Pull-type V-shaped hay rake

Abstract

A hay rake includes a crosswise member having a right section and a left section. A first rake arm has a front end and a back end, the first rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the right section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position. A second rake arm has a front end and a back end, the second rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the left section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position. A plurality of rotatable rake wheels are mounted on each of the first and second rake arms. The hay rake also includes first and a second actuators. The first actuator has a first section connected to the right section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the first rake arm. The second actuator has a first section connected to the left section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the second rake arm. Each actuator operates to move the rake arm to which it is connected between the open position and the closed position.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A hay rake comprising: 
 a crosswise member having a right section and a left section;    a first rake arm having a front end and a back end, the first rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the right section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position;    a second rake arm having a front end and a back end, the second rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the left section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position;    a plurality of rotatable rake wheels mounted on each of the first and second rake arms; and    first and a second actuators, the first actuator having a first section connected to the right section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the first rake arm, and the second actuator having a first section connected to the left section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the second rake arm, wherein each actuator is extendable so as to move the rake arm to which it is connected from the open position to the closed position and any position therebetween, and is retractable so as to move the rake arm to which it is connected from the closed position to the open position and any position therebetween.    
   
   
       22 . The hay rake according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second actuators are double acting actuators.  
   
   
       23 . The hay rake according to  claim 22 , wherein the first and second actuators are dual action hydraulic cylinders.  
   
   
       24 . The hay rake according to  claim 21 , wherein the actuators are configured to be simultaneously actuated, so as to simultaneously move the first and second rake arms.  
   
   
       25 . The hay rake according to  claim 21 , wherein the actuators are configured to be independently actuated, so as to independently move the first and second rake arms.  
   
   
       26 . The hay rake according to  claim 21 , wherein the actuators are configured to be selectively actuated simultaneously or independently, so as to one of simultaneously and independently move the first and second rake arms.  
   
   
       27 . The hay rake according to  claim 23 , further comprising a hydraulic power divider for dividing an actuating hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic cylinders.  
   
   
       28 . The hay rake according to  claim 23 , further comprising automatic hydraulic lock valves associated with the first and second hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic lock valves blocking movement of the corresponding first and second hydraulic cylinders when actuating hydraulic fluid is not being supplied to the corresponding first and second hydraulic cylinders.  
   
   
       29 . The hay rake according to  claim 23 , further comprising a first manual shutoff valve associated with the first hydraulic cylinder and a second manual shutoff valve associated with the second hydraulic cylinder, the first manual shutoff valve interrupting a flow of actuating hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic cylinder to thereby block a movement of the first hydraulic cylinder and the second manual shutoff valve interrupting a flow of actuating hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic cylinder to thereby block a movement of the second hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       30 . The hay rake according to  claim 23 , further comprising a control valve for each of the first and second hydraulic cylinders, the control valves providing synchronous and symmetrical movements of the right and left sections of the rake arms.  
   
   
       31 . The hay rake according to  claim 21 , further comprising a towbar connected to a center section of the crosswise member.  
   
   
       32 . A hay rake comprising: 
 a crosswise member having a right section and a left section;    a first rake arm having a front end and a back end, the first rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the right section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position;    a second rake arm having a front end and a back end, the second rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the left section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position;    a plurality of rotatable rake wheels mounted on each of the first and second rake arms; and    first and a second actuators, the first actuator having a first section connected to the right section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the first rake arm, and the second actuator having a first section connected to the left section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the second rake arm, wherein each actuator operates to move the rake arm to which it is connected between the open position and the closed position;    right and left sections of the crosswise member attached telescopically to respective opposite ends of a center section of the crosswise member, such that each of the right and left sections are movable between an extended and a retracted position;    a third actuator connecting the center section of the crosswise member to the right section of the crosswise member; and    a fourth actuator connecting the center section of the crosswise member to the left section of the crosswise member, wherein the third and fourth actuators move the right and left sections between the extended and the retracted positions.    
   
   
       33 . The hay rake according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a balance arm having two ends, the balance arm being rotatably connected, to the center section of the crosswise member at a point substantially halfway between the right end and the left end of the center section,    a first rod having an outer end and an inner end; and    a second rod having an outer end and an inner end, wherein the inner end and the outer end of the first rod are rotatably connected to the first end of the balance arm and to the right section of the crosswise member, respectively, and wherein the inner end and outer end of the second rod are rotatably connected to the second end of the balance arm and to the left section of the crosswise member, respectively.    
   
   
       34 . The hay rake according to  claim 32 , further comprising a fifth actuator having a first section connected to the center section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the first end of the balance arm and a sixth actuator having a first section connected to the center section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the second end of the balance arm.  
   
   
       35 . The hay rake according to  claim 33 , wherein the fifth and sixth actuators are selected from a group consisting of a manual dual-action screw jack and a dual action hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       36 . The hay rake according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a vehicle connector; and    a first beam and a second beam, wherein the vehicle connector is connected to the first rake arm by the first beam and wherein the vehicle connector is connected to the second rake arm by the second beam.    
   
   
       37 . The hay rake according to  claim 32 , further comprising a stabilizing arrangement, the stabilizing arrangement including a first damper for damping a movement of the first rake arm and a second damper for damping a movement of the second rake arm.  
   
   
       38 . The hay rake according to  claim 32 , wherein each of the first and the second hay rake arms are mounted to the crosswise member by respective vertical supports, wherein each of the vertical supports are pivotable relative to the crosswise member around a substantially horizontal axis.  
   
   
       39 . The hay rake according to  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 a towbar connected to the crosswise member and configured for towing the hay rake, wherein each of the first and the second hay rake arms are pivotable relative to the towbar.    
   
   
       40 . A hay rake comprising: 
 a crosswise member having a right section and a left section;    a first rake arm having a front end and a back end, the first rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the right section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position;    a second rake arm having a front end and a back end, the second rake arm being pivotably mounted at its back end to the left section of the crosswise member so as to be moveable between an open position and a closed position;    a plurality of rotatable rake wheels mounted on each of the first and second rake arms; and    first and a second actuators, the first actuator having a first section connected to the right section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the first rake arm, and the second actuator having a first section connected to the left section of the crosswise member and a second section connected to the second rake arm, wherein each actuator operates to move the rake arm to which it is connected horizontally between the open position and the closed position.    
   
   
       41 . The hay rake according to  claim 40 , wherein the first and second actuators are double acting actuators.  
   
   
       42 . The hay rake according to  claim 41 , wherein the first and second actuators are dual action hydraulic cylinders.