Improvements in Portable and other Horse Rakes for Agricultural Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable and other Horse Rakes for Agricultural
Purposes.
I, JOHN HUXTABLE of Plough Works, Filleigh, near South Molton, in the County
of Devon, Machinist and Agricultural Implement Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in portable and other horse rakes for
agricultural purposes.
My invention refers to means for making such rakes portable, whereby they can be
made to pass through narrow and confined places, and for altering the pitch of the
teeth; for the first named purpose I make the main axle of the rake of angle or
Tshaped iron, on which I fix, by screws or otherwise, four collars or eyes in a
parallel line and capable of receiving two bars free to slide in or out therein, whereby
the rake may be expanded or contracted as desired. The rocking frame which carries
the teeth I propose to construct in three parts, or more if desired; two of these parts
are carried by the bars which slide through the eyes before mentioned, and which
have bearings turned thereon to receive the rocking frame and on which it is free to
turn; when the two sliding bars and rocking frames connected therewith are
expanded to their greatest extent, there remains å gap left between the two, in which
I insert a third part which then forms one continuous piece throughout. This centre
part of the rocking frame is fitted with a crank or eccentric underneath and when it
is desirable to narrow the rake, this centre piece of the rocking frame is lifted clear
above the two outside parts by means of the crank and lever connected thereto and
the two outer parts are then free to slide inwards underneath the centre piece until
they meet at the centre of the rake, leaving the latter part suspended above ready to
be replaced in the gap when the rake is expanded.
The "pitch
or distance apart of the teeth to suit different kinds of work is
changed by constructing the bar carrying the front part of teeth of peculiar shape,
having on it any number of projections throughout, forming mortices into which the
ends of the teeth or their attachments are inserted and free to move up and down
therein, and secured by bolts or otherwise. This bar is supported and free to turn in
bearings formed in the ends and other suitable parts of the rocking frame, one part of
the projections which hold the teeth, is made at or near the top of the bar, the other
part underneath and carrying as many teeth respectively, and when in this position
the points of all the teeth are in a parallel line throughout the rack; when it is
desired to alter the "pitch" of the teeth it is only necessary to give the bar a slight
turn by means of a spanner or handle provided for that purpose, when the teeth on
top of the bar will be drawn backwards, and those underneath, forwards, so that
every alternate tooth only, will be set to work. The binder teeth acting as dummies
when in this position, and a course "pitch" of teeth obtained throughout the rake.
The bar is prevented from turning while in work by a pin through the bar or other
suitable arrangement.
The same object may be effected of altering the "pitch" of teeth by means of
cranks, eccentrics, or cams, acting on any part of the teeth, without departing from
the essential features of my invention, and the improvement is applicable to agri-
cultural horse rakes whether portable or otherwise.
Dated this 25th day of April 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable and other Horse Rakes for Agricultural
Purposes.'
I, JOHN HUXTABLE of Plough Works Filleigh, near South Molton, in the County
of Devon, Machinist and Agricultural Implement Maker do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in portable and other horse rakes for
agricultural purposes.
My invention refers to means for making such rakes portable, whereby they can be
made to pass through narrow and confined places and for altering the pitch of the
teeth.
My invention will be best understood by describing same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows in vertical sectional elevation so much of a horse rake constructed
according to my invention as will be necessary to illustrate the means employed for
reducing the width of the machine as well as for altering the pitch of the tines.
Figure 2 shows a plan of framework which is capable of being expanded or
contracted as may be required, this drawing shows the framework in the expanded
position.
Figure 3 is a section on the line X Y of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a similar view of the framework shown at Figure 2 but showing the
framework in the contracted position.
Figure 5 is a similar view to that shown at Figure 1 showing the rake as arranged
when a wide pitch of the tines is required, and Figure 6 is a plan of a portion of such
a rake.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
According to my invention for a portable rake, 1 make the main axle frame A of
the rake, of angle, T, or other suitable section with lugs, collars or eyes B fixed
thereon in a parallel line and capable of receiving two bars CD free to slide in or out
thereon; the rocking frame which carries the teeth E 1 construct or make in three or
more parts two of such parts F and G are carried by the bars C and D respectively
see Figure 2 which latter slide through the eyes B before referred to; the ends of
the bars and D have bearings turned thereon to receive the rocking frames F and G
which are free to turn thereon. When the two sliding bars C and D as well as the
rocking frames F and G are expanded to their greatest extent there remains a gap or
space between the two rocking frames F and G and in this space I insert a third
frame H in such manner as to form a continuous frame from end to end of the rake.
This central part of the rocking frame H is fitted with a crank or is jointed by a
bifurcated link J, to a rod K, free to slide in the frames F and G. When it is
desired to narrow or to reduce the width of the rake the central piece H of the
rocking frame is lifted clear above the parts F and G as shown by dotted lines at
Figure 3, by for example a lever L or other suitable device when the two outer
parts F and G can be brought close together and underneath the central piece H as
shown at Figure 4, whereby the rake is contracted, and when required can be
expanded by reversing the aforesaid movement.
When the pitch of the rake teeth is to be made changeable to suit different kinds of
work, I construct the rake so that the bar M carrying the front part or ends of the
teeth E E is formed with projections or lags N N' between which the ends of the
teeth E E are pivotted or inserted, so as to be movable up or down; the bar M is
supported and is free to turn on bearings in the rocking frame F, G, H or one of
them as at Figures 5 and 6. Every alternate lug N N¹ is placed or fixed at a
different angular position to those intermediate between same, that is, the lugs N are
situated in a different angular position to the lugs N', and the teeth E E' are of such

page_text: a size that when the bar is in the position, as shown at Figure 1, the points are all in
a parallel line throughout the rake.
I preferably connect the alternate teeth of the rake in couples by means of
connecting links O so that the teeth do not lift singly, whereby lateral strain on the
joints N N is reduced.
When it is desired to alter the pitch of the teeth it is only necessary to give the
bar M a slight turn by means of a spanner or by such a handle P as is shown, when
the teeth carried by those lugs N on the upper part of the bar M will be drawn
backwards and those underneath forwards as is shown at Figure 5 thus the teeth E
will be drawn somewhat forwards and will rest on the bar Q of the rocking frame in
a working position, while the teeth E will be forced backwards and by resting on the
bar Q will be raised from work and while in this position will act as dummies and a
coarso pitch of teeth will be obtained throughout the rake. The bar M is, when set,
prevented from turning by a pin R being inserted or by other suitable arrangement
or device.
Instead of the lugs before described eccentrics or cams may be substituted therefor
without departing from the essential features of my invention, the latter part of my
said invention being applicable to horse rakes of all description whether portable or
otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In portable horse rakes, the arrangements for expanding or contracting the
rocking frame F and G with its attachments, so as to form a gap between the two
when expanded, or any mere modifications thereof.
2. In portable horse rakes the centre piece H made capable of filling the said
gap so as to form one continuous piece throughout the rocking frame together
with the arrangements employed for lifting the same as shown at Figures 3 and 4
or any mere modifications thereof.
3. In portable and all other descriptions of horse rakes the employment of cranks,
cams or eccentrics for altering the pitch of teeth, or by means of lugs N N together
with arrangements for actuating the said bar and retaining the same in desired
position, or any. mere modifications thereof.
4. The employment of coupling links O extending to every alternate tooth whereby
lateral strain is reduced on the lugs or joints.
5. The general arrangements and combination of parts comprising improvements in
portable and other horse rakes for agricultural purposes, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings together with any mere
modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this 27th day of January 1890.