrows of crop material on the ground as the apparatus is moved in a forward direction, each of the windrows having a lower surface and a generally defined width, the apparatus comprising, a frame for attachment to a vehicle, a first transport mechanism for picking up the crop material of a windrow, moving the crop material in a rearward direction, turning the crop material through a generally horizontal arc and depositing the turned crop material in an inverted condition, the first transport mechanism being movable between a raised non-operating position and a lowered operating position, a second transport mechanism having substantially the same structure and functionality as the first transport mechanism, and a hydraulic control system selectively moving the transport mechanisms between the raised and lowered positions and for driving the transport mechanisms.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to apparatus and a method for handling crop material such as hay, alfalfa and similar crops that are harvested throughout the world. 
     It has been common practice for decades that hay crop material is harvested by mowing and then raking the cut hay into strips of material known as windrows. More recently, the mowing and raking of hay is done with a single implement that combines these two activities in one operation. 
     The process of moving newly mown hay into a windrow and placing it on moist ground presents a problem of drying and curing the hay, particularly on the underside of the windrow. While the top side of the windrow may dry out in a relatively few hours, depending upon the weather, the underside often takes much more time to dry because air and sunlight does not reach this lower level of hay. It is a problem that is amplified with heavy hay, particularly if the windrow has gotten wet. In these conditions, the hay must be moved and the underside turned over to allow of the windrow to dry and cure. 
     In recent times, most of these moving and turning operations are performed by side delivery rakes that are used in the same way as those used to initially move the mowed hay into a windrow. While those rakes were considered to be advancements over what are known as dump rakes, such side delivery rakes have distinct disadvantages when they are used to invert as well as merge adjacent windrows into a single windrow. This is due to the fact that their operation tends to destroy the integrity and structure of the windrow as well as cause undesirable leaf loss of the hay plants. 
     It is highly desirable to efficiently and reliably invert windrows without destroying the integrity of the windrow which thereby minimizes the loss of leaves from the plants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus for selectively inverting one or more windrows of crop material on the ground as the apparatus is moved in a forward direction, each of the windrows having a lower surface and a generally defined width, the apparatus comprising, a frame for attachment to a vehicle, a first transport mechanism for picking up the crop material of a windrow from the ground at an entrance position, moving the crop material in a rearward direction, turning the crop material through a first generally horizontal arc at least greater than about 90 degrees, and depositing the turned crop material from an elevated exit position onto the ground in an inverted condition, the first transport mechanism being mounted to the frame and being movable between a raised non-operating position and a lowered operating position, a second transport mechanism for picking up the crop material of a windrow from the ground at an entrance position, moving the crop material in a rearward direction, turning the crop material through a first generally horizontal arc at least greater than about 90 degrees, and depositing the turned crop material from an elevated exit position onto the ground in an inverted condition, the second transport mechanism being mounted to the frame and being movable between a raised non-operating position and a lowered operating position, and a hydraulic control system configured to be connected to a hydraulic power source for selectively moving the first and second transport mechanisms between the raised and lowered positions and for driving the first and second transport mechanisms. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a greatly simplified top view of a preferred embodiment of a crop material windrow inverting apparatus that is connected to a tractor moving along a windrow of crop material and illustrating the inversion of the crop material while the tractor moves forwardly through a field; 
         FIG. 2  is another view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the apparatus inverting the adjacent windrow while traversing in the opposite direction relative to the direction shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the apparatus combining two adjacent windrows into a single windrow; 
         FIG. 4  is a left front perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , showing left and right transport mechanisms, with the right transport mechanism shown in a nonfunctioning elevated position and the left transport mechanism shown in its lowered operating position; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a left front perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 , with both left and right transport mechanisms being shown in the elevated nonfunctional position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a left front perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 , illustrating both left and right transport mechanisms in their lowered operative position; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of the hydraulic system for controlling the operation of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and a method for manipulating crop material of the type such as alfalfa, hay and other plants which are used for feed for animals as well as for many other purposes. Such hay crops are harvested by mowing and generally simultaneously or subsequently manipulated into windrows which extend generally parallel to one another. They may be formed in straight lines extending from one end of a field to another or they may be curved depending upon the size, shape and contours of the land where the crop is located. 
     The distance between adjacent windrows is generally a function of the windrow producing implement that is used to make them and currently such windrow producing implements have an operating width so that the center to center distance between adjacent windrows is generally between 14 feet to 18 feet. The apparatus of the present invention can efficiently operate at these spacing distances, but can also be scaled to accommodate windrow spacing that is smaller than 14 feet and larger than 18 feet if desired. 
     Embodiments of the present invention are configured to have a pair of transport mechanisms which are spaced apart from one another and which are configured to selectively engage the row crop material of a windrow and invert it while being moved through a field containing the windrows. Each of the transport mechanisms is configured to be pivoted between an upper non-operating position and a lowered operating position depending upon the function that is being carried out. In this regard, each of the transport mechanisms is configured to engage and invert a single windrow at a time and they are also configured to engage two windrows at a time and combine them into a single windrow. 
     Embodiments of the apparatus are configured to have a forward tongue that is connected to a tractor hitch so that a tractor can pull the apparatus through the field. Other embodiments can be configured to be attached to a 3-point hitch of a tractor. In the event that such a 3-point hitch is employed, it may eliminate the need for the apparatus to have wheels, whereas the embodiment having the hitch would be carried by wheels on a frame as it is pulled through a field. 
     Each of the transport mechanisms includes a pair of closed or endless belts which engage the windrow crop material and convey it upwardly where it is rotated through a horizontal arc and then deposited on the ground in an inverted position. The speed of the belts is controllable to match the speed of the tractor so that the windrow is not appreciably attenuated or compressed which contributes to maintaining the structural integrity of the windrow so that it is gently lifted, turned and deposited without additional manipulation which could contribute to the loss of leaves. 
     Importantly, when it is deposited in this manner, the top portion of the windrow is deposited on the ground and the generally wetter bottom portion is then placed on the top of the windrow. Also importantly, the windrow that has been manipulated is deposited on dry ground because it is translated to the side of the location of the line of the original windrow. Since it is deposited on ground exposed to the sun and is therefore drier, rather than wet ground, the moisture from the ground does not rewet the dryer portion of the inverted windrow, all of which contributes to the quick drying of the whole content of the windrow. It has been found that windrows inverted in this manner tend to be dry enough within three or four hours and can be bailed or otherwise processed without undue delay. 
     The amount of jostling and side forces that is subjected to the windrow during the inversion process is minimal compared to that which is produced by conventional side rakes that impact and throw the windrow to its new position. The inversion process is constant and reliable compared to all other known ways in which windrows are attempted to be inverted. 
     Turning now to the drawings and particularly  FIGS. 1-3 , the apparatus, indicated generally at  10 , is shown being drawn by a tractor  12 . The apparatus includes a left transport mechanism, indicated generally at  14 , and a right transport mechanism, indicated generally at  16 , which are mounted to a frame  18  from which a tongue  20  extends forwardly and has a hitch  22  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) that is attached to the rear of the tractor  12 . Each of the transport mechanisms  14  and  16  can be lowered into an operating position and raised to a non-operating position by the operator of the tractor manipulating hydraulic controls. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tractor is moving to the right in a field having two windrows  24  and  26  that have a width W between center lines of the adjacent parallel windrows. The left transport mechanism  14  engages the windrow and moves it to the right to the location occupied by the segment  24 ′. When the tractor reaches the end of the windrow, it turns around and raises the left transport mechanism  14  while lowering the right transport mechanism  16  to engage the windrow  26  which it moves to the left leaving the segment  26 ′. The difference between the windrows  24 ′ and  26  as shown in  FIG. 1  is less than the width W, but after it the windrow  26  has been inverted, the distance between the inverted windrow  24 ′ and  26 ′ again has the desired width W. 
     After the windrows have been inverted, it is desirable to combine windrows so that they are able to be bailed, both of the transport mechanisms  14  and  16  are lowered into operating position and engage the windrows  24 ′ and  26 ′ to combine them into windrow  28 . 
     From this discussion, it should be understood that by manipulating the transport mechanisms between their non-operating and operating positions and traversing the fields back and forth, the apparatus of the present invention efficiently inverts each windrow without interference. Combining adjacent windrows into a single windrow is also easily achieved. In this regard, when they are combined, the top portion of each windrow meets the other of the combined windrows which further facilitates drying of the crop material prior to being bailed or formed into large wheels of hay and the like. 
     The frame  18  is preferably fabricated from square steel tube stock of suitable dimension to support the transport mechanisms  14  and  16  welded together, although other shapes of steel can be used. There are four wheels  30  are mounted to the frame for supporting the apparatus. The frame  18  also has a generally vertical barrier  32  made of solid sheet material or a plurality of rods  34  which retain the crop material that is dropped off of the transport mechanisms  14  and  16 . Other embodiments of the present invention may not include such a barrier  32 . 
     With regard to the transport mechanisms  14  and  16 , they have substantially the same construction except that the two mechanisms are symmetrical to one another. For this reason, the same reference numbers are used for both transport mechanisms. The transport mechanism  14 ,  16  have a straight endless movable belt  40  that is inclined upwardly, has an entrance end  42  and an exit end  44  which include rotatable shafts (not shown) journaled in a belt support structure  48 . It is preferred that the shaft on the upper exit end  44  be driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) that is preferably driven by a hydraulic source which is also preferably part of the tractor to which the apparatus is used with. 
     The entrance end portion  42  has a pair of wheels  46  which are shown to be attached to the belt support structure  48  that also houses the shafts, with the wheels being sized so that the bottom reach of the entrance end  42  is spaced a few inches, i.e., 3″ to 6″, from the ground. While the embodiments shown have the wheel with their axles fixed, other embodiments may include a caster mounting so that the straight belt  40  can be splayed outwardly by a small degree as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , which may or may not be adjustable to accommodate different width spacing between adjacent windrows. 
     Side retaining walls  50  are provided to guide the crop material and inhibit it from falling off of the belt  40 . The upper exit end  44  drops the material onto a second closed end conveyor belt  60  which is curved between 90° and 130°, but preferably about 120° between its entrance end  62  and exit end  64 . The second belt  60  is driven by a shaft  66  and turns around its exit end  64 . The exit end  64  of the curved belts  60  are directed toward one another and are relatively close to the center barrier  32  when the transport mechanisms are in their lowered operating position. The 120 degree arc is sufficient to direct the crop material so that it is completely inverted during operation, but not far enough so that there is any interference of one transport mechanism relative to the other. 
     The belt support structure  48  carries both belts  40  and  60  and as shown in  FIG. 5 , the belt support structure  48  is pivotally connected to the frame  18  by a hinge  70  so that the transport mechanisms  14  and  16  can be pivoted between their raised, non-operating position and the lowered operating position. The belt support structure  48  also has a lower extension  72  which provides a connection point for the transport mechanisms and a rod  74  of a hydraulic cylinder  76  that is connected to a flange  78  that is a part of the frame  18 . When the rod is extended, it raises the associated transport mechanism, such as shown for the right transport mechanism  16  in  FIG. 5 , for example. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the hydraulic cylinders  76  are mounted to the frame  18  between an upper member  18   a  and a lower member  18   b  of the frame to be below the respective transport mechanisms  14 ,  16 , when the mechanism is raised to the non-operating position. In the non-operating positions, the transport mechanisms are disposed above the cylinders  76 . 
     The belt  40  preferably has a number of tongues or extensions  82  located at spaced positions throughout its surface area for engaging the crop material to initially engage the crop material and convey it up the belt  40 . These extensions are preferably made of plastic or other material that is resiliently connected to the belt in a manner whereby they contact the crop material and pull it upwardly. In this regard, they preferably have a length that nearly reaches the ground and the length is therefore at least partly determined by the diameter of the wheels  46  as is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     With regard to the operation of the apparatus, and referring to  FIG. 10 , the apparatus is controlled by a control system  90  which may be configured to be located in the cab of a tractor in which the apparatus is used with, and it is preferably connected to a hydraulic source  92  that is part of the tractor. The control system  90  may include operating handles  94  for controlling the left and right lifting cylinders and handles  96  for controlling the operation of the left and right drive motors. In this regard, it is preferred that both drive motors for the belts  40  and  60  be simultaneously activated and deactivated. A speed signal  98  may be input to the control system  90  and the left and right drive motors maybe automatically adjusted to correspond to the speed of the tractor in which they are pulled. This is desirable so that the belts  40  and  60  engage and convey the crop material of the windrow so as to not attenuate or compress the crop material during operation. It is therefore highly desirable to have the speed of the belts  40  and  60  correspond to the ground speed of the tractor  12  and most tractors generate such a speed indicating signal. Alternatively, a speed detector could be placed on one of the wheels  30  of the apparatus itself. Alternatively, the control system may have a handle  100  that enables an operator to manually adjust the speed of the left and right drive motors in the event that a speed signal is not present or some adjustment is necessary relative to a speed signal that is being received. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.