Abstract: A folding frame for an agricultural implement such as a wheel rake. The frame includes ground engaging wheels and two toolbars foldable for operation and for transport. The folding frame is provided flexibility to conform to uneven surfaces, yet stability against the torques and forces of operation. A slidable tongue provides folding action between the transport position and the operating position. A spacing between rear ends of the two toolbars may be altered hydraulically for wider or narrower windrows. A novel caster wheel provides support for the toolbars and is located so that the implement's transport position is narrower than the prior art's.

Abstract: A haymaking machine, or a windrower, including a support structure including a main beam on which is articulated at least one lateral arm supporting at least one windrowing rotor. The rotor is connected to a support device forming an interface with a support mounted on the lateral arm. The support device makes it possible for the rotor to displace to follow movements of the terrain when the machine is in operation and is in a work position. The support device includes an adjustment system allowing to limit movements of the rotor in the work position and to block movements of the rotor in other positions, and the adjustment system allowing to limit the movements of the rotor includes a control including a hydraulic jack.

Abstract: An adjustable rake for raking agricultural products includes a wheeled cart configured to be pulled in a direction of travel on a surface of travel and first and second rake arm positioners coupled to the wheeled cart and configured to translate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart. First and second front rake arm assemblies are pivotably coupled to the first and second rake arm positioners, respectively. First and second inner rear supports are included, and each of the first and second inner rear supports is pivotably coupled to the wheeled cart and is configured to pivot as a result of translation of the first and second rake arm positioners in the direction transverse to the direction of travel of the wheeled cart. The rake may include optional splitter wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tongue, a pivotable beam linked to the tongue, a cylinder configured to move the pivotable beam from an operating position to a transport position, which is narrower than the operating position, and a latchable member connected to the pivotable beam. A locking assembly includes first and second dogs which can receive the latchable member. The second dog can move relative to the first dog from an open position to a closed position in response to movement of the latchable member such that movement of the latchable member out of the second dog opening is blocked by the first dog while the second dog is in the closed position. The apparatus includes a locking member that moves in response to movement of the cylinder from an unlocked to a locked position to lock the dogs in the closed position.

Abstract: A rake apparatus includes a tongue with a hitch, front rake arm positioners each pivotally connected to a forward portion of the tongue assembly, rear rake arm positioners pivotally connected to a rear portion of the tongue assembly, and rake arm assemblies including a rake arm assembly front end and a rake arm assembly back end. The rake arm assemblies are pivotally connected to one of the front rake arm positioners and one of the rear rake arm positioners. Distances between the rake arm assembly front ends and the tongue are greater when the rake arm assemblies are in an operating position than when they are in a traveling position. The rake arm assembly back end of each of the rake arm assemblies is positioned farther in the forward direction when the rake arm assemblies are in the operating position than when the rake arm assemblies are in the traveling position.

Abstract: A rake apparatus includes a tongue with a hitch, front rake arm positioners each pivotally connected to a forward portion of the tongue assembly, rear rake arm positioners pivotally connected to a rear portion of the tongue assembly, and rake arm assemblies including a rake arm assembly front end and a rake arm assembly back end. The rake arm assemblies are pivotally connected to one of the front rake arm positioners and one of the rear rake arm positioners. Distances between the rake arm assembly front ends and the tongue are greater when the rake arm assemblies are in an operating position than when they are in a traveling position. The rake arm assembly back end of each of the rake arm assemblies is positioned farther in the forward direction when the rake arm assemblies are in the operating position than when the rake arm assemblies are in the traveling position.

Abstract: An adapter kit is provided to permit modification of a hay rake to permit single pass hay raking and hay baling. The adapter kit provides an adapter main beam which supports the hay rake with a v-shaped braced rear main beam support positioned between the hay rake main beam and the adapter main beam, and a front main beam support positioned between the hay rake main beam and the adapter main beam. The rear main beam support and the front main beam support may be bolted or welded to the hay rake frame. A drive shaft is supported by the adapter main beam, such that a first end of the drive shaft may be connected to a tractor power take off, and the second end may be connected to a baler. The adapter kit includes hydraulic hoses and connectors to provide hydraulic controls from the tractor to the rake and to the baler.

Abstract: A vertically folding rake assembly is configured for forming a windrow of cut agricultural crop material. The rake includes a trolley; a pair of rake arm suspension supports interconnected with the trolley and movable in a vertical plane between a raised position and a lowered position, and a vertically movable linkage arrangement configured for moving each of the rake arm suspension arrangements between the raised position and the lowered position. The rake further includes a rake arm suspended from each of the rake arm suspension supports. Each of the rake arm suspension supports includes a linkage pivotally connected to the trolley and a vertical support member that is pivotal about a vertical pivot axis and in support of the rake arm. The rake arm suspension arrangement further includes a pivot connection to provide pivoting movement of the rake arm about a horizontal axis, and a counterbalancing biasing arrangement to center each rake arm.

Abstract: A bifold rake includes a rear trolley to which a pair of rake arms are pivotably mounted, and a drawbar extending forwardly from the rear trolley. An opening and closing mechanism includes front and rear 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 operating arm is pivotably interconnected with a slidable arrangement associated with the drawbar, which may be a sleeve slidably mounted to the drawbar for axial movement, or a telescoping section of the drawbar that is capable of moving inwardly and outwardly relative to a receiver section of the drawbar. An extendible and retractable actuator assembly is interconnected with the drawbar and at least one of the slidable arrangements for moving the front and rear arms together and apart to move the rake arms between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting apparatus comprising a base frame, a pivotally mounted wing frame and a pivotally mounted outer wing frame. The outer wing frame is folded and unfolded into its operating and transport positions by an outer wing pivot drive. An outer wing pivot sensing hydraulic cylinder drives inner and outer pushing rods pivoting hydraulic cylinders and a pivot locking hydraulic cylinder so that the associated elements are placed in their respective transport or operating positions. After the outer wing frame is folded together with the associated elements into their transport positions a wing pivot hydraulic cylinder folds the wing frame.

Abstract: A new and improved rake apparatus and methods are provided for the easy and safe exchange of process equipment towed behind the rake for combined raking and processing agricultural operations. The rake may be mounted on a large frame with a substantial extension PTO shaft capable of transferring power from the power source (usually a tractor) to a baler, fluffer rake, or other towed farm implement attached to the end of said frame, through connection to a tractor's PTO shaft via the use of a telescopic PTO shaft. Once connected to the power source, one has a combination of a rake having mounted swing arms that extend outwardly from the framed device and a PTO shaft driving the baler, tedder rake, or other towed farm implement, enabling the rake to swing hay and other cut materials into the path of the towed implement for further processing.

Abstract: A rake arm deployment spreader with two arms and an elbow member arrangement, optionally and preferably having a locking mechanism involving an overcenter arrangement of certain pivots, for deployment or retraction of a folding hay rake which is towable by a tractor. The hay rake has a primary towable frame with right and left secondary frames pivotally attached adjacent the rear of the primary frame. The deployment spreader assembly is pivotally attached to the primary and secondary frames for pivoting the secondary frame relative to the primary frame. The deployment spreader includes a telescopic arm and a leg and link to control the telescopic arm.

Abstract: A pull-type bifold hay rake includes a draw bar assembly connected to a tow vehicle, a support linkage mounted to the draw bar assembly, a trolley assembly having a cross-member assembly, and a pair of articulated rake arm assemblies, each being pivotably connected to an end of the cross-member assembly. Each of the rake arm assemblies are also connected to the support linkage at a point spaced from the pivotable mounting of each rake arm assembly to the cross-member assembly. A series of rotatable rake wheels are mounted to each rake arm assembly as well as the trolley assembly for movement between a raised and a lowered position. The rake arm assemblies are movable between an operative, open position and an inoperative, closed position. A hydraulic cylinder mounted on the trolley assembly moves the rake arm assemblies between their open and closed positions.

Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a primary frame, having a front and rear, a pair of opposed secondary frames each having an inboard end and an outboard end and each operably supporting a bank of ground driven wheel rakes, coupled to the primary frame near the rear and a positioning assembly to pivotally deploy or retract the secondary frames. The positioning assembly includes a deployment slide mounted on the primary frame and a pair of opposed fixed length spreader bars connecting the deployment slide to the outboard end of the secondary frames. An equalizing assembly dynamically couples the secondary frames by coupling the spreader bars, to a dancer on the primary frame. The implement also has an adjustable rear wheel spacing mechanism, employing a pair of interacting screws.

Abstract: A deployment spreader with two arms and an elbow member arrangement, optionally and preferably having a locking mechanism involving an overcenter arrangement of certain pivots, for deployment or retraction of a folding hay rake which is towable by a tractor. The hayrake rake has a primary towable frame with right and left secondary frames pivotally attached adjacent the rear of the primary frame. The deployment spreader assembly is pivotally attached to the primary and secondary frames for pivoting the secondary frame relative to the primary frame.

Abstract: An agricultural frame particularly for transporting active harrow elements and packer elements comprises a central frame section and a pair of wing frames projecting outwardly to the side of the central frame section at right angles thereto. The whole of the frame can be raised and lowered to lift the ground working implements from the ground. Each of the wing frames is rigid and is formed from a front beam and a rear beam interconnected by inclined beams carrying the active harrow elements. Each wing frame includes a steerable wheel at the outside end. Each wing frame is attached to the central frame by a rear pivot member which allows pivotal movement about a forward horizontal axis and also pivotal movement about a vertical axis for movement to the transport position. A latch is provided adjacent the front beam of the wing frame and is defined by a horizontal pin the axis of which defines the horizontal axis of pivotal movement of the wing frame.

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 folding header assembly for combine harvesters and the like, wherein the header includes a center section transversely mountable at the front of a combine or other support vehicle and a pair of wing sections hingedly connected to the ends of the center section. During header operation, all three sections are disposed in general alignment, but the hinge connections of the wing sections allow them to pivot upwardly and downwardly in adapting to uneven terrain. Despite the substantial width of the extended multi-section header assembly, the wing sections may be easily and automatically folded upwardly, shifted inwardly, and inclined rearwardly for safe road travel within legal width limits and without objectionable interference with a driver's view of the road.

Abstract: An agricultural tool bar particularly well suited for use as a hay rake or the like is disclosed which may be quickly and easily moved between transport and working positions with a minimum of effort. The tool bar comprises a wheeled frame which is secured to the draw bar of the tractor and which has wheeled wing frames pivotally secured to the outer ends thereof. Each of the frames carries a pivotal tool support or bar thereon which are interconnected and which may be pivotally moved to raise and lower the tool secured thereto. Each of the wing frames carries a selectively pivotal wheel which may be locked in working or transport positions. Locking means is provided between the outer ends of the central frame and the wing frames to lock the wing frames in their working position.