Abstract: An apparatus for automating the process of bunching straw in a farming operation is disclosed. The straw buncher is a towable implement that includes one or more rakes mounted on a rotatable axle. The rakes gather straw. Rotation of the rake assembly is prevented by a stop mechanism that holds a rake in position using a resistive force until sufficient straw has gathered in front of the rake and the drag created by the straw overcomes the resistive force. At this point the rake begins to rotate, a cam on the rake assembly engages a drive system that turns the rake assembly until the next rake is in position. The implement works automatically and does not require monitoring by an operator to have straw bunches of a desired size be formed.

Abstract: A filter assembly is provided which includes an outer filter sleeve formed at least in part by a plurality of pleats, an inner filter sleeve formed at least in part by a plurality of pleats, wherein the inner and outer filter sleeves define a passage therebetween. An inlet cap is secured to a first end of the inner and outer filter sleeves and it has at least one inlet port communicating with the passage, and an end cap is secured to a second end of the inner and outer filter sleeves and it has an end surface closing the passage. Methods of forming such a filter assembly are also provided.

Abstract: A crop raking device includes a rake wheel and a gauge wheel. The rake wheel is configured to rake crop in a field, with teeth disposed around a perimeter thereof, and has a vertically variable position. The gauge wheel is attached to the rake wheel, and is configured to contact ground behind the rake wheel and maintain a height of the rake wheel teeth with respect to the ground. The gauge wheel is configured to maintain a substantially constant upright orientation regardless of the vertical position of the rake wheel.

Abstract: A hay making machine including at least two working elements in the form of rotary rakes which are carried by intermediate frames. The intermediate frames are arranged on a support frame and supported on the ground by at least one land wheel. The intermediate frames are pivotally connected for following the contours of the ground as picked-up by the land wheels, and for pivoting about axes which extend in the direction of travel between a working position and a transportation position and vice versa. The intermediate frames also support the transmission members of the drive train, especially shafts and the power train, which are needed for conveying the drive energy to the rotary rakes rotating about vertical axes. Furthermore, the intermediate frames are connected together in the vicinity of the articulated connection between adjacent intermediate frames by coupling consisting of two coupling units that co-operate via meshing elements.

Abstract: The invented fluffer is a retractable hay and bean agricultural design for use in fluffing hay, bean and other crops. The retractable fluffer comprises: a pickup assembly 40 for fluffing hay or beans, the pickup assembly 40 is attached to and supported by a pickup frame 30, the pickup frame 30 is pivotally attached to a hitch attachment assembly 50 at a pair of pivots, the hitch attachment assembly 50 attaches to a standard three-point hitch located on the rear of a tractor 200. Preferably, a gauge wheel assembly 60 is attached to the pickup frame 30 for assisting in holding the pickup frame 30 above the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A towable hay rake is capable of being completely disassembled into parts having relatively homogenous dimensions, thus allowing the hay rake to be easily stored and shipped. In particular the hay rake of the present invention has the advantage that the entire rake can be packed into one rectangular crate of minimum encumbrance. This allows maximum possible practicality and efficiency in shipping and storage of the rake.

Abstract: A pull-type V-rake apparatus for use in raking cut vegetation. The V-rake is comprised of a left hand, side discharge, wheel rake assembly and a right hand, side discharge, wheel rake assembly operably connected by a forward pivotal subframe and a rearward pivotal subframe for use as a single implement. The left and right hand rake assemblies are hydraulically actuated to fold from an operative field position to a transport position. The transport profile being narrow enough to be pulled behind the farm vehicle down a roadway. When the V-rake is in its operative field position, the left and right wheel rake assemblies form a "V". The cut vegetation is raked inwardly and rearwardly on the right side and the left side discharging the cut vegetation in the middle at the apparent vertex of the rakes to produce a single larger windrow as the V-rake traverses the field.

Abstract: A haymaking machine which includes a frame that has two windrowing rotors driven in rotation about substantially vertical axes, the frame having a linkage beam which connects the axle of the first rotor to that of the second rotor, the beam being articulated to the axle of the first rotor. The linkage beam includes at least one transverse joint shaft and the first rotor includes a toothed ring which meshes with a first gear wheel which is formed as one piece with a drive shaft and with a second gear wheel which is formed as one piece with a transmission shaft which extends to the second rotor and which includes a third gear wheel which meshes with a toothed ring of this rotor. The transmission shaft is housed in the linkage beam and is pivotable with the latter about the axle of the first rotor, the transmission shaft including at least one universal joint at the level of the joint shaft the linkage beam.

Abstract: A V-shaped pull type rake composed of a wheeled transversal element having a tow member extending longitudinally therefrom and a pair of rake arms attached at substantially each end of the cross member. The rake arms are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Each rake arm is provided with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder which is attached at one end to the tow member and at the other end to the rake arm and serves to move the rake arm to which it is attached to a position between (and including) the open and closed positions and all incremental positions therebetween.

Abstract: A "V" rake is provided that comprises:a first rigid support frame;a second articulated frame sliding on the first frame, made up of a plurality of mobile arms hinged to each other and to the first frame;at least one joint to slide the second frame on the first frame for opening and closing of said arms;a plurality of fingered wheels arranged on the plurality of mobile arms; anda plurality of bearing wheels for transport of the rake; in which said joint comprises:support elements for sliding of the second frame on the first frame, constituted of:anti-friction support plates made of a material with a low friction coefficient; andbolts and relative spacer sleeves to position and contain the anti-friction support plates on said support elements.

Abstract: A hay tedder adapted to be supported from a tractor and which includes a plurality of raking rotors supported for rotation about generally vertical, inclined axes. The tedder includes a main frame for connection with the tractor and a carrier beam pivotally supported from the main frame with the rake rotors being supported from the carrier beam and also supported from travelling wheels. An angle adjustment mechanism is provided to change the inclination of the rake rotors to obtain optimum spreading of the hay or grass crop. The structural association of components enables adjustment of the angle of the rake rotors to be automatically accompanied by a corresponding height adjustment of the travelling wheels which support the rake rotors thereby avoiding the necessity of independently adjusting the rake rotors and travelling wheels.

Abstract: A pull-type bifold hay rake includes a draw bar mounted at its rearward end to a cross-member, with a pair of rake arms pivotably mounted to the cross-member. A series of rotatable rakes are mounted to each rake arm for movement between a raised and lowered position. A linkage assembly is interposed between the draw bar and the rake arms for moving the rake arms between an operative open position and an inoperative closed position. A hydraulic cylinder assembly, including an extendible and retractable rod, is interconnected with the linkage and with the draw bar for moving the linkage between a first position in which the rake arms are open and a second position in which the rake arms are closed. A cable and pulley arrangement is interconnected between the hydraulic cylinder assembly and a control rod mounted to each rake arm for providing movement of the rake assemblies between their raised and lowered positions in response to operation of the hydraulic cylinder assembly.

Abstract: This invention concerns a pull type hay rake which has the particularity of having an upside down "V" shape and to have two movable side elements, that open automatically when need for working and they close automatically when one has to transport on the road. Furthermore, this invention forsees the addition of other elements as optionals so as to increase or decrease its performances.

Abstract: This invention relates to a haymaking machine comprising several tedding and/or windrowing rotors which are connected to a carrying frame having a central section and side sections which are connected to one another. According to the invention, each side section includes three parts each carrying a rotor, and which are connected to one another by pins oriented in the direction of advance of the machine. Each of these parts is movable by an angle of about 90.degree. around a hinge pin with a central section or an adjacent part, so that they may be folded approximately in the shape of an upside-down U.

Abstract: A raking mechanism is disclosed which comprises a side delivery raking means mounted on a frame having three support wheels. The mechanism can be self-propelled or towed for raking and/or dethatching mowed lawns, with clipped foliage being discharged to one side and deposited in windrows. A steerable first support wheel is located toward the front end of the frame, whereas second and third support wheels are located adjacent the ends of a wheel suspension means that is pivotally attached to the rear of the frame. The second support wheel is mounted on a nonpivotable axle and rotates in a plane that is parallel to the line of draft of the mechanism, and the third support wheel is freely pivotable on a vertical axis. The side delivery raking means is immobilized against vertical movement with respect to the frame, but the rear of the frame can be electively raised or lowered to a preferred elevation for adjusting the height of the raking means relative to the surface of the ground.